880-meter hill in the middle of Santiago de Chile, topped with a 22-meter Virgin Mary statue and reached by funicular, cable car, or a long uphill hike from the Bellavista neighborhood. The hill has multiple viewpoints, the Tupahue pool complex, and the Jardin Zoologico Nacional. Mobile data works at the top and at the funicular stations, which is useful for checking the closing time of the cable car back down.
Main square of Santiago de Chile's historic center, surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the Museo de Arte Precolombino. The square is the oldest part of the city and the meeting point for walking tours. Mobile data is reliable across the plaza and the surrounding Centro blocks, and the metro station Plaza de Armas is the easiest entry from Providencia or Las Condes.
Cast-iron market hall from 1872, holding the famous seafood restaurants and stalls of central Santiago de Chile. The most traditional lunch is the caldillo de congrio (conger eel soup) at La Piazzetta or El Galeon. Mobile data is strong inside the covered market, which is useful for translating the Spanish-only menu boards and for booking a same-day wine tour from the agencies in Bellavista.
Bohemian neighborhood on the south side of Centro, with the Museo de Artes Visuales (MAVI) inside a 19th-century townhouse, the Parque Forestal leading down to the Mapocho river, and a long-running weekend book market on the plaza. The cafes on Lastarria street stay open late, and the data connection is reliable across the side streets and the small galleries.
House museum of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, built on Cerro Bellavista with the same playful design as his other two houses (La Chascona and Isla Negra). The museum holds the original furniture, the poet's collection of bottles, and panoramic views of the city. The audio guide is downloadable at the entrance over the local 5G, and the museum WiFi is fast enough as backup.
Modern mixed-use complex in Providencia with the Gran Torre Santiago de Chile, at 300 meters the tallest building in South America. The Sky Costanera observation deck on the 61st and 62nd floors has views of the Andes and the coastal range, and the mall below holds the largest Falabella store in the country. The local 5G holds up to the top of the building, and the mall WiFi is reliable.
Pre-Columbian art museum inside the old Royal Customs House on Plaza de Armas, with a collection that ranges from Olmec figurines to Incan textiles to Mapuche silverwork. The museum is one of the best-curated in the country, with English audio guides available. The plaza outside has reliable 5G, and the museum WiFi is fast enough to download the audio guide on entry.
Modern urban park in Vitacura opened in 2010 to mark the 200th anniversary of Chilean independence. The park has a large lake, a contemporary art gallery (the Centro de las Artes), and a popular children's play area. The 5G is reliable across the lake walk, and the cafes on the south side of the park have WiFi as backup during the weekend brunch rush.
Design and antique district east of the Plaza Italia, with restored townhouses, vintage furniture shops, and the Universidad Catolica's campus. The neighborhood is one of the most photographed for street art, and the small cafes serve a younger crowd of designers and architects. Mobile data is reliable across the main avenues, and the metro station Irarrazaval is the closest stop.
Ski resort 60 km east of Santiago de Chile in the Andes, with 900 hectares of skiable terrain between 2,870 and 3,670 meters altitude. The ski season runs mid-June to late September, and the resort is connected to El Colorado and La Parva for the largest skiable area in South America. Mobile data works at the base village, drops to 3G on the upper lifts, and disappears above 4,000 meters, so download the trail map before going up.