Three days in Santiago: The food, art and history to discover

Brett AtkinsonNZ Herald·1 Sep, 2026 07:00 AM7 mins to readCostanera Center in Santiago, Chile. Photo / Getty ImagesCostanera Center in Santiago, Chile. Photo / Getty ImagesChile’s capital city, Santiago, an 11-hour flight from Auckland, is the perfect gateway to myriad South American destinations, but Brett Atkinson suggests spending three days here first.

With a spectacular background of the foothills of the Andes, Santiago is a compelling, cosmopolitan and authentic destination after the long-haul flight