Santiago Shopping

Handicrafts

Those wishing to spend a reasonable amount of money buying good-quality crafts may wish to travel to Pomaire , where goods from all over Chile are for sale at prices cheaper than those in Santiago.

The gemstone, lapis lazuli, can be found in a few expensive shops in Bellavista but is cheaper in the arcades on the south side of the Plaza de Armas. Antique stores can be found in Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro and elsewhere on Lastarria (Merced end).

Other craft stalls can be found in an alleyway 1 block south of Av O’Higgins between A Prat and San Diego; on the 600 to 800 blocks of Santo Domingo and at Pío Nono y Av Santa María in Bellavista.

Music

There are many small shops selling CDs in Paseo Las Palmas, Ricardo Lyon and Av 11 de Septiembre.
<br>Shopping malls

Generally open 7 days a week 1000-2100.

Wine

There’s a good selection of wines at Jumbo, Líder and Santa Isabel supermarkets.

Santiago

There are many shopping areas in Santiago. The shops in the centre and to the north of the Plaza de Armas are cheaper and more downmarket than the countless arcades and boutiques strung along Providencia, especially near Av Ricardo Lyon. Specialist shops tend to be grouped together, eg bikes, computer hardware and second-hand books on San Diego, new bookshops on Providencia, opticians on MacIver, lapis lazuli on Bellavista, fishing and outdoor equipment on Bulnes. Some kiosks on Paseo Ahumada/Huérfanos sell overseas newspapers and journals.

Bookshops

Book prices are very high compared with Europe, even for second-hand books.

There are many bookshops in the Pedro de Valdivia area on Av Providencia. Much better value but with a smaller selection are the bookshops in the shopping mall at Av Providencia 1114-1120. Those looking for cheap English-language books should also try the many second-hand book kiosks on San Diego, 4 blocks south of Plaza Bulnes, next to the Iglesia de los Sacramentinos.

Opticians

Those needing a new pair of glasses should head for MacIver 0-100 block, where there are many opticians to choose from, and prices are lower rates in Europe or North America....read more