With a population of just over six million inhabitants occupying 37 municipalities, Santiago de Chile is a sprawling urban metropolis.
It is also one of Latin America's most up-and-coming travel hotspots.
Chileans themselves remark upon the extreme increase of tourists in the past ten years; but they're simply observing, not complaining.
2010 will undoubtedly be one of the best years to visit Chile, as the country is celebrating its bicentennial.
Two hundred years have passed since Chile gained its independence from Spain on September 18, 1810, and Chileans are ready to celebrate, especially in Santiago.
The thought of trying to catch all of the highlights in a city of 37 districts can indeed be daunting.
Luckily, most of Santiago's best neighborhoods are centrally located, close to one another, and easily accessed by public transport.
We'll begin in Santiago Centro, the heart of Santiago.
Here the true hustle and bustle of the city can be seen at all hours of the day.
Begin with a hike up Cerro Santa Lucia (Metro Line 1 to Santa Lucia), the site where the Spaniard Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541.
The summit offers up breathtaking views of the city etched out against the massive Andes - a site surely not to be missed.
After you've taken in the beauty of Santa Lucia, come back down and have lunch in Barrio Lastárria, part of Santiago Centro.
Make a right down Merced at the foot of Santa Lucia, then another right onto José Victorino Lastárria, and you have arrived.
This artsy and hip neighborhood has many moderately priced cafes and restaurants as well as independent shops and galleries, making it the perfect spot to grab lunch and while away an hour or two.
Located extremely near to Barrio Lastárria is the Museo de Bellas Artes, which houses the works of many Chilean and other Latin American artists.
There are often several visiting exhibitions at a time, and admission is free to the public on Sundays.
If the prospect of museum-going doesn't appeal to you, take a stroll in Parque Forestal, one of the largest and most popular parks in the city, with one edge bordering the museum.
One of Santiago's loveliest and safest comunas is Providencia, just east of Santiago Centro.
Though more residential than Centro, it still offers plenty to the eager traveler.
Here you'll find many Spanish language schools in Chile, one of the most popular being ECELA Founded a decade ago the school has blossomed into five locations throughout Chile, Peru and Argentina, with Santiago being one of its most frequented destinations.
It is located on a quiet, shady street (Roman Diaz 297) and offers group and private classes daily from 9am to 6pm.
The school also coordinates a wealth of social and cultural activities, including a free city tour every Monday for its new students.
Once you've decided to learn some Spanish, your next stop could be La Chascona (Antonia López de Bello 71), one of the homes of the late Chilean poet and Nobel Prize winner, Pablo Neruda.
Located within Providencia in Barrio Bellavista, this intriguing house-turned-museum is full of remarkable objects from all around the world, collected by and given to the author.
Tours are frequently available in English and Spanish.
Some of Neruda's works are on sale in the gift shop, and you're sure to find them in every bookstore in Chile, so get to practicing your new Spanish skills with the touchingly romantic yet striking discourse of this Chilean icon.
Unknown as it may be to much of the world, Santiago is a city perfect for all, from the curious adventurer to a well-refined art buff.
Whether you stay for one week or one year, its neighborhoods will continue to surprise you with gorgeous details and hidden treasures just around every corner.