Santiago Skyline, Photo Credit: DC_Columbia/iStock
Whether you’re searching for the old or the new, Santiago‘s various neighborhoods offer a bevy of shopping options.
First we have to talk about the Costanera Center. Opened in June 2012, this is South America’s biggest mall. And it’s got everything: supermarkets, restaurants, a cinema, clothing shops — from Armani and Lacoste to Bobbi Brown and L’Occitane — and even a gym.
For those on the hunt for the iconic Chilean lapis lazuli jewelry, Forbes Travel Guide editors suggest you hit the bohemian neighborhood Bellavista, where you can choose items from the market located on the main boulevard or opt for a trusted bilingual retailer such as Lapis Lazuli House.
Bellavista and Lastarria are where you should go to explore boutiques. In these areas, you’ll find one-off pieces, quirky trinkets and open-air market stores.
For crafts to take home as souvenirs (or adorn one’s own home), go to Las Condes and visit Pueblito Los Dominicos, where traditional crafts from all over Chile are stocked.
For hipper retail therapy options, Galería Drugstore is just steps from main drag in the Providencia neighborhood and it boasts four floors of bookstores, independent designers and boutiques with arty knickknacks and more.
Lastly, if you’re looking for Santiago’s Fifth Avenue, then Barrio Vitacura has the answer in Alonso de Córdova. The luxury-store-lined street has big names like Louis Vuitton as well as high-end local designers.
