First of all, you definitely have to visit Cerro San Cristobal. It is one of the most religious places in the country, the Pope even had a mass service at this site. There is the statue of the Virgin Mary at the top of the hill. Along the way you can stop at a church, gift shop, outdoor auditorium space, and much more. You can take a bus, walk, or, my favorite, take the funicular from the base all the way up to the top (well, close to the top). You can get off of the funicular half way up and walk through the zoo. When you get off at the top, there are some vendors with great Santiago memorabilia. This should be stop #1. You'll thank me for it later.
If you are feeling comfortable and confident, I would recommend at least stopping to look around the central market. It is mostly fish for sale, but you can also stop to eat at one of the many restaurants inside. Now, this is why you need to be comfortable and confident: the vendors can be a little forward, at least to people from the United States. the vendors have small print outs of menus and promos that they hand out. They also try to get you to come and sit in their restaurants. If you don't want to eat just yet, simply say no. You may have to say it a few times, but they will get it eventually.
On your way to Cerro San Cristobal, assuming you go by metro, or at least while touring the area, you will come across Patio Bellavista. In this little area, there are some small shops, a Starbucks, and many restaurants to choose from. things in the Patio are a little more expensive than most places, but it is still a nice place to stop and look around. There is also a little artisan market a couple blocks down the road. Things are a bit cheaper and most things are hand made. Both of these places can be found on the same street. When you get off of the funicular, just go to the road and walk straight away from the hill, do not turn. The street's name is Pio Nono.
If you are feeling like a history lesson, there are two places that you can go to learn about the dictatorship of Pinochet. I would suggest starting at El Museo de la Memoria. You can take a full tour of all three floors that tell you about the coup, life during the dictatorship, and how it ended. It is worth the visit as long as you have an interest in the topic. There are videos, photos, documents, and all kinds of propaganda from this period in Chile's history. You can also visit Villa Grimaldi (in the picture to the right). This was a site of torture and a holding area for prisoners. In the picture is the garden for the women who died or disappeared at this site. Villa Grimaldi also has a replicate of the cells that prisoners were held in, the original tower (which people very rarely returned from), and the pool that was used for torture and hiding prisoners when the Villa was under investigation. There is a room filled with pictures and personal items of people that were held there. This place has so much history and is absolutely beautiful, but enter at the risk of learning the dark side of Chile.
Last but certainly not least, you should visit the Cementerio General. Inside is a city of tombs. There are over two million people buried in this cemetery. People from the well known presidents to everyday people. There is also a section, Number 29, that used to be for the bodies with no names placed there during the dictatorship. When you visit this area, be sure to go with other people and keep track of all the turns that you make. It is literally a city and it is easy to get turned around in there.
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