By Subway in Santiago

Santiago's excellent subway system is the best way to get around town. The Metro is comfortable, inexpensive, and safe. The system operates Monday-Saturday 6:30 AM-10:30 PM and Sunday 8-10:30 PM. Línea 1 runs east-west along the axis of the Río Mapocho. This is the most popular line, and perhaps the most useful, because it runs past most of the heavily touristed areas. Línea 2 runs north-south; it's rarely used by nonresidents because it heads to residential areas. Línea 5 also runs north-south except at its northern tip, where it bends to the west to connect with the Bellas Artes and Plaza de Armas stations. At this writing Linea 4, which connects to the Tobalaba, Vicente Valdes, and La Cisterna stations, was scheduled to open in 2006.

Every station has an easy-to-read map of all the stations and the adjoining streets. Buy tickets in any station at the glass booths or at the nearby machines. Individual tickets cost 340 to 430 pesos, depending on the time of day. After depositing your ticket in the turnstile, pass through and retrieve it to use again later. Single-ride tickets are not returned.

When you wave a Multivía card in front of a sensor of the turnstiles, it automatically deducts the fare. These cards, available at all ticket windows, save you the hassle of buying single-ride tickets. You can put any amount over 500 pesos on a card.

Subway Information

Metro de Santiago (600/422-3330. www.metrosantiago.cl).