The best fashion and gift stores - Chile in 2024

Practical information : Treat yourself (& others) Chile

Timetable

In Chile, shops are generally open on Saturday mornings. Outside the major shopping centers, however, everything is closed on Sundays. Outside the big cities and urban areas, small craft stores open weekdays from 10am to 5pm. However, for shopping and starting your souvenir collection, it's more practical and common to visit the craft markets (known as paseos artesanos), open every weekday until 6 or 7pm, or the more widespread ferias de artesanos at weekends.

Budget & Tips

If you want to buy handicrafts, head to the paseos and ferias de artesanos . Generally covered, these large warehouses group together different stands and premises run by local craftsmen. This way, you will avoid manufactured products and you will favour short circuits, which benefit the local economy. However, you will have little opportunity to exercise your talents as a carpet merchant, since haggling is not practiced in Chile.

What's very local

It's impossible to give an exhaustive list of souvenirs and other trinkets to bring back from your trip. From Mapuche handicrafts to local gourmet products, from alpaca sweaters to precious stones, you'll be spoilt for choice. There's nothing more typical than bringing back southern wine, a moai statue , a lapis lazuli jewel or a bag of merken. Other ideas? Jam, a mate kit or manjar... Very local flavours! However, if you want to bring back a unique piece from your trip, opt for the telares murales, these Mapuche weavings made from sheep's wool. Colorful, handmade and symbol of a culture still standing, it is (unlike the gourmet products which will not keep) the imperishable souvenir of a trip to the sacred land!

Tourist traps

Like anywhere else, it's possible to come across counterfeit or Chinese-made products. To spot quality handicrafts in Chile, look out for the "Sello de Excelencia a la Artesanía Chile" label, which guarantees the quality of Chilean handicrafts according to Unesco criteria. If you want to be sure of finding products with this label and made with respect for the environment, visit the Chilean Handicrafts Foundation's boutique-exhibition in the cultural center of the Moneda Palace, which sells only local, quality handicrafts.

The best fashion and gift stores Chile

FÁBRIKA

LIBRAIRIE FRANÇAISE LA BIBLIOTECA

LE MOUTON VERT

BAHÍA UTÓPICA

ROJO GALERIA

LA ZONE FRANCHE, ZOFRI

LA MANO

PUTA MADRE

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Practical information : Treat yourself (& others) Chile

Timetable

Budget & Tips

What's very local

Tourist traps