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Viña del Mar is best known by tourists as the sister city to the bustling, bohemian hillsides of Valparaíso just a few minutes down the coast.

But the beachside resort town's sandy white beaches, palace-lined hills and wide selection of restaurants have seen it named by Chileans as the country's best city to live in.

Viña del Mar's proximity to Chile's other prized "viñas" - vineyards - in the Casablanca Valley likewise makes it the perfect destination to unwind and retreat from the wear and tear of city life. All you need is a three-day weekend and and a bathing suit for your rejuvenating stay in Chile's seaside escape and nearby wine valley.

Friday

Start off your trip right by learning why Viña del Mar is known as the "Garden City." Begin at the famous Flower Clock located on Av. Marina at the foot of Cerro Castillo. A gift from Switzerland, the clock was donated in 1962 to commemorate Viña del Mar's selection as one of the cities chosen to host some matches from that year's soccer World Cup.

From there, make your way up through Cerro Castillo, or Castle Hill, where the wealthy families of Chile's past occupied castles and palaces dating back to the early 1900s. Here, you'll also find the Presidential Palace, which serves as a residence for Chile's leaders when staying on the coast.

The Venetian-style Vergara Palace and massive estate known jointly as Quinta Vergara have since been converted into the Municipal Fine Arts Museum and a intricately-landscaped public park. The Rioja Palace, a French neoclassical mansion, has likewise been turned into a municipal museum. Home to the Izidor Handler Music Conservatory, you're in for a treat when there's music playing, which you can enjoy while strolling the property's sprawling gardens.

Located on the jagged rocks along the Pacific coastline, the Wulff Castle is the epitome of luxury. Built on a stone foundation at the turn of the 20th century with sections of glass flooring to watch the ocean waves breaking below, the castle is must-see in Viña, and admission is free to the public Tuesday through Sunday.

For the risk-inclined, test out your luck at one of Chile's oldest casinos, the Casino Municipal, located right on the shoreline. If you're looking to continue your weekend of relaxation, grab dinner at one of the many restaurants on Av. San Martín or take in a show at the Muncipal Theater in Plaza Vergara, and wander Viña's tree-lined plazas and orderly streets.

Saturday

Spend your Saturday soaking up Chile's natural beauty at the National Botanical Garden, home to nearly 800 plant species, nearly half of which are endangered species native to Chile. The collection includes 280 tree species, including one of the few traces left of the flowering Sophora Toromiro tree, originally from Easter Island and now extinct in the wild. There are also over 50 species of flora and fauna from the Juan Fernández archipelago and 60 species of cacti, including a collection from Central America.

Park grounds also offer free, wide open picnic areas, a Japanese bridge, small waterfalls and a lagoon, ideal for observing some of the garden's 50 species of bird and waterfowl. Families traveling with young children should check out one of the park's educational workshops on nature and the environment.

In the afternoon, grab your notebook and clean your palette as you head over to nearby Casablanca Valley, renowned for its wines - in particular Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, as well as Pinot Noir and Syrah. Located just 30 minutes inland, Casablanca's high-quality wineries are easily accessible by car, taxi or bus, lining the hills along Route 68.

The vineyards along the Casablanca wine route include Viña Casas del Bosque, Viña Catrala, Viña Estancia El Cuadro, Viñedos Orgánicos Emiliana, Viña Indómita, Viña Kingston Family Vineyards, Viña Matetic, Viña Morandé, Viña Veramonte and Viña Mar.

Nearly all offer daily tastings and many run tours of the properties as well, which include guided discussions of the grapes, the wine cellars and the production side of the business. Morandé, Viña Mar, Indómita, Estancia El Cuadro and Casas del Bosque also offer top-notch restaurants on their sprawling estates, perfect for a leisurely afternoon meal of seafood or meats to accompany your wine and watch the sun set in the west.

Sunday

Dedicate your final day on the coast exclusively to beach-side relaxation. Viña del Mar's lovely white-sand beaches are popular for local holiday-makers, so tourists might consider taking a short drive 7 km up the coast toward the quieter sands of Reñaca. Regardless of your destination, be sure to get to the beaches before noon and you should have no trouble finding a spot to stretch out your towel.

Take a stroll on the beach, grab some lunch at a nearby café, and breathe in the crisp sea air. If you're near Reñaca, head toward Mirador Cochoa, just 4 km away, where the quiet bay provides a great lookout for Chile's enormous "lobos marinos," or sea lions, which beach on the sand or rocks nearby.

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