Peñalolén is a Chilean commune located within Santiago Province in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Situated at coordinates -33.4833, -70.5500, it functions as a third-level administrative division of Chile. The municipality is governed by a municipal council headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years, serving as a key local government entity within the broader metropolitan framework.

The commune was officially founded on 15 November 1984. Its modern history includes significant administrative changes, with six mayors serving since its establishment. Notable events include a 2019 incident where Chilean police arrested a local family accused of drug trafficking, highlighting the presence of large criminal organizations operating throughout the city during that period.

Peñalolén is characterized by distinct socioeconomic segregation between its Pre-Cordillera areas and lower zones. Districts such as Las Pircas, Casablanca, and Peñalolen Alto feature upper-middle to high-income populations similar to those in Las Condes or Vitacura. In contrast, the lower areas are predominantly working-class, creating a diverse urban landscape defined by these sharp economic divides.

The area hosts Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, contributing to its educational profile. While specific festivals or museums are not detailed in the sources, the commune's identity is shaped by its political representation in Electoral District No. 11 and the VII Senatorial Circumscription. It maintains active parliamentary ties with neighboring communes like Lo Barnechea and Las Condes.

According to the 2002 census, Peñalolén has an area of 54.2 km² and 216,060 inhabitants, making it an entirely urban area. A 2006 projection estimated the population at 238,177 with an average annual household income of US$43,856. The region recorded a poverty line rate of 8.7% in 2006 and a regional quality of life index of 74.35.