A must-see destination in South America, Argentina will not disappoint even the most demanding traveller.
From the world’s southernmost city to the desert plateaus, ski slopes to rainforests, there’s so much to see that you should spend time in the charming, vibrant metropolis of Buenos Aires.
Unless you have a few months to spare, we recommend checking if the season is right, picking a few destinations from your list, and heading out to explore the eighth largest country in the world. There is always something great to do in Argentina.
Buenos Aires is a hub of culture, fun and charm © Alexandr Vorobev / Shutterstock
1. Buenos Aires
Best cities in Argentina
The city of Buenos Aires has everything you could ever want: from Anchoita restaurants serving the best produce (and wine) from across the country to the frenetic football matches that take place almost daily, charm and fun are always at your fingertips.
The capital boasts the highest number of bookstores per capita in the world: Eterna Cadencia and Notampuan are just two of the dozens dotted around the city, while Plaza Italia and Parque Rivadavia see new bookstores popping up every day.
If you’re looking for books in English, try Walrus Books in the once aristocratic San Telmo district. Most bookstores have at least a small English, French and German section.
The Teatro Colon presents world-class opera, ballet and symphonies, while the Museum of Latin American Art (MALBA), Museum of Modern Art (MAMBA) and Museum of Bellas Artes house Latin American and international masterpieces. Lined with pizzerias, late-night bookstores and Broadway-quality theaters, Calle Corrientes is always entertaining.
Local tip: Buenos Aires is beautiful all year round, but spring is especially memorable when the streets are lined with purple jacaranda flowers and the weather is perfect. Palermo and San Telmo are great neighborhoods to stay in for their convenience and density of restaurants and other attractions.
Heading to Buenos Aires? Plan your trip with our local guides
2. Mendoza
Great place to enjoy wine
The Andean province of Mendoza is home to hundreds of bodegas (wine estates) and produces delicious Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah to rival any in the world.
Combine excursions to vineyards, which offer daily tastings and workshops, with some of Argentina’s best cuisine (since the guide arrived in Argentina in 2023, the city of Mendoza has won half of the country’s Michelin stars) and great outdoor activities, such as rafting and hiking, and you’ve got the makings of a great trip.
Planning tip: Bodegas and hotels fill up quickly, especially in the summer when Argentines are traveling, so make sure you book at least a month in advance.
Have you decided when to visit Argentina? Our seasonal guide will help you
Hike one of the many trails that run from El Chalten through Los Glaciares National Park © Marco Bottigelli / Getty Images
3. El Chalten
Great place for hiking
The small Patagonian town of El Chalten in the province of Santa Cruz is one of the world’s premier trekking destinations. Located close to the imposing Mount Fitz Roy and Los Glaciares National Park, the town’s unparalleled scenery and hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails are a must-see for anyone looking to add an expeditionary flavour to their journey south.
Within the same vast national park, accessible from the nearby city of El Calafate, is the 30 km long, 5 km wide, and 60 m high (18 miles long, 3 miles wide, 197 feet high) Perito Moreno Glacier, famous for the huge chunks of ice that break off near the observation tower in summer and flow into the water below.
Planning tip: Avoid going in the winter if possible, as many trails are closed and the weather can be really harsh. Whatever the season, pack a windbreaker – you won’t regret it.
4. Mar del Plata on the Atlantic coast
Perfect place for a summer vacation
Although Argentina isn’t known for its beaches, Mar del Plata is a popular Argentine summer holiday destination and its central hotel-casino is a symbol of Argentina’s modernisation in the 1930s and 1940s.
The city hosts a famous film festival and is also known as the birthplace of alfajores (cookie-type sandwiches usually filled with dulce de leche).
Many Argentines will have fond childhood memories of the city centre, surrounded by shops, panqueques (crepes like dulce de leche) and churros stuffed with dulce de leche.
Planning tip: If the city is a bit too big for you, smaller towns like Carilo are friendlier and just as beautiful, and are just a few hours drive from Buenos Aires city.
The best views of Iguazu Falls can be seen from the Argentine side of the border © Werner Büchel / Getty Images
5. Iguazu Falls
The best place for waterfalls
Located on the “triple border” of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, the Iguazu region is home to one of the most impressive networks of waterfalls in the world.
Accessible from both Argentina and Brazil, and set in the middle of a dense, lush rainforest, there’s a reason why the falls were named one of the seven “Natural Wonders of the World” in 2011 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.
Be prepared to travel across the Argentina-Brazil border. Don’t miss the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), the enormous centerpiece of the falls. Although the falls’ central chute is technically on the Brazilian side, a viewing platform on the Argentine side is more conveniently located.
Planning tip: Many of the tourist attractions are on the Brazilian side. The border between Brazil and Argentina is easy to cross, but there are often queues, especially around 6pm, and tourists may cross multiple times a day. Don’t forget your passport.
6. Bariloche
A great place to hang out by the lake
Located on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi and nestled in the valleys of the Andes, the city of Bariloche is one of the leading tourist destinations in the Patagonia region of Argentina.
Trust me, there’s nothing more dreamy than a temperate forest and pristine lakeside hidden amongst the mountains.
Camping in the Siete Lagos (Seven Lakes) region, on the road from nearby hippie hotspot Villa la Angostura to San Martín de los Andes, is a rite of passage for Argentines, and a trip to Bariloche, where you’ll also find some of the world’s best chocolate, is well worth the time.
Bariloche is South America’s largest winter sports resort and sits next to Cerro Catedral, the legendary birthplace of Argentine winter sports. Countless trails, plenty of dining options, and beautiful scenery overlooking the region’s many lakes make it a destination not to be missed.
Planning Tip: Drive the Seven Lakes Scenic Road or hop on a bus for an unforgettable trip to the stunning mountain lakes in the heart of the Andes between Bariloche and San Martin de los Andes. The drive takes just a few hours.
Planning a road trip in Argentina? Check out our guide to the best driving routes
Visit one of the world’s largest salt flats in Jujuy © simonmayer / Getty Images
7. Humahuaca Valley and Salinas Grandes, Jujuy
The perfect place to enjoy unforgettable mountains and salt flats
Though less well-known than the Patagonia mountains, the Andes mountain range in northwest Argentina is just as breathtakingly beautiful. Quebrada de Humahuaca in Jujuy province, close to the border with Bolivia, is full of unforgettable scenery to see, from grazing guanacos to striped mountains that vary in color from nearly white to deep purple.
From the psychedelic hues of the Hornocal Mountains to Salinas Grandes, one of the world’s largest salt flats, Jujuy will challenge your senses of what nature is capable of.
It also has a fitting history, with some of the oldest evidence of human habitation in the Southern Cone and a rich indigenous cultural influence that continues to this day.
The Cora, Atacama, Quechua and Omaguaca peoples, who lived near the southern edge of the Inca Empire, have continued to preserve their traditions despite centuries of colonialism.
The food is not to be missed: in the town of Tilcara, you’ll find the award-winning restaurant El Nuevo Progreso, which uses avant-garde techniques to turn traditional dishes such as humita en chala and tamales, a mixture of cheese and corn wrapped in corn husks and steamed, into gourmet delights. Llama meat is a unique delicacy in the region and is often made into salami.
Planning tip: The Humahuaca Canyon is over 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) above sea level, with some tourist sites at 4,350 meters (14,272 feet) above sea level. Be prepared for a lack of oxygen. Locals chew coca leaves, a natural energy drink, to get energized at high altitude, but candies made from coca powder are sold throughout Jujuy. Painkillers are effective for headaches.
8. Ushuaia
The best place to go to Antarctica
The city of Ushuaia (population 82,000) is the southernmost city in the world. Located at the foot of the Andes, just 1,000 km (620 miles) from Antarctica, Ushuaia’s austere and stormy beauty is hard to describe.
The city is a world-class hub for hiking in summer and draws snow sports enthusiasts to the Cerro Castor ski resort in winter, where you can enjoy fantastic local cuisine, including the world-famous Cordero Patagonico (lamb slow-cooked over an open flame) and fresh crab caught nearby.
Planning tip: Be sure to bring a winter jacket, as even in summer temperatures rarely drop below 15°C (59°F).
9. Ibera National Park
Great place for bird watching
The Ibera estuary, in the northeastern province of Corrientes, is home to some of the rarest bird species in the world.
Arrange a kayak or boat tour from the small town of Carlos Pellegrini to see more than 360 bird species, including majestic southern screamers, various types of herons and grumpy-faced gullet cuckoos, as well as the monkeys and unique reptiles that call the area home.
Ibera also retains evidence of centuries of colonization and the ruins of a Jesuit “mission” where Guarani and other indigenous people were taught Spanish and Catholicism, but which was abandoned after the Jesuits were expelled from the region in the 18th century.
This article was first published on October 22, 2021 and updated on June 10, 2024.
