South America
Tango and steak in Buenos Aires, glaciers and granite peaks in Patagonia, Andean vineyards, painted northern canyons and the thunder of Iguazu, across one of the longest countries on earth.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, stretching about 3,700 km from the subtropical north to the sub-Antarctic south, and from the Andes in the west to the Atlantic in the east. Its people are largely descended from immigrants, particularly Italians and Spaniards, and its capital, Buenos Aires, is one of the most European-feeling cities in South America. It was a Spanish colony until independence in 1816 and became one of the richest countries in the world in the early 20th century, before decades of political and economic turmoil.
For visitors, the range is extraordinary. There is Buenos Aires, with its tango halls, cafés, bookshops and parrillas; Patagonia, with the Perito Moreno Glacier, the granite towers of Fitz Roy and the lakes of Bariloche; the vineyards of Mendoza under the Andes; the coloured canyons and adobe villages of the north-west; the Iguazu Falls; and whales and penguins on the Atlantic coast. It is also a country of food, particularly beef, empanadas and wine, and of a warm, argumentative, passionate culture.
Argentina is not a cheap country in the way it once was, and its economy is volatile, with inflation and shifting exchange rates. Travellers should plan carefully and check current advice on money. But it remains one of the most rewarding countries in South America, and a place where distances are big, landscapes are breathtaking and the welcome is warm.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend each for a first visit. Buenos Aires and Patagonia are the essentials; Iguazu, Bariloche, Mendoza and Salta add contrast, and Ushuaia, Valdés and Iberá suit those with more time.
Buenos Aires, on the Río de la Plata
Argentina's capital: a city of European architecture and Latin passion, with Plaza de Mayo, Recoleta Cemetery, San Telmo, La Boca, Teatro Colón, tango and some of the best food and nightlife in the Americas.
Don't miss A slow dinner of grilled beef and Malbec in Palermo at 10pm, followed by a milonga where the dancers do not stop until dawn.
Explore Destination — Buenos AiresSanta Cruz, southern Patagonia
The gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, with the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier, boat trips to the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers, ice trekking and Patagonian estancias.
Don't miss Standing on the walkways as a house-sized block of ice breaks away and thunders into the lake.
Explore Destination — El Calafate and the Perito Moreno GlacierSanta Cruz, southern Patagonia
A hiker's paradise in Los Glaciares National Park, with day walks to Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre beneath some of the world's most dramatic granite peaks.
Don't miss Reaching Laguna de los Tres at dawn, as the first light turns the Fitz Roy needles orange above the frozen lagoon.
Explore Destination — El Chaltén and Fitz RoyMisiones, north-east Argentina
The Argentine side of Iguazú Falls holds most of the 275 cascades, seen from a network of circuits and walkways in a subtropical rainforest national park, with the Devil's Throat as its finale.
Don't miss The walkway over the lip of the Devil's Throat, where the roar is deafening and mist surrounds you.
Explore Destination — Iguazú Falls (Argentine side)Río Negro and Neuquén, northern Patagonia
Argentina's lakes and mountains playground: Nahuel Huapi National Park, the Circuito Chico, Llao Llao, Cerro Catedral, the Seven Lakes road and Villa La Angostura, with skiing in winter and hiking in summer.
Don't miss The Circuito Chico at sunset, with the lake turning pink and Llao Llao on its peninsula.
Explore Destination — Bariloche and the Lake DistrictMendoza, Cuyo, central Andes
Argentina's premier wine region: Luján de Cuyo, Maipú and the Uco Valley, plus the elegant city of Mendoza, the Andean road to Aconcagua and outdoor adventures.
Don't miss A long lunch with a Malbec in hand on a winery terrace, with the snowy Andes on the horizon.
Explore Destination — Mendoza Wine CountrySalta and Jujuy, north-west Argentina
A colourful region of Salta's colonial centre, the canyons of Cafayate, the UNESCO-listed Quebrada de Humahuaca, Purmamarca's coloured hill, Salinas Grandes and the Train to the Clouds.
Don't miss The Hill of Seven Colours at Purmamarca, glowing at dawn above the adobe village and the market.
Explore Destination — Salta, Jujuy and the North-WestTierra del Fuego, southern tip of Argentina
A port at the end of the world, with Beagle Channel cruises, Tierra del Fuego National Park, the End of the World Train, penguins and the departure point for Antarctic cruises.
Don't miss Sailing the Beagle Channel past sea lions and the red-and-white Les Éclaireurs lighthouse, with the mountains behind.
Explore Destination — Ushuaia and Tierra del FuegoChubut, Atlantic coast of Patagonia
One of the best wildlife-watching places in the Americas: whales from June to December, elephant seals, sea lions, penguins, guanacos and, at the right tide, hunting orcas, all in a UNESCO-listed reserve.
Don't miss A southern right whale mother and calf surfacing beside your boat in the calm waters of Golfo Nuevo.
Explore Destination — Península ValdésCorrientes, north-east Argentina
One of South America's largest freshwater wetlands, a remote nature reserve of lagoons and marshes, with boat safaris, walking, horse riding, and a pioneering rewilding project.
Don't miss Drifting in a small boat at dawn among floating islands, with caimans, capybaras and hundreds of birds in every direction.
Explore Destination — Esteros del IberáExperiences
The experiences that recur across the country and make an Argentine trip feel like one.
Tango was born in the port districts of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, and is danced in milongas, or dance halls, and performed in shows across the city. See Buenos Aires.
Tip For a local experience, go to a milonga rather than a dinner show.
Perito Moreno is one of the few advancing glaciers in the world, and its calving ice is a thrilling sight from walkways and boats. See El Calafate.
Tip Visit early, and add a boat or a guided ice trek.
Some of the best day walks in the world start at El Chaltén, leading to lakes beneath granite spires. See El Chaltén.
Tip Go early on a clear day, and bring windproof layers.
Argentina's flagship red grape thrives at altitude under the Andes, and many bodegas offer tastings, lunches and stays. See Mendoza.
Tip Book a driver or a bike tour, and book lunch.
Southern right whales gather off the Valdés coast from June to December, with calves close to the boats. See Península Valdés.
Tip Choose licensed operators, and go in September or October.
A day or night at a working ranch offers horseback riding, an asado barbecue and a glimpse of the gaucho tradition, near Buenos Aires or in Patagonia.
Tip Book a full-day visit with lunch.
Football is a passion, and a match at La Bombonera or the Monumental is an unforgettable experience.
Tip Book through a reputable tour, since tickets for foreigners are restricted.
Food and drink
Argentine food is beef-centred, with Italian and Spanish influences, and meals are slow, late and social. Dinner rarely starts before 9pm.
The traditional barbecue: beef ribs, sausages, sweetbreads and other cuts slow-cooked over wood or charcoal, served with chimichurri and salad. It is a weekend ritual and a social occasion.
Where to try it Parrillas in Buenos Aires and estancias across the country.
Baked or fried pastries filled with beef, chicken, cheese or vegetables, each province with its own style. The Salta and Tucumán versions are famous.
Where to try it Everywhere, especially in Salta.
A thick slice of provolone cheese, grilled on the parrilla until crisp outside and molten within, and served with oregano and chilli.
Where to try it Parrillas as a starter.
Two soft biscuits sandwiched with dulce de leche and coated in chocolate or dusted with coconut, the national cookie.
Where to try it Kiosks and bakeries.
A bitter herbal infusion of yerba mate, drunk from a gourd through a metal straw and shared among friends. It is more a social ritual than a drink.
Where to try it In parks, on the road and at home.
A hearty stew of corn, beans, squash and meat, especially eaten in the north-west and on national holidays.
Where to try it Restaurants in Salta and Jujuy.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Argentina is welcoming and varied, but its economy is volatile, so check the latest advice on money, prices and entry.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
The seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere. Patagonia is best from November to March, Buenos Aires in spring and autumn, Mendoza in autumn and the north-west from April to October.
The peak for Patagonia and Ushuaia, with long days and hiking weather. Buenos Aires is hot and humid, and many locals go on holiday.
Warm and settled, with the grape harvest in Mendoza and autumn colour in the Lakes District. Excellent for Buenos Aires.
Cold in Patagonia and the south, but good for skiing in Bariloche and Mendoza, whales at Valdés and the dry, sunny north-west.
Warm, with jacaranda blossoms in Buenos Aires and whales at their best at Valdés. Patagonia warms up from November.
Worth planning around: Patagonia in winter, when many services close, and the peak Christmas–February holiday period if you dislike crowds and high prices.
Trip length
Argentina is enormous, and travel involves long flights or bus journeys. Two weeks allows Buenos Aires and Patagonia with one other region, and three weeks adds the north or the wine country.
Getting around
Argentina's distances are huge. Flights are the way to cover them, and long-distance buses are comfortable and good for shorter hops.
Sample route
Buenos Aires, Iguazu, the glaciers and peaks of Patagonia and the Lake District, with four domestic flights. Covers five of the ten destinations in this guide.
Culture
Argentines are warm, expressive and proud, and social life revolves around family, friends, food and conversation. People kiss on the cheek in greeting, dinner is late, and politics and football are always on the agenda. The country has a strong café and bookshop culture.
A single kiss on the right cheek is normal between women, and between men and women. Men usually shake hands.
Restaurants open for dinner at about 8 or 9pm, and people rarely eat before 9. Lunch is around 1 to 2pm.
If you are offered mate, accept and return the gourd when you are done. Do not stir the straw.
Service can be slow and relaxed. Waiters do not hurry you, and you must ask for the bill.
Argentines dress well, particularly in Buenos Aires. Beachwear is for the beach.
The Falkland Islands (Malvinas), politics and the economy are emotive. Listen more than you argue.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in Argentina, several of which are specific to how the country works.
FAQ
Generally, yes. Petty theft is common in Buenos Aires, so keep valuables hidden and use taxi apps. Patagonia and the wine regions are very safe.
Two weeks for a first trip, covering Buenos Aires and Patagonia, and three if you add Mendoza or Salta.
It depends where. November to March for Patagonia, spring and autumn for Buenos Aires and Mendoza.
It has become more expensive than in the past, though prices are volatile. Meals and wine are still good value, but flights and accommodation can cost a lot.
Many nationalities can enter without a visa for up to 90 days. Check the official government site.
Yes. Long-distance buses are comfortable, and cama-class seats recline almost flat.
Yes, but with flights via Buenos Aires. Allow at least ten days.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
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