Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world, is one of the greatest beauties in the Argentinean Patagonia. It is in the province of Tierra del Fuego, at the southernmost tip of South America and attracts tourists from all over the world, fascinated by its breathtaking nature and beautiful historic centre. Read on to find out all the things to do in Ushuaia.
Places to see in Ushuaia
1. Centre of Ushuaia
Many visitors who come to Ushuaia are lured by the call of Patagonia’s breathtaking wilderness. But the city centre, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the mountains on the other, is also worth a visit.
The city has some very interesting places to stroll around, such as the Paseo de los Artesanos, in the Plaza Veinticinco de Mayo. This is where the Ushuaia Craft Fair is held, with 48 stalls where national and international artisans exhibit and sell their art. Very close to this square is the Antarctic Experience, a space worth seeing that takes you directly to Antarctica through virtual reality.
Also on the list of things to do in Ushuaia the Museo del Fin del Mundo (Museum of the End of the World) and the Museo de la Prisión (Prison Museum). The former is a beautiful tour through the natural, cultural and social history of Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia. The second is a real prison, which operated from 1920 to 1947, now converted into a museum where you can see both the facilities in which the prisoners lived and exhibitions about Antarctica.
Opening times and prices of the Museum of the End of the World: Mon – Fri: 10:00-19:00 / Sat: 13:00-19:00
General admission: $500 (4,35€) Argentinians: $200 (1,74€) Students, teachers and Argentinean pensioners: $150 (1,31€) Children under 14 years old, disabled people, former combatants of Malvinas and residents of the Province of Tierra del Fuego: FREE
Prison Museum opening hours and prices: Mon-Fri: 16:00-20:00
General admission: 1100$ ARS (9,57€). Students: 800$ ARS (7€). On Saturdays, free admission for residents of Tierra del Fuego Argentina, with accreditation.
2. Martial Glacier
Just 7 kilometres from the city centre, this impressive glacier is one of the most interesting activities to do in Ushuaia. It can be visited all year round, but depending on the season you will find different activities. In winter the Martial is covered with snow, so it is perfect to practice sports such as skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing in its ski resort. However, in summer it becomes a very accessible trekking route through the forest with beautiful views of the snow-capped mountains in the background. The more adventurous can continue the hike to the base of the glacier in about 45 minutes, but always with great caution due to possible landslides.
3. Beagle Channel and Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse
The Beagle Channel is a strait that joins the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, and it is one of Ushuaia’s main attractions. Excursions depart from the port, in the centre of the city, and take visitors to some of the most iconic places in the City at the End of the World. One example is Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse, located on a small rocky islet. This lighthouse, which has been guiding ships for more than a century, is one of Ushuaia’s most recognisable sights, with its red and white colours that stand out against the blue of the sea and the green and white of the mountains.
Other equally interesting stops include Isla de Lobos Marinos, Isla de los Pajaros and Isla Martillo Penguin Colony. Excursions last between 3 and 5 hours and cost between ARS$4000 (€35) and ARS$5700 (€50) depending on the tour.
4. Tierra del Fuego National Park
Tierra del Fuego National Park is one of the most beautiful and impressive national parks in Argentine Patagonia. It is located 12 kilometres from Ushuaia, which makes it the perfect excursion to spend the morning or the whole day. The enormous variety of geographical features is part of what makes it such an extraordinary place: over the 70,000 hectares you will find beaches, mountains, forests, lakes and peat bogs. In this park you can go on several treks that range from 400 metres (Castorera route) to 8 kilometres (Senda Costera) and of different difficulties. Among the most visited places in the Tierra del Fuego National Park are Lapataia Bay, Lake Roca, Lake Acigami, Black Lagoon and Zaratiegui Cove.
Access to the park costs 1500$ ARS (13€) and is open from 9:00 to 20:00 every day of the week.
5. Train to the end of the world
The Train to the End of the World is a famous railway that travels the southernmost route in the world. Nowadays this train is only a tourist attraction, but in its day it was the means of transport used to carry the freshly cut wood from the Ushuaia Military Prison. The views of nature in all its splendour are unparalleled. From the train window you can see the Pipo River, La Macarena waterfall and the oak forest of Tierra del Fuego, as well as the impressive mountains with their snow-capped peaks. The train also provides access to an area of the Tierra del Fuego Park that cannot be reached in any other way.
The train station is 8 kilometres from the centre of Ushuaia and fares are:
| TRAIN TICKETS | TOURIST from | TOP DECK from | PREMIUM CLASS from |
| 13 YEARS AND OVER | $3.200,00 | $6.400,00 | $7.550,00 |
| CHILDREN AGED 4 TO 12 YEARS | $1.600,00 | $3.200,00 | $3.750,00 |
| INFANT 0-3 YEARS | FREE | FREE | FREE |
| ARGENTINIAN PENSIONER | $2.050,00 | $6.400,00 | $7.550,00 |
6. Esmeralda Lagoon
This is another of the essential visits on a trip to Ushuaia. To get there you have to do a low difficulty 2-hour trek. The path is absolutely beautiful as it crosses glaciers, valleys, lenga forests and streams. And as if that were not enough, the reward on arrival is an intense green lagoon with views of the Albino glacier.
The beginning of the route is 15 kilometres from Ushuaia and access is completely free of charge.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to do in Ushuaia 3 days?
First day:
- Boat trip on the Beagle Channel and visit to Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
- Tour of the centre of Ushuaia
- Visit to the Prison Museum and the Maritime Museum
Second day:
- Trekking in Tierra del Fuego National Park
- Journey on the End of the World Train
Third day:
- Excursion to the Emerald Lagoon
What to do in Ushuaia 4 days?
Fourth day:
- Trekking or skiing on the Martial Glacier
- Visit to Edelweiss Chocolate Factory back in Ushuaia
What to do in Ushuaia in a week?
If you are going to extend your trip to Ushuaia for up to a week, we recommend taking the opportunity to get to know other lesser-known but equally impressive natural sites close to the city.
- Trip to Cabo San Pablo
- Trek to the Cerro Alarkén
- Go to the Turquoise Lake
- Excursion to Lakes Escondido and Fagnano
Where to eat in Ushuaia?
- El Viejo Marino: One of the best places in Ushuaia to eat spider crab and other seafood. It is located near the city’s port and its speciality, a whole spider crab, costs 2000$ ARS (€17.41), for two people.
- Bodegón Fueguino: The place to go for lamb and other typical Argentinean dishes. Approximate price for lamb is 450$ ARS (4€).
- El Mercado: The Mercado serves some of the best burgers and pizzas in town. Price range: €9 – €86.
Where to stay in Ushuaia?
- Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort: A beautiful resort set in a castle whose rooms have sea and mountain views. It offers comfortable accommodation with spa, indoor pool, hot tub, buffet breakfast and all kinds of luxuries. Average price in high season: €264 per night.
- Hostal Malvinas: Located 100 metres from the centre. It offers rooms with private bathroom and panoramic views of the city. Breakfast included and no payment in advance. Average price in high season: €94.
- La Posta Hostel Apart Ushuaia: Rustic flats 5 kilometres from Ushuaia Airport. The apartments are fully furnished and have a kitchen. There are also two communal kitchens and a dining area. Average price in high season: €115 for up to 4 people.
Tips for your trip to Ushuaia
- Have your money changed into Argentine pesos beforehand. Currency exchanges at airports are very expensive.
- Always carry cash. Not all shops accept credit cards.
- Have the address of the place where you are going to stay written down, they will ask you for it at the airport.
- Take sports clothes and shoes if you’re going on any of the suggested trekking routes, as well as water and something to eat.
- Travel in the low season (July and August) if you want to get cheaper prices.
- Travel in January, February and December for better temperatures.
- Take out insurance before you travel to Argentina, as private health care costs are very high.
- Plugs in Argentina have three flat pins, so you’ll need an adaptor to use electrical appliances.
How to organise your trip to Ushuaia?
Register or download the App and discover all its useful features.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Ushuaia
By plane: there are flights connecting Buenos Aires and Ushuaia daily from 65€ one way and the journey takes 3h40m.
By road: the distance between the capital of Argentina and Ushuaia is 3080.2 km, that is, 38 hours by car on the National Route No. 3. Also, bear in mind that as it is an island, to get there by car you have to cross Punta Delgada from Chile by ferry, which takes 2h30m and costs €16.45 per car.
Four days are enough to get to know the essence of Ushuaia and visit its most iconic places.
In Ushuaia temperatures are very low and it’s very snowy. That’s why your suitcase should be packed with the following items:
-A good coat
-A waterproof jacket
– Thermal clothes to wear under your clothes (T-shirts and leggings)
-Waterproof trekking boots for walking in the snow.
-Hat, scarf, gloves and thick socks.
In summer temperatures range from 6°C to 15°C and vary greatly throughout the day, so it is advisable to bring a variety of clothing as the weather is often quite unpredictable.
Ushuaia’s climate type is oceanic subpolar. As a result, temperatures are low all year round, with average temperatures of 1.6°C in July and 10.3°C in January, the coldest and hottest months of the year respectively.
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