Argentina is a land of contrasts. From the huge and impressive city of Buenos Aires, to snowy Patagonia, to the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic, Argentina offers its visitors a unique experience, full of cultural and natural richness. Discover some of the most visited cities in Argentina, as well as the best things to do in the largest country in Spanish America.
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Cities to see in Argentina
1. Buenos Aires
Capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires is an authentic and elegant city. A cosmopolitan city, Buenos Aires enjoys a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, with interesting neighbourhoods that have their own identity.
One of the essential places to visit in Buenos Aires is the Plaza de Mayo. Located in the Monserrat neighbourhood, where Buenos Aires was founded, it is the most important public square in the city. It also has two important monuments, such as the Pirámide de Mayo and the Monument to General Manuel Belgrano. In front of this square is the Casa Rosada, the seat of the National Government.
Buenos Aires is also full of beautiful neighbourhoods that will leave you speechless. One of them is La Boca, colourful, picturesque and full of life. This neighbourhood shows visitors the friendlier side of Buenos Aires, offering them postcard-perfect snapshots. The main attraction of La Boca is the picturesque pedestrian street Caminito, a beautiful street more interesting than the city’s best museums. Another beautiful neighbourhood in the city is Palermo. It is a sprawling residential neighbourhood noted for its beautiful tree-lined avenues and elegant homes. It’s also one of the largest and greenest areas of Buenos Aires thanks to its numerous parks.
Find out more about Argentina’s capital city in Things to do when travelling to Buenos Aires
2. Argentina
Capital of the province of the same name, Mendoza is one of the main tourist destinations in Argentina. Whether it is the capital itself, or the many things to do around Mendoza, it is a very worthwhile destination. It is a dynamic city, offering a wide variety of landscapes and a great wine tradition.
One of the most visited places in the city is the Plaza de la Independencia, the city’s central point. This beautiful tree-filled square hosts a craft fair every weekend. It also leads to the Paseo Sarmiento, a three-block pedestrian street with a large number of shops and restaurants with terraces for dining or having a drink in the open air. The Parque General San Martín is the city’s green lung and the oldest park, with beautiful gates, monuments, gardens and impressive views from the Cerro de la Gloria. Moreover, on your visit Mendoza you must not miss the Plaza Pedro del Castillo, where the city was founded, the Civic Park, surrounded by public and government buildings, and finally the Inca Bridge, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.
If you go to Mendoza, you cannot miss the Termas de Cacheuta hot springs. 164 kilometres away from the city, they are a complex of thermal water deposits coming from the thaw. Other interesting places near Mendoza are the wine cellars that are typical of the area. Some good examples are the Chandon Winery and the Salentein Winery.
Discover all the things to do in Mendoza in this post.
3. Mar de Plata
Mar del Plata, a city in the province of Buenos Aires in Argentina, is an icon of the country’s economic and social progress in the 20th century. This spectacular city, commonly nicknamed La Feliz, combines a fishing tradition, the most cosmopolitan atmosphere, some of the best beaches in Argentina and a modern and surprising architecture.
Varese Beach, also known as Varese Bay, is one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Mar del Plata. Its main visitors are families and sportsmen who make the most of its safe waters to practice water sports. Varese beach is one of the essential stops to make in Argentina to enjoy the sun and the good weather. Near this beach is the Torreón del Monje, a medieval style building with a viewpoint overlooking the sea. It is one of the most visited and photographed places in the city.
Another of the city’s icons is the Torre Tanque, where you can enjoy the best views of Mar del Plata. It has a free guided tour and you can go up to its 74-metre high lookout point to enjoy the best panoramic view of the city. Other essential cultural stops in Mar del Plata include the Juan Carlos Castagnino Municipal Museum of Art and the Basilica of Saints Pedro and Cecilia.
If you want to discover these spots and other places in La Feliz, read our post Things to do in Mar del Plata.
4. Cafayate
Cafayate is a quiet town in the province of Salta, well known for its vineyards and excellent wineries. The torrontés grape is grown here, which makes it an ideal destination to enjoy the wine tradition of Argentina.
The Plaza del Veinte de Febrero is one of the most symbolic places in Cafayate and the meeting point for local visitors, especially at night due to its large number of bars and restaurants. In Cafayate there is also a Museum of the Vine and Wine, which offers a dynamic and interactive exhibition about the history of the Calchaquí Valley’s vineyards and its high altitude wines. It is an interactive space suitable for visitors of all ages. Another must-see in Cafayate is the Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Rosario, one of the most important monuments in the city. It is a temple of diverse architectural styles in which Colonial, Renaissance and even Arab styles can be seen.
And, of course, in Cafayate, as in Mendoza, visits to wine cellars are a must. The most outstanding are the Bodega Nanni and the Bodega Vasija Secreta.
On top of these, Cafayate is a city full of marvellous attractions. Discover them all in Things to do in Cafayate.
5. Iguazú
Located in the province of Misiones, Puerto Iguazu is a city known as the entrance to the Iguazu Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. However, Puerto Iguazú has much more to offer. One example of this is the three borders landmark, the place where the Iguazú River joins the Paraná River. It is also the territorial and political division of the countries of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina, hence its name. The landmark has a viewpoint to observe the spectacular scenery, as well as an artisans’ fair to buy local crafts.
If you are in Iguazú, you must walk along the Avenida Costanera Eduardo Arrabal, which runs from the Port to the Three borders landmark. This is one of the most important avenues in the city, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Iguazu River and its surroundings. Another street worth visiting is the Ferinha, a very popular shopping street in Puerto Iguazú, with a wide variety of gastronomic establishments and shops to buy local gourmet products such as cheeses, olives, sausages and other regional products.
6. Iguazu Falls, one of the 7 wonders of the world
And, of course, Iguazú’s most important attraction, and one of the best things to do in Argentina: Iguazú Falls. On the border between Argentina and Brazil, this place has not only the spectacular waterfalls but also impressive subtropical forest. The Falls are located within ecological conservation areas and the area is one of the most biodiverse in Argentina.
At the Iguazu Falls you can enjoy trails of unparalleled beauty. For example, the lower circuit at about 1,400 metres along footbridges at the foot of the falls, allows you to get a closer view of the falls. The trail ends at the Bosetti Falls, offering a spectacular view. Another one of them is the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) Walk, which starts on board the ecological Jungle Train, with open-air carriages to take in the jungle environment and get up close to the countless butterflies that fly over it, in a landscape made up of jungle and river.
Discover all of Iguazu’s hidden details in Things to do in Iguazu and Iguazu Falls Argentina.
7. Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche is a beautiful city in the province of Río Negro in Argentine Patagonia, due to both its historic centre and surrounding area. It is located within the Nahuel Huapi Park and borders the lake of the same name, providing breathtaking views. It is a place that perfectly combines the urban with the most lush nature.
Bariloche’s main attractions are the amazing natural sites surrounding the city. The Circuito Chico is a 65 kilometre circular route that allows you to visit many of these attractions. Cerro Campanario is often the first stop on this circuit and its ascent provides one of the most beautiful and impressive views of Bariloche. Another must-see on the Circuito Chico is Lago Moreno, one of the most beautiful in Bariloche, with views of the mountains.
But the Circuito Chico is not the only way to tour Bariloche’s landmarks. The Camino de los Siete Lagos is a 107-kilometre route that passes by seven impressive lakes and crosses the Lanín and Nahuel Huapi National Parks. All of this in a landscape of enormous beauty.
Continue exploring San Pedro de Bariloche and its natural sites in our post Things to do in Bariloche Argentina.
8. Ushuaia
Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world, is one of the greatest beauties of the Argentinean Patagonia. It is located 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.
One of the most popular tourist activities in Ushuaia is to visit the Beagle Channel and Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse. The Beagle Channel is a strait that joins the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean. Excursions leave the port and take visitors to the Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse, one of the most famous images of Ushuaia, as well as other places such as the Sea Lions Island and the Penguin colony of Isla Martillo.
Just 7 kilometres from the city centre is the impressive Martial Glacier. In winter the Martial is covered with snow, making it perfect for sports such as skiing. In summer, however, it becomes a very accessible trek through the forest with beautiful views of the snow-capped mountains in the background. Another stunning place to connect with nature near Ushuaia is the Tierra del Fuego National Park, 12 kilometres from the city. It is a place to enjoy nature in its purest form with its beaches, mountains, forests, lakes and peat bogs.
Don’t miss Things to do in Ushuaia Argentina to discover all its essential spots.
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.
Tips for your trip to Argentina
- Change your money into Argentine pesos beforehand. Currency exchanges at airports are very expensive.
- Always carry cash. Not all shops accept card payments.
- Have the address of the place where you are staying written down, they will ask you for it at the airport.
- Take sports clothes and shoes if you are going to do any of the suggested treks, as well as water and something to eat.
- Respect the wilderness and nature.
- Travel in 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 what to do on your trip to Argentina?
Sign up or download the app to discover all of 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.
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