Argentina — find the right stay, from deciding to booking
“Tango, Patagonia, steak, and end-of-the-world drama”
Argentina is South America's most dramatically varied destination — Buenos Aires pulses with European-flavored architecture, world-class steak, and late-night tango; Patagonia stretches into jagged granite towers and turquoise glacier lakes at the edge of the world; Mendoza pours some of the hemisphere's finest Malbec; and Iguazú thunders with one of the planet's most powerful waterfalls. The country spans sub-tropical jungle to Antarctic winds, meaning almost any type of traveler finds their scene here. Add a warm, expressive culture, passionate football, and a cafe-and-bookshop social life that rivals Buenos Aires with any European capital, and you have a destination that earns repeat visits.
Argentina at a glance
Decide — is Argentina right for you?
Why people love Argentina, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you
Buenos Aires, the Paris of the South
Grand boulevards, passionate tango milongas, world-class steak and wine, and a cafe culture that runs until dawn.
Patagonia's raw wilderness
Torres del Paine-caliber scenery on the Argentine side — Fitz Roy, Perito Moreno glacier, and Lake Nahuel Huapi, all largely uncrowded.
Iguazú Falls
Wider than Niagara and taller than Victoria Falls, the falls straddle Argentina and Brazil in a cloud of mist and rainbow.
Mendoza wine country
Malbec grown at altitude in the Andes foothills — tastings and vineyard lunches at excellent value.
Wildlife encounters
Penguins at Punta Tombo, orcas at Península Valdés, and condors soaring over Andean peaks.
Football and passion
Catch a Superclásico in Buenos Aires and feel the electric atmosphere of one of sport's greatest rivalries.
Argentina vs its neighbors
| Argentina | Chile | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (per person) | $55–120 | $65–130 | $60–125 |
| Visa (many nationalities) | Visa-free for most Western/ASEAN passports | Visa-free for most Western/ASEAN passports | Visa-free for many; check your passport |
| Getting around | Long buses + cheap domestic flights | Long buses + domestic flights | Domestic flights essential; buses for shorter routes |
| English | Good in Buenos Aires tourist areas; limited elsewhere | Good in Santiago and tourist towns | Limited; Portuguese, not Spanish |
| Known for | Tango · steak · Patagonia · wine | Torres del Paine · Santiago · Atacama | Carnival · beaches · Amazon · football |
Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.
How do you travel?
City & culture lovers
Buenos Aires rewards slow exploration — spend a week between San Telmo's antique markets, Palermo's restaurant strips, La Boca's colorful alleyways, and a tango show in Abasto.
See this plan → 🏔️Adventure & nature seekers
Fly to El Calafate for Perito Moreno glacier, then hop to El Chaltén for Fitz Roy trekking — some of the best hiking scenery on the planet without the crowds of Chilean Patagonia.
See this plan → 🍷Food & wine travelers
Base yourself in Mendoza for vineyard visits and asado lunches, then swing through Buenos Aires for parrilla dinners and the city's thriving modern gastronomy scene.
See this plan → 🌊Waterfall & wildlife fans
Fly into Puerto Iguazú to walk the Argentine catwalks above the falls, then extend to Península Valdés for whale watching and penguin colonies in season.
See this plan →Plan — stay, eat, see
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.
Find the stay you want
1 ranked reviewsNo reviews match these filters — try removing some.
- 1🥩
Asado
The Argentine art of the barbecue — slow-grilled beef ribs, chorizo, morcilla, and sweetbreads over wood embers, ideally eaten with chimichurri.
📍 Nationwide - 2🥟
Empanadas
Baked or fried pastry pockets filled with seasoned beef, chicken, or cheese — a perfect snack and each region has its own style.
📍 Nationwide - 3🍦
Dulce de leche
Slow-cooked caramel milk spread that appears in everything — on toast, in alfajor cookies, and as the default ice cream flavor.
📍 Nationwide - 4🍵
Mate
Bitter herbal tea sipped from a gourd through a metal straw — sharing mate is a social ritual and a sign of friendship and welcome.
📍 Nationwide - 5🍷
Malbec
Argentina's flagship red wine — deep, velvety, and full-bodied, best sampled where it grows in the Mendoza wine valleys.
📍 Mendoza
- 1💃
Buenos Aires
San Telmo's cobbled streets, La Boca's painted houses, Palermo's restaurants, Recoleta Cemetery, and tango shows that run until 3 am.
📍 Capital - 2🌊
Iguazú Falls
One of the world's great natural wonders — the horseshoe cascade of nearly 275 individual falls, surrounded by subtropical jungle.
📍 Misiones - 3🧊
Perito Moreno Glacier
A vast advancing glacier you can walk on, with periodic ice calving that sends booming waves across the lake.
📍 El Calafate - 4⛰️
Fitz Roy & El Chaltén
The jagged granite spire that inspired the Patagonia clothing logo — world-class hiking at the end of the continent.
📍 Patagonia - 5🍷
Mendoza wine region
High-altitude Malbec vineyards in the shadow of the Andes — bike between wineries, try an asado lunch, and watch the mountains turn pink at sunset.
📍 Cuyo - 6🐧
Península Valdés
UNESCO World Heritage site where southern right whales, orcas, elephant seals, and Magellanic penguins all share the same coastline.
📍 Patagonia coast
🚆 Getting around Argentina
Domestic flights
Argentina is vast — domestic flights between Buenos Aires, Mendoza, El Calafate, Bariloche and Iguazú save days of travel time and are often affordable when booked ahead.
Long-distance buses
Argentina's intercity bus network is extensive and comfortable — sleeper cama buses offer lie-flat seats on overnight routes and are a budget-friendly alternative to flying.
Ride apps in Buenos Aires
Uber and Cabify operate in Buenos Aires and most large cities — safer and easier than hailing street taxis, with no cash needed.
Buenos Aires Subte
The capital's metro (Subte) covers central neighborhoods efficiently — buy a SUBE card to tap on and off.
🛂 Etiquette & culture in Argentina
Late-night schedule
Dinner rarely starts before 9 pm and Argentines think nothing of arriving at a restaurant at 11 pm — embrace the rhythm or you may find yourself eating alone.
Warm greetings
A kiss on the cheek is the standard greeting among friends and even new acquaintances — don't be surprised, just lean in.
Football is religion
Match days change the city's mood entirely — join the excitement, but be aware of which end of the stadium you're sitting in at a Superclásico.
Spanish goes a long way
Even a few words of Spanish are warmly received — Rioplatense Spanish has a distinctive Italian lilt and uses 'vos' instead of 'tú', so don't be thrown by it.
💸 Daily budget — a rough guide
Budget
🛏️ Hostel / guesthouse $15–30
Argentina can be surprisingly affordable — eat at local parrillas and mercados, use buses between cities, and a long trip stretches far.
Comfortable
🛏️ 3–4★ hotel in Buenos Aires or wine country $50–90
Mix parrilla dinners with wine tastings, catch a domestic flight to Patagonia, and stay in boutique guesthouses — excellent value at this level.
Premium
🛏️ Luxury estancia / Palermo boutique hotel $120+
Stay on a working cattle estancia, book a private glacier hike, dine at Buenos Aires' top restaurants — Argentina's luxury tier punches above its weight.
🗓️ When to visit Argentina
Spring
Sep – NovBuenos Aires is beautiful in spring — mild temperatures, jacaranda trees in bloom, and shoulder-season prices before the summer rush.
Summer
Dec – FebHigh season — Patagonia is open and accessible, Mendoza harvest approaches, and Buenos Aires has festivals, though the city can be very hot.
Autumn (harvest)
Mar – MayVendimia grape harvest in Mendoza (March), Patagonia still walkable, and Buenos Aires at its most livable — the season we recommend most.
Winter
Jun – AugBariloche and the Andes are in ski season; Patagonia is harsh and some trails close, but Buenos Aires stays mild and far less crowded.
Book — hotels our team picked
If we had to pick just a few, we'd start with these three — compare prices across 3 sites.
Want to see every option in Argentina?
Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.
View the top city guide →FAQ — visiting Argentina
Is Argentina safe for tourists?+
Buenos Aires and major tourist areas are generally safe with normal city precautions — petty theft and pickpocketing are the main concerns, especially on public transport and at tourist sites. Avoid displaying expensive gear and use ride-share apps rather than hailing street taxis at night.
What currency should I use in Argentina?+
The Argentine Peso (ARS) is the official currency. Exchange rates can fluctuate significantly — check current rates before you go and use ATMs or reputable exchange houses (casas de cambio). Major credit cards are accepted in Buenos Aires and tourist towns.
How many days do I need to see Argentina?+
Two weeks is a solid introduction: 4–5 nights in Buenos Aires, a day or two in Mendoza, and 4–5 nights in Patagonia (El Calafate / El Chaltén). Add Iguazú Falls for another 2 nights — it is a long detour but absolutely worth it.
Do I need to speak Spanish?+
English is spoken in tourist-heavy areas of Buenos Aires, major hotels, and some wine estates, but outside the capital Spanish is essential. A translation app and a handful of phrases will take you a long way — Argentines are patient and genuinely warm with visitors who try.
Tips before you go to Argentina
- Book domestic flights early — routes to Patagonia fill up fast in December–February and prices spike.
- Eat dinner late like the locals: restaurants hit their stride after 9 pm and the atmosphere is completely different from the empty early sittings.
- Bring a power adapter for Type I plugs (the angled three-pin used in Australia) — many older Buenos Aires sockets also accept the flat two-pin Type A.
- Carry some US dollars or local pesos in cash — rural Patagonia and smaller towns rarely accept cards, and ATM availability can be limited.
- In Mendoza, book winery visits in advance for the March harvest festival (Vendimia) — it is one of South America's great celebrations.
- At Iguazú, the Argentine side has more walkways and gets closer to the falls — budget a full day there before crossing to the Brazilian side for the panoramic view.