Argentina · Cities
Which Argentina city fits your trip?
From Buenos Aires boulevards to glacier catwalks and Iguazú mist — pick a region and build around it.
Compare them
Filter by how many days you have and what you like — then open the guides that exist today.
| Best for | Best months | Fly in? | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mendoza Malbec capital at the foot of the Andes — bike the Maipú wine route. | 3–3 days | €58 | food, nature | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| Bariloche Alpine lakes, chocolate, and Nahuel Huapi cruises — Patagonia's summer hub. | 3–3 days | €62 | nature, food | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| El Calafate Perito Moreno glacier gateway — book minitrekking and boat days ahead. | 3–3 days | €68 | nature, adventure | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| Ushuaia End of the world — Beagle Channel cruises and Tierra del Fuego treks. | 3–3 days | €70 | nature, adventure | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| Salta Colonial northwest hub — Quebrada de Humahuaca and torrontés wine. | 3–3 days | €52 | history, culture | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| Puerto Iguazú Iguazú Falls gateway — two park days and a Brazil-side panorama. | 3–3 days | €58 | nature, adventure | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| Córdoba Jesuit heritage and student nightlife — gateway to the sierras. | 3–3 days | €50 | history, culture | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| El Chaltén Fitz Roy trekking village — bus from El Calafate, no airport. | 3–3 days | €55 | nature, adventure | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Via Buenos Aires |
| Puerto Madryn Whale watching and penguin colonies — Peninsula Valdés gateway. | 3–3 days | €58 | nature, adventure | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| Mar del Plata Argentina's classic Atlantic beach city — seafood and summer nightlife. | 3–3 days | €55 | beach, food | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| San Martín de los Andes Quieter Lake District base — Lacar shores and Seven Lakes drives. | 3–3 days | €60 | nature, food | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
| Buenos Aires Tango, parrillas, and boulevard cafes — Argentina's main gateway. | 4 nights | €65 | history, food | Mar–May & Sep–Nov | Yes |
Showing 12 of 12. Daily figures are per person at mid tier, excluding flights.
Pairings that work — and ones that don't
Choosing cities is really choosing combinations, because the flight map between them is not what the road map suggests.
- 4 days
Buenos Aires
A first taste, tango weekend, or stopover you want to use properly.
- 7 days
Buenos Aires + Mendoza
City culture plus Andes wine without Patagonia distances.
- 10 days
El Calafate + El Chaltén + Bariloche
Glaciers and Fitz Roy with one lake district finish.
- varies
Buenos Aires + Ushuaiaawkward
capital versus end-of-world — fine by flight but not a road trip; budget a travel day each way
- varies
Mendoza + Puerto Iguazúawkward
Andes wine versus subtropical falls — fly via Buenos Aires; 2000 km apart
- varies
Bariloche + Saltaawkward
Patagonia lakes versus northwest canyons — opposite corners; pick one region per trip
- varies
El Calafate + Puerto Iguazúawkward
glacier south versus jungle falls — connect via BA with two flight days minimum
- varies
El Chaltén + Mar del Plataawkward
Fitz Roy trekking versus Atlantic beach — no sensible overland link in one week
- varies
Puerto Madryn + Saltaawkward
Atlantic wildlife versus Andes culture — fly via Buenos Aires; not a same-week drive
- varies
Córdoba + Ushuaiaawkward
central sierras versus Tierra del Fuego — multiple flights; awkward in seven days total
- varies
San Martín de los Andes + Puerto Iguazúawkward
Lake District versus Iguazú — fly through BA or Cordoba; long travel day each way
Guides still being written
Honest about coverage: each city below still gets the two or three facts that help you decide whether to wait for the full guide.
Common questions
How many days do you need in Argentina?+
Fourteen to twenty-one days covers Buenos Aires and Patagonia, or Buenos Aires plus northwest and Iguazú, without rushing. Seven days works for Buenos Aires only, or Buenos Aires with Mendoza or one Patagonia hub.
Do I need a visa for Argentina?+
Many nationalities enter visa-free for tourism — rules depend on passport and change periodically. Check Migraciones Argentina; we do not give visa advice.
Is Argentina expensive?+
On the ground it offers strong value by western European standards — roughly €50 to €70 per person per day at mid-range, excluding flights. Patagonia lodges and peak summer cost more.
What is the best month to visit?+
March to May and September to November suit Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Salta. October to March is best for Patagonia glaciers and trekking. April to September balances Iguazú heat and crowds.
Buenos Aires or Patagonia first?+
Either works — open-jaw into EZE and out of FTE (or reverse) saves backtracking. Most visitors start in Buenos Aires for culture then fly south.
Costs are research-based estimates, not live prices — verify before booking.