🇦🇷 Planning a Trip to Argentina: 12 Practical Things To Know

Receiving over 6 million tourists in 2024, Argentina is a country in South America known for Patagonia, some of the best steaks in the world, and tango. Having spent 3 weeks in Argentina, I share well-researched and firsthand travel tips that are especially useful for first-time visitors.

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📌 Planning

Popular Places l When To Visit l How Long To Visit l Entry Requirements

Popular Places

• Buenos Aires – the vibrant capital of Argentina, known for its European architecture, tango culture, world-class steak, and lively nightlife.

• Iguazú Falls – one of the world’s largest waterfalls on the border of Brazil and Argentina.

• Patagonia (El Chaltén & El Calafate) – Argentina’s hiking capital, El Chaltén, is a small mountain town offering breathtaking trails with views of iconic peaks like Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. El Calafate is the gateway to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier.

• Mendoza – Argentina’s wine capital, known for Malbec and stunning Andean landscapes.
• Bariloche – a Patagonian town known for its alpine scenery, crystal-clear lakes, and Swiss-style chocolate.

Except for Mendoza and Iguazú Falls, I visited all the places above, and here are my honest opinions:

• Buenos Aires – The capital is a beautiful city that’s distinct from many others in Latin America. I loved the European-style architecture and palm tree combination. I also liked how pedestrian-friendly it was. The steak is excellent, but the quality of many other cuisines was lacking and the city is on the expensive end for South America.
• Bariloche – This town is beautiful and I’m glad I visited it, but it is very crowded and difficult to get around (i.e., there’s a lot of traffic, and parking can be hard) during the high season. I highly recommend eating all the artisanal chocolate and ice cream when visiting.
• El Chaltén – You should only visit this town if you’re interested in hiking (there’s not much else to do). I loved that all the popular trailheads were within walking distance of the town, which I found unique. Mount Fitz Roy was stunning and worth the trek.
• El Calafate – Perito Moreno was one of the highlights of my trip. I’ve seen glaciers in Iceland, and this one is prettier and more unique.

My Argentina trip planner has firsthand tips for each destination.

When To Visit

• Summer season (December-February) – the most popular time to visit. The weather is warm and sunny, making it ideal to visit places like Patagonia, Iguazú Falls, and the beaches. However, it’s crowded and expensive.
• Spring (September-November) – this is the shoulder season when there are pleasant temperatures, fewer tourists, blooming landscapes, and tourist services are still operational. However, the weather can start being unpredictable in some areas.
• Fall (March-May) – similar pros and cons to the spring.

I visited Argentina in late February and the weather varied by region. Buenos Aires was warm and pleasant every day; I only needed a light jacket at night. Bariloche required a puff jacket and long pants. I was mostly in hiking gear with base layers around El Chaltén and El Calafate, but also experienced great sunny hiking days.

How Long To Visit

• 1 week – enough time to visit Buenos Aires and one other destination (e.g., Mendoza)
• 2 weeks – enough time to visit 3-4 destinations (e.g., two cities and Patagonian towns)
• 3 weeks – enough time to visit all of Argentina’s top places (e.g., cities, Patagonian towns, and Iguazú Falls)

I was in Argentina for 3 weeks. I spent about half of the time traveling like a tourist and then the other half relaxing and taking it slower. Had I been traveling at a faster pace, I could have easily visited Mendoza and Iguazú Falls.

⛰️ 10 Days in Argentina: A Unique & Active Itinerary

Entry Requirements

• not required for US citizens visiting Argentina for up to 90 days.
• US visitors do not have to pay a tourist fee.

Entering Argentina was straightforward for me as a US citizen. I didn’t have to apply for a visa or pay any entry fees.

💰 Logistics

Money l Getting Around

Money

• An overwhelming majority of tourist places accept credit cards, even in the mountain towns and lake districts. It was very rare for a place to be cash-only.
• The Argentine peso is the country’s official currency. USD is often accepted, but bills in good condition are preferred.

💰 My Argentina Trip Cost: Budget Breakdown (2025)

Getting Around

• Argentina has several international airports. The biggest and most commonly used ones are:
  • Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires, which has the best international connections
  • El Plumerillo International Airport (MDZ) in Mendoza
  • Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport (IGR) near Iguazú Falls
• For long distances, the main ways to get around are by domestic flights (affordable with local airlines like Aerolíneas Argentinas), long-distance buses, and car rentals (best for Patagonia and wine regions). For short distances, rely on buses, Uber (available in major cities), and Subte (Buenos Aires’s metro).

I took all the transportation above and here are some of my observations:

• Domestic flights – I took flights between Buenos Aires, Bariloche, and El Calafate. They’re relatively affordable and are worth booking since the long-distance bus rides between the regions take too long.
• Car rental – I rented a car to visit Perino Moreno from El Calafate. Since I was able to split the cost with two others, it was more affordable than relying on tour transportation.
• Buses – I took buses in the Patagonian towns (e.g., Bariloche, El Chaltén, and El Calafate). The ones in Bariloche were hit or miss whereas the ones moving between El Chaltén and El Calafate were comfortable and reliable.

For detailed tips on getting around, see my Argentina trip planner.

💊 Safety

Health l Crime

Health

• generally considered safe to drink in rural and tourist areas, but avoid drinking it in rural places.
• common in the summer, especially in Iguazú Falls. There’s a slight risk of dengue fever in warm months.

I didn’t have any health-related problems in Argentina and here are my observations:

• Tap water – I drank tap water in all the places I visited without a problem.
• Mosquitoes – I didn’t get bitten while walking, but I got a few bites in Buenos Aires if I sat down for too long, especially closer to the park and garden areas. I saw a few mosquitoes in Bariloche, but they didn’t bother me. I didn’t see any in El Calafate/El Chaltén.

Crime

• Argentina is generally considered a safe tourist-friendly destination.
  • The country has a travel advisory level of 1 per the US government.
  • It’s ranked #46 out of 163 safest countries by the Global Peace Index (for reference, the US is ranked #132).
• Some typical scams to watch out for include:
  • Fake taxis – Uber is more reliable
  • Counterfeit money – check your bills
  • Distraction tactics – stay vigilant of your belongings in crowded areas

I didn’t run into any problems related to crime or safety in Argentina. There are a few places you should avoid at night in Buenos Aires, so I made sure to not venture there at night. One of my travel buddies saw a tourist’s necklace get snatched in La Boca in Buenos Aires during a soccer match game, so avoid flashing valuables.

🌍 Culture

Language l Food l What To Wear

Language

• Spanish
• somewhat spoken (about 20%–40% of locals speak it in tourist areas)

Getting around Argentina with just English was super easy. Most places, especially ones serving tourists, seem to have someone who speaks some basic phrases. Many tourist restaurants and rental companies have an employee who has a solid foundation in English.

Food

• asado (Argentine barbecue featuring various cuts of beef, sausages, and offal, cooked over a wood or charcoal grill)
• empanadas (savory pastries filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables), dulce de leche (a caramel-like spread used in desserts like alfajores), and mate (herbal tea sipped from a gourd, a local tradition).

Here are a few things I observed after eating in Argentina for three weeks:

• Late start – Locals tend to eat on the later side (i.e., lunch around 1:30pm and dinner around 8pm). Many dinner places don’t open until 7 or 7:30pm. This also means that if you want to eat at an uncrowded restaurant, start dinner at 7pm.
• Try mate tea – It has a surprisingly distinct flavor. I though the taste was interesting and worth a try, but a bit too earthy when steeped long. It uses a special cup, so you can’t get it to go.

• Be prepared to eat a lot of meat – Argentinians love their steaks and meat, so be prepared for that to be a typical meal. I started craving vegetables after a few days of steaks and had to eat at restaurants with different cuisines.

My Argentina trip planner reviews 20+ places I ate at and how much I spent at each one.

What To Wear

• What to wear – The different regions of Argentina experience pretty different weather, even within the same season. If you’re heading south to the Patagonia area, make sure to pack warm layers even if most of your clothes in Buenos Aires are summer outfits.
• How locals dress – They typically dress casually and many wear jeans, a jacket, and a T-shirt, regardless if it’s hot or not.

I mostly wore summer clothes in Buenos Aires but typically wore long pants and a light puff in the Patagonian towns.

A comprehensive packing list is included in my Argentina trip planner.

💡 Miscellaneous Tips

Other practical observations I made during my trip:

• The Spanish accent is unique – I speak conversational Spanish and had a difficult time understanding the Argentinian accent. The accent sounds slightly Italian because of immigration patterns in the past.
• Bring an adapter – If you’re from the US, you’ll need a plug adapter since Argentina uses type C and I.