Argentina Travel Guide: Highlights & Tips for an Unforgettable Trip

Argentina is a diverse Latin American country offering a mix of incredible nature, culture and food experiences from the Iguazú Falls in the northeast to Patagonia at its southernmost tip.

If you're looking to travel to Argentina soon, there's much for you to consider before booking.

Knowing where to visit and at what time of year to be there helps you get the most out of the destination you're aiming to explore. This ultimately determines your overall satisfaction with the trip.

To help you get started with your plan to visit Argentina, here's our Argentina travel guide:

Planning Your Trip to Argentina

Best Time to Visit Argentina

Covering a vast area and being in the southern hemisphere, Argentina can be visited all year round.

However, the southern half of the country is best visited between October and April, with the peak season being December to February. Even in these months, the weather can be unpredictable.

The northwest of the country is best visited between April and December when the weather is characterised by sunny days. Whereas Iguazú Falls is an all-year-round destination and can become very hot and humid between December and April, but cooler at other times of the year.

How to Get to Argentina

The main entry point by air into Argentina is the main international hub of Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires. British Airways operates a direct service from London Heathrow. Also, several European carriers, such as Iberia, Air France and KLM, fly into Buenos Aires via their main hubs, while LATAM - who's the largest Latin American airline - arrive via their main terminal in São Paulo, Brazil.

Other entry points into Argentina include the domestic airport in Buenos Aires, Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), which operates flights in and out from Latin American neighbours Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. If you're travelling into Argentina from these three next door countries, there are overland border crossings at the Iguazú Falls from Brazil, as well as all along the border with Chile from Salta in the northwest into Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. If you're coming to the country from Uruguay, the ferry services between Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo across the Rio de la Plata to Buenos Aires offer a great way to enter or depart the city.

Best Places to Visit in Argentina

Buenos Aires

Located on the Rio de La Plata, Buenos Aires is the first of many Argentina holiday destinations you'll visit on your exploration of this wonderful country. Known for its European-style architecture, world-class museums and passionate tango culture, it's one of the most vibrant cities in the Americas. Some of its famous neighbourhoods to visit include La Boca, San Telmo and Recoleta.

As well as delving into the culture, enjoy the city’s bustling nightlife. With many bars, clubs and restaurants to choose from, you'll be dancing the tango and savouring mouth-watering dishes all night.

Iguazú Falls

Splitting the border between Argentina and Brazil in northeast Argentina, the iconic Iguazú Falls is a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site home to 275 separate falls and a rich, sub-tropical forest.

Iguazú Falls is one of the best places in Argentina for experiencing the country’s stunning natural beauty for yourself. Devil's Throat is the most well-known waterfall, where the largest proportion of water plummets down 90 metres into a U-shaped chasm. It's best enjoyed from the boardwalk out over the edge, allowing you to peer down!

Explore the surrounding National Park, where many species of birds, reptiles and mammals reside. Throughout your visit, you may come across various butterflies, monkeys and coatis that roam around.

Los Glaciares National Park

Why not add Los Glaciares National Park to your list of Argentina highlights?

Another stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site, it features towering frozen plains and electrifying blue crevices that tumble into the icy depths of Lake Argentino - the same size as the country's capital.

During your time here, you must take a boat tour or hike to the Perito Moreno Glacier. One of the few glaciers in the world still advancing, Perito Moreno creeps forward approximately two metres per day, causing huge icebergs to calve from its face. Additionally, explore the park’s scenic trails and take in the breathtaking views of the glaciers and mountains.

Top Things to Do in Argentina

There’s no end of things to do in Argentina during your holiday.

For one, you're free to explore the vast expanses of Argentinian Patagonia, while even further south you can find Tierra del Fuego to get to the very end of mainland South America. The south of the country is scattered with majestic panoramas of eternally snowy peaks, millenary glaciers and a rich diversity of marine fauna, making it a great addition to your Argentina itinerary.

For those wanting to explore the Andean foothills, how about spending the morning horseback riding in the Uco Valley, before spending your afternoon at a winery with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains? Back in Buenos Aires, you can soak up the Argentine tango in a traditional milonga, while enjoying some of the best steak the continent has to offer.

More Ideas for What to Do in Argentina:

• Gaze over the mighty Iguazú Falls

• Head to Salta in the northwest of the country for dramatic landscapes, red rock formations, salt flats and colonial villages

• Explore the stunning Lake District around Bariloche, travelling the seven lakes road for the full experience of the region

• Seek out the marshland wildlife of the Iberá Wetlands

• Take a day trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia in Uruguay

• Be inspired by the Perito Moreno glacier in Glaciers National Park

• See the southern right whales in the Valdes Peninsula (from July to November)

Practical Information

Transportation and Safety

Argentina is a huge country. So, on a short trip, the easiest way to fully experience it is to use the domestic flight network. Aerolineas Argentinas serve all the major airports. Despite being so remote, areas like Patagonia are surprisingly easy to get to (a three-hour flight from Buenos Aries to El Calafate, for example). Then there's a network of efficient, comfortable buses. There are regular ferries between Buenos Aries and Montevideo or Colonia in Uruguay - a great extension to a holiday.

If you wish to, you could hire a rental car for a road trip and explore scenic roads around the country, with one of the most special taking you from Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes along Ruta 40.

As for safety, Argentina is one of the safest countries to visit in Latin America. However, as a general rule of thumb, be aware of your surroundings and take necessary precautions to stay safe wherever you can.

Money and Costs

The official currency is the Argentine peso, but US dollars are widely accepted.

Credit and debit cards are accepted in most places but be aware of foreign transaction fees.

Budget-friendly options include eating at local markets and using public transport, while there’s a wide range of accommodation available for all price points.

Time Zone

GMT -3 hours

Visas

British passport holders do not require a visa to enter Argentina.

Health

There are no compulsory vaccinations required to enter Argentina. Always consult your doctor at least six weeks before travel. For details of recommended vaccines, visit the Argentina Fit for Travel website.

Plan Your Dream Argentina Adventure Today!

By chatting with our Latin America Travel Specialists about your travel aspirations for Argentina, we can help you plan your itinerary. And if we haven't answered your question with one of the below FAQs, don't hesitate to ask us and we'll be happy to discuss further!

FAQs About Visiting Argentina

Why travel to Argentina?

Argentina really is such a diverse country with a whole host of world-class attractions. Discover the vast dramatic expanses of Patagonia in the south and the jaw-droppingly beautiful Lake District straddling the Chilean border. Additionally, there's also the fertile wine region of Mendoza and the Andes Mountains' spectacular landscapes as well as less explored and fascinating indigenous villages in northwest Argentina. You even have the breathtaking Iguazú Falls in the north, wildlife-rich Iberá Wetlands and, of course, the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires.

Whatever interests you, an Argentina trip will have something that grabs your attention!

How much of a culture shock is it travelling to Argentina?

Argentina is a melting pot of European and Latin American influences, with Buenos Aires often being referred to as the ‘Paris of South America’. The country has a good transport system and infrastructure, while the accommodation and services you can expect on an itinerary are of high-quality, to standards you might expect travelling in Europe.

Is Buenos Aires safe?

Buenos Aires is just as safe as any other major city in South America. Take the normal precautions you would in any other city - such as not having expensive jewellery on show. Likewise, with travel throughout the country, just be sensible and you're sure to experience a spectacular holiday.

Is there a good range of accommodation in Argentina?

Hotel facilities are excellent and similar to those found in Europe. There are some particularly impressive hotels in Buenos Aires, such as the Alvear Palace - one of South America's best-known hotels. All of the major destinations in Argentina have a range of hotel options, from the smaller and more characterful, boutique-style options to the more international chain styles. Everywhere we recommend you staying in Argentina will be tried and tested options that we and our partners have either stayed at or inspected.

What's the local cuisine like?

Argentina is highly influenced by Europe, and this is reflected in the cuisine which is typically a mixture of Mediterranean and Latin American dishes. It’s a country famous for serving up huge slabs of steak, which you can wash down with delicious Argentine red wine, with the most popular way to eat meat being asado (barbecued). If you're vegetarian, there are plenty of options with an excellent array of pasta and pizza by virtue of the Italian inspiration in Buenos Aires..

Is there any activity you strongly recommend I do?

It’s hard to pick one thing. Definitely visit a tango show in Buenos Aires to see the sultry, sensual dance. Or go to one of the many ‘milonga’ clubs, where tango lovers go dancing. If you love nature, explore the wilderness of Southern Patagonia and the iconic Perito Moreno Glacier or the mighty Iguazú Falls.

Is English widely spoken?

All the hotels we offer have English-speaking staff. Whereas in the main tourist hubs, you'll find plenty of English speakers. A rudimentary knowledge of some Spanish phrases will go long way.

How can I contribute to the local economy and conservation programmes?

Buy local products and reward good service with a tip as these go straight to the guides and are greatly appreciated. The LATA Foundation sources projects and raises funds for charitable work throughout Latin America. Just some of the projects they support include providing educational and recreational opportunities for children and young people, supporting healthcare provision and aiding wildlife rehabilitation. Through every Latin America booking, we donate to The LATA Foundation.

For more information, visit the LATA Foundation website or call one of our Travel Specialists for a chat.

Can I drink the tap water?

Tap water is generally safe for drinking, but we usually recommend drinking filtered water from a refillable bottle and avoiding single use plastics!

Do I need to get any vaccinations?

The standard vaccinations are recommended – see the Fit for Travel website, which provides advice for all destinations. We would always recommend that you see your doctor or travel clinic well in advance of your trip and while malaria protection is not normally required, mosquito repellent in the Iberá and Iguazú regions would certainly be worth packing.