Welcome to:
Argentina
Argentina is a country built for road trips. It stretches from the jungle around Iguazú Falls all the way down to Ushuaia at the tip of South America, with salt flats, vineyards, glaciers, and the Andes in between.
We’re driving it overland-style in our Land Rover Defender as part of our Pan-American expedition, and this is where you can find all of our Argentina guides.Whether you’re planning two weeks in Patagonia or a long road trip down Ruta 40, you’ll find practical itineraries, honest hotel reviews, and the tips we wish we’d had before we left.
Weather in Argentina
Because Argentina is so long, the weather varies hugely. The north is subtropical with hot, humid summers, the center around Buenos Aires and Mendoza is temperate, and Patagonia is cool, dry and famously windy year-round. Seasons are the reverse of Europe’s, so summer runs from December to February.
Best time to visit Argentina
Patagonia is best from November to March, when roads and hiking trails are open and days are long. Buenos Aires is most pleasant in spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May). The northwest is best in the drier months from April to October, since summer brings heavy rain.
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Best time to visit Argentina:
Jan–Jun, Sep–Dec
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Faq’s
What time is it in Argentina ?
Argentina uses Argentina Time (UTC−3) all year and doesn’t switch to daylight saving time. That puts it 4 hours behind Paris in the European winter and 5 hours behind in the European summer.
Is Argentina tourist-friendly?
Yes. Argentines are warm and welcoming, and tourism infrastructure is good in the main destinations. The challenges are the huge distances and limited English outside cities, so many travelers combine domestic flights, long-distance buses or a rental car.
What is Argentina best known for?
Argentina is famous for tango, asado (barbecue), Malbec wine, football, mate, dulce de leche, and landscapes like Patagonia and Iguazú Falls.
Can you drink the tap water in Argentina ?
Tap water is safe in Buenos Aires and major cities. In rural areas and parts of the north, we recommend to stick to bottled or filtered water.
What is the culture of Argentina ?
Argentine culture blends Spanish and Italian immigrant influences with gaucho traditions from the countryside. Sharing mate, Sunday asados with family, a deep passion for football and very late dinners (often from 9 or 10pm) are all part of daily life.
Where are the airports in Argentina ?
The main international airport is Ezeiza (EZE) near Buenos Aires. Most domestic flights leave from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) in the city, with regional airports in Mendoza (MDZ), Córdoba (COR), Salta (SLA), Iguazú (IGR), Bariloche (BRC), El Calafate (FTE) and Ushuaia (USH).
What are the national dishes of Argentina ?
Popular dishes include asado, empanadas, milanesa, choripán, provoleta, locro (a hearty stew) and alfajores filled with dulce de leche.
Is it safe to travel to Argentina ?
Yes, Argentina is generally safe for tourists. Use normal big-city precautions in Buenos Aires, especially against pickpocketing and phone theft, and check your government’s current travel advice before you go.
What are some famous landmarks in Argentina ?
Famous landmarks include Iguazú Falls, the Perito Moreno Glacier, Mount Fitz Roy in El Chaltén, Buenos Aires’ Obelisco, La Boca and Recoleta Cemetery, the Quebrada de Humahuaca, and Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas.
Is Argentina expensive to visit?
Argentina is no longer the cheap destination it was a few years ago, since the gap between exchange rates has largely closed. Prices in Buenos Aires and Patagonia feel close to southern Europe, while the north is usually cheaper. Paying by foreign card and booking hotels with a foreign card to skip the 21% VAT helps keep costs down.
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Be prepared for Argentina
Language
The official language is Spanish, spoken with a distinct Argentine accent and vos instead of tu. English is common in Buenos Aires hotels and tourist hubs, but much less so in rural areas, so a few basic Spanish phrases go a long way.
Currency + How to pay
The currency is the Argentine peso (ARS). Paying by card is now the easiest option, since foreign Visa and Mastercard payments in pesos get the favourable MEP exchange rate. We use Revolut for this: always choose to pay in pesos, never in euros or dollars, and top up before the weekend, as Revolut adds a small markup on weekend exchanges. Carry some cash for small shops and markets, and pay your hotel with a foreign card to take the 21 percent VAT off.
Visa
EU citizens can visit Argentina visa-free for up to 90 days as tourists. US citizens can too, with stays extendable up to 180 days, and the old reciprocity fee for Americans was scrapped in 2016. UK travelers also get 90 days visa-free, as do many other nationalities. Some countries still need a visa or an online travel authorization (AVE), and Argentina has required travelers to have health insurance before arrival since July 2025. Always check the latest requirements before traveling.
Plugs
Argentina mainly uses type I plugs (angled flat pins) with a standard voltage of 220V. Some older sockets also accept type C, but European travelers should bring an adapter. Shop your international plug.
Safety
Argentina is generally safe for travelers, but petty theft and phone snatching happen in busy parts of Buenos Aires and other cities. Keep your phone out of reach on the street, watch your bag on public transport and count your change carefully.
Driving and fuel prices
Driving in Argentina means huge distances: Buenos Aires to Ushuaia is roughly 3,000 km (1,900 mi) by road. Main routes are mostly paved, but parts of Patagonia and the northwest are gravel (u201cripiou201d), and fuel stations can be far apart, so fill up whenever you can.