Argentina attractions

The vibrant Mataderos Fair is an often-overlooked cultural gem of Buenos Aires, where culture, crafts, and cuisine come alive. As you explore the fair's food stalls and gaucho performances, you'll gain insight into the country's rich heritage and experience the rhythms of Argentine life.

Every June when snow falls on the hills of San Martin de los Andes, skiers and snowboards from around the globe journey to Patagonia for the chance to ski at Chapelco. This small resort receives more snow than many surrounding resorts and offers some of the best tree skiing anywhere in Argentine Patagonia.

The capital city of Jujuy province in Argentina is surrounded by mountains and located near the southern end of Quebrada de Humahuaca gorge. Visit San Salvador de Jujuy, founded by Spaniards in 1593, to experience the heritage of its culturally indigenous population, see eye-catching architecture, and soak up Argentine history.

Step (or dance) into the beating heart of Buenos Aires’ tango heritage and thriving culture in Barrio de Abasto. This vibrant neighborhood, once home to tango legend Carlos Gardel, pulsates with rhythm, art, and history. Delve into the essence of Argentina’s soul by exploring its iconic tango venues, colorful murals, and shopping venues.

An iceberg-inspired feat of architecture rising up over the shores of Lake Argentino and framed by snow-capped peaks, the Glaciarium is a fitting setting for a museum devoted to Patagonia’s glacial landscapes. Learn about the region’s unique geology and environmental concerns through multimedia displays and interactive exhibitions.

Dedicated to the history and culture of the UNESCO-listed Jesuit Block (Manzana Jesuítica) in Cordoba’s historic center, the Museo Histórico UNC traces more than 400 years of history of Argentina’s oldest university. Exhibitions range from the grand 19th-century Graduation Hall to a collection of antique books dating from the 17th century.

Named after the tango pioneer who helped bring the dance form to the masses, the grand Esquina Carlos Gardel is one of the most atmospheric venues to watch a tango performance in Buenos Aires. The theater’s interior oozes Belle Epoque splendor and is adorned with chandeliers, red-velvet curtains, and ceiling murals.

Train to the Clouds, one of the world's highest railways, takes you on a scenic 269-mile (434-kilometer) journey with views of colorful rock formations. The train ascendes 13,842 feet (4,220 meters), passing through 21 tunnels and crossing 29 bridges and 13 viaducts. The climax comes as La Polvorilla viaduct spans a massive desert canyon.

The snow-blanketed peak looming on the horizon south of Bariloche is the 7,800-foot-high (2,388-meter-high) Cathedral Hill (Cerro Catedral), one of the city’s most memorable landmarks. A paradise for hikers and site of a popular ski resort, the mountaintop affords spectacular views over the Lakelands.

Don Silvano Ranch (Estancia Don Silvano) sits on the pampas outside the Argentine capital. A day trip to this ranch gives visitors a glimpse into the history, heritage, and traditions of Argentina’s cowboys, or gauchos, who worked as cattle herders and have become famous for their impressive skills on horseback.

One of Mendoza's most cutting-edge wineries, Bodega Renacer has incorporated new technology into its Argentine winemaking process since 2004. A collaboration between owner Patricio Reich and renowned winemaker Alberto Antonini, the contemporary winery is renowned for its excellent malbecs.

You don’t have to venture far from Ushuaia to experience Patagonia’s wild landscapes—the icy passes and rocky peaks of the Martial Glacier lie within walking distance. Easily accessible from the town, scaling the glacier affords panoramic views over the Martial Mountains, the Beagle Channel, and the “End of the World.”

Travel centuries back in time with a visit to Buenos Aires’ El Zanjon de Granados, the site of one of the city’s earliest settlements. It was built over a series of tunnels, cisterns, and sewers above a river and eventually left to disarray. Now, it is a gorgeous museum depicting the history of Buenos Aires—a must-see for all visitors.

Composing part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay, this 180-mile (290-km) long estuary is formed by the confluence of the Uruguay and Paraná Rivers. After multiple explorations by various Spanish navigators, the waterway came to be known as the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver) for the promise of riches thought to lie upstream.

On the banks of Lake Argentino and surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Los Glaciares National Park, Estancia Cristina offers luxurious lodges and traditional Argentine hospitality. Dating back to 1914, the family-run ranch is still a working sheep farm, set on a 55,000-acre (22,000-hectare estate in a remote corner of the national park.

Set inside the palace of an aristocratic Argentinian family, designed by French architect René Sergent, the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo showcases an impressive collection of tapestries, paintings, sculptures, porcelain and other art and design pieces, predominantly from Europe and Asia. Most of the collection spans the 16th to 19th centuries, and the interior is part of the draw.

This former post office turned cultural center is one of the largest in the world, and a beautiful example of French Second Empire architecture. The building itself covers an entire Buenos Aires city block, and inside it’s full of art galleries, events spaces, and the Ballena Azul concert hall, known for its exceptional acoustics.

One of the natural wonders of southern Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego, Isla Martillo is most famous for its resident Magellanic penguins, hundreds of which call this small island in the Beagle Channel home. Some boat tours let you disembark and walk among the birds on the pebble beach, from which you can admire views of snow-capped mountains.

While Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, La Plata is the capital of the Buenos Aires province. Its crowning glory is the neo-Gothic Catedral de la Plata that reigns supreme over its central square, Plaza Moreno, and reflects the grandeur of a city whose name translates as “silver.” It’s also famous for its diagonal streets and being a miniature Buenos Aires.

Located amid the vineyards and cacti-dotted ravines of the Calchaquí Valley, the Quilmes Ruins are a collection of ancient walls and fortifications perched on a hillside. The ruins are the remains of Argentina’s largest pre-Columbian settlement, which dates back to AD 75 and once housed 5,000 people.

Traful Lake (Lago Traful) lies in Nahuel Huapi National Park in Patagonia. The lake flows into the Traful River, which empties into the Nahuel Huapi Lake. It's known for its 335-foot (102-meter) high glacier cliffside viewpoint, Mirador del Traful, which offers a complete view of the lakes and valleys.

One of the oldest wineries in Cafayate, Vasija Secreta Winery (Bodega Vasija Secreta) is a popular Salta destination for learning about wine. Visit the vineyard to learn about the high-altitude microclimate of Cafayate and its aromatic wines. Head to this winery for a guided tasting and to explore the small on-site museum that includes winemaking artifacts from the last century.

Surrounded by the lush green trees typical of Mendoza (despite its desert-like climate), Plaza España is a cultural gathering spot a few blocks from Plaza Independencia, the city’s main square. Its crown jewel is the fountain in its center, on which artfully carved women represent the relationship between Spain and Argentina.

A burgeoning foodie hot spot, the lively barrio of Villa Crespo has become a fashionable haunt for the city’s young and hip. The district is most notable for its array of bars and eateries—just as chic yet more affordable than those in neighboring Palermo to the northeast—which make it an atmospheric option for an evening out in Buenos Aires.

The Iglesia de San Francisco, a National Historic Landmark in Mendoza, is a Renaissance-style pink basilica dating from 1875, which houses the tomb of the daughter of General San Martín. The church is also known for its elaborate altar and Virgin’s chapel, as well as a variety of religious artifacts on display.

Not to be confused with the hill of the same name near Córdoba, the Andean peak of Cerro Colorado sits just east of San Martín de los Andes. Scaling the 5,833-foot (1,778-meter) summit of the now-dormant volcano is a popular challenge for hikers, affording magnificent views across the Andes Mountains and the Lácar and Lolog lakes.

The beating heart of Salta, the Cultural Center of the Americas hosts a diverse and ever-changing mixture of exhibitions, live theater performances, concerts, and conferences. Originally a youth club, the building was renovated and reopened in 1987 as the cultural center you see today, housed in an early 20th-century neo-Baroque building.

Jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean on a peninsula, Punta Tombo is a nature reserve where the most famous residents are Magellanic penguins. Roughly a million of these birds flock here to mate and nest annually, but it’s also home to oystercatchers, cormorants, seals, and guanacos.

Located on the southern shore of Argentino Lake, Nimez Lagoon Nature Reserve (Laguna Nimez Reserve) is framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes mountains and serves as a haven for the region’s wildlife. The beaches and marshlands of the reserve harbor more than 80 species of Patagonian and migratory birds.

Just a quick drive from Ushuaia, Argentina, Vinciguerra Glacier is a Patagonian pearl that hiking enthusiasts don’t want to miss on their trip to the “end of the world.” Situated in the Martial Mountains, an invigorating hike around the glacier takes you past a brambling stream, lush greenery, and, best of all, the ethereal ice caves.