Argentina
Perito Moreno Glacier calves house-sized chunks of ice into turquoise water, Iguazú's 275 waterfalls thunder through subtropical forest, and Buenos Aires keeps its tango halls full well past midnight. Patagonia and the north run on opposite calendars, so choose your season with your route in mind.
Overview
Argentina is the world's eighth-largest country, stretching some 3,700 km from the subtropical north to Tierra del Fuego, so a first trip is really a choice of corners linked by flights. Most start with a few days in Buenos Aires, then fly south to El Calafate for Perito Moreno and on to El Chaltén for the Fitz Roy trails. Iguazú Falls in the far north-east is the other near-essential. With more time, add the red-rock gorges and colonial towns around Salta and Jujuy, the vineyards beneath the Andes at Mendoza, or the whales and penguins of Península Valdés on the Atlantic coast.
Argentina runs late: dinner rarely starts before 9pm, and Buenos Aires milongas get going around midnight. Long-distance buses with fully reclining cama seats make overnight hops comfortable, but the distances still eat days, so most visitors mix buses with domestic flights. Prices have swung sharply in recent years and Argentina is no longer the bargain it once was; Patagonia in particular is expensive, while the north-west stays cheaper. It suits hikers, wine lovers and committed carnivores, and surprises people with how European Buenos Aires feels, how empty the Patagonian steppe is and how seriously everyone takes their mate.
Map of Argentina
Top 5 highlights
- 1Nature
Perito Moreno Glacier
A wall of ice about 5 km wide and some 70 m high that pushes across Lago Argentino and sheds chunks with gunshot cracks. Watch from the walkways, take a boat to the face, or book a guided mini-trek on the ice itself.
- 2Nature
Iguazú Falls
Around 275 cascades spread along a near-3 km horseshoe on the Brazilian border. The Argentine side gets you closest, with catwalks to the roaring Garganta del Diablo; allow a full day, plus half a day for Brazil's panoramic side.
- 3Adventure
Fitz Roy treks from El Chaltén
Argentina's self-styled trekking capital sits beneath the granite spire of Cerro Fitz Roy. Well-marked day hikes lead to Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre for the classic dawn views, and the trails are walkable without a guide.
- 4Nature
Quebrada de Humahuaca
A UNESCO-listed valley in Jujuy where mountains striped red, ochre and green frame adobe villages such as Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca. Pre-Inca ruins, llama stews and Andean carnival give it a feel quite unlike the rest of the country.
- 5Food
Mendoza wine country
Argentina makes most of its wine around Mendoza, where malbec vineyards in Luján de Cuyo and the high Uco Valley sit beneath snowy Andean peaks. Tour Maipú's bodegas by bicycle or book a long winery lunch.
Biggest cities
Buenos Aires
Grand boulevards, café culture and barrio-hopping between San Telmo's Sunday market, La Boca's painted houses and Palermo's parrillas. Give it at least three days, and see a tango show or, better, a milonga.
Córdoba
Argentina's student city has a UNESCO-listed Jesuit Block and a lively bar scene, and makes a handy base for the Sierras de Córdoba and the Jesuit estancias outside town.
Rosario
A riverside city on the Paraná with grand early 20th-century architecture, the National Flag Memorial and Lionel Messi's childhood streets; worth a night en route north rather than a special trip.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Argentina
Best time: Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov.
Average climate in Buenos Aires
Festivals & events
- Jan–FebCarnaval del País, Gualeguaychú
Argentina's biggest carnival runs on Saturday nights through January and February in a purpose-built corsódromo in Entre Ríos, with feathered comparsas in Brazilian style.
- MarFiesta Nacional de la Vendimia
Mendoza's grape-harvest festival peaks in early March with a parade of floats through the city and a night-time spectacle in the Frank Romero Day amphitheatre, where a harvest queen is crowned.
- AugTango BA Festival y Mundial
Buenos Aires' city-run tango festival and world championship fill August with free classes, concerts and milongas, culminating in the stage and salon tango finals.
How much does Argentina cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Asado
Beef ribs, chorizo, morcilla and sweetbreads slow-grilled over wood embers and served with chimichurri; a Sunday family asado is close to a national ritual.
Empanadas
Baked or fried pastry parcels, best in the north-west, where Salta and Tucumán argue over whose hand-cut beef filling is better.
Locro
A thick Andean stew of maize, beans, squash and pork or beef, traditionally eaten on the 25 May and 9 July national holidays.
Getting around
Distances are huge, so most visitors fly: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Flybondi and JetSMART link Buenos Aires with El Calafate, Bariloche, Salta, Mendoza and Iguazú. Long-distance buses are comfortable, with semi-cama and cama seats on overnight runs, and can be booked online. Hire a car for the Salta–Cafayate loop or Ruta 40. In Buenos Aires, use the Subte and city buses with a rechargeable SUBE card; Uber and Cabify both operate.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CI220V — bring a UK-to-C/I adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Ambulance: 107
- Fire: 100
- Police: 911 or 101
- To contact the emergency line (911) in Buenos Aires from outside Argentina call: +54 11 4309 9600, extensions 261099 or 261098
- (only accessible in Argentina).: Tourist Police (‘Comisaría del Turista’): +54 911 5050 9260 (24 hours)
- Tourist Police WhatsApp: +54 911 5050 9260
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +54
- Time zone
- UTC-3 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Generally safe to drink
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Leave about 10% in cash at restaurants, as tips often can't be added to card payments; the cubierto (cover charge) on the bill is not a tip.
- Etiquette
- Friends and even new acquaintances greet with a single kiss on the right cheek. If offered mate, drink it all and hand it back; saying 'gracias' signals you have had enough.
- Main airports
- Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) (EZE), Buenos Aires; Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), Buenos Aires; Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella International Airport (COR), Córdoba
Visas & entry for Argentina
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can visit Argentina without a visa for tourism for up to 90 days.
To stay longer, or to work or study, you must meet the Argentine government’s entry requirements. Contact the Argentine Consulate in the UK.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaDengueRabiesTyphoidYellow fever
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter. There is a risk of yellow fever in parts of the country — vaccination may be advised.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Argentina
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Mon 9 Nov 2026 | Visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV |
| Mon 23 Nov 2026 | National Sovereignty Day |
| Mon 7 Dec 2026 | Bridge Public Holiday |
| Tue 8 Dec 2026 | Immaculate Conception |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Mon 8 Feb 2027 | Carnival Monday |
| Tue 9 Feb 2027 | Carnival Tuesday |
| Wed 24 Mar 2027 | National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice |
| Thu 25 Mar 2027 | Maundy Thursday |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday |
| Fri 2 Apr 2027 | Veteran's Day and the Fallen in the Malvinas War |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Tue 25 May 2027 | May Revolution Day |
| Sun 20 Jun 2027 | Pass to the Immortality of General Don Manuel Belgrano |
| Mon 21 Jun 2027 | Pass to the Immortality of General Don Martín Miguel de Güemes |
| Fri 9 Jul 2027 | Independence Day |
| Mon 16 Aug 2027 | Pass to the Immortality of General Don José de San Martín |
| Mon 11 Oct 2027 | Respect for Cultural Diversity Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Spanish
| English | Spanish | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hola | OH-lah |
| Thank you | Gracias | GRAH-see-ahs |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-VOR |
| Excuse me | Disculpe | dees-KOOL-peh |
| How much is this? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
Know before you go
- Foreign cards work widely, but Argentine ATMs charge steep fees per withdrawal and have low limits, so carry some pesos for tips, taxis and small shops.
- The Falklands (Malvinas) remain an emotive subject. British visitors are warmly received, but avoid raising it, and don't be surprised by 'Las Malvinas son argentinas' signs.
- Patagonia's trekking season runs roughly November to March, and many El Chaltén businesses close in winter; book January flights south early, as that is Argentina's summer holiday peak.
Argentina travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Argentina?
The best time to visit Argentina is generally Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov. Peak months are March, April, October and November. Average highs in Buenos Aires range from 15°C to 30°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Argentina cost per day?
Roughly £50 a day on a tight budget, £115 mid-range and £250+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Argentina?
Argentine peso (ARS).
What plug type does Argentina use?
Type C and I sockets at 220V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Argentina?
Traffic drives on the right in Argentina, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Argentina?
Generally safe to drink.
Do I need a visa for Argentina?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can visit Argentina without a visa for tourism for up to 90 days. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Argentina before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Argentina?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A and Tetanus for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Rabies, Typhoid and Yellow fever sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
