Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Argentina | Travel Guide

Located in the southern region of South America, Argentina's diverse geography is one of the country's main attractions. It encompasses everything from harsh deserts to humid jungles and long ocean beaches to the soaring Andes. It's a country that's laced with fascinating Spanish conquistador history and elegant colonial treasures, enthralling native people and gorgeous backcountry. So, here's a look at the best places to visit in Argentina. Number 1. Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is South America's largest city in the political, economic, and cultural capital of Argentina, as well as the gateway to the rest of this large nation. Its compact tree-lined center is reminiscent of Paris, with many charming corners where tidy high-rise apartments are interspersed with attractive 19th-century buildings. The Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires is among the best in the world, with works by South American artists in addition to the big names like Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, and Picasso, and they've got paintings, tapestries, carvings, and rotating temporary exhibits on display. San Telmo Market is a colorful, crowded Sunday street fair which draws over 12,000 people each week. There's tons of antiques, artwork, and other treasures laid out along the pedestrian street of Defensa, and this is the perfect place to get an original souvenir that dates back to the golden age of Buenos Aires. One of the most important opera houses in the world and a Buenos Aires landmark, Teatro Colón began operating in 1857, with the current space opening in 1905. Now fully restored to its former glory, visitors can take in symphonies by famous orchestras, operas and ballets in the majestic building which is seven stories high and takes up an entire city block. Moving on to number two, Mendoza. Mendoza is well known as the wine country in Argentina, a perfect place where you can enjoy the local Malbac wine and many other varieties of Argentinian wines. With more than 1,200 bodegas in the area, you'll have your pick of vineyards and wineries to visit. Plaza Independencia is the largest green space and plaza in the city center of Mendoza. You can watch the fountain's dancing water show by some sweet caramelized peanuts from the vendors and check out the street performers and musicians. Occasionally you'll find artisans selling their handicrafts and it's also home to the Theater and Modern Art Museum. Museo del Area Fundacional is excellent if you're looking to understand the history of the city. Visitors can see the excavated ruins of the former cabildo or town council which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1861. After that, the town was relocated to the southwest and the museum shows the progressions of Mendoza from settlement onwards through a series of murals. Number three, Córdoba. Córdoba, the second largest city in Argentina, has a different personality than the metropolis of Buenos Aires. It's home to the country's oldest surviving university and its rugged outskirts provide plenty of adventurous activities like parasailing and horseback riding. Plaza de San Martin is the city's central square. Here you'll find a statue of the famous General José de San Martin, the liberator of Argentina. For architecture buffs and cathedral enthusiasts, there's the Iglesia Catedral Córdoba which was built in the 1500s and a 17th century colonial cabildo which once housed the town police and now provides tourist information. The Evita Fine Arts Museum located in the Boas Arts Mansion contains over 500 works and a sculpture garden. You can walk through rooms filled with paintings by many important Argentine artists as well the likes of Picasso and Goya. The museum was once the private residence of the aristocratic doctor and businessman Martin Ferreira and contains an impressive staircase and a lovely cafe with a balcony. Number four, Ushuaia. Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world and the gateway to Tierra del Fuego National Park in Antarctica. Home to magnificent scenery, a former prison, blustery winters, and a few glaciers, there's lots of options for adventurous activities. No trip to the Tierra del Fuego archipelago is complete without a close encounter with penguins. On Martillo Island, a small island in the Beagle Channel east of Ushuaia is home to thousands of Magellanic and Genta penguins where visitors can watch the adult penguins jockey for the best nesting area, tend to their chicks, and fend off attacks from the occasional predatory seabird. The Tierra del Fuego National Park and archipelago is renowned for its dramatic scenery, waterfalls, lakes, snow-capped mountains, and glaciers. You can experience lots of quiet beautiful walks around the park or tour with a guide who can tell you more about the local wildlife, landscapes, and the ancient Yamana people who lived here. Number five, Puerto Madryn. Located on the east coast of Argentina in the Chabut province, you will find Puerto Madryn. Here you will find plenty of beaches where you can hang out, but the main attraction by far is the appearance of southern right whales that visit its bays. The city is located just next to the famous wildlife-filled Valdez Peninsula where visitors can roam amongst penguins and elephant seals in addition to spotting whales from shore. By visiting the three-story Maritime Museum Ecosentro Madryn, besides the ocean, you can learn a little more about the ecosystem of the area. You can find out all about the wildlife of the gulfs and the Valdez Peninsula here with interactive sensory exhibits, and there's an enormous whale skeleton on display where you can climb to the top of the lookout tower for panoramic views of the coastline. Now, before you plan your next trip to Argentina, make sure to check out the first link in the description where you can find the best deals for your flight, hotel, and car rentals in Argentina. Moving on to number six, Bariloche. Located on the shores of Lago Nahuelhuapi, Bariloche's beautiful setting amongst the foothills of the Andes in northern Patagonia is filled with magnificent scenery, lots of hiking, and tons of outdoor adventure activities. Cerro Tronador and the Black Glacier Named for the thunderous avalanches that pound down the mountainside, Mount Tronador is the highest peak within Nahuelhuapi National Park. It actually has three peaks, one Argentine, one Chilean, and one that's an international territory with multiple glaciers which people attempt to trek with ice axes and crampons. Tours of the mountain along with hikes start with a winding drive along paved and gravel roads, and usually include stops at waterfalls and visits to the Ventasquero Negro or Glacier at the base of Mount Tronador. Aside from all the brilliant nature surrounding it, Bariloche is famous for the Swiss-inspired architecture of the town. Alpine-style buildings made of wood and stone in the Centro Civico were designed to give the city a European look and attract tourists. Visit the Museo de la Patagonia where you can learn more about the history of Bariloche, and the massive stone cathedral next to the lake called La Catedral de San Carlos de Bariloche with the beautiful interior and stained-glass windows. Number 7. Puerto Iguazu A small town with some big waterfalls, Puerto Iguazu is just a short ride away from the national park filled with magnificent falls that share its name. Located in the littoral area of northern Argentina right next to the rainforest and the borders of Brazil and Paraguay, this UNESCO World Heritage Site of cascading waters might be the main draw for visitors, but one can easily occupy themselves with several ecocentric, cultural, and leisurely activities for a few days as well. A must-visit is La Arapuca, a family-owned eco-tourist attraction of sorts, and a huge house built from incredibly old tree trunks that contains different informative areas and displays. Designed to teach visitors about the traditional culture of the Guarani people and encourage preservation of environmental resources, the house itself was built based on the design of a trap used by the local people to catch animals. Number 8. Mar del Plata Mar del Plata is the most visited city in Argentina after Buenos Aires, probably because it's the most popular beach destination in the country by far. You'll have your pick of beaches obviously, but the city is also home to casinos, theaters, an aquarium, and even a couple of water parks for when you've had your fill of the sandy shores. A fun activity for families and a romantic adventure for couples is to climb the water tower in Mar del Plata for the best views around. It's actually a working water tank owned by the town water company, and if you want to learn how everything works and see all the meters and machinery, the staff will give you a tour. Aquarium Mar del Plata, the impressive city aquarium, is not only home to colorful tanks of fish, but their grounds are filled with natural lagoons, an aviary, and a saltwater lake. As one of the most modern aquariums in South America, you can learn more about the local flora and fauna by visiting the marine mammals, birds, sharks, and even a few rescued animals that they rehabilitate here. 9. Salta With a pleasant climate all year round and some incredible Andean landscapes nearby, Salta is the biggest spot for tourism in the northwest of Argentina and can be found spread out along the base of the dust-caked, ochre-hued Lerma Valley. Time stands still in certain parts of the city with its preserved cobblestone streets and Spanish architecture. Founded in 1582, Salta didn't receive as many European immigrants as some parts of the country, so it's retained a lot of indigenous traditions and influence. The people of Salta, known as Saltinos, hold fast to tradition, so while you're here, don't miss spending an evening in a pena or folk concert where you can eat local food while watching performances of folkloric music and dancing. There will likely be Spanish guitars, sheepskin drums, violins, and gauchos. 10. San Antonio de Arrico San Antonio de Arrico, which lies approximately 70 miles northwest of Buenos Aires in the heart of the Pampas on the Arrico River, was founded in 1730 around the pretty church of San Antonio de Padua. Elegant colonial builds from the 1700s line the streets, their red-tiled roofs slanting in an Andalusian fashion, and their Baroque adornments mirroring the palazzos of Madrid. This rustic outback town is a great place to get a taste of Argentina's rich cowboy history, and perfect if you love the sleepy siesta routines of the Pampas hinterland. Major attractions here include the colonial sites of San Antonio de Arrico itself, the Museum of the Gaucho which celebrates Argentine cowboys, and a variety of estancias which are located within two hours of San Antonio de Arrico.