Travel to Argentina
Visit Argentina and search our amazing activities. View travel advice including tips for places to go, the best packages available and get information about costs, accommodation, transport and health and safety.
- Population: 42,000,000 (approx)
- Capital: Buenos Aires
- Largest City in Argentina: Buenos Aires
- Currency: Peso (ARS) £1 = 8ARS / $1 = 5ARS
- International Calling Code +54
- Area: 2,750,000 km
- Language: Spanish
- Visa: You can gain a 90 day tourist visa on arrival for most passport holders
Top Reasons to Visit Argentina
There are so many reasons why you might want to visit Argentina including:
- Discover a vibrant culture and see incredible places
- See some of the most amazing scenery in the world
- Explore world famous cities
- Get great value on sightseeing activities
Climate & Best Time to Visit
The Argentine climate tends to be temperate but due to the country’s vast size there are major regional differences. The Northern regions tend to have hot, humid summers with mild dry winters. The central regions have hot summers and regularly see powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes. (Western Argentina produces some of the world’s largest hail stones.) Winters tend to be cool. The Southern regions tend to have warm summers but bitterly cold winters complete with heavy snowfall.
The highest temperature, 49° C was recorded in the extreme north, and the lowest,–16° C , in the southern tip of the country. Rainfall diminishes from east to west. Rainfall at Buenos Aires averages 94 cm (37 in) annually, and the mean annual temperature is 16° C. Light snowfalls occur occasionally in Buenos Aires. Throughout Argentina, January is the warmest month and June and July are the coldest.
North of the Río Negro, the winter months (May–August) is the driest period of the year. The wide variations of climate are due to the great range in altitude and the vast extent of the country. In the torrid zone of the extreme north, for example, the Chaco area has a mean annual temperature of about 23° C and a rainfall of about 76 cm whereas Puna de Atacama has a temperature average of 14° C and a rainfall of about 5 cm.
The pampas, despite their immensity, have an almost uniform climate, with much sunshine and adequate precipitation. The coldest winters occur not in Tierra del Fuego, which is warmed by ocean currents, but in Santa Cruz Province, where the July average is 0° C.
The Seasons
Winter - Major winds including the Pampero blow onto the plains of Patagonia bringing in cold frigid weather. The south of the country receives heavy snowfall and extremely cold temperatures. The North is cool but rarely experiences snow except in the mountainous regions.
Spring - In the north, spring is a very short season but the further south you go the longer it lasts. Thunderstorms and hailstorms are frequent at this time of year and many of the country’s plant species burst into bloom.
Summer - In the north temperatures can reach as high as 27°C whilst in the south it will be on average only 9°C. This can however rocket up to a staggering 45°C due to the weather systems in action around the region.
Autumn - Generally mild season which lasts longer in the south than it does in the north. The nights begin to draw in earlier during this season and due to the south’s proximity with the Antarctic those dark cold nights can draw surprisingly quickly.
How to Get to Argentina
The quickest and easiest way to get to Argentina from worldwide locations is by flying. If you are already in South America you can also cross overland from Brazil and Chile.
Airlines that fly direct to Argentina from the United Kingdom include British Airways and Norwegian Air. Other airlines that fly to Argentina from international destinations include: Air Europa, Air New Zealand, Air France, American Airlines, Qatar Airways, Air Canada, Iberia, Turkish Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas, KLM, United, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Delta, Avianca, LATAM, Alitalia, Aeromexico , Lufthansa and Vueling.
Flights can be expensive so you will need to book in advance to get the best deals. Throughout the year there are usually special offers on flights available and most international flights arrive into the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires.
What to Know Before You Go
Buenos Aires is one of the greatest cities to experience with a vibrant atmosphere and lots to see and do but there is a lot more to the country than just this city. From exploring Mendoza to going to see specuar Patagonia, you will be left spellbound.
Places you should add to your itinerary include Buenos Airies, Mendoza, Cordoba, El Calafate, the Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia and the incredible Foz do Iguassu Falls which is our top recommendation.
There is a reliable cheap transport system operating in Argentina making it fairly easy to travel by bus, train, plane or car. Argentina is generally a safe country to visit and problems for internationals are rare. You will need to pay more attention in the large cities like Buenos Aires especially at night.
Argentina has suffered from economical trouble in the past decade but you are unlikely to experience any problems when visiting.
Best Places to Visit in Argentina
There are so many amazing experiences available, these are some of the highlights:
- Getting up close and wet at the Iguazú Falls, possibly the most impressive waterfalls in the world
- Exploring Buenos Aires, learning to tango or taking in a live football game
- Drinking wine and wondering around Mendoza which is spectacular
- Going South and visiting Patagonia for wilderness and wildlife, visit the Patagonia El Chalten trek or visit the Porito Moreno glacier
- Taking part in adventure sports in the Lake District, winter and summer options available
- For nature head to the Nahuel Huapi National Park which is located close of the spectacular Andes
- If you are looking to get off the beaten track visit Ushuaia which is the most Southern located city on the globe
- If you enjoy drinking wine you will love San Juan
- Seeing ancient dinosaur fossils and spectacular rocks in the Parque Provincial Ischigualasto
- If you have a passion for dance you might like to join tango dance course - this is an amazing opportunity to learn how to tango with one on one and group classes! Argentina is famous for dancing and this can be a really fun experience getting taught by locals
