Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Argentina

A photograph of Argentina
Photograph · Martin St-Amant (S23678) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Argentina is 2,780,400 km², the eighth-largest country on earth, and the practical consequence is that its regions do not substitute for one another. Twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city take in subtropical forest and the Iguazú falls in the northeast, the flat cattle country of the Pampas around Buenos Aires, the Andean front of Cuyo where Aconcagua reaches 6,960 m, and then Patagonia, where the glaciers are and where the ground falls to 105 m below sea level at Laguna del Carbón. Choosing a city here is mostly a question of latitude and season.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Spanish
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+54
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Argentine peso (ARS)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911 where available; local numbers vary
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and I · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. San Telmo Market San Telmo Market
    02 45 min

    San Telmo Market

    Mercado de San Telmo is a historic covered market in the San Telmo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. The building features a distinctive iron roof structure typical of late 19th-century Argentine architecture.

    • Must see
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  2. Galerias Pacifico Galerias Pacifico
    03 45 min

    Galerias Pacifico

    Galerías Pacífico is a historic shopping gallery in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The building exemplifies Beaux-Arts architecture and occupies a full city block in the city centre.

    • Must see
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  3. Abasto de Buenos Aires Abasto de Buenos Aires
    04 45 min

    Abasto de Buenos Aires

    The Abasto Market Building, known locally as Abasto de Buenos Aires, is a monumental Art Deco structure that formerly served as the city's central produce market.

    • High
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  4. Paseo La Plaza Paseo La Plaza
    05 45 min

    Paseo La Plaza

    Paseo La Plaza is a dense theatre and cultural complex situated along Avenida Corrientes in Buenos Aires. The complex embodies the live-performance energy for which this famous avenue is renowned throughout Argentina.

    • High
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  5. Falabella
    28 45 min

    Falabella

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  6. Quesar
    42 45 min

    Quesar

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  7. Walmart
    43 45 min

    Walmart

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  8. Arredo
    47 45 min

    Arredo

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  9. Coppel
    54 45 min

    Coppel

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  10. Coppel
    55 45 min

    Coppel

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  11. Coppel
    56 45 min

    Coppel

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  12. Coppel
    57 45 min

    Coppel

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  13. Coppel
    58 45 min

    Coppel

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  14. Ecomoda
    62 45 min

    Ecomoda

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  15. El Galpón
    64 45 min

    El Galpón

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires
  16. Frávega
    71 45 min

    Frávega

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Buenos Aires

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Argentina be?

A 10–16 day Argentina trip can give Buenos Aires four or five days and use the remaining time for one distant region. Patagonia, the northwest and the Iguazú area should be treated as separate journeys because their transfers consume full travel days.

What entry documents are needed for Argentina?

Argentina’s Dirección Nacional de Migraciones is the authority for admission rules. Passport, visa and permitted-stay conditions vary by nationality and purpose, so verify the current requirement there before purchasing non-refundable travel.

What is the best way to travel around Argentina?

Buenos Aires uses Aeroparque and Ezeiza for different route mixes, while domestic flights and long-distance coaches carry most interregional journeys. Passenger rail serves limited corridors, and each city sets its own local transport payment rules.

When is a practical time to visit Argentina?

March to May and September to November are useful broad windows for Buenos Aires and several central routes. Patagonia, Iguazú and the Andean northwest follow different weather patterns, so choose dates around the region that anchors the trip.

What money and payment basics apply in Argentina?

Argentina uses the Argentine peso (ARS). Exchange rates and payment conditions are not recorded here; confirm the amount at a bank or authorised exchange counter before accepting a conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Argentina?

Police assistance is generally reached on 911, although local emergency numbers vary. Argentina uses Type C and I plugs at 220 V; nationwide tap-water guidance is Not recorded, so ask the local water authority or accommodation.