Things to do in 

Argentina

If you like sidesteps, Argentina has alternative things to do tucked in art studios, highland towns, wetlands, and back roads where friendly hosts still wave you in.

Cultural Activities: In Buenos Aires, take a fileteado painting class with a local artist in San Telmo, then spot the motifs on storefronts as you wander. In Salta, sit in on a relaxed peña rehearsal to hear zamba and chacarera, followed by a hands-on empanada lesson with a family cook.

Day Trip Ideas: From Buenos Aires, paddle a guided canoe through quiet canals in the Tigre Delta and picnic on an island pier. From Mendoza, cycle country lanes in Maipú between small bodegas and an olive oil mill, timing tastings with a long lunch. From Salta, take the day-long drive over the Cuesta del Obispo to Parque Nacional Los Cardones, walk the cactus flats, and stop in tiny Payogasta for humitas.

Less Crowded Views: In El Chaltén, hike Loma del Pliegue Tumbado for sweeping Fitz Roy vistas with far fewer hikers than the Laguna de los Tres trail. Near Humahuaca, ride up to the Serranía de Hornocal viewpoint in late afternoon for vivid layers once the shadows deepen, avoiding the busier Purmamarca lookout.

Explore Argentina's Regions: In Patagonia, split time between glacier country around El Calafate and trail town days in El Chaltén, with estancia visits for riding and a hearty asado. In the Northwest around Salta and Jujuy, wander adobe villages in the Quebrada de Humahuaca and sip high-altitude Torrontés in Cafayate’s small wineries. Around Mendoza and the Uco Valley, pair vineyard lunches with Andean foothill hikes, while in the Iberá Wetlands of Corrientes you can spot capybaras and caimans by boat.

Plan 5 to 7 days for a single region to keep travel mellow, and 10 to 14 days if you are linking Patagonia, the Northwest, and wine country; see ToursByLocals Argentina for ideas and local connections.

More places to see in Argentina

Head north, west, and south to see how different Argentina can feel beyond Buenos Aires, from red canyons to blue lakes and far-south bays. These places reward slow walks, shared meals, and time with locals, and they’re easy to fold into a private day with a guide who knows the backroads.

Salta & Jujuy: Start early in Purmamarca and circle the Cerro de los Siete Colores before the sun gets high, then roll up the Quebrada de Humahuaca for a tamale lunch in Tilcara near the Pucará ruins. Back in Salta, step into the MAAM to see Inca high-altitude archaeology, and in the evening grab a table at a peña on Calle Balcarce where locals sing folklore over plates of empanadas.

Mendoza: Late morning suits tastings at bodegas in Luján de Cuyo—try Bodega Catena Zapata in Agrelo or pull into Bodega Norton—and plan a long lunch among the vines at Ruca Malen. If the day’s clear, drive Ruta 7 out to the water of Potrerillos Reservoir in the afternoon and watch the Andes shift color as the sun drops behind the dam.

Bariloche & the Lake District: Take the Circuito Chico after breakfast, stopping at the Colonia Suiza market on a Wednesday or Sunday for curanto and a local beer. Ride the chairlift up Cerro Campanario in late afternoon for wide views of Lago Nahuel Huapi, then walk Mitre Street for chocolate shops before dinner.

Ushuaia: Spend a calm morning on the trails of Tierra del Fuego National Park, following the Senda Costera to Lapataia Bay where the forest meets the water. Around midday, board a small boat on the Beagle Channel to pass sea lion colonies and the Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, and in the evening tuck into centolla king crab at a simple spot by the port like Tía Elvira.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Let Buenos Aires wake under purple jacarandas as cafés take over sunny corners, then head south for the tail end of whale season on Península Valdés or walk Salta’s rust-red quebradas in mild, dry air. Comfortable temperatures make easy pacing for seniors and families, with leafy parks and plazas for slow afternoons.

Summer: Stretch out long days in Patagonia to hike, kayak and cruise past blue ice at Perito Moreno, while the Atlantic coast settles into classic beach season from Mar del Plata to Pinamar. Christmas in Buenos Aires arrives in the heat, with plazas lit up, late-night fireworks and open-air milongas; couples and luxury travellers linger over dinners that run well past midnight.

Fall: Follow vendimia in Mendoza as vines turn gold and wineries open cellars for tastings and harvest rituals, then catch crisp colours around Bariloche’s lakes. The Northwest settles into clear, sunny days ideal for road trips and Calchaquí wine country, while families and seniors appreciate gentler temperatures and quieter roads.

Winter: Hit the slopes at Bariloche’s Cerro Catedral, Las Leñas or Chapelco, with chocolate shops never far between runs. Buenos Aires shifts indoors to theatre and tango halls, while Península Valdés starts prime whale watching; midyear school holidays add a festive buzz to ski towns and city museums.

Big moments return every year: Carnival parades roll through Gualeguaychú and the northwest in February, March crowns Mendoza’s Vendimia with processions and grape blessings, July lights up Bariloche for the Fiesta de la Nieve, August fills Buenos Aires with the Tango Festival and free outdoor milongas, and November’s Día de la Tradición rides into San Antonio de Areco with gaucho horsemanship and folk music.