Welcome to Argentina
From wild Argentine Patagonia to the colorful and welcoming La Boca, Argentina offers a unique international travel experience. The country has beautiful landmarks, rich culture, and delicious gastronomy. So if you are looking for your next destination in South America, this is a trip to consider.
In this ultimate Argentina travel guide, we will share some travel tips and everything you need to know about how to enter Argentina and enjoy this trip.
Document Checklist for Argentina
- Visa
- Argentina Affidavit
- Valid passport (with at least 6 months validity)
- Sufficient funds
- Return airline ticket
Essential Argentina Travel Information
-
Currency - Argentine peso (ARS). $1 is equivalent to approx. ARS 156,89.
-
Daily budget for 1 person - A daily budget of around ARS 7,300 ($48).
-
Languages - Spanish.
-
Socket type - Types C and I. The country operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.
-
Time zone - Greenwich Mean Time GMT -03:00.
-
Top 3 cities to visit - Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Bariloche.
-
Top 3 landmarks/monuments - Tierra del Fuego National Park, Caminito Street Museum, and Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires.
Visa Information for Argentina
Argentina has different visas depending on different travel purposes. You must visit the nearest embassy to apply for the document or get additional information. Besides visas, the Argentina Affidavit is a mandatory document to enter the country since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Argentina Visa
The Argentina Tourist Visa is issued to foreigners entering the country for tourism or other recreational purposes. On the other hand, the Argentina Business Visa is designed for those traveling for reasons related to their work. If you will visit the country for work, but as a journalist, you can opt for the specific Argentina Media/Journalist Visa.
The Argentina Medical Treatment Visa is for travelers who need to enter Argentina to receive treatment in an Argentinian health institution. And for members of an officially recognized religious order in Argentina or who are traveling for reasons related to religion, there is the option of the Argentina Religious Visa.
Nationals from most countries need a visa, but there are still some visa-exempt cases, like most countries in South America. You can use the iVisa Visa Checker to see if you need the document.
Argentina Affidavit
The Argentina Affidavit is a Health Form mandatory for all travelers visiting Argentina. Argentine national and foreign travelers are required to fill out the Affidavit application to assist local authorities in their fight against the spread of COVID-19. This form helps government officials track and contain occasional outbreaks and contact you in case of close contact with an infected person.
Typical Costs and Budget for Argentina
This is an essential guide to what you'll spend daily traveling through Argentinas on a decent budget.
Daily spending - Around ARS 7,300 ($48) per person/per day on a budget vacation. This includes:
-
Meals - ARS 2,358 ($16)
-
Transport - ARS 1,598 ($11)
-
Hotel - ARS 4,600 ($30) for two people
A trip for two for one week will cost, on average, ARS 102,196 ($674).
Transport and Best Ways to Travel around Argentina
Argentina is not a tiny country. There are more than 3,000 km driving from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, so a road trip can be an adventure, but very tiring as well. If you decide to rent a car, make sure you have a permit for international visitors and know about the local laws of traffic and speed limits, and be prepared for the jams in the big cities.
Bus travel is also an option, and you can find affordable prices; but keep in mind that if the next destination is very far, you can spend hours on the route that you could be spending enjoying the trip.
There are some places where a train station can be useful, like when traveling around Lake District. You can alsoenjoy tourist trains like the Tren a las Nubes. But usually, the railway network doesn’t offer a lot of options.
Airplanes are an option to optimize time and travel long distances. But be aware that it is expensive to fly in Argentina.
In main cities, you can use ride-hailing apps or the old-school radio taxi to call taxi drivers. In Buenos Aires, the metro can help you get to strategic places, and contracting a tour operator can be a fun way to discover the city.
Safety in Argentina
In some areas of Argentina, there are problems with illegal drugs, and things may turn violent, with even express kidnappings risk. But this is not what you will find in the tourist areas in major cities.
As a tourist, being victim of petty crime is more probable, so pay attention to distraction thefts, bag snatching, and look for personal safety when in crowded spaces. In the cities, keep the car doors locked, given thieves target cars stopped at traffic lights. If you have problems, you can contact the tourist police.
You can also follow the local media news to be informed about any unusual events during your stay.
Weather in Argentina
Argentina is a large and beautiful country with diverse regions, so you can find pretty different weather from one place to another. Patagonia and the Andes Mountains are freezing in the winter and have summer months with weather averages of 15-20°C (59-69°F). Buenos Aires and North Argentina offer high temperatures in the summer, and especially in the North, you will find a lot of humidity.
-
Winter (June to August): Best time to visit the North or enjoy the Bariloche ski resorts. If you want to visit Patagonia, you may find a lot of attractions closed due to the cold.
-
Spring (September to November): Best time to visit the Pampa region, with cool temperatures in all areas. In the South, icy gales may blow.
-
Summer (December to February): Best time to visit the highest Andean peaks, such as Cerro Aconcagua. It may be too hot to enjoy Buenos Aires at this time of year.
-
Autumn (March to May): Best time to visit Mendoza and San Juan, provinces for the wine harvests. It’s also a great moment to explore Patagonia.
Popular Cities and Towns in Argentina
There are so many places you can explore in Argentina! You can choose between historic cities and ski resorts, or you can explore wildlife in Patagonia. Here are some of the places to consider for your itinerary:
-
Buenos Aires - The capital has a vivid nightlife, great museums, and lovely historic neighborhoods, like San Telmo.
-
San Carlos de Bariloche - Favorite winter destination. Bariloche is a great place for skiing around European-style mountain chalets, with excellent resorts for fun and relaxing vacations.
-
Mendoza - Capital of the wine in Argentina, you can taste some of the best Argentine bottles. Located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, it offers beautiful landscapes.
-
Ushuaia - One of the most distant destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. Ushuaia is the port for many Antarctica cruises and the gateway for those visiting Tierra del Fuego National Park in Patagonia.
-
Córdoba - Second largest city in the country. Córdoba is one of the historical places to visit in Argentina. The Spanish architectural structures are a must-see.
Travel Plans: Must Do and See in Argentina
Don’t miss these fantastic sights on your trip to Argentina:
-
Visit La Boca, the most colorful neighborhood in Buenos Aires and home to the quirky Caminito Street Museum.
-
Hike in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. The reserve has breathtaking landscapes, extending from Beagle Channel to the Chilean border. Just be prepared for some altitude sickness.
-
Ski in San Carlos de Bariloche. It’s also an opportunity to hike, raft, cycle, climb, and live an adventure!
-
Promenade in the historical center of Córdoba. The Plaza San Martin is a must-see, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
-
Visit one of Mendonza’s wineries. Enjoy the best Argentine wine!
Typical Argentina Food to Try on Your Trip
-
Empanada - It’s a fried or baked pocket of dough stuffed with a savory filling. There are many versions, but some common flavors are beef, chicken, ham and cheese, spinach, and humita.
-
Choripán - This sandwich is a popular street food in Argentina. It’s made with beef or pork sausage sliced down the middle and served in a roll with chimichurri or “salsa criolla” (onion relish).
-
Asado - The traditional Argentine barbecue! You can choose different meats, such as lamb, pork, and mutton. They are cooked on a cast iron grill called a “parrilla” using either a charcoal (parrilla al carbón) or wood (parrilla a leña) burning fire.
Vaccine Information for Argentina
It's important to know what routine vaccines and COVID-19 measures are required to travel to Argentina. We recommend you check out the CDC website to learn all vaccine requirements and any recommended guidance or medicine lists.
Regarding health, travel insurance is not part of the entry requirements, but it is important to contract one that covers overseas medical costs, especially if you will hike or ski, in case you need emergency services.
Travel Advice: Tango Spectacles in Buenos Aires
Tango is the traditional Argentine dance, a very artistic and romantic gender. The dance’s origin lies in African candombe, Cuban habanera, waltzes, and polkas. It was popular among European immigrants, slaves, and the working and lower classes. So, the tango was historically performed in cabarets, restaurants, and social clubs across Buenos Aires.
Today, you can watch fantastic spectacles in dance halls (also called “milongas”), and in sophisticated restaurants. Some traditional spots to appreciate the dance are the Astor Piazzolla Theatre and the Faena Hotel, but you can find options for all budgets, and it can even be already included in the tour operator’s package.
Fun Facts about Argentina
Now that you know everything about places to visit, documents, and other entry requirements, it’s time to learn some fun facts about Argentina!
-
Argentina produced the world’s first animated feature film in 1917! It was the 70-minute film El Apóstol, a Quirino Cristiani production.
-
The Yerba Mate is the most popular drink in Argentina. This caffeine-infused drink is part of the social scene and is passed around between friends.
-
Government officials banned parents from naming their children Messi in the football star’s hometown. The government was worried about confusion later down the line if the name was to become too trendy.
-
97% of Argentinians have European heritage. This is due to the Spanish colonization and to the fact that later there was a mass immigration from Europe around the mid-19th century, primarily from Italy.
-
The largest known dinosaur was discovered in Argentina. It was a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur, between nine and 10 meters (29.5 and 32.8 feet) long, that lived over 100 million years ago in Patagonia.
Related Articles
Read moreArgentina Vaccination Requirement: Do I need a vaccine to travel to Argentina?
The outing to Argentina becomes fun and remarkable when you are therapeutically fit. You can look for immunization-related principles on the iVisa.com...
Mar 9, 2021Argentina Visa Validity: How long can I travel?
Do you wish to travel to Argentina? Did you know that 72 nationalities from all over the world have to apply for an Argentina ETA to enter the country...
Nov 24, 2021Argentina Visa Types: The multiple entry visa
There are different types of visas depending on the country. In Argentina, the electronic visa is a multiple entry type of document. This means that d...
Nov 24, 2021Argentina Visa Multiple Entry: All you need to know
The Argentina ETA is one of the few travel documents that allow you to enter the country multiple times on different trips. Thanks to iVisa.com you ca...
Nov 24, 2021How it Works?
Complete our easy online application and pay with credit card or PayPal

No need to deal with the embassy. We do it for you so you don't lose valuable time

Present your Passport and the Document we provide upon entry to destination country

Complete our easy online application pay with credit card or PayPal

No need to deal with the embassy or lose valuable time at destination airport.

Present your Passport and Document we provide at destination airport. Receive visa and enter country.

Our application form is 100% digital and easy to fill-in, complete it and pay it with credit card or PayPal.

No need to deal with the embassy. We do it for you so you don't lose valuable time.

Present your Passport and the Health Declaration we provide when you arrive at the airport.

Fill out the online simplified application with the guidance of our Guide Manual.

Get unlimited support during the entire process from our team of iVisa Experts that will help you apply correctly.

Send all the required documents to the Embassy or Consulate, and attend the Visa Interview if needed.

Receive your new visa and get ready to travel!

Our Customers Have Great Stories About Us

Alan
Wonderful company to work with - they were very responsive on chat as we made some mistakes on our end. They assured us everything would work out and worked with us until we received our E-Visa. We got it just two days before traveling. I would highly recommend iVisa.com. If you are in a rush, I would recommend paying the extra to ensure it is ready in time because the government needed more documents and that allowed us extra time to submit.

Pritam Gajjar
Highly impressive. Thanks to iVisa.com team for their great support. I just applied yesterday for my son's Indian E-Visa in a standard service (96 hours). But in a duration of 35 hours (within 2 days), today I get his visa. Before applying it, we were very confused for the E-visa websites. But thanks to this team for their great quick effort. Highly Recommended to all.

Elizabeth Walker
I was surprised to get my Visa within 2 hours and amazed at the fact that how hassle free the entire process is. Thank you guys, keep it up. I will make sure to spread the words among my friends.

Sarah Brown
I applied to get visa to India. This is the first time I used this service. Highly recommend them for anyone need to get E-Visa. Easy to apply through their Web form, can add multiple people in a single request. Fast and efficient service. Received visa within few days. Only downside I found is the order of the application process. It request your visa fee payment, in the 2nd step, before completing the application form with all the information. In general, any web based purchases the payment is requested in the last step. This may raise a concern for a first time user.