Argentina

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Mendoza

Andes wine country and mountain gateway

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Best time to visit: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
Currency: ARS
Time zone: UTC-3
Country: Argentina

Photo: David, CC BY 2.0

Mendoza is the capital of Argentina's wine province, a green, tree-lined desert city at the foot of the Andes. People come for Malbec wineries, high-altitude mountain scenery and easy access to Aconcagua and ski resorts.

Largest cities

Buenos Aires
Córdoba
Rosario
Mendoza
La Plata

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Argentina
Capital: Buenos Aires
City population: 127,160
Population of Argentina: 47.3M
Country area: 2,780,400 km²
Official language: Spanish
Currency: Argentine Peso (ARS) · 1 USD ≈ 1,516 ARS
Time zone: UTC-3
Calling code: +54
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 760 m
Plugs: C / I · 220V
Emergency numbers: 911 · 100 (fire) · 107 (ambulance)
Best time to visit: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	31°	30°	26°	21°	16°	13°	13°	16°	20°	25°	28°	30°
Low	21°	19°	17°	12°	8°	5°	4°	6°	9°	13°	16°	19°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$32
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$80
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$205

Plan a trip to Mendoza

Top things to do

Free
Plaza Independencia and the four plazas
Walk the pedestrian stretch of Avenida Sarmiento and the smaller plazas of San Martín, Chile, Italia and España two blocks off each corner, with cafes and the irrigation canals that water the city's trees.
- Half day
- City Centre (Plaza Independencia)
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $3
Museo del Área Fundacional
The historical museum on Pedro del Castillo Square explains the city's founding and its earthquakes; a good short stop on a hot or rainy afternoon.
- Half day
- City Centre (Plaza Independencia)
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $3
Museo Cornelio Moyano
Natural history museum in the park, with regional fossils and wildlife displays; pair it with a walk around the nearby lake.
- Half day
- Parque General San Martín
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Parque General San Martín and Cerro de la Gloria
Walk or cycle the 420-hectare park and climb the path to the Ejército de los Andes monument for city and mountain views, best at sunset; there is no footpath down the east side, so return by the road.
- Half day
- Parque General San Martín
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $15
Teatro Independencia
Mendoza's premier performing arts venue, a 1920s French Academy-style hall seating 730 and home to the provincial philharmonic; check the programme and book ahead for evening concerts.
- Half day
- City Centre (Plaza Independencia)
- Indoors
- Good in the evening
≈ $25
Maipú wineries and wine museum
Tour and taste at bodegas around Maipú, 17 km southeast of the city, including the Museo Nacional del Vino on local winemaking history; book tastings in advance and arrange a driver or taxi.
- Half day
- Maipú
- Indoors
≈ $60
Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley wine route day trip
A full day among the high-altitude Malbec vineyards of Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley between 850 and 1,500 m; hire a car with driver or join a small-group tour so nobody has to drive after tastings.
- Full day
- Luján de Cuyo
- Indoors
≈ $45
Andes and Aconcagua day trip
Drive Ruta Nacional 7 into the mountains toward Aconcagua, the highest peak outside the Himalayas, with stops at viewpoints and Puente del Inca; it is cold and windy up high even in summer, so bring a jacket.
- Full day
- Uco Valley
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many visitors, including British citizens, can enter Argentina visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days, but rules depend on nationality and some nationalities pay a reciprocity fee on arrival at Ezeiza. Passports must be valid for the planned stay, and immigration no longer stamps passports, so contact the Argentine Migration Office if you need proof of entry or exit. Check the official Argentine migration site or your nearest Argentine consulate before travelling.

Official website

From the airport

Gov. Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (El Plumerillo, MDZ) is about 8 km from the centre, with flights to Buenos Aires in under 2 hours and Santiago in under 1 hour. A remis (private taxi) at fixed posted prices takes roughly 15–20 minutes to the centre; a city bus is cheaper but slower and needs a rechargeable card.

Getting around

The centre is compact and walkable, with plentiful buses and the Metrotranvía light rail on a prepaid card (SUBE or contactless), plus taxis and Uber; wineries 10 km or more south need a bus, bike, taxi or tour.

Local tips

Businesses close for the afternoon siesta, roughly 13:00–17:00, and reopen until about 20:30–21:30; banks only open weekday mornings.
Carry some cash for kiosks and small shops, and keep small notes for bus cards and tips; cards are widely accepted in restaurants.
Summers are hot and dry with January highs near 31°C, winters are cold and dry with nights near freezing, so pack layers and sun protection.
The Zonda wind can push temperatures up sharply within hours, and the Andes pass to Chile can close after heavy snow in winter.