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Ushuaia

Southernmost city at the end of the world

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Ushuaia Plan a trip around Argentina

Best time to visit: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Currency: ARS
Time zone: UTC-3
Country: Argentina

Photo: Jorge Láscar from Australia, CC BY 2.0

Ushuaia is the world's southernmost city, set on a wide bay of the Beagle Channel below the 54th parallel, backed by the Martial mountains and surrounded by subpolar forest. People come for the Tierra del Fuego National Park, Beagle Channel wildlife and penguin tours, the old prison museum, skiing at Cerro Castor, and as the main gateway for Antarctic expeditions.

Largest cities

Buenos Aires
Córdoba
Rosario
Mendoza
La Plata

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Argentina
Capital: Buenos Aires
City population: 82,615
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: 21 m
Plugs: C / I · 220V
Emergency numbers: 911 · 100 (fire) · 107 (ambulance)
Best time to visit: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

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	13°	13°	10°	8°	5°	3°	3°	4°	6°	8°	11°	12°
Low	6°	6°	4°	2°	1°	-3°	-2°	-1°	0°	2°	4°	5°

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.$46
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$108
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$240

Plan a trip to Ushuaia

Top things to do

≈ $20
Tierra del Fuego National Park
Hike or take the coastal trails to Lapataia Bay, the southern end of National Route 3, and the Pan-American Highway; bring waterproofs and pay the park entry fee separately from transport.
- Full day
- West end and airport road
- Good for kids
≈ $45
End of the World Train (Tren del Fin del Mundo)
A short heritage railway ride from near the city into the national park along the old prisoners' route; book a time slot in advance in high season.
- Half day
- West end and airport road
- Good for kids
≈ $60
Beagle Channel boat tour
Cruise past sea lion and cormorant colonies to the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, with views of the Martial range; dress warmly as it is cold and windy on deck.
- Half day
- Beagle Channel waterfront
- Good for kids
Free
Martial Glacier
Walk or take the chairlift from the city edge up to the glacier viewpoint over Ushuaia Bay; the trail is steep and muddy, so wear proper shoes.
- Half day
- Road to Martial Glacier
- Good for kids
≈ $15
Museo del Presidio (Old Prison Museum)
Explore the former prison that shaped the city, with maritime and Antarctic exhibits in the same complex; allow two to three hours.
- Half day
- Centro (San Martín and the port)
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $10
Museo Marítimo de Ushuaia
Housed in the old prison wings, it covers the region's maritime and exploration history; a good rainy-day option.
- Half day
- Centro (San Martín and the port)
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $60
Cerro Castor skiing
The southernmost full ski resort, about 27 km north of the city, with 28 trails and the longest season in South America; check snow and transport before going.
- Full day
- West end and airport road
- Good for kids
≈ $70
Estancia Harberton
A historic sheep ranch on the Beagle Channel reached by bus or boat, with a marine mammal museum and penguin colony nearby; a full-day outing.
- Full day
- Industrial area and east Ushuaia
- Good for kids
Free
San Martín street and port evening walk
Stroll the main street past the 'end of the world' sign and the port, with restaurants and shops; good for an arrival evening.
- Half day
- Centro (San Martín and the port)
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $40
Fagnano Lake
A large lake east of the city reached by tour or car, with views of the Andes and the Garibaldi Pass; a full-day trip.
- Full day
- Industrial area and east Ushuaia
- 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

Ushuaia – Malvinas Argentinas International Airport (USH) is about 4 km south of the centre, with daily flights from Buenos Aires and connections from El Calafate and Santiago. A taxi into town takes around 10 minutes; minivans and buses also run to the centre.

Getting around

The centre is walkable, but most attractions need taxis, remises or the minivans that leave from the corner of Maipú and Fadul for the national park, Martial Glacier and trailheads; city buses use the SUBE card.

Local tips

Pack windproof and waterproof layers year-round: strong winds can make it feel 5–6°C colder, and rain or snow is possible in any month.
Book accommodation well ahead for January, when Argentine domestic tourism peaks; mid-February to May is quieter.
Carry cash in Argentine pesos for small shops, minivans and park fees, and keep some small notes for tips.
On hillside streets vehicles coming downhill have right of way, and ice and snow make the slopes slippery in winter.