The story of Argentina
Long before Europeans arrived, the land now called Argentina was home to a patchwork of peoples: hunter-gatherers who left painted hands on the walls of Cueva de las Manos in Patagonia thousands of years ago, farming communities such as the Diaguita in the Andean northwest, and Guaraní groups in the subtropical northeast. In the late fifteenth century the Inca Empire pushed its roads and outposts into the far northwest, linking the region to the wider Andean world.
Spanish explorers reached the Río de la Plata in the early 1500s, and Buenos Aires was founded for good in 1580. For two centuries the colony was a quiet backwater ruled from Lima, until the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was created in 1776. The May Revolution of 1810 set up a local government, and independence was formally declared at Tucumán on 9 July 1816. Decades of rivalry between Buenos Aires and the provinces followed before a national constitution took hold in 1853.
Read the full history
From the late nineteenth century Argentina boomed on beef and grain exports. Railways spread across the Pampas and millions of immigrants, above all from Italy and Spain, reshaped the country's food, language and music; tango was born in this melting pot along the port of Buenos Aires. The twentieth century brought dramatic swings: the rise of Juan and Eva Perón, repeated military coups, a harsh dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, and the 1982 conflict with Britain over the Falklands/Malvinas, after which democracy was restored.
Since 1983 Argentina has remained a democracy, weathering economic crises while exporting football legends, literature and wine. For visitors, this layered past is everywhere: grand Belle Époque avenues and café culture in Buenos Aires, colonial churches and pre-Inca ruins in Salta and Jujuy, Jesuit mission ruins in Misiones, gaucho traditions on rural estancias, and a passionate national identity that comes alive at every asado, milonga and football match.
Timeline
- c. 7300 BCEarliest hand paintings created at Cueva de las Manos in Patagonia
- 1580Juan de Garay permanently founds Buenos Aires
- 1776Spain creates the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
- 1816Independence declared in San Miguel de Tucumán on 9 July
- 1853National constitution adopted
- 1946Juan Perón elected president for the first time
- 1983Return to democracy after military rule
- 2022Argentina wins the FIFA World Cup for the third time
Entry rules depend on your passport and change often.
- Mercosur – Mercosur member – South American neighbours can often travel with a national ID card.
Before you book, check the official rules for your passport:
- Visa policy of Argentina (Wikipedia) ↗
- IATA Travel Centre – passport, visa & health rules ↗
- U.S. passport holders – State Department country pages ↗
- UK passport holders – GOV.UK travel advice ↗
The latest visa and entry news for Argentina appears below as soon as publishers report it.
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Things to do in Argentina
- Feel the spray at Iguazú FallsWalk the catwalks to the Devil's Throat, where hundreds of cascades thunder into a misty gorge on the Brazilian border.
- Dance or watch tangoJoin a neighbourhood milonga in Buenos Aires and watch locals of every age glide across the floor until the early hours.
- Hike around El ChalténTrek to the base of Mount Fitz Roy, whose granite spires glow pink at sunrise above glacial lakes.
- Watch Perito Moreno calveStand on the boardwalks near El Calafate as house-sized chunks of ice crash from the glacier's face into Lago Argentino.
- Taste Malbec in MendozaCycle between vineyards beneath the snowy Andes and sip the country's signature red at family-run bodegas.
- Share an asadoSettle in for a long, slow barbecue of grilled meats, chorizo and provoleta, the heart of Argentine social life.
- Drive the Quebrada de HumahuacaWind through a UNESCO-listed valley of rainbow-striped hills, adobe villages and cactus-dotted slopes in Jujuy.
- Spot whales off Península ValdésSee southern right whales, elephant seals and Magellanic penguins along a rugged Patagonian coastline.
- Catch a football matchExperience the deafening songs and swirling flags of a Buenos Aires derby, one of sport's most intense atmospheres.
- Stay on an estanciaRide with gauchos across the Pampas, then feast on grilled beef at a traditional working ranch.
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Where to go in Argentina
- Buenos AiresCapital · culture & nightlifeA sophisticated, late-night city of leafy barrios, ornate cafés, bookshops and tango halls. San Telmo, Palermo and La Boca each have a distinct personality.
- 📍Iguazú National ParkMisiones · waterfalls & rainforestOne of the world's great waterfall systems, wrapped in subtropical jungle full of toucans and coatis.
- 📍El Calafate & Los GlaciaresPatagonia · glaciersBase for Perito Moreno Glacier and boat trips across ice-choked lakes in a vast national park.
- 📍El ChalténPatagonia · trekkingArgentina's self-styled trekking capital, with trails leading straight from town to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.
- BarilocheLake District · lakes & mountainsAn alpine-style town on Lake Nahuel Huapi, loved for summer hiking, winter skiing and its chocolate shops.
- MendozaCuyo · wine & AndesLeafy wine capital at the foot of Aconcagua, the highest peak outside Asia.
- 📍Salta & JujuyNorthwest · colonial towns & canyonsColonial plazas, Andean culture and multicoloured canyons such as Quebrada de Humahuaca and Cafayate's gorges.
- 📍UshuaiaTierra del Fuego · end of the worldThe southernmost city of its size on Earth, gateway to Beagle Channel cruises and Antarctic expeditions.
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- Walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier
- Tour Malbec vineyards in Mendoza
- Hike around Mount Fitz Roy from El Chaltén
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- Asado – slow-grilled beef and sausages
- Empanadas – baked pastries with meat or cheese
- Dulce de leche – sweet milk caramel
- Malbec – famous red wine from Mendoza
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Best time to visit Argentina
Argentina spans subtropical jungle in the north to sub-Antarctic Tierra del Fuego, so the climate varies enormously. The northwest is best in the dry months, while Patagonia is best in the southern summer.
Typical daytime highs and rain in Buenos Aires (approximate averages).
- February–MarchVendimia (Grape Harvest Festival)Mendoza celebrates the grape harvest with parades, folk music and the crowning of a harvest queen.
- January–FebruaryCarnivalGualeguaychú and towns of the northwest burst into colour with costumed parades, drums and street parties.
- AugustBuenos Aires Tango FestivalThe city's major tango festival and world championship fill theatres and dance halls with performances and classes.
- AugustFiesta Nacional de la NieveBariloche marks the ski season with torchlight descents, parades and winter events.
- NovemberDía de la TradiciónGaucho culture is honoured with horsemanship displays, folk dancing and asados, especially in San Antonio de Areco.
How many days in Argentina?
Day 1-4: explore Buenos Aires' barrios, cafés, markets and tango scene, with a day trip to the Tigre Delta. Day 5-7: fly to Puerto Iguazú to see the falls from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides.
Day 1-3: Buenos Aires. Day 4-5: Iguazú Falls. Day 6-8: Salta and the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Day 9-10: Mendoza vineyards. Day 11-16: fly south to El Calafate for Perito Moreno, then hike in El Chaltén.
Backpacker budget: about $40–60 a day
- Long-distance buses are comfortable and extensive; overnight 'cama' seats save a night's accommodation on long routes.
- Palermo and San Telmo in Buenos Aires have the liveliest hostel scenes, with social asado nights and walking tours.
- Eat a big lunch: many restaurants offer a 'menú del día' set lunch that is much cheaper than dinner.
- Book Patagonian flights and hostels early for December to February, when beds in El Chaltén and El Calafate fill up fast.
- Bring a reusable bottle and fill up from taps in most cities; carry snacks and empanadas for long bus rides.
Stay safe
- Watch for pickpockets and bag snatchers in busy areas of Buenos Aires, especially on buses, in La Boca and around Retiro and Constitución stations.
- Keep phones out of sight on the street; snatch-and-run thefts from café tables and pavements are common.
- Patagonian weather changes fast – carry layers, waterproofs and tell someone your hiking plans.
- Use official taxis or ride-hailing apps at night rather than hailing cars on the street.
Money
- Exchange rates and payment rules change often; check current advice on whether cash, cards or transfer services give the best rate before you go.
- ATMs can have low withdrawal limits and high fees, so plan cash needs ahead, especially in small Patagonian towns.
- Tipping around 10% is customary in restaurants; leave it in cash where possible.
Emergency: 911 police · 107 ambulance · 100 fire
Most international flights land at Buenos Aires' Ezeiza (EZE) airport, with domestic flights from Aeroparque (AEP). Ferries cross the Río de la Plata to Uruguay, and land borders connect with Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay.
✈️ Cheap flights to Argentina: airports, flight times & best time to fly →
- Aconcagua, at almost 7,000 m, is the highest mountain in the Americas.
- Argentines typically eat dinner very late, often after 9 or 10 pm.
- Argentine police officer Juan Vucetich developed one of the first fingerprint identification systems in the 1890s.
- Sharing mate, a bitter herbal tea passed around in a gourd, is a daily social ritual.
- Buenos Aires is said to have more bookshops per person than almost any other city in the world.
Argentina travel questions
Is Argentina safe for tourists?
Argentina is generally safe for travellers, with petty theft being the main concern in big cities. Keep valuables hidden, use trusted transport at night and you will rarely have problems.
When is the best time to visit Argentina?
October to April is best for most travellers, especially for Patagonia. Buenos Aires is pleasant in spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May).
How many days do you need in Argentina?
A week covers Buenos Aires and Iguazú Falls. Two to three weeks lets you add Patagonia, Mendoza and the northwest, using domestic flights to cover the huge distances.
Do I need a visa for Argentina?
It depends on your passport – many visitors can enter visa-free for short stays, but rules change. Check the official Argentine government site or your nearest embassy before you travel.
Do people speak English in Argentina?
Spanish is the main language, with a distinctive Rioplatense accent. English is common in tourist areas of Buenos Aires and Patagonia, but a few Spanish phrases go a long way.
Approximate daily cost per person (stay, food, local transport).
Long-distance buses are comfortable and cover the country; domestic flights save time over the huge distances. Cities have good buses and subways.
- Basilica of Our Lady of Luján – Argentina's most important Catholic pilgrimage church
- Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral – Grand cathedral on Plaza de Mayo
- Greet with one kiss on the cheek once you know someone
- Dinner is late – often after 9 pm
- Sharing mate is a sign of friendship; do not wipe the straw
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Iguazú Falls


