
I’m super excited to share my perfect 2 week Argentina Itinerary with you! I fell in love with the country and the people (and the wine!), and I know you will too.
I was fortunate enough to visit Argentina (and Chile and Rio de Janeiro) early in 2020 before the Coronavirus shut down the world. My 2 weeks there were amazing and have left an imprint in my mind and heart.
There is so much to see, do and experience in Argentina, and I wish I had more time to explore deeper. But within 2 weeks you can definitely see some major highlights!
This is a high level itinerary. For each location, I also have more guides so that you can delve further into each destination. I’ve included the links for each below.
Keep reading to discover the...
Perfect 2 Week Argentina Itinerary

Perfect 2 Week Argentina Itinerary – 5 Nights in Mendoza
We started our Argentina adventure in Mendoza. I know this isn’t the most obvious place to start but Mendoza has an international airport and if you are flying from Chile (like I was), it’s a short and fairly cheap flight with Sky Airlines. Also, it’s a nice quiet airport unlike the craziness in Buenos Aires. Of course, you may choose to start in Buenos Aires. In that case just follow the itinerary in reverse.
If you love wine, then you are going to love Mendoza. But besides its amazing wines, it also has an abundance of activities you can enjoy while in the area. Nearby is Aconcagua, the highest mountain peak in the Americas, which hosts mountain climbers from around the world. You can also ski, mountain bike, and raft.
Read more: The Perfect Mendoza 4 Day Itinerary














Perfect 2 Week Argentina Itinerary – 2 Nights in Córdoba
Cordoba is not somewhere you hear a lot of people talk about when they choose to go to Argentina, but that doesn’t mean you should miss it. Quite the opposite. It’s a vibrant university city with lots of nightlife, art and culture. It’s a 1 hour flight from Mendoza and is around $100USD with Aerolines Argentinas. We only had a short stay here and just scratched the surface.
Read more: How to Spend 36 Hours in Córdoba, Argentina














Perfect 2 Week Argentina Itinerary – 2 Nights Iguazú Falls
Take the evening flight from Cordoba to Puerto Iguazú with Aerolineas Argentinas. Cost is just over $100USD. We had planned for 2 nights/1 full day in Iguazu Falls, however while we were in Mendoza we heard about major rainfall and mudslides so unfortunately had to change our plans, and never made it to Iguazu. I’ve still included it in this itinerary as I think it’s a ‘must see’ when in Argentina.
If your budget allows, I would stay at the Gran Melia Iguazu. It’s a little pricey but it’s near to the airport and I’ve read that you can walk to the falls from the hotel. If budget doesn’t allow such a luxury, there are many hotels in Puerto Iguazu to choose from. We had planned on staying at Amerian Portal del Iguazu Hotel. It has pretty good reviews and from the rooftop bar you can see where the 3 countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay intersect.


Image by José Joey from Pixabay










Perfect 2 Week Argentina Itinerary – 5 Nights in Bueno Aires
Take a mid morning flight from Iguazu to Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is a BIG city with so much to see and experience. There is so much art, culture and charm around every corner, that unless you have unlimited time, you will never see it all. In 5-6 days you can see quite a bit but of course, if you have extra time, you would never get bored or run out of things to see and do.


Photo by @redbarley (Instagram)


Photo by @redbarley (Instagram)










Make Sure to Try
Every country has special characteristics that are unique to itself. Things that are associated to that country in particular. It could be anything from food and wine to experiences and events. These are some things that you should not miss out when you are in Argentina.
Argentinian Wine
Some of the best wines in the world come from Argentina, and specifically Malbec. As a wine lover, for me it’s a given to try the wine, however even if you are not a wine drinker, you need to experience some of this Argentine goodness.


Mate
Mate is a traditional drink similar to tea, made by soaking dried leaves of the yerba mate plant in hot water. It’s served in a mate gourd, a round ‘cup’, with straw.


Fernet and Coke
Ok, so Fernet and coke doesn’t sound that iconic or exotic, you can have it pretty much anywhere in the world. But have you ever? I never had but it’s super popular in Argentina. Personally, I didn’t like it, but ‘when in Rome’!
Empanadas
I’m always looking out for the best of this delicious staple of South/Central American cuisine. If you are not familiar with empanadas, you should be! They are a pastry filled with savory ingredients and are either deep fried or baked and are perfect as a snack or small meal. Just writing this has me craving one right now!


Choripán
Choripán is a type of sandwich filled with grilled chorizo served in a crusty bunt, with all other kinds of toppings that you can usually choose from. Popular at sports games and food trucks, they are the perfect afternoon lunch or snack to go.


Asado
A traditional Argentine bbq, or meat feast as I experienced, usually of beef, pork, chicken, chorizo and morcilla, which are done on a grill or ‘parrilla’ or an open fire, and accompanied with red wine and salads. Many restaurants specialize in asado, or if you have Argentine friends, try to get yourself invited to a homemade locals asado. Make sure to arrive with an empty stomach.


Dulce de Leche
This sweet treat of Argentina is not to be missed. It’s made by caramelizing sweetened milk into a thick consistency which can be used as a spread, dip, topping or filling for pies and cakes. Try it on top of ice cream, alfajores, dessert empanadas, toast, or anyway you can think. I brought a big tub of it home to Canada and it didn’t last long. I also found a dulce de leche liquore, which was also gone in a week!


Photo by Andrea Toxiri from Pixabay
Alfajores
Another Argentine sweet treat, made with 2 shortbread type cookies, with dulce de leche in between holding them together. For even more goodness, dip in more dulce de leche!


Photo by delightindessert from Pixabay
Speaking Spanish
Learning a new language is hard but even if you learn a few basics you will find navigating a foreign country a little easier. And locals will appreciate your efforts!
Read more: Essential Spanish Phrases for Travel










Dining and Drinking
Argentines eat late! It’s not uncommon to eat at 10-11pm and then after, dance the night away. Everywhere is normally closed until 9 or 10pm. Once 11pm-midnight rolls around, things start happening and go until the early hours of the morning. Argentines know how to party!










Other Information
When to Visit
The seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are the exact opposite of the Northern Hemisphere. Because of this, Argentina is a perfect place to visit if you want to escape the brutal winters above the 49th parallel or if you want to continue your ski season down south. Also, given the size of the country, the weather varies with a range of climates.
Winter (June-August) – Winters are mild in the north, cool in the centre, and cold in the south.
Spring (September-November) – Spring is the transition time between winter coolness and the summer heat.
Summer (December-February) – Warm and wet in most parts of the country except Patagonia where it is dry season.
Autumn (Mar-May) – Transition month from summer heat to the cool of winter.
Best time for:
- Beaches – Summer
- Iguazú Falls – All year, however December & January are summer holidays for South Americans and it is high season. Feb-Sep is not as busy and still has good weather. Oct & Nov can be hot and wet. Dec-Mar the falls are at their highest water level.
- Mendoza – December – March is hot and dry, and perfect weather for most activities. April – June colorful autumn trees. July -September is ski season.
Culture – ANYTIME!
Getting There
Most international long haul flights arrive in Buenos Aires, however other Argentine cities do receive international flights as well such as Cordoba and Mendoza.
Getting Around
- Bus – Bus travel is the cheapest way to get around Argentina, however because of the vast size of the country, time may not allow for this. You may also not want to sit on the bus for some 10+ hr journeys. There are many companies to choose from and usually vary by region. Buses are modern and on some longer routes, snacks and meals are included with the cost of your ticket. Most times you can buy your ticket on the day of departure however if you are traveling during peak season, Dec – Feb, you should book 3-7 days ahead of time.
- Air – Aerolineas and LATAM are the 2 most common airlines and if you book enough in advance, you can get some really great prices. Make sure to look at the different fare levels as some include checked baggage and allow for refunds for not that much higher of cost.
- Car – Car rental is available everywhere but I wouldn’t recommend it except in certain regions such as Mendoza.
Language
Spanish is the most used language in Argentina. If you are planning a trip, you should take the time to learn the basics, prior to your arrival. English is not commonly spoken so knowing a few important phrases will come in handy. Also, make sure you load Google Translate on your phone to help you out along the way.
Read more: Essential Spanish Phrases for Travel
Currency
The currency of Argentina is the Argentine Peso (ARS). If you can, getting cash in your home country is highly recommended as ATM’s are a pain in Argentina (see below for more info). Having said that, depending where home is, it may be difficult to get Argentine Pesos before your departure. In Canada, I tried multiple times and was never able to get any however my friend got lucky 1 time and was able to get a small amount. I even tried ordering ahead of time but no such luck for me.
ATM’s and Credit Cards
Using ATM’s in Argentina can be a challenge! Depending on what city you are in, they seem to have low limits on how much you can take out at a time plus charge high service fees. The highest I came across was about $15CAD or $11USD, and I think I was only allowed to take out the equivalent of $75CAD/57USD. Once you find a machine that lets you take out a larger amount of cash, you should do so you don’t have to keep taking out small amounts and paying the big service fee each time. Also some ATM’s wouldn’t even work with a foreign bank card. Credit cards are accepted at most places however you may get better prices if you pay with cash, especially smaller boutique stores.










Overall
In conclusion, Argentina is a beautiful country to visit, and one of my favorites! There is art & culture, outdoors activities, history, and of course, incredible wine. I thoroughly enjoyed Argentina and can’t believe it took me so long to get there.
If you are planning a trip to Argentina, also consider adding on a week in neighboring Chile. It’s another Spanish speaking country with incredibly friendly people.
I hope you found this perfect 2 week Argentina itinerary helpful in your trip planning to Argentina.
If you’ve already visited Argentina, let me know what your favorite part was in the comments section below.
Ciao for now!











