23 Top Tourist Attractions in Argentina

With glorious landscapes featuring mountain peaks, jungle forests, tropical beaches, thriving vineyards, and alpine lakes, Argentina is more widely known for its rich culture, history, competitive football, and as the birthplace of tango.

Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires, is a popping tourist destination brimming with social activities like nightclubs and restaurants. It’s also rich with important historical sites and museums, founded in 1536 by Pedro de Mendoza, a Spanish explorer. And that’s just Buenos Aires!

Argentina boasts centuries of impactful history and prevalent culture waiting to be seen in person, like the stunning Iglesia San Francisco in Salta. And that’s not including all the natural marvels that draw in millions of visitors to Argentina, like Iguazu Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

From trekking across glaciers to witnessing the sensuality and skill of tango dancing up close and personal, there are so much things to do to in Argentina! It’s not just the overall excellence. It’s the extreme variety of tourist attractions in Argentina that keeps visitors coming back for more.

23. Volcan Lanin

On the border region between Argentina and Chile is Volcan Lanin, a volcano that is wildly popular with hikers and rock climbers.

The truly adventurous can seek permission at the Lanín national park office, show proof of supplies, and then trek to the summit on an often snow-capped route.

Alternatively, a short walk of under an hour can take visitors to the Volcán Lanín’s Cara Norte, or north face, which also offers views of the lake called Lago Tromen and the surrounding forest.

22. Quebrada de Cafayate

Quebrada de Cafayate is a spectacular canyon in the Valles Calchaquíes region. Sandstone, unusual rock formations and bold colors make this is a true bucket-list item for travelers.

Organized tours allow for hiking or driving along the Río de las Conchas, traveling into the gorge and the heart of the canyon. In the background, the Sierras de Carahuasi are a bold contrast, creating picture-perfect vistas.

Look for landmarks like the iconic monolith known as El Obelisco, the vivid rock formation castles known as Los Castillos and the chalk quarry, which is home to a unusual rock formation called El Fraile, or the monk.

21. Tigre Delta

Just north of Buenos Aires is the city of Tigre, a destination that serves as a hub for the surrounding delta. While the city offers an extensive museum, great shops and a bustling outdoor market, the real appeal is escaping Tigre and exploring the river delta by boat.

Book a spot on a guided tour, or just hop on one of the local water taxis, and see the local homes along the canals, the many floating means of transport used in the area and even purchase goods from the floating vendors who ply their trade right in the river.

20. Recoleta Cemetery

One of the most popular attractions in Buenos Aires is Recoleta Cemetery. The cemetery dates back to the early 18th century, and it contains nearly 5,000 vaults.

Architectural features abound at the Recoleta Cemetery, including countless statues, Doric columns and mausoleums. What makes the cemetery so fascinating, however, is who is laid to rest there.

Some of the tombs in Recoleta belong to people like Eva Peron, Armando Bo, José Figueroa Alcorta and virtually every Argentinian of political or cultural note from the past two centuries.

19. Talampaya National Park

In La Rioja Province is Talampaya National Park, a large preserve that protects some of the country’s most important archeological and paleontological sites

Approximately 250 years ago, dinosaurs roamed in this region, and fossil remains found in the park confirm that fact.

For those without an interest in archeology, the dry bed of the Talampaya River, the rich red of the gorge, the unusually shaped rocks and the magnificent scenery are enough reason to visit this amazing tourist attractions in Argentina.

18. Iglesia San Francisco, Salta

The historically significant and architecturally exquisite Iglesia San Francisco is located in Salta, which borders Bolivia and Paraguay.

One of the biggest tourist attractions in Salta, the Iglesia San Francisco, is a Catholic temple and convent filled with breathtaking displays and designs, like the marble altar made in Cadiz in 1789.

It features the tallest bell tower in South America, a church library preserving more than 40,000 documents and editions of historical importance and value, and a church museum with paintings dating back to the 17th century.

A National Historic Monument, the Iglesia San Francisco dates back to 1625. It houses many valuable works to peer over, including the image of Our Lady of the Snows and a sculpture by Felipe de Rivera, San Francisco.

17. Cerro Catedral

A mountain found in Nahuel Huapi National Park in Patagonia, Cerro Catedral is known for its world-class skiing opportunities and the breathtaking scenery of Nahuel Huapi Lake.

It is home to the largest ski center in South America, where people travel from all over to experience the winter wonderland of Cerro Catedral. The mountain is perfect for camping, rock climbing, and hiking during the summer, though more people visit Cerro Catedral during the winter, despite the chill.

The mountain achieved its namesake thanks to the granite spires that rest at its peaks, resembling a gothic church. A magical essence is exuded from Cerro Catedral, where snow covers its mystical forests and sprawling terrain, drawing in visitors who return year after year.

16. Mar del Plata Beaches

South of Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata is famous as a premier beach resort destination. After Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata is Argentina’s most visited city, thanks to its refreshing Atlantic coastline and favorable beaches.

La Perla beach is one of the best beaches in Mar del Plata. It caters to a lively crowd during peak months, with plenty of space to have fun. There are nearby rental options to snag an umbrella or beach chair, with easy access to restaurants and bars along the strip of beach.

To find the party, and the best waves, head to Playa Grande. This beach in Mar del Plata is excellent for beginners to learn how to surf and ride fast waves or watch local surfers ride the waves.

As a party beach, it does get crowded during the summer at Playa Grande, where locals and tourists join together to have a great time and hit up the many beach clubs nearby.

15. Cueva de las Manos

This archeological site is an essential destination for anyone who appreciates art or history. The Cueva de las Manos includes a magnificent collection of prehistoric cave paintings that were completed 9,000 years ago by ancestors of the Tehuelche people who inhabit Patagonia and the Pinturas River Canyon.

The cave is known for its iconic stenciled outlines of overlapping hands, but it also includes painted hunting scenes and symbolic pictographs.

14. Aconcagua

The highest mountain in the Americas, Cerro Aconcagua, is situated in the Andes mountain range in Mendoza Province.

Aconcagua is the second highest mountain (after Everest) in the list of the Seven Summits; the highest peaks on the seven continents. It’s where people go to do the near-impossible made possible – climb the highest peak in South America.

There’s a very short climbing season for Aconcagua, and this challenging feat is not one to take lightly. Climbing Aconcagua is one of the most difficult things to do in Argentina. Yet, the adventure to the top of Aconcagua is one you’ll never forget, and the views are undeniably rewarding!

13. Quebrada de Humahuaca

Found north of Buenos Aires in Jujuy, colorful Quebrada de Humahuaca is one of the must-visit places in Argentina that you shouldn’t miss!

Dug by the Rio Grande, the Quebrada de Humahuaca was a route for the Incas, a passage point for colonizers, and a commercial passageway during the viceroyalty period.

With more than 10,000 years of history paired with unique multicolored mountains, people come from around the world to hike Quebrada de Humahuaca’s trails and visit its colonial villages.

One of the most well-known of these is the colonial town of Humahuaca. Founded in the late 1500s, the town acted as a popular trading post. It features cobblestone streets, a striking clock tower, archaeological ruins, local craft stalls, and the Monumento de la Independencia, memorializing the heroes of the War of Independence.

12. Street Tango

The best place to experience street tango is in Buenos Aires!

Embodying the sensuality and vigor of Buenos Aires, tango is a unique dance style that requires years of practice, skill, physical prowess, and great improvisational talent to make it flow seamlessly. Having originated in Argentina in the 18th century, in the streets of Buenos Aires, tango has ties to African-Argentine heritage.

Milongas, places where Argentine tango is danced, decorate Buenos Aires, some of which go from night until dawn breaks the sky. A milonga can take place on the streets, in a bar, or at a neighborhood club, each offering its unique feel and experience.

For example, the neighborhood of La Boca is known to have street tango and Caiminito, a vibrant street museum, frequently hosts street performers, many of which encourage spectators to join.

11. Tierra del Fuego National Park

Tierra del Fuego National Park, found on the island of Tierra del Fuego, is famed for its stunning landscapes of mountains, glaciers, forests, coastline, and lakes.

Nearly 90 species of bird, including the Andean Condor and Patagonian woodpecker, call Tierra del Fuego National Park home, along with other eye-catching animal species, like the South American sea lions and albatrosses.

Various trails travel through the park, allowing for outstanding wildlife watching and scenic hiking opportunities of cascading waterfalls and glacial landscapes.

From Ushuaia, a resort town on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago nicknamed the “End of the World”, is prime access to day hikes and cruises to some of the best parts of Tierra del Fuego National Park.

For example, on a short boat trip from Ushuaia, you can get up close and personal with penguins and see the only colony of King Penguins found outside the Antarctic subcontinent.

10. Ibera Wetlands

The largest protected area of Argentina, the Ibera Wetlands, expanded southwest of Ituzaingo to Chavarria.

Home to an abundantly thriving ecosystem, the wetlands are prevalently full of marshes, swamps, lagoons, and streams to feed and provide for the many plants and animals that call it home.

In the Ibera Wetlands, visitors can look for boisterous howler monkeys, playful giant otters, and the largest living rodent, the capybara.

Exploring the Ibera Wetlands and Ibera National Park can be done in different ways, from horseback riding to kayaking. Or, for more thrilling adventures, reserve a flight over the wetlands or a nocturnal safari drive powered by 4WD vehicles to experience the Ibera Wetlands at night.

Either way, you’re guaranteed to have a blast traveling through the Ibera Wetlands, a paradise for over 4,000 species of plants and animals!

9. Mendoza Wine Regions

In the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, in the northern-central region of Argentina, the Mendoza Wine Regions boasts more than a thousand wineries waiting to be visited for a tasting or two!

Three main wine regions are located in Mendoza: Uco Valley, Maipu Valley, and Lujan de Cuyo. Accounting for nearly two-thirds of Argentina’s wine production, the Mendoza wine region is the heart of Argentina’s wine-making endeavors. The vineyards are planted at impressively high altitudes, with mountain rivers, and an intricate irrigation system dating back to the 16th century, acting as sources of irrigation.

The region’s boom in the 19th century transformed the Mendoza Wine Region into one of the largest wine-growing producers in the world.

If you’re in Mendoza, it would be remiss not to try the wine it’s known for! Experience the numerous family-owned wineries, tour the vineyards, and take your time traveling around the Mendoza Wine Regions for a wine-tasting time!

8. Monte Fitz Roy

Located in southern Patagonia near the Chilean border, Monte Fitz Roy is one of the most iconic points in the Andes. This granite mountain is surrounded by glacial lakes and dramatic ice fields.

The rugged terrain and sheer rock faces are beloved by mountain climbers for the extreme challenge and by photographers for the extreme beauty.

Those who don’t know the name may recognize its sharp silhouette from the logo of the clothing brand Patagonia. It was first climbed in 1952 by French alpinists Lionel Terray and Guido Magnone.

7. Staying on an Estancia

Dozens of estancias, or rural estates that were once the private getaways of wealthy families have opened their doors to the public. Many of these country hotels offer a día de campo (country day) that’s ideal for day-trippers.

After breakfast visitors typically follow the estancia’s resident gaucho into the fields for a morning horse ride. Then it’s back to the farmhouse for a barbecue and a quick hammock siesta before hitting the trails again.

6. Beagle Channel

Located in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago between Chile and Argentina, the Beagle Channel connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It is one of the most important waterways and one of three navigable routes that link the two oceans. Other navigable routes are the Drake Passage to the south and the Straits of Magellan to the north.

The Beagle Channel was named after the ship HMS Beagle, which took its first hydrographic survey from 1826-1830 of the coasts of southern South America. The channel forms part of the border between Argentina and Chile, separating the large island of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego from other islands, like Hoste and Londonderry.

One of the most popular things to do in Beagle Channel is wildlife watching with opportunities for rare endemic dolphins and pygmy right whales. On a cruise on the Beagle Channel, visitors are taken around Glacier Alley, Cape Horn, by Isla de Pajaros and Isla de Lobos for sightings of sea lions, and past the Faro Les Eclaireurs, a landmark favorite red-and-white lighthouse that is still in operation.

5. Valdes Peninsula

This remote Patagonian peninsula is an excellent place to see a phenomenal variety of marine mammals. Depending on the time of year, the peninsula attracts a great number of penguins, sea lions, seals and orcas.

Whales can be found in the waters located between the Valdes Peninsula and the Patagonian mainland between May and December. Visitors may also spot foxes, guanacos, rheas, maras, shorebirds and other endemic species on the sparsely populated landmass.

The peninsula’s varied geography supports many colonies of protected animals. This diversity makes it one of the best destinations in South America for viewing endemic wildlife.

4. Caminito, Buenos Aires

The Caminito, or little path, is a famous colorful street museum in Buenos Aires. It is known for its cultural significance and ties to the renowned tango composed by Juan de Dios Filiberto, “Caminito.”

The open-air street museum is found in La Boca, brimming with immigrant dwellings. In the 1950s, local artist Benito Quinquela Martin used abandoned homes as his canvas. This act rejuvenated the area, inspiring the tango of its namesake and attracting visitors from all over the world to stroll its streets, now filled with artists, performers, and tango dancers showing off their crafts.

Stroll through Caminito to see tango dancers show off their hard work and talent. Buy unique trinkets and souvenirs at bustling stalls. Then, sit back and people watch or observe the numerous performers of the culturally rich Caminito.

See also: Where to Stay in Buenos Aires

3. Route of the Seven Lakes

The name for the scenic section of national route 40 is the Route of the Seven Lakes. It lies between Villa La Angostura in the Neuquen Province and San Martin de Los Andes. This famously picturesque road winds through awe-inspiring landscapes of tranquil lakes, colorful forests, and imposing mountain peaks.

When vacation time is short, the Route of the Seven Lakes is the perfect opportunity to peek into the refreshing landscapes along this heavenly route. For a one-day road trip, head out from San Carlos de Bariloche. Take Ruta 40, one of the longest roads in the world that begins in the south of Argentina and travels up to the border of Bolivia to the north.

There are enough activities, including national parks and charming alpine villages, to spend weeks exploring the Route of the Seven Lakes. But for this route specifically, you’ll only need a day to see all seven of the lakes, paired with breathtaking mountain and forest backdrops, without hopping out of the car!

2. Perito Moreno Glacier

One of the most favored attractions of Argentina, the Perito Moreno Glacier is an ice glacier found in Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz Province. It is the longest glacier in the continental movement of the world, the third largest in Argentina and it’s still growing!

Perito Moreno Glacier was named after a 19th-century explorer and pioneer. The glacier towers over blue glacial waters with accessible viewing platforms for visitors to overlook the glacier and Lake Argentino, fed by Perito Moreno Glacier, at a safe distance. However, wait long enough, and you’ll see a chunk of ice fracture and crash into the water below.

For an exciting and up-close thrill, boat tours take visitors up the Perito Moreno Glacier’s wall, while glacier hikes appeal for an experience many can’t say they’ve ever done. The crack of the ice as you trek along its sheer length, with crampons on to walk along the glacier for slip-free travel, makes for a bucket list check-off.

1. Iguazu Falls

Producing the largest waterfall system and broken waterfall in the world, the Iguazu Falls are found on the border of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Parana.

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Iguazu Falls consists of a collection of waterfalls fed by the Iguazu River. Drawing in millions of visitors annually, the falls are a stunning natural attraction that inspires awe, whether seen in pictures, videos, or in person.

There are numerous boardwalks, bridges, and pathways presenting optimal scenic viewpoints of Iguazu Falls for visitors.

For an exhilarating adventure, book a jet boat tour over the rushing water of Iguazu Falls, into the Devil’s Throat, and through tiers of Iguazu Falls. Or, reserve a helicopter ride for a bird’s eye view of Iguazu Falls and Iguazu National Park for captivating perspectives of the natural wonder.

Map of Tourist Attractions in Argentina