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Destinations / Argentina

Bariloche

Alpine lakes, chocolate and Patagonian peaks

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Plan your trip to BarilocheSee the top 10
112,887Population
SpanishLanguage
ARSCurrency
5 daysIdeal stay
$120-200Typical day

Bariloche is a lakeside town in northern Patagonia with Swiss style chalets and chocolate shops. It sits in Nahuel Huapi National Park. Summer brings hiking and lakes; winter brings skiing at Cerro Catedral. Scenic drives fill the days.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A square of grey stone and dark timber buildings on the lakeshore, finished in 1940. It holds a museum and the town hall, and St Bernard dogs pose for photos. It is the town's main meeting point.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Pose with St Bernard dogs for tips if you wish.
    See on the map

  2. A chairlift climbs this low hill west of town in a few minutes. The summit view over the lakes and peaks is one of the best in the region. A cafe sits at the top.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Go early in the day for clear air.
    See on the map

  3. A scenic loop of about 60 km along the lake shore and through forest. It passes viewpoints, beaches and the Llao Llao Hotel. Drive it, take a tour, or cycle part of it.

    Half dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Driving the route is free; stops and cable cars cost extra.

    Tip. Go by car, bus or tour; best on a clear morning.
    See on the map

  4. A grand hotel from the late 1930s on a hill between two lakes, built of stone and wood. Non guests can visit the cafe for tea. The surrounding park has forest trails.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  5. Argentina's biggest ski area, about 20 km from town, with lifts reaching around 2,000 meters. The season runs roughly from June to September. In summer the lifts serve hikers.

    Full dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Book passes early in winter; about 30 minutes from the center.
    See on the map

  6. Boat trips leave from Puerto Panuelo to explore the large glacial lake. Routes visit islands and remote bays. Wind can make the water rough.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    See on the map

  7. A boat trip to Isla Victoria and the Quetrihue peninsula, home to a rare forest of arrayan trees. Their bark is cinnamon colored and cool to the touch. Boardwalks lead through the grove.

    Full dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Book ahead in high season.
    See on the map

  8. The town's main shopping street, lined with chocolate shops making bars and truffles. Many have viewing windows. Expect lines on holidays.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  9. A hill near town reached by gondola, with a rotating cafe at the top. Views reach across the lake to the Andes. Trails and a small ski area are also here.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Check wind closures.
    See on the map

  10. A famous drive north to San Martin de los Andes, passing a chain of lakes and forests. Much of it runs through national parks. It is a long day trip.

    Full dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Car about 3 hours each way.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Bariloche in three days

Day one town, day two lakes, day three Seven Lakes.

  1. Civic Center30 minutes · Free
  2. Cerro Campanario1.5 hours
  3. Circuito ChicoHalf day · Free
  4. Llao Llao Hotel1 hour · Free
  5. Cerro CatedralFull day
  6. Nahuel Huapi Lake CruiseHalf day
  7. Isla Victoria and ArrayanesFull day
  8. Chocolate Street (Mitre)1 hour · Free
  9. Cerro Otto2 hours
  10. Seven Lakes RouteFull day · Free
Beyond the city

Day trips

El Bolson

Hippie town.

75 mi · Bus, about 2 hours

Villa La Angostura

Lakeside village.

50 mi · Car, about 1.5 hours

Cerro Tronador and Pampa Linda

Glacier views on a huge extinct volcano.

50 mi · Tour or car, about 2 hours each way

Puerto Blest and Los Cantaros Waterfall

Lake and forest scenery.

28 mi · Boat trip from Puerto Pañuelo

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: December to March and July to August. Hiking or skiing.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.3JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

68°F
Typical daily high
Average55°F
Rain1.3 in
About4 rainy days
Sun strength7.7 kWh/m²

Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Aug

Fiesta Nacional de la Nieve

August (13 to 16 August in 2026)

Snow festival with a torchlight ski descent.

Year

Chocolate Week

Around Easter

Chocolate tasting and sculptures.

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Know before you go

At a glance

5/5
Safety

Argentina is at US State Department Level 1 (exercise normal precautions); crime is low; mountain weather changes fast.

4/5
Walkability

Center walkable.

3/5
Public transport

Buses along the lake.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Centro

$$

Best for: first-timers

Central.

2. Avenida Bustillo

$$$

Best for: couples

Lake views.

3. Llao Llao

$$$$

Best for: luxury

Resort.

4. City Center

$$

Best for: first-timers, budget travelers

Walk to shops, restaurants and the lake.

5. Cerro Catedral area

$$$

Best for: skiers

Ski in and out lodging in winter.

6. Av. Bustillo (lake road)

$$

Best for: families

Cabins and lakefront hotels along the lake.

Getting there and around

Main airportTeniente Luis Candelaria Airport (BRC), 9 mi from the center
To the centerTaxi or shuttle about 20 minutes.
Around townBuses and car rental.
Ride appsUber, Cabify
Taste it

What to eat

Chocolate

Local shops.

Trout

Lake fish.

Cordero patagonico

Lamb.

Patagonian lamb

Slow roasted over a fire.

Smoked trout

Local lake fish.

Craft beer

Many microbreweries around the lakes.

Good to know

PlugsType C and I, 220 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingAbout 10 percent in restaurants is common.
PaymentsCards in cities; cash for small towns.
EtiquetteGreet with a friendly hello; dress modestly in churches.
  • Book ski season early.
  • Ski passes and rooms are expensive in July and August.
  • The 2026 day pass for Cerro Catedral was about 160,000 ARS per local news.
  • Book boat trips and the cable cars ahead in high season.
  • Check road and weather conditions in the park.
  • Park fees may apply to Nahuel Huapi National Park; check at the entrance.

A short history

The Mapuche and earlier Tehuelche peoples lived around Lake Nahuel Huapi long before Europeans arrived. The town was formally founded in 1902, growing around a store set up by a German settler from Chile, and many early residents were German, Swiss and Austrian. Nahuel Huapi became Argentina's first national park in 1934, the same year the railway arrived. Architect Ernesto de Estrada built the stone and timber Civic Center in 1940, setting the town's alpine look. Today it is Argentina's main ski and lakes destination and is famous for chocolate.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Bariloche