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Destinations / Argentina

Mendoza

Malbec wine capital at the foot of the Andes

foodnatureadventurecouples
Plan your trip to MendozaSee the top 10
115,000Population
SpanishLanguage
ARSCurrency
4 daysIdeal stay
$100-180Typical day

Mendoza is Argentina's wine capital, a leafy city near the Andes. Bodegas in Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley make Malbec famous. Aconcagua and mountain trips are close. Plazas and long lunches set the pace.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

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

  1. The central square, rebuilt after the 1861 earthquake, with fountains, shady trees and a weekend craft fair. It is surrounded by cafes and the city's main hotels. Four smaller plazas sit around it.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Visit on weekends for the craft market.
    See on the map

  2. A huge park west of the center designed in the 1890s, with a rowing lake, rose garden and walking paths. Locals jog and picnic here. The Cerro de la Gloria hill rises inside it.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free to enter.

    Tip. Hike or taxi up Cerro de la Gloria for the views.
    See on the map

  3. The Lujan de Cuyo area south of the city is the heartland of Argentine malbec. Many wineries offer tastings and lunches with Andes views. Booking is needed, and a driver or tour is best.

    Half dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

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

    Tip. Book tastings and lunch in advance; use a driver.
    See on the map

  4. A hill in Parque San Martin topped by a large bronze monument to the Army of the Andes. It gives views over the city and mountains. A free bus runs up from the park.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Go late afternoon.
    See on the map

  5. A high altitude wine valley about 1.5 hours south, with vineyards at over 1,000 meters below snowy peaks. Modern wineries offer tastings and long lunches. It is best as a full day trip.

    Full dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

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

    Tip. About 1.5 hours each way; go with a tour or private driver.
    See on the map

  6. Maipu, a short bus ride from the city, has wineries and olive oil producers close enough to cycle between. Bike rentals include maps. Go early in the day, before the afternoon heat.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

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

    See on the map

  7. A provincial park around Aconcagua, at 6,961 meters the highest mountain outside Asia. Short walks to viewpoints suit day visitors, while summit expeditions need permits. It is about 3 hours away by road.

    Full dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

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

    Tip. Car about 3 hours.
    See on the map

  8. A natural rock arch over the Las Cuevas river, colored orange by mineral springs. It is beside the ruins of an old spa hotel. It is usually combined with Aconcagua.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Viewing is free; tours add cost.

    Tip. Often combined with the Aconcagua trip.
    See on the map

  9. A square decorated with colorful Spanish tiles and benches, honoring Spain. It is one of the four plazas around the center. It is pretty in the afternoon light.

    20 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  10. A covered market with produce stalls and simple eateries. Locals come for empanadas, sandwiches and cheap lunches. It is a few blocks from the main square.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Mendoza in three days

Day one city, day two Lujan wineries, day three Aconcagua.

  1. Plaza Independencia30 minutes · Free
  2. Parque General San Martin2 hours · Free
  3. Lujan de Cuyo WineriesHalf day
  4. Cerro de la Gloria1 hour · Free
  5. Uco ValleyFull day
  6. Maipu Wine Bike TourHalf day
  7. Aconcagua Provincial ParkFull day
  8. Puente del Inca1 hour · Free
  9. Plaza Espana20 minutes · Free
  10. Mercado Central1 hour · Free
Beyond the city

Day trips

Cacheuta Hot Springs

Thermal baths.

25 mi · Car, about 1 hour

Potrerillos

Reservoir and rafting.

37 mi · Car, about 1 hour

Villavicencio Natural Reserve

Mountain scenery and an old hotel.

28 mi · Tour or car, about 1 hour

San Rafael and Atuel Canyon

River canyon, wineries and rafting.

143 mi · Bus or car, about 3 hours

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: March to May and September to November. Harvest and spring.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

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

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.4JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

91°F
Typical daily high
Average78°F
Rain1.9 in
About6 rainy days
Sun strength7.8 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

Feb

Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia

Late February to early March (main show 6 March in 2027)

Grape harvest festival with parades and a big show.

Jun

Ski season in nearby resorts

June to September

Winter sports in the high Andes.

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Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

Argentina is at US State Department Level 1 (exercise normal precautions); petty theft is the main concern.

4/5
Walkability

Flat grid center.

3/5
Public transport

Buses and Metrotranvia.

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.
12345

1. Centro

$$

Best for: first-timers

Central.

2. Chacras de Coria

$$$

Best for: couples

Near wineries.

3. Uco Valley

$$$$

Best for: luxury

Winery lodges.

4. City center near Plaza Independencia

$$

Best for: first-timers, nightlife

Walk to restaurants and bars.

5. Arístides Villanueva

$$

Best for: food lovers, couples

Trendy street with restaurants and bars.

Getting there and around

Main airportEl Plumerillo International Airport (MDZ), 6 mi from the center
To the centerTaxi about 20 minutes.
Around townWalk; tours or car for wineries.
Ride appsUber, Cabify
Taste it

What to eat

Malbec

Red wine.

Empanadas mendocinas

Baked pastries.

Asado

Barbecue.

Olive oil

The region is also known for olives.

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 markets and small towns.
EtiquetteGreet with a friendly hello; dress modestly in churches.
  • Siesta closures common.
  • Prices change quickly with inflation.
  • Do not drive after wine tastings; use a driver or a tour.
  • Prices and exchange rates change often, so check current rates.
  • Book wineries and lunches ahead in high season.
  • Roads to the high Andes can close because of snow.
  • Mendoza has earthquakes; follow local guidance.

A short history

Spanish settlers from Chile founded Mendoza in 1561 in an oasis watered by Huarpe irrigation channels. General Jose de San Martin trained his Army of the Andes here before crossing the mountains in 1817 to free Chile and Peru. An earthquake in 1861 leveled the city, and it was rebuilt with wide streets, low buildings and many plazas to reduce future risk. Open channels called acequias still water the tree lined streets. Italian and Spanish immigrants expanded the vineyards, and Mendoza is now Argentina's leading wine region.

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

Plan Mendoza