South America › Argentina › Mendoza

Mendoza

Scroll
Wine, Andes and Adventure Bliss

Mendoza thrives in Argentina’s western highlands near the Andes Mountains. Known for its vineyards, it produces many popular wines like Malbec. The city features wide streets lined with stone buildings and tree-lined plazas where locals gather. Outdoor activities include hiking in nearby hills or visiting thermal springs. Food lovers find fresh produce at markets alongside regional cheeses and empanadas. Cultural sites showcase Spanish colonial history through museums and churches. Weather varies seasonally, offering mild summers for exploring vineyards and snowy winters for mountain sports.

City in Argentina
Climate zone: Cold desert

Cold desert: Arid climates with low precipitation and large temperature ranges, including cold winters, often found in continental interior deserts.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 6.8
General Safety:7
Health & medical:7
Accessibility:5
Tap water:6
Read details
Tourist English: 3/5
English is moderately spoken, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and wineries. In rural or less touristy places, Spanish is often necessary.
Last update: 30 Oct 2026
* We earn a commission from some links on this page.
Mendoza Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work
World-class for wine and mountain scenery. Visit vineyards for tastings, cycle between wineries, enjoy Argentine cuisine and see Andes landscapes.
Place score
7.2
Best at:
Wine
10
Luxury
8
Fine dining
8
Guided tours
8
Gardens & parks
8
Personal score
?
Log in to see how this place matches your personal travel interests.
Suited for
👶 6
Families
🧓 7
Seniors
❤️ 9
Couples
🛡️ 8
Travel Beginners
Argentina – Quick facts
Power Grid: 220 V, 50 Hz
Plug: Type C , Type I
Type C:
Diagram of a Type C power plug
Type I:
Diagram of a Type I power plug

Read about power adapters
Currency: Argentine Peso (ARS)
£1 ≈ ARS 2,048.06
Cashless info: Rating 4/5
Cashless payments are widely accepted in larger cities, especially with credit and debit cards. However, cash is often preferred in smaller towns.

Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers: Best value: Saily
Flexibility: Airalo
Read our in-depth comparison
Tipping: In restaurants, a 10% tip is standard. Tipping in taxis is not required, but rounding up is common.
Public drinking: Public drinking is legal but should be done responsibly. It is common in parks and beaches.
Public smoking: Smoking is prohibited indoors in public spaces, but allowed in outdoor areas.
Argentina Independence Day
(July)
Expect public celebrations and some business closures.
Christmas
(December)
Expect closures and holiday events.
Emergency contact: Emergency Numbers: 911 (Police), 107 (Ambulance), 100 (Fire)
Taxi apps: Cabify, Uber, BA Taxi
Other: Argentina is known for its vibrant culture, tango, and excellent cuisine, including steaks and wines.
Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Mendoza, Argentina
🔥
Jan
☀️
Feb
☀️
Mar
☀️
Apr
☀️
May
☀️
Jun
☀️
Jul
☀️
Aug
☀️
Sep
☀️
Oct
☀️
Nov
☀️
Dec
High season: Jan. - April, July - Aug., Nov. - Dec.
Shoulder season: May - June, Sep. - Oct.
Crowdedness: 7 (Many tourists)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia (wine harvest festival), first weekend in March: big parade and crowds
Ski season mid June to early October, best July to August
Aconcagua climbing season mid November to March; Zonda wind (June to November) brings dust and heat

Why travel to Mendoza?

Mendoza offers a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. You can spend your mornings hiking in the Andes, your afternoons sipping wine at a vineyard and your evenings enjoying delicious Argentine cuisine. The region is also a gateway to Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, making it a hotspot for climbers. While Mendoza is generally safe, it's wise to avoid walking alone late at night in quieter areas.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Plaza Independencia
  • 2 Museo del Área Fundacional
  • 3 Bodega Catena Zapata
  • 4 Espacio Cultural "Julio Le Parc"
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 Bodega Trapiche
  • 2 Mendoza Tennis Club
  • 3 Espacio Contemporaneo de Arte
🏞️Natural landmarks
  • 1 Parque General San Martín
  • 2 Mendoza River
  • 3 AMG — Aconcagua Mountain Guides
  • 4 Cerro de La Gloria
🛍️Shopping
  • 1 Mercado Central
  • 2 Sarmiento
  • 3 Galeria Piazza
  • 4 Mendoza Plaza Shopping
🎈Events
  • Vendimia (Grape Harvest Festival)
  • Wine Festivals
  • Mendoza International Marathon
  • Aconcagua Mountain Climbing Season
  • Festival de Teatro de Mendoza

Knowledge before you go

  • Book wine tours in advance for safe vineyard visits.
  • Beware pickpockets in busy plazas; use cross-body bags and avoid flashing valuables.
  • Drink bottled water only and stay hydrated during hot, dry summer months.
  • Join group bike tours through Maipú wineries to taste Malbec safely without driving.

How to travel to Mendoza

Mendoza International Airport (MDZ) offers flights from Buenos Aires and other cities. Long-distance buses connect Mendoza to Santiago, Chile and major Argentine destinations.

Access summary

  • From Mendoza Airport (MDZ): Taxi or bus to center, about 20–40 minutes.
  • From Buenos Aires: Direct flights roughly 2 hours; long-distance buses 13–17 hours.
  • From Santiago de Chile: Overland bus crossing Andes typically 7–8 hours.

Where to stay in Mendoza

Mendoza offers a range of accommodations, from cozy boutique hotels in the city center to luxurious vineyard stays in the nearby valleys. Booking ahead during festivals is recommended.

How to get around Mendoza

The city has a reliable bus network and taxis are widely available. Many visitors also rent bikes or join guided tours, especially for vineyard visits. The city center is walkable.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-44 %
Daily expenses in Mendoza are around 44% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-80 %
Your exchange rate (GBP to ARS) is 80% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is a lot cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

Backpacker Mid-range Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation
£44
£92
£235
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£19
£45
£105
🍝 Food per day
£22
£43
£114
🚕 Transportation per day
£3
£4
£16
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£17
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£8.50
🍟 Fast food combo
£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£7
☕ Cappuccino
£4.50
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£1.50
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£0.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£9.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£0.90
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£5.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£11.50
🤧 Cold medication
£1.40
💇 Basic haircut
£5.50

Safety information overview

General safety
7
Mendoza is generally safe. Petty crime like pickpocketing can occur, so keep an eye on belongings in crowded areas and avoid isolated spots at night.
Health & Medical
7
Mendoza has good healthcare facilities and pharmacies are well-stocked. No specific health risks, but be cautious of the strong sun and stay hydrated.
Accessi­bility
5
Most central areas and attractions are accessible, but rugged terrain in the mountains may not be suitable for all visitors. Some older buildings lack full accessibility.
Tap water
6
Tap water is generally safe to drink and bottled water is also widely available. Water from natural streams in the mountains should be filtered before drinking.

Looking for inspiration?

Discover
Intimate escapes and romantic getaways
The most memorable trips for couples tend to have less to do with luxury and more to do with the quality of shared experience. A place that slows you down, removes the usual…
Read more
Discover
Best travel destinations for food allergies
Travelling with a food allergy adds a layer of planning most people never have to think about and the right destination can make that planning a lot easier. Some travellers…
Read more
Discover
Best luxury destinations in South America
South America's luxury travel offer is built around the continent's extraordinary natural environments and cultural heritage, with the most compelling high-end experiences…
Read more
Discover
Best destinations to visit in November in South America
South America heads toward early summer in November, with warmer weather and the first hints of the wet season arriving in several regions. Andean regions start to see more rain…
Read more
Discover
Best travel destinations for food allergies in South America
South America takes more preparation for allergy conscious travelers than some other regions, since formal allergen labeling laws are less consistent from country to country.…
Read more
Discover
Top autumn foliage destinations and colours
Few natural spectacles are as season-specific and location-dependent as autumn foliage, where the combination of tree species composition, temperature drop and daylight reduction…
Read more
Discover
Best destinations to visit in March in South America
South America settles into autumn in March, with the peak of summer travel and Carnival season both winding down. Carnival celebrations wrap up in early March in most years,…
Read more
Discover
Top digital nomad destinations and remote work hubs in South America
South America has become a real draw for remote workers looking for lower costs without giving up city comforts or a strong sense of community. Some nomads head straight for the…
Read more
Discover
Best winter sports destinations in South America
Argentina and Chile's Andean resorts anchor South America's winter sports scene, drawing skiers for a Southern Hemisphere season that runs opposite to North America and Europe's.…
Read more
Discover
Best fall foliage destinations in South America
South America's autumn foliage is a less documented phenomenon than in the northern hemisphere but the continent's temperate southern zones produce displays of genuine quality as…
Read more
Discover
Best destinations to visit in April
April is when spring really takes hold across the Northern Hemisphere, while the Southern Hemisphere settles further into cooler, quieter months. Some travellers plan trips…
Read more
Discover
Top luxury destinations and exclusive getaways
Luxury travel is defined less by price than by the quality of attention, access and experience that money can unlock at the top end of the market. The most rewarding luxury…
Read more
Discover
Best destinations for first-time travelers in South America
South America can feel like a bigger step for a first international trip, but well worn routes make it more approachable than it first appears. Peru, Chile and Argentina all sit…
Read more
Discover
Top digital nomad destinations and remote work hubs in 2026
Working from anywhere in the world sounds simple until you actually try it and the best digital nomad destinations look different depending on what kind of remote worker you are.…
Read more
Discover
Best couple holiday destinations
Travelling as a couple sounds simple enough, yet the best couple holiday destinations mean something different to almost every pair. What feels romantic to one couple can feel like…
Read more
Was this page helpful?
Feedback