Quick verdict: Argentina is South America’s 2nd largest country – Patagonia + Buenos Aires + Iguazu + Mendoza wine + tango. This guide ranks 15 essential Argentine experiences for 2026.
The 15 best things to do in Argentina
See Iguazu Falls
One of world’s 7 natural wonders. 275 individual falls spanning 3km. Argentine + Brazilian sides both worth it.
Visit Perito Moreno Glacier
Massive 5km-wide advancing glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. Walking catwalks + ice trekking option ($150).
Hike in Patagonia (El Chalten)
Fitz Roy + Cerro Torre granite spires. Best hiking in South America. 30+ trails. Easy day hikes to multi-day treks.
Tango in Buenos Aires
Authentic tango show + dinner at Cafe Tortoni or Madero Tango. Or learn at La Catedral milonga (locals dance).
Steak dinner at parrilla
Argentine asado (BBQ tradition). Don Julio + La Brigada in Buenos Aires. Bife de chorizo + chimichurri + Malbec wine.
Wine tour in Mendoza
World’s best Malbec country. Bodega Catena Zapata + Trapiche + Bodega Salentein. Bike-tour vineyards.
Tierra del Fuego National Park
Southernmost National Park on Earth. End of the world feeling. Hiking + boat trips + train ride.
Boat trip to Antarctica
Antarctic Peninsula expedition. November-March only. Penguins + glaciers + ice. Bucket list level.
Salta + Cafayate wine country
High-altitude desert + colonial cities. Quebrada de Humahuaca canyon + Cafayate wine country.
Skiing in Bariloche
Southern Hemisphere ski. Patagonian Andes. June-October ski season.
Tigre Delta
60km waterway delta. Boat tour through islands + houses on stilts. Authentic Buenos Aires getaway.
Salinas Grandes salt flats
High-altitude salt flats. Photogenic mirror effect during wet season. Alternative to Bolivia Uyuni.
Eat empanadas
Hand-held meat or veg pastries. Each region has variations (Salteña + Tucumana). Different from Spanish empanadas.
Watch a fútbol match
Boca Juniors at La Bombonera or River Plate at Monumental. Passionate Argentine soccer culture.
Drink mate
Traditional Argentine herbal tea. Strong + bitter. Share gourd + bombilla straw with friends. National ritual.
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Helpful Packzup guides
- Argentina Travel Guide
- Argentina itinerary
What’s Actually Worth Your Time in Buenos Aires (and What to Skip)
The glossy tango dinner shows are the easiest thing to overpay for in Buenos Aires. You sit through a choreographed routine, eat a forgettable steak, and pay a premium for the package. Skip it. Go to the Feria de San Telmo instead, the Sunday street fair that runs along cobbled Calle Defensa from Plaza Dorrego toward Plaza de Mayo. It’s free to walk, runs roughly 10am to 5pm, and if you linger at Plaza Dorrego into the evening you’ll catch the open-air milonga where locals dance for the love of it, not for tips.
The pick most visitors walk past is El Ateneo Grand Splendid at Av. Santa Fe 1860 in Barrio Norte, a 1919 theatre rebuilt into a bookshop with the original frescoed dome, theatre balconies, and a cafe on the old stage. Entry is free and it’s open daily, usually around 9am to 9pm.
One smart move at Recoleta Cemetery: grab a free map from the entrance office to find the notable mausoleums, including Eva Peron’s grave in the Duarte family vault. Arrive near opening to beat the tour groups. Foreign visitors now pay an entry fee of around 13 to 16 US dollars, while it stays free for Argentine residents with ID.
Frequently asked questions
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Argentina 2026 – what’s new?
Updated 2026. Some links on Packzup are affiliate links.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.