With just over 100,000 inhabitants, Mendoza has the face of a city in the interior and offers many attractions besides the well-known wines produced there. There is snow, extreme sports, squares and lots of nature. To help you get to know one of the coolest places in Argentina, we have put together this guide. It’s time to find out what to do in Mendoza.
Because there is much to explore. Despite the wide variety of attractions – it has for all styles of traveler – the city is even known for being the Argentine capital of wines – about 70% of the production of the drink in the country is made in this region. There are more than 1200 bodegas and a production of 1 billion liters per year, only 10 times more than everything that is produced in Brazil. And most people arrive there in search of Malbec grapes, a trademark of the region.
In this text, you will find out which main wine producing regions are located on the outskirts of Mendoza and how to visit the wineries, but you will also read everything about the other attractions of the city, such as Monte Aconcagua, which is nearby. In addition, we also give information on how to arrive, how many days to stay and some itineraries ready for trips of 4, 5 or 6 days. Shall we go there?
How to get to Mendoza
There are direct flights from Guarulhos to Mendoza and which are operated by Gol and Latam. The round trip tickets cost from R$1400 and the trip lasts about 4 hours.
Other companies also operate the stretch, with stops in Buenos Aires and Santiago, Chile. Another option is to buy the airsta legs separately or multi-destined.
Leaving Mendoza Airport
As it is not far from the center (it is only 20 minutes by car), taking a taxi at the exit of Mendoza airport is not expensive. This is the most practical form, especially if you carry many bags. At the door, drivers offer the service with a taximeter.
You can also hire a remis – private transportation with prepaid price – from inside the airport. It gets a little more expensive, but the price is closed and is not subject to unforeseen events.
From Buenos Aires
Another way to get to Mendoza is by bus from Buenos Aires. Despite the thousand kilometers and the 14h journey that separate the cities, the night trip is not even so tiring, since the buses are comfortable.
An alternative to break the travel time is to make a stop of one or two days in Cordoba, which is in the middle of the way. This is still a chance to know another captivating city in Argentina.
See also:
What to do in Cordoba, the main attractions
How to Travel by Bus in Argentina
Leaving Santiago, Chile
Mendoza is much closer to Santiago than to Buenos Aires. The route between the capital of Chile and Mendoza takes about seven hours of buses (including the stop at immigration), but the road crosses the Andes and offers beautiful views.
Check that the route is open before traveling, especially during the winter, since snow can make it impossible to cross the border.
If you are already in Santiago and want to stretch the trip through the neighboring country, passing through Mendoza is the simplest route. The companies that make the journey are CATA International and Andesmar.
See also:
What to do in Santiago, the capital of Chile
By rental car
You can make the route both Buenos Aires and Santiago by rental car. The advantage is being able to stop on the way to get to know other places – famous or not. As the roads from both capitals are beautiful, enjoying the route there can be a separate attraction.
The disadvantage is costs. This is probably the most expensive way to get to Mendoza, remembering that there is an extra cost to return the car in a place other than the rented.
If you choose to do so, we indicate RentCars, which seeks among the main rental companies and helps you find the best prices and rental conditions.
Travel Insurance for Argentina
Travel insurance is optional for Argentina, but our recommendation is that you never travel without, because in the case of any medical emergency, theft, loss of luggage or need to interrupt the trip because of some great unforeseen event, you will be protected.
To quote your insurance, we recommend Promo Insurance, a search engine that compares the best prices and coverages in the market and helps you find the best value for money for your trip. Click here to find out how to spend less than $10 per day and ensure a discount coupon for blog readers or use the box below:
When is the best time to visit Mendoza?
Mendoza is a city that can be visited throughout the year. Each season has its own charms and provides a different experience for the tourist.
- For those who go after the wines, the best time is between February and April, when the vineyards are full of grapes. The harvest, the feast of the grape harvest, occurs on the first Saturday of March. This is the most beautiful period to visit the wineries, but it is also considered high season in the city, and this makes prices higher.
Wineries open for visitation all year round, so you won’t run out of wine if you’re at another time. You will not see the vineyards loaded, but you will be able to taste excellent wines in the same way, for a lower price.
- Those who go after snow should visit Mendoza in winter, between June and August. At that time, you can combine visits to the wineries with warm meals and winter sports in the nearby ski resorts, such as Los Penitentes, in the Provincial Park of Aconcagua.
- Summer, between November and March, is excellent for outdoor activities and sports. This is the best time to make the trails of the Aconcagua Provincial Park, as well as kayaking, rafting and delta wing, for example.
How long to stay in Mendoza
It is recommended to stay between four and six days in Mendoza. With this time, you can spend part of the days visiting the bodegas, know the mountains and the city center. If you prefer, change the center for another tour that looks more interesting to you. Or stay more. Mendoza is a pleasant city, one that makes you want not to leave.
What about three days? Can I? Of course. Of course. It will be more rushed and you will have to cut something from the itinerary, but it is still a reasonable time to get to know the city.
Itinerary of 4, 5 or 6 days in Mendoza
Things to do in Mendoza with 4 days
- Day 1: Visit Maipu wineries (with excursion or bike)
- Day 2: Visit the wineries of Lujan de Cuyo
- Day 3: Take a tour of the Provincial Park of Aconcágua
- Day 4: Stroll through the city centre or visit to the Thermal Terms of Cacheuta
Things to do in Mendoza with 5 days
- Day 1: Visit the Maipú wineries (with excursion or cycling)
- Day 2: Visit the wineries of Lujan de Cuyo
- Day 3: Visit the Wineries of the Uco Valley
- Day 4: Take a tour of Aconcágua Provincial Park
- Day 5: Strolling through the city center or visit to the Termas de Cacheuta
What to do in Mendoza with 6 days
- Day 1: Visit the Maipú wineries (with excursion or cycling)
- Day 2: Visit the wineries of Lujan de Cuyo
- Day 3: Visit the Wineries of the Uco Valley
- Day 4: Take a tour of Aconcágua Provincial Park
- Day 5: Stroll through the city center or visit to the Termas de Cachaeuta
- Day 6: Visit wineries that have missed or rafted, horseback riding and other adventure sports in the surrounding area
What to do in Mendoza: Top Attractions
The Wineries of Mendoza
Mendoza has three main wine producing regions in its surroundings:
- Maipú and Maipú
- Lujan of Cuyo
- the Valle de Uco
Read the full post: Mendoza Wineries: best tours and itineraries by the wine route
Maipú and Lujan de Cuyo are closer to the city centre and easily accessible by public transport. The farthest is Valle de Uco, but it is also the one that leads to the fame of producing the best wines due to its highest altitude.
For the Uco Valley, the best way to get there is a car. As drink and direction do not combine, it is worth hiring an excursion (in a group or private) so that you do not have to worry about transfer after a few glasses. You can search among the agencies of Mendoza and book your tour in advance here.
Also be sure to check out this tour of unique wineries in the region, outside the traditional tourist circuit. It includes lunch!
Maipú and Maipú
Do you like wine? Then you came to the right place. And even those who don’t like it so much include one or another bodega in the script. One of the areas that concentrate the most establishments is Maipu, a city in the metropolitan region of Mendoza that is a few minutes from the center.
Getting there is easy, either by car or by bus. On the first day we opted for public transport. It was enough to ask for guidance from the owner of the hostel we were in, in the center of the city. Within 20 minutes we were in Maipu. There, the cool thing is to rent a bike and take the day to visit wineries. Some hotels have partnership with companies that rent bikes, which makes the tour very cheap.
You get a map, calculate the distances and start pedaling. We visited two wineries like this: Mevi and Domitian. In addition to tasting, you can take a tour of the winery and learn about the winemaking process (you are likely to leave Mendoza as an expert in the subject). If you are lucky, you will do all this with snowy mountains at the bottom.
Several more traditional tours offered by agencies are by Maipu wineries. In general, they last half a day and pass through three wineries. It is worth doing both tours: both an organized tour and the tour on your own, by bike. If you choose to do so, leave the bike for the second day, so you will know which wineries the agency tour will include and you can choose others on your own way, by bike.
You can hire the tours of Maipú in advance here.
Luján de Cuyo
Lujan de Cuyo is just in front of Maipú, separated only by a highway. It is possible to take a bus in the center of Mendoza and walk everything by bike. Among the recommended wineries in the region are Lagarde and Clos de Chacras, a smaller winery, in addition to the famous Norton Winery.
Other wineries worth noting are Catena Zapata and, of course, Chandon. This is one of the most crowded wineries in Mendoza. If you want to visit it, it is advisable to book the tour in advance. Find out more here.
the Valle de Uco
The region of Valle de Uco is 100 kilometers away from the center of Mendoza and concentrates the youngest wineries. This makes it impossible to visit the place using public transport and, because of this distance, the tours there are a little more expensive.
The effort pays off. This region has the reputation of producing the best wines of Mendoza. Because it is closer to the Cordira and, therefore, at a higher point, they say that the grapes produced there have better quality. If you are going to pass there, be sure to check out the Andeluna, Salentein and Domaine Bousquet, famous for being an organic winery.
For those interested, click here to book the tour to the Uco Valley in advance. Also be sure to check out this tour of the Uco Valley in the company of a photographer!
Olive Oil Plants in Mendoza
Mendoza also has many olive oil factories, another industry important for the region. They are in the same area as the wineries. Therefore, it is worth including one of them in your tour (the agency tours include, in general).
During the visit, you will be able to learn about the cultivation and production of olive oil, the tasting techniques and still try the product and its derivatives.
Some olive oil factories that receive visitors are:
Provincial Park of Aconcagua: High Mountain Trip
The Alta Montana tour, offered by various agencies of the city, is a must-see experience in Mendoza. For a whole day, you leave the city and climb the mountain, along the road that connects Argentina to Chile. The route is long and a little tiring, but it is worth it.
You will pass by iconic places, such as the Ponta do Inca, part of the Inca path, and reach 3,900 meters above sea level, on the border with Chile. The tour ends at the Aconcagua Provincial Park, where you will see Aconcagua, the highest point in the Americas. Just look at the photos to realize that this tour – in summer or winter – is amazing.
See also: How is the tour of the Provincial Park of Aconcagua
Tours are the most practical way to take the route from Mendoza, since the company includes the transfer from the hotel, stops and meals, with departures scheduled for 7:30 am. There are several agencies that offer the service in the city, but you can leave reserved in advance at one of the companies recommended here.
Thermal Baths of Cacheuta
This thermal park has natural pools and a spa for relaxation. The water there reaches temperatures ranging between 28oC and 42oC and the pools are in the middle of a beautiful natural landscape. Enjoy the rejuvenating mud bath for the skin.
The Parque Termas de Cacheuta is about an hour’s drive from Mendoza. Agency excursions make the transfer and include the entrance ticket. You can buy in advance here.
Extreme sports in Mendoza
Fall, rafting, rappelling, trekking… Mendoza has several options for those who enjoy a little adrenaline. The city is surrounded by nature and has several options of outdoor activities, either in the waters of the Mendoza River or between the mountains of the pre-cordira. For this, we suggest that you hire agencies specialized in extreme sports and buy travel insurance with coverage for accidents in this type of situation.
Things to do in Mendoza
Staying close to the wineries seems incredible, but don’t be afraid to stay in the center. We did it. The advantage is that Mendoza is a small and quiet town. There you will find several squares and very wooded streets. As the climate of Mendoza is semi-desert (it almost does not rain there), the city has a system of irrigation canals.
See also: Where to stay in Mendoza
The center has five squares, all close to each other. They were built in the 19th century, just after an earthquake destroyed the city and killed 5,000 people. The most important is the Plaza Independencia, which is exactly in the center of the other four. Huge, this square has museums, an open-air theater, fountains and gardens. It is widely used by the local population.
The other four squares are Plaza Italia, Plaza Chile, Plaza Espana and Plaza San Martín. All of them are two blocks from Plaza Independencia. They are smaller but beautiful squares. My favorite? Spain, all decorated with tiles.
Another point of the city worth a visit is the General San Martín Park, one of the largest urban green areas in Argentina. The entrance is close to the center – you can walk. There are museums, a stadium, many gardens and even a lookout. It is the Cerro de la Gloria, which is part of the Park, but it is a little far from the city. To get there, the ideal is to go by car or bus.
And do not forget: the coolest tour in the center of Mendoza is to walk through the tree-lined streets of the city, to see life go through and the daily lives of people. Look for a restaurant, order a wine and a Milanese. Or a beer and a sting. It is at your discretion.
See also: 12 must-see foods from Argentina
Things to do in Mendoza at night
Mendoza can be small and quiet, but it does not leave in the hand who enjoys the nightlife.
To find good bars and restaurants – which serve the regional wines and good dishes of Argentine food, just walk along Avenida Aristides Villanueva. The stretch is on account of the ballads of the Chacras de Coria region, meeting place of youth in search of the city’s pubs and ballads.
Things to see in mendoza
In Mendoza, Argentina, there are plenty of attractions to explore. Here are some things you shouldn’t miss:
- Wine Tours: Mendoza is renowned for its wine production, particularly Malbec. Take a tour of the region’s vineyards, where you can learn about the winemaking process and, of course, sample some delicious wines.
- Aconcagua Provincial Park: Home to the highest peak in the Americas, Mount Aconcagua, this park offers stunning landscapes, hiking trails, and opportunities for mountaineering.
- Plaza Independencia: Located in the heart of Mendoza, this central square is a hub of activity. Admire the beautiful architecture, relax in the shade of the trees, and soak up the atmosphere.
- Cerro de la Gloria: This hill offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding area. It’s also home to the Monument to the Army of the Andes, commemorating the soldiers who fought for Argentine independence.
- Puente del Inca: A natural rock formation spanning the Vacas River, Puente del Inca is a unique sight. The iron-rich thermal springs nearby add to the area’s allure.
- Parque General San Martín: This expansive park is perfect for leisurely strolls, picnics, and outdoor activities. Don’t miss the beautiful Rosedal (rose garden) and the Cerro de la Gloria monument.
- Mendoza City Tour: Explore the charming streets of Mendoza on a guided city tour. Visit historic landmarks, bustling markets, and local artisan shops.
- Adventure Activities: For the adventurous traveler, Mendoza offers activities like white-water rafting, horseback riding, and zip-lining in the stunning Andean landscape.
- Villavicencio Natural Reserve: This nature reserve is known for its stunning landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and natural springs. Take a scenic drive through the reserve, go hiking, or simply enjoy a peaceful picnic surrounded by nature.
- Mendoza Wine Museum: Dive deeper into the region’s rich wine culture at the Mendoza Wine Museum. Learn about the history of winemaking in the area, explore exhibits on grape varieties and production methods, and even participate in wine tastings.
- Potrerillos Dam: Just a short drive from Mendoza city, Potrerillos Dam offers breathtaking views of the Andes mountains and the sparkling Potrerillos Lake. Enjoy activities like kayaking, fishing, or simply relaxing by the water’s edge.
- Cacheuta Thermal Baths: Unwind and relax at the Cacheuta Thermal Baths, where you can soak in natural thermal pools surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. It’s the perfect way to rejuvenate after a day of exploration.
- Mountaineering: For experienced climbers, Mendoza offers the opportunity to tackle some of the Andes’ most iconic peaks, including Mount Aconcagua. Guided mountaineering expeditions are available for those seeking an adrenaline-filled adventure.
- Cultural Events: Check out Mendoza’s calendar of cultural events, which includes festivals, art exhibitions, and live performances throughout the year. Experience the vibrant local culture and immerse yourself in the region’s traditions.
- Gastronomic Delights: Indulge in Mendoza’s culinary scene, which boasts a mix of traditional Argentine dishes and international cuisine. Don’t miss trying local specialties like empanadas, asado (barbecue), and locro (hearty stew).
- Mercado Central: Explore the bustling Mercado Central (Central Market) in Mendoza, where you can find a wide array of fresh produce, local delicacies, and artisanal products. It’s a great place to sample regional specialties and pick up souvenirs.
- Cycling Tours: Rent a bike and explore the scenic countryside surrounding Mendoza on two wheels. There are various cycling tours available, ranging from leisurely rides through vineyards to more adventurous routes through the Andes foothills.
- Gutierrez Lake: Spend a day relaxing by the picturesque Gutierrez Lake, located just a short drive from Mendoza city. Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, or picnicking on the shores of this tranquil mountain lake.
- Casa de San Martín: Visit Casa de San Martín, the former residence of General José de San Martín, a key figure in South America’s struggle for independence. The house has been preserved as a museum, offering insight into San Martín’s life and legacy.
- Craft Beer Tasting: Mendoza’s craft beer scene is thriving, with numerous breweries producing a wide range of artisanal brews. Take a beer tasting tour to sample some of the best local beers and learn about the brewing process.
- Cerro Arco: Hike or drive up Cerro Arco for stunning panoramic views of Mendoza and the surrounding countryside. It’s a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers looking to capture the beauty of the region.
- Mendoza Zoo: Explore the Mendoza Zoo, home to a diverse collection of animals from around the world. It’s a great place to spend a day with family or friends, learning about wildlife conservation and enjoying interactive exhibits.
Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, or culinary delights, Mendoza offers a wealth of attractions and activities to suit every traveler’s interests.
Where to Stay in Mendoza
Hotels in the centre
Staying in the center of Mendoza is a good option if you want to save on the daily rate and prefer a more urban environment, close to bars, restaurants and shops. For more information about hotels and regions, read our complete guide to where to stay in Mendoza.
If you prefer, you can pick up AirBnB apartments available in Mendoza. This is a more intimate type of accommodation, much sought after by couples and families who want freedom and privacy, and with the advantage of having good prices in the city!
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