Your guide to Argentina’s western city

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Mendoza, the wine capital of Argentina, is home to world renowned vineyards, excellent mountain views and so much more. After spending a week in this bustling city, here are my recommendations. Beyond the excellent wine that is available in every bodega and corner shop, the city offers green gardens, fresh food and artisan markets. It has a little bit of everything, whether its nature you’re after or a great parilla, Mendoza has it. 

The city of Mendoza is nestled on the edge of the Andes and far away from the dazzling capital of Buenos Aires. It has been making a name for itself as the capital of Malbec. But packs much more of a punch. In this city of 100,000 people, a touch of European heritage, rich gaucho culture and bustling modernity all intersect.  The city sprawls between wide roads and plaza. Shopping and pedestrian streets give way to terraces and pop-up markets. It has more modern architecture, a bit more grime and a lot more movement of people going to and from their everyday lives. In short it is alive and filled to the brim with enough to fill a week.

Initially I planned to spend only a couple of days here to recover from my Santiago bus ride (more info here). However after an afternoon of walking around I was ready to book for 5 more nights. In total I spent a week in this unassuming city. Most people breeze in and out for a wine tour or stop before heading to the North or over the border. But Mendoza, full of parks, wine and people-watching options is a great spot to  spend a bit more time. 

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How to get there:

• From Buenos Aires:

There are a few ways to get to Mendoza from the capital:

The fastest would be a flight from the national airport with an airline like Jetsmart or Flybondi. Checking Skyscanner is a great way to find reasonable prices for the journey. 

A night bus takes around 15 hours and is operated by companies such as Andesmar and Cata. These may be more economical but can be quite long and lose you time. 

The third option is to organize a car rental for your stay in Argentina allowing you maximum freedom in seeing the country.

• From Santiago:

 Again you have options for crossing from Chile into Argentina:

The fastest would be a flight from the international Airport of Santiago de Chile. Using Skyscanner to gauge the best prices will be your best bet.

The bus is a scenic and efficient way to cross the border taking around 9 hours. Check out the guide here.

What to do once you’re there:

Visit the Plazas:

Two days could( and have been) easily be spent in just the parks and plazas of Mendoza. The city is home to many plazas and the main five are worth a tour. 4 smaller plazas surround the main Plaza Indepencia. If you want to hit them all in one day, start early… pack a book, some water and prepare to lounge. From Plaza indepencia a walk over to Plaza Chile is a soft introduction. Stop at a panaderia( bakery) along the way to Plaza San Martin where you can loung among historic buildings and impressive statues.  Walk over to Plaza Espana and enjoy a coffee at the bike-kiosk  and marvel at the stunning tile work and fountains. Finally finish your trip and grab a bite near Plaza Italia, shady trees can welcome you for a grassy picnic or choose from a restaurant nearby. 

Parque Gen. San Martin:

The massive park on the edge of the city is home to a day’s worth of activities.  Walking around the lake and pausing to people-watch or lounging on the grass, there is plenty to fill a relaxing park day with.  Accessing the park via any of its road inlets along Ave. Boulounge Sur Mer you are instantly thrown into lush green space. Near the Fuente de Continentes you can find food and drink trucks to take the edge off a hot day. Further in you have the Parador Cerro de Gloria, which offers stunning views of Mendoza. A day is easily spent in Parque Gen. San Martin whether that’s lounging with a book or going on a long walk to viewpoints and hidden corners. 

Wine tastings and Bodegas:

Of course no list of Mendoza would be complete without stopping at at least one bodega. There is in fact a way to stop at multiple places without a guide and this is my recommendation on how to do it: A self guided bike tour. Depending on what region you want to visit, look up bike tours in that area. For Maipu I can highly recommend Maipu Bikes. Not only do they offer you a map, good quality bikes and a free happy hour at the end of the day. You also receive discounts at a number of wineries including Mevi and Tempus Alba. If you are wanting to try wine, but are not an expert, I can 100% recommend this option to get the best out of the experience and to learn something on the way.

• Bonus stop: If you can make it to Laur Olive Grove, a 100 year old and award winning production site of fantastice oils, vinegars and wines. They often require a reservation but it is worth a trip on it’s own and is a reasonable price 10k (at time of writing Feb 2025) for a facility tour, tasting and glass of reserve wine. 

A trip to the Andes

 If you want the chance to stretch your legs a  bit and experience the Andes at their best, a trip to the base of Aconcagua is well worth it. Aconcagua is the tallest mountain on the South American Continent standing at 6,961 m.  Of course you can hike it if that’s your thing and you have the time to spare. Otherwise a day trip from Mendoza is possible to hike around a laguna and the national park at the base of the massive Mountain. 

To do so is easily done by bus or car. By bus go to the terminal in Mendoza and book the earliest bus to Las Cuevas, specifying to get off at the National Park. Operated by Andesmar. The bus runs three times a day and it is best to organize the times with a person at the ticket stand the day off for best results, especially if you want to include a visit to Puente del Inca. 

By car rental it is also easily done, car rentals can be secured online and picked up at different locations. The drive is about 3 hours but there are stops along the way like Potrerillos Dam, and Upstalla.  

Here you can find the park entrance fees dependent on the trip you want to plan. 

The best of terraces and snacks:

The Argentine food spirit is one that is easy to fall in love with. From my first coffee on Av. San Martin, I was hooked on the bubbly energy that came at each corner.  Here were some of my favourite spots to grab a coffee or a bite in Mendoza:

• Cafe San Pablo: A local cafeteria style with crowded tables on the terrace. Perfect for people watching and quality coffee and pastries.
• La Lucia: A great place to try out the local parilla style meats. Is a bit higher end and as such may not be for everyone
• Mercado Central: Always a great option for a quick bite or something a bit more relaxed. Also full of fresh meats, cheeses and bits to cook at home.
• Oh! Madrid:  Some of the best empanadas I’ve ever had, but don’t go hungry because they bake them fresh and can take 20 or so minutes.

This is by no means extensive but may help you find your own favourite spots to eat  in Mendoza. 

Honorable mentions:

• Horseback Riding and Asado

While I did not do this, I met plenty of people who loved it and really recommended the tour. Plenty of companies offer it in Mendoza and organizing it from your hotel is likely possible. It includes a ride through the mountains and an evening meal Argentine style. 

Final Notes:

Mendoza is an excellent gem of a city… It is unassuming but  the spirit, the community and the diversity of activities available are more than enough to keep you entertained for as long as you care to stay… in my case that was a lot longer than expected.