You're Going to Love Mendoza
Situated at the heart of Argentina's wine country, Mendoza is a prosperous, vibrant city which pairs Art Deco architecture and leafy streets with excellent nightlife and a host of outdoor activities to enjoy in the nearby mountains. It's a real vintage destination.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Mendoza
1. Wine
Above all else, Mendoza is famous for its wines (it produces two thirds of the Argentine crop), with rich Malbec's to the fore. Hop between vineyards or stick to city center wineries, and pick your favorite.
2. Great Art Museums
Mendoza is achingly cosmopolitan, with a superb Municipal Museum of Art, the Museo Casa de Fader and regular international exhibitions at the Espacio Contemporáneo del Arte.
3. Fine Food and Lively Nightlife
Wood-fired grills serve up locally reared meat at restaurants like Azafran, while the bars on Avenida Villanueva Aristides keep buzzing until dawn.
4. Wonderful Architecture and Parks
Mendoza is also just a pleasure to explore. See beautifully landscaped parks like the Parque San Martin, skip between elegant squares with burbling fountains and marvel at attractions like the Basílica de San Francisco.
5. Fabulous Outdoor Activities
Using Mendoza as a base, you can scale Aconcagua, take bike tours of wine country, go rafting on the Mendoza River, try horseback riding in the Andes and even spend a day shadowing a gaucho as they go about their business.
When to Visit Mendoza
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Mendoza is at its best between October and April (the southern hemisphere summer). Try April and May for mild weather, spectacular colors and far shorter queues at the wine bars.
How to Get to Mendoza
Plane
El Plumerillo Airport offers connections to Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile. From there, a taxi will cost around ARS90.
Train
Mendoza doesn't have an intercity rail connection, but the 8 mile long Metrotranvía line connects the city center to nearby Maipu.
Car
From Buenos Aires, follow highway 7 all the way across Argentina to Mendoza. Take highway 20 from Cordoba and highway 7 across the Andes from Santiago.
Bus
Buses run into Mendoza's bus terminal (which is around a mile out of town) from Buenos Aires, Santiago, San Martin, Cordoba and plenty of other regional cities.
Airlines serving Mendoza
Where to stay in popular areas of Mendoza
Most booked hotels in Mendoza
How to Get Around Mendoza
Public Transportation
To use the buses, you'll need a Red Bus Card which costs ARS5. After that, each journey costs ARS4.
Taxi
Expect small hops between the city's attractions to cost between ARS20 and ARS40.
Car
Renting a car is essential to see all of the local wineries. Outlets include Hertz and Express Car, and rates can be as low as ARS100 per day.
Car rental agencies in Mendoza
The Cost of Living in Mendoza
Shopping Streets
Most of the city's boutiques are clustered around Av San Martin and include dress stores like Almendra and apparel vendors like Kosiuko. If you want to stock up on wine, try Dos Puntos Vinoteca or Peatonal.
Groceries and Other
Mendoza's supermarkets include Super Murciana and Super A. Expect to pay around ARS30 for 12 eggs.
Where to Eat in Mendoza
Mendoza's dining scene is almost on a level with its wine. Grilled meats (asado) are a specialty, and highlights include Azafran, La Nilda and Nadia O.F. Expect to pay around ARS200 for an exceptionally good steak.