The capital
Almost every trip begins in Buenos Aires, a city of tango halls, grand cafés, leafy barrios and parrillas. Give it at least three days: San Telmo's Sunday fair, Recoleta Cemetery, the Teatro Colón, Palermo's restaurants and a night at a milonga.
The subtropical north
Iguazú Falls is a short flight north, on the border with Brazil. Hundreds of waterfalls pour through the jungle, and walkways take you right to the edge of the Devil's Throat. Allow two full days.
Wine country
Mendoza sits at the foot of the Andes, surrounded by vineyards. Spend your days tasting Malbec in the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo, and take a day trip into the mountains to see Aconcagua.
Patagonia
The south is a land of huge skies and wild weather. In El Calafate and El Chaltén you can watch the Perito Moreno Glacier calve into the lake and hike to the foot of Fitz Roy. Further north, Bariloche and the Lake District offer lakes, forests, chocolate and skiing.
Beyond the classics
With more time, add the red canyons and colonial towns of Salta and Jujuy in the northwest, the whales and penguins of Península Valdés, or Ushuaia at the end of the world. Our places to visit list covers them too.
How long you need
Distances are huge: Buenos Aires to El Calafate is about the same as London to Moscow. Use domestic flights to link regions and allow two weeks for a capital, falls and one region trip. Build your route with the free trip planner.