Planning a trip can feel difficult and exhausting for many of us.

Depending on the extent to which you want your tip planned, making decisions about what neighborhood to stay in, what sites to see, and what things to do can be a daunting task.

This is precisely one of the reasons I started this blog!

In this Mendoza travel guide, I’ll share my insights and important tips to help you in planning a trip to arguable Argentina’s best city, the “city of sol”.

Before the Mendoza Travel Guide, Some Background Information

First, let’s start with some background information.

If you’re reading this, you probably have a good sense of where Mendoza is located. But, “por la dudas” (very common and informal way of saying “just in case” in Argentina), Mendoza is located in the western part of Argentina, nestled along the Andes mountains.

It’s important to note that the city of Mendoza and the province of the same name should not be confused with one another.

The province is pretty expansive, covering over 57,000 square miles and housing over 2 million people.

The city, known in Spanish as Ciudad de Mendoza, is much smaller with a population of around 100,000.

Aside from visiting the wine regions, if you’re planning a trip to Mendoza, it’s more than likely you will find yourself using the actual city as a base. For this reason, a lot of what is covered in this travel guide will be related to the city of Mendoza itself.

It’s only fitting that wine is first up on the Mendoza travel guide!

There is wine in Mendoza, and a lot of it!

Mendoza is renowned for its production of red wines (tinto in Spanish), particularly Malbec. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to try Malbec, the wine was likely produced in Mendoza.

But, it gets a bit more specific than this.

Mendoza has three main wine subregions: Maipú, Luján de Cuyo, and Uco Valley. While Luján and Uco are more globally recognized and offer breathtaking views of the Andes mountains, Maipú is the most accessible from the city and perfect for a day trip.

If you want to stay directly in one of the wine regions, be prepared for higher accommodation costs, although still more affordable compared to other wine regions like Tuscany in Italy. The costs increase much more rapidly if you plan to stay at a winery resort like Casa de Uco.

That said, expect to pay double the price in other countries such as France and Italy

To give you a sense of the costs associated with wine tastings, specifically: in June 2023, it costs about 2000-4500 ARS (roughly $4-$9 USD) for three wines. The cost will be on the higher end of this number for premium wines, especially at more well-known wineries such as Bodega Norton in Lujan de Cuyo.

Where to Stay in Mendoza

One of the most convenient places to stay when visiting Mendoza is the actual city of Mendoza. It’s close to the airport (about a 25-minute ride) and though it’s not a huge city by any means, it offers more to do than just visiting wineries.

There’s a good number of shops, restaurants, and cafes sprinkled throughout the city. Additionally, there are a bunch of plazas and parks in Mendoza where you can spend the day people-watching, drinking mate, and soaking up the sun.

However, if your main focus is visiting wineries, especially in Uco Valley, you might find that renting an Airbnb or staying at a wine resort might be a better option.

Within the city of Mendoza, the best area to stay is anywhere near Plaza Independencia. The plaza is located directly in the city center, making getting anywhere in the city just a short walk away.

A Guide to Accommodation Costs in Mendoza

Now, let’s talk about the cost of accommodation in Mendoza, Argentina. In general, it is quite affordable for travelers.

There is one caveat.

Given Argentina’s unstable economy, the prices can fluctuate wildly. Still, you’ll find that visiting the country is much easier on the wallet than other countries in South America. More of which I cover later in the travel guide.

Depending on when you book and how long you stay, you can expect to pay about $35-$60 USD per night for an Airbnb in the city. Hostels offer even cheaper options, with dorm rooms costing about $10-15 USD per night.

Prices may vary depending on the seasons, but fall and winter usually offer great deals. 

What’s the climate like in Mendoza, Argentina?

***My Mendoza travel guide would be wholly incomplete without a reminder that Argentina is in the southern hemisphere and thus has opposite seasons from North America and Europe!***

The climate in Mendoza is unique.

Despite the abundance of trees, Mendoza is technically located in the middle of a desert.

Summers (December-March) can get hot, with temperatures reaching up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, while winters can be cold, with lows in the 30s. However, the days are generally dry and mild, and the sunshine can make it feel much warmer than it actually is.

Whether summer or winter, you can expect the sun to be shining for most of the day. Even in the coldest months, you can find a spot where the sun is shining, stand there for a few minutes, and you’ll be much, much warmer. Trust me, I’ve tried it!

One more thing about Mendoza’s climate: If you’ve spent some time in Buenos Aires, you’ll find Mendoza to be a bit warmer in the summer and a bit colder in the winter. This is due to the former’s continental climate.

I’m planning a trip to Mendoza, but what’s the city actually like?

Arguably the most important part of any travel guide, but one that is often missing, is a feel for what the city is actually like.

The city of Mendoza is like the more conservative, older cousin of Buenos Aires. It attracts an older crowd, and the nightlife is not as wild as in the capital city.

Now don’t get me wrong, Buenos Aires is huge and the neighborhoods can be dramatically different from each other. 

But especially when comparing Mendoza to a neighborhood like Palermo in Buenos Aires, you’ll find older people, less chaos, and earlier nights and mornings. That club that you partied in till 7am in Buenos Aires: most likely not happening in Mendoza.

This was certainly not just my impression of the two cities, a few locals I spoke to suggested the same thing.

This dynamic can be great if you’re trying to explore a new place but aren’t interested in the nightlife or if you want to buckle down and get some work done. There are absolutely things to do at night (more on this below) but you’ll find countless people (arguably more) working in cafes throughout the day.

The city is relatively small, and you can easily walk from one end to the other in about 35 minutes.

The pockets of high activity are concentrated, allowing you to experience a city vibe without the (potentially) overwhelming chaos of larger cities such as Buenos Aires, Mexico City, or New York City.

Mendoza’s Nightlife

I’m sure some of you reading this travel guide have been thinking, “When is he going to get to the nightlife?!”

When it comes to nightlife, Mendoza may not offer late-night parties, but you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants, particularly on Aristedes Street.

Paseo Aristedes (loosely translated as Aristedes Street) is a 4-block avenue littered with bars and restaurants on both sides of the street. This is definitely where the city comes alive at night.

You can come here during the day to grab a bite to eat but at night is when you’ll find the most people. Given how small the city of Mendoza is, it’s one of those things you can’t really miss, especially if you ask a local to point you in the direction of a good bar.

While Aristedes may have a touristy feel, it’s still a great place to mingle with locals and discover hidden gems.

Are people in Mendoza friendly?

One thing you’ll notice in Mendoza is the friendliness of the people. Argentinians, in general, are known for their warmth and hospitality, and Mendoza is no exception. Locals will go out of their way to help you, whether it’s answering your questions or giving you directions.

From the way servers interact with restaurant patrons to the way in which most people greet one another on the bus, there’s this sense of friendliness in the air that’s pretty amazing.

I think part of the reason why locals were even friendlier in Mendoza than they have been in other parts of Argentina is due to the city’s relationship with tourism.

A gentleman who I was speaking with shared how the city has started to boom in tourism throughout the last 5-10 years. He mentioned how it has had a huge impact on the struggling economy and the opportunities available to locals.

I got the sense that locals, like himself, keep this in consideration when interacting with visitors.

I’m trying not to romanticize this, so all I will say is: try it yourself. Just go up to anybody and ask them for directions.

If you’re feeling extra social, go up to anyone sitting alone—who appears to be local—and ask them a question about the city.

What you are likely to find in both situations is a person willing to help or go the extra mile.

Tell me how it went in the comments below!

Getting around the city of Mendoza

Getting around Mendoza is straightforward.

The best two options are taxi/Uber and public transportation (busses and to a lesser extent, trains).

Taxis and Ubers are obviously much more convenient. For taxis, looks for the official black and yellow cars that are all over the city. Hailing one is the same as it is in any other big city, but you’ll know they’re available if they have the “Libre” sign lit up on their windshield.

For both taxis and Ubers, expect to pay a fraction of the cost of what you’ll pay in the United States. A 25-minute ride out of the city to Maipú costs less than $4 USD. Even to the airport, which is probably the furthest you’ll take an Uber in Mendoza, the cost is roughly $6 USD.

That said, I still encourage everyone to take public transportation whenever possible.

The buses are slightly less reliable than they are in Buenos Aires, but they still stop very frequently. I’m sure part of this is due to the smaller size of Mendoza, but the buses are also really fast. You likely won’t find yourself on one bus for longer than 25 minutes.

Did I mention how affordable public transportation is?

Expect to pay around 70 pesos for a bus ride. You did the math correctly. That comes out to less than 25 cents USD.

If you need more convincing, taking public transportation also gives you additional opportunities to interact with locals and experience the rhythm of the city.

If you decide to take the bus or train, don’t forget your Sube card! You can purchase the blue Sube card from any convenience store throughout the city, known as “Kioscos”. 

Pro tip: you can still use your Sube if you don’t have sufficient funds on it. For example, if you have 20 ARS on the card and the bus ride is 70 ARS, it will still let you go through. Just remember to fill it up at a “kiosco” before the next ride!

Is Mendoza affordable?

Now, let’s talk about affordability in Mendoza.

Prices will vary from restaurant to restaurant, but you can expect to pay about $8-$10 USD for a really solid dinner, perhaps a steak with a side of fries or potatoes. That’s unheard of in any restaurant in the U.S.!

Breakfast options, like specialty coffee and breakfast sandwiches (“tostadas“), are also inexpensive, usually around $2 USD.

Look to score lunch meals for about $5 USD or $6 with a glass of wine.

Wine bottles at restaurants are largely dependent on the quality of wine, but you can pay as little as $5 USD for a solid bottle from a local producer. For something better that would easily cost $50-$70 USD in the United States, expect to pay $8-$10 USD.

When heading to the supermarket, look to get that same bottle of wine that costs $8-$10 in the restaurant for about $5-$6 USD.

These prices could potentially get even more affordable depending on the state of the economy. As of the time of this post (June 2023) the blue dollar rate in Argentina is about 500 ARS=$1 USD.

This means if you send yourself money from a U.S. bank account and pick it up at a Western Union, you’ll get 500 pesos for every dollar. This is slightly more than the 435 ARS=$1 USD rate you get when using your international credit card, and much more than what you’ll get if you take out cash from an ATM.

Mendoza Guide: Top Things to Do

The following is by no means an exhaustive list nor is it in any particular order. Included below are simply some of the more popular and fun things to do that may be helpful for you in planning your trip to Mendoza.

1. Visit one of the wine regions (Maipú, Luján de Cuyo, or Uno Valley)
   • If you’re a lover of wine, especially red wine, you CANNOT go wrong with a visit outside of the city to one of the wine regions. In Mendoza, you have available one of the more famous wine regions of the world at arguably the best prices!
2. Visit Mercado Central
   • A visit to Mercado Central is probably the most local thing you’ll find on this list. Nothing about this place is fancy, and everything about it screams Mendoza. Think of it as an indoor mall where you can find fresh produce and casual dining options.
3. Take a free walking tour
   • This is something I recommend in every city. In Mendoza specifically, I suggest booking through Vivi MZA. Their tour guides are awesome!
4. Spend your afternoon in Parque San Martin
   • This is the only thing in this Mendoza travel guide that I did not get to do! That said, Parque San Martín is a huge park where folks spend the day picnicking, enjoying the sun and people-watching.
5. Hiking in Mendoza
   • Given its proximity to the mountains, there’s plenty of hiking available close to Mendoza. The tallest mountain that offers the most stunning views is Aconcagua. However, it can be pretty difficult, especially in the winter. Look to hike Cerro Arco for a closer ride from the city and an easier (but not easy!) ascent to the top.
6. Visit bars on Aristedes
   • As I mentioned above, Aristedes is the heart of the city’s nightlife. Here you’ll find a plethora of places to eat and drink.
7. Visit Plaza Independica
   • This plaza is literally what the city is built around. Located right in the middle of the city, it’s Mendoza’s biggest plaza and is a huge draw to tourists and residents alike.
8. Do a wine tasting at Codigo Vinario
   • Codigo Vinario is a small wine shop a few blocks away from Aristedes. The owners also do wine tastings every Friday. For 4000 pesos, you can try at least 6 wines.

Wrapping up the Ultimate Mendoza Travel Guide

I hope this extensive Mendoza travel guide has helped you feel prepared and excited for your trip to the city.

Mendoza will win your heart. It’s a place that offers something for everyone, from wine lovers to nature enthusiasts.

If after reading this travel guide you’re still hesitant or unsure about something related to your trip, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].

If you have any additional questions, I’m always happy to help.

Have a wonderful time in Mendoza!

‘Till Next Time, Travel Friends!