Argentina

Spanish is the official language, spoken with a distinctive Argentine accent and its own vocabulary — Argentines use vos instead of tú for "you," and the double-L/Y sound (ll/y) is pronounced more like "sh" than elsewhere in Latin America. English is common in hotels and tourist-facing businesses in Buenos Aires and major destinations, but far less so once you're off the beaten path.

Prepaid SIM cards from Claro, Movistar, or Personal are sold at airport kiosks and phone shops; bring your passport, since registration is required. Coverage is strong in cities and along major routes, but drops off in remote stretches of Patagonia and the northern deserts — plan for gaps in signal on long-distance drives through those regions.

Tap water is safe to drink in Buenos Aires and most major cities; in smaller towns or rural areas, bottled water is the safer default. Pharmacies (farmacias) are widespread and can handle most minor ailments without a prescription. Altitude can catch visitors off guard in the northwest — Salta, Jujuy, and the high desert around Purmamarca sit at 1,200–4,000 meters, so take it easy for the first day or two and stay hydrated.

Visitors from most of the Americas, the EU, and several other countries can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of some countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, may be charged a reciprocity fee or need to apply for an e-visa depending on current bilateral arrangements, which change periodically.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Argentines greet with a single kiss on the cheek, even between men who are friends or being introduced — a handshake is more common only in formal business settings. Meal times run late: lunch after 1pm, dinner rarely before 9pm and often closer to 10 or 11pm, especially in Buenos Aires. Asado (the Argentine barbecue) is a social ritual as much as a meal — if invited to one, expect it to run for hours. Mate, the shared herbal tea, has its own etiquette: drink from the same straw (bombilla) as it's passed around, and don't say "thank you" until you're done, since saying gracias signals you don't want another round.

Many businesses close for the afternoon in smaller towns, reopening in the early evening, while Buenos Aires keeps more continuous hours. National holidays that fall near a weekend are sometimes shifted by the government to create a long weekend (fin de semana largo), so posted dates can move from year to year.

• By air: given Argentina's size, domestic flights are the practical way to cover long distances — between Buenos Aires, Iguazú, El Calafate, and Bariloche, flying can save days compared to driving or the bus.
• By bus: Argentina's long-distance coach network is extensive and comfortable, with reclining "cama" seats on overnight routes — a genuinely practical way to cover mid-range distances.
• By train: passenger rail is limited outside a few commuter lines around Buenos Aires; it's not a practical way to cross the country.
• By car: self-driving works well for focused regions like the Lake District's Seven Lakes Route or Mendoza's wine valleys, but covering multiple regions by road eats up days that flying would save.

Buenos Aires has an extensive subway (subte) and bus network; buy a rechargeable SUBE card, which also works on public transport in dozens of other towns and cities around the country, including Bariloche, Ushuaia, and Mendoza. Argentina drives on the right.

Beef is central to Argentine food culture, and asado — meat slow-grilled over wood or charcoal — is close to a national institution. A parrilla (steakhouse) menu typically includes cuts like bife de chorizo (sirloin) and ojo de bife (ribeye), along with chorizo and morcilla (blood sausage) as starters. Beyond beef, Italian immigration left a deep mark: pizza and pasta are everyday food, and milanesa (a breaded cutlet) rivals steak as the national comfort dish.

Mate, a bitter herbal infusion sipped from a gourd through a metal straw, is a daily ritual more than a beverage — you'll see it everywhere from parks to offices. For something sweet, dulce de leche appears in nearly every dessert, and facturas (pastries) are the standard breakfast or afternoon-coffee order. Argentina's wine regions, especially Mendoza, produce world-class Malbec, and a bottle with dinner is the norm rather than the exception.

The capital: Buenos Aires anchors most itineraries, with tango, grand architecture, and the colorful La Boca and Recoleta neighborhoods.

Iguazú Falls: Puerto Iguazú is the gateway to the falls on the Argentine side, with jungle boardwalks that bring you far closer to the cascades than the Brazilian viewpoint.

Patagonia: Bariloche is the hub for the Lake District's hiking, skiing, and chocolate-shop culture. Further south, El Calafate is the base for the Perito Moreno Glacier, while El Chaltén is Argentina's trekking capital, at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy. On the Atlantic coast, Puerto Madryn is the launchpad for whale-watching and penguin colonies around Península Valdés, and Ushuaia, often billed as the world's southernmost city (a title Chile's Puerto Williams also claims), is the departure point for Antarctica cruises and end-of-the-world train rides.

Wine and colonial heritage: Mendoza is Argentina's wine capital, ringed by vineyards against an Andean backdrop. Salta and the far northwest hold colonial architecture and the rainbow-hued rock formations of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.

Inland cities: Córdoba is Argentina's second city, known for its Jesuit heritage and student-driven nightlife, while Rosario on the Paraná River is a laid-back riverside city and the birthplace of Che Guevara.

The coast: Mar del Plata is Argentina's classic beach resort city, packed with holidaymakers over the summer months.