Mendoza is Argentina's wine capital, with Malbec bodegas at the foot of the Andes, olive oil tastings and Aconcagua views. Harvest is March and April; spring and autumn are the best seasons.
Good to know
- Hire a driver or bike for winery visits; most tastings need an appointment.
- Lunches are long and heavy; book dinner late.
- Altitude can matter if you drive to the high Andes.
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Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Central square with a Sunday craft market, fountains and a modern art museum.
Traditional grilled beef served with a wine flight.
Archaeology museum on the ruins of the original city destroyed by the 1861 earthquake.
Rent a bicycle and visit a few historic bodegas, olive-oil makers and a chocolate shop.
Visit a producer to taste and learn how the oil is pressed.
Rafting on rapids rated for beginners to advanced, in a canyon 90 minutes from town.
Half-day gaucho-led ride with an asado lunch.
High-altitude vineyards with Andes backdrops and modern architect-designed wineries.
Home of old-vine Malbec, with family-run bodegas and tasting terraces.
Drive to a viewpoint of the tallest peak in the Americas and a natural rock bridge colored by minerals.
Huge urban park with a lake, rose garden and a hilltop monument.