1 Week Argentina Itinerary for the Food and Wine Lover

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Sunrise in the Uco Valley of Mendoza, a must-stop on any 1 week Argentina itinerary and one of the country's best destinations to visit.

If you’re dreaming of Argentina, this 1 Week Argentina Itinerary is a perfect way to experience the country’s highlights - combining the buzz of Buenos Aires with the peaceful beauty of Mendoza’s wine country.

We travelled here with friends and have put together this guide based on the experiences we loved most - the kind of places we’d tell any friend not to miss.

From sipping Malbec with views of the Andes to tango dancing at a local milonga, here’s how to enjoy some of the best food, wine and culture Argentina has to offer - all in just one week.

7 Day Argetina Itinerary

1 Week Argentina Itinerary

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Days 1-4: Explore the expressive city of Buenos Aires

Beige bike with basket leans against a dusty pink wall decorated with antique maps and large tropical plant leaves in Palermo, Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires has its own special rhythm

In Buenos Aires, you can catch a football match as electric as any Premier League game in England, stumble upon couples dancing Argentine tango in the streets, and eat and drink to your heart’s content.

The city has a distinctly European feel, with grand Belle Époque buildings, leafy boulevards, and cafes on every corner - but with a laidback, bohemian edge that’s all its own.

Where to Stay in Buenos Aires

Sparkling turquoise pool beside Home Hotel covered in ivy and pink-blossomed trees under a bright sunny sky in Buenos Aires.
Home Hotel's peaceful pool garden
Home Hotel was the perfect home base for our stay in Buenos Aires. We loved starting our mornings with breakfast in their beautiful garden, and on hot afternoons, cooling off with a dip in the pool while waiting for lunch or a cocktail.

The service was excellent - the staff were always friendly and ready to go the extra mile, whether it was helping us book transportation or even receiving mail on our behalf.

🛏️ Browse more stays in Buenos Aires

The Coolest Neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires to Explore

Dozens of open umbrellas in vibrant colours hang overhead against a clear blue sky, creating a playful canopy in the San Telmo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires.
San Telmo neighbourhood in Buenos Aires

Each one of these neighbourhoods has its own special charm and is worth spending a whole day to explore:

✨ Recoleta

Chic and elegant, this neighbourhood is often called the Paris of Buenos Aires. It's a beautiful area with grande Belle Epoque buildings, leafy boulevards, boutique shops, cafes, rooftop bars, and some of the nicest hotels in the city.

💃 San Telmo

San Telmo is the oldest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires and the birthplace of tango. In its cobblestone streets, you'll find street performers, milongas (tango dance halls), historic bars, street murals, antique shops, and a bustling market - especially lively on Sundays.

🌿 Palermo

If you're after great food, boutique shopping and a laidback bohemian feel, Palermo is the place. Check out both Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho for buzzing restaurants, design-focussed cafes, wine bars and quirky local shops.

The Top 3 Things You Should Do in Buenos Aires

Massive crowd fills the River Plate stadium under a blue sky before kickoff, banners waving and sprinklers running.
Intimate dinner theatre bathed in red light with round tables, guests dining waiting for the Rojo tango performance to begin.
Rojo tango show

💃 1. Immerse yourself in the tango culture - start with a lesson to learn the steps, then put your skills to the test at a local milonga, or sit back and enjoy a live tango show.

2. Experience the thrill of a rivalry football match - where the energy of the crowd is as intense as the game itself.

🔥 3. Enjoy an asado at a traditional Argentine parrilla - a wood-fired BBQ feast.

🤠 Browse highly-rated guided tours in Buenos Aires throuh Viator.

See our full list of 11 Fun Things to Do in Buenos Aires.

Where to Eat in Buenos Aires

Cafe in a converted garage with a green 'SALVAJE' sign above, warm lighting, black-tiled counters and an industrial style.
Fine dining room at L'Orangerie with vintage decor, white tablecloths, and a server in a red jacket preparing afternoon tea.
Afternoon tea at L'Orangerie

These were our favourite places we dined - for the food, drinks and atmosphere.

🥩 For Argentine steak: Don Julio

A neighbourhood parrilla currently ranked the 10th best restaurant in the world. If you can't get a reservation, try going at lunch when it first opens.

🧑‍🍳 For fine dining: Aramburu

A creative 18-course tasting menu with two Michelin Stars. It was fantastic!

🧆 For share plates and a lively atmosphere: Mishiguene

This buzzy spot serves delicious Argentine-Israeli cuisine and was ranked the #29 best restaurant in Latin America in 2024.

🥗 For vegetarian: Artemisia

Head to Artemisia when you’re in the mood for something fresh and healthy - their bright, airy space pairs perfectly with a menu of organic, vegetarian dishes.

☕️ For a cool cafe hangout: Salvaje Bakery

Set in a converted garage, Salvaje is a hip spot in Palermo for flat whites, sourdough breads and creative pastries.

🫖 For afternoon tea: L'Orangerie in the iconic Alvear Palace Hotel

Treat yourself to an elegant afternoon tea complete with delicate pastries, finger sandwiches, and fine teas served in a grand Belle Époque setting.

🌇 For rooftop drinks: Alvear Rooftop

Sip cocktails on the rooftop of the Alvear Palace Hotel - this upscale bar is perfect for people-watching and taking in sunset views over the Recoleta neighbourhood.

🍔 For a late-night bite: Perez-H

Be careful here, this late night burger joint has the option to dip your fresh off-the-grill sandwich into cheese sauce! The fries with cheese and pancetta are also deadly.

Day 5: Head to the Uco Valley in Mendoza

Golden sunrise lights up the Andes mountains in soft pinks behind rows of green grapevines in Mendoza.
Sunrise in the Uco Valley of Mendoza

The Uco Valley is one of Mendoza’s top regions for winemaking and one of our favourite areas to explore.

Mendoza itself is Argentina’s most famous wine region, known for its bold Malbecs, sunny high-desert climate, and beautiful vineyard landscapes backed by the Andes.

If you’re not familiar, Malbec is a red grape that originated in France and is used in classic Bordeaux blends - but it’s here in Argentina where it truly shines. Today, 70% of the world’s Malbec vineyards are found in Argentina.

What we especially loved about the Uco Valley was how peaceful it felt compared to other parts of Mendoza. With wide open views and fewer crowds, it’s the perfect place to slow down and enjoy a day of wine tasting.

How to Get From Buenos Aires to Mendoza

Cec and a friend smiling and posing among grapevines with a backdrop of the Andes and cloudy skies in Mendoza, Argentina.
Winery hopping with friends in Mendoza

The fastest and most convenient way to get to the Mendoza wine region from Buenos Aires is by flight.

The flight time on the way there is 2 hours and on the way back is 1.5 hours. There are many direct flights each day with the airline Aerolineas Argentinas.

✈️ Compare flights from Buenos Aires to Mendoza.

How to Get Around the Uco Valley

Woman takes selfie in front of Bodegas Chandon while four friends walk behind her, smiling in the sunshine.

Since you’re heading into wine-drinking heaven, we highly recommend hiring a private driver for your airport transfers and wine tastings. It’s much more enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about driving (or limiting yourself!).

We booked with Mendoza Gostosa and had an amazing experience. Not only was their service great and reasonably priced, but they also helped recommend and book tastings based on our preferences.

Their five-star TripAdvisor rating says it all. We used them for both our airport transfers and two days of wine touring.

🥂 Top Tip: stop off at the Chandon Winery on the way from the airport to your hotel for your first sips from the Mendoza region. It was the first Moët & Chandon company established outside of France!

Where to Stay in the Uco Valley

Curtains pulled open to reveal sunrise over green vineyards and Andes mountains, seen from a cozy bed at Casa de Huéspedes La Azul.
Cec and a friend lounging poolside with drinks on a sunny day at Casa de Huéspedes La Azul, surrounded by green trees and a vineyard estate lawn.
Casa de Huéspedes La Azul
It was such a treat to stay at Casa de Huéspedes La Azul, a boutique, family-owned vineyard hotel right in the heart of the Uco Valley. The hotel is part of Bodega La Azul, a small, independent winery.

The hospitality here was truly next level - warm, personal, and the kind that makes you feel right at home from the moment you arrive.

Each night, they serve up a delicious, home-style dinner with a different theme - always paired with plenty of their excellent wines. The food was so good, we never felt the need to eat anywhere else.

The grounds are beautifully maintained, with an outdoor pool and peaceful vineyard views.

✔️ Top Tip: Book a room on the second floor so you have an incredible view of the vineyards and mountains.

🛏️ Browse more stays in the Uco Valley

Day 6: Visit two wineries and enjoy a relaxed lunch among the vineyards

The modern Bodega Alfa Crux winery surrounded by vineyards and geometric landscaping, with Andes mountains rising in the background.
O. Fournier winery in the Uco Valley

Wine tasting in Mendoza was a little different than what we were used to. You’ll need to book your wine tours/tastings in advance, and depending on the winery, you might be tasting alone or as part of a group.

Most places offer the option to book a tasting, a tour, or just lunch (which typically comes with a generous selection of wines).

If you’re going for lunch, just know that you won’t get the same wine rundown you would during a formal tasting - but you’ll definitely get to drink plenty of it!

If you’re curious about the winemaking process or want tasting notes at lunch, it’s worth asking your server - they’re usually happy to share more if you show interest.

🍷 We booked our custom day tour with Mendoza Gostosa.

Our Favourite Wineries in the Uco Valley

Ari and friend enjoying a winery lunch outside at Bodega La Azul surrounded by glasses and bottles, under grapevine shade.
Lunch at Bodega La Azul

Best for the architecture: Bodega Alfa Crux

This winery looks like it’s straight out of a James Bond film, and the private tasting was a highlight.

Best for an intimate tasting: Corazon Del Sol

The passionate grower gave us a great education on vines, grape growing and harvest techniques. We learned a lot here and enjoyed a diverse tasting in their cellar. Very well priced for the quality of the experience.

Best for lunch: Bodega La Azul

Owned by the same family as the Casa de Huéspedes La Azul hotel, this relaxed winery and restaurant served up some of the best food, wine and service of our trip.

✔️ Top Tip: Lunches are HUGE and almost always include a steak course. Have a light breakfast and start your tastings early so you can still enjoy dinner later. You can also request a vegetarian option if you’d prefer to skip the steak that afternoon.

Day 7: Discover more wines, or relax with your favourite bottle by the pool

Wooden board stacked with sandwiches beside a bottle of Norton Malbec wine and Ari and a dog running across the lawn in the distance.
A relaxing day at our hotel in the Andes

Option 1: Taste more wines

Book two new winery tours and tastings along with a new lunch spot to make the most of your time in the region. It’s a great way to experience the variety Mendoza has to offer.

🍷 Browse more highly-rated Uco Valley tours through Viator.

Option 2: Take it slow

By this point in the trip, you might be ready for a slower day - and the Uco Valley is the perfect place to do it.

With the dramatic Andes as your backdrop and peaceful vineyard views all around, simply staying put at your boutique hotel can feel just as rewarding as another day of touring.

Drink your favourite bottle from one of the wineries you visited the day before and spend the day lounging by the hotel pool, surrounded by the vines.

Travel Day Back Home

Elegant dining setup for two at Belasco Baquedano Winery overlooking a lush vineyard and long dirt path toward distant trees and mountains.
Belasco Baquedano winery in Mendoza

If you have a later flight on your last day, we recommend stopping at Belasco Baquedano Winery for one last tasting and a leisurely lunch on your way to the airport.

Belasco Baquedano is home to the only wine aroma room in Latin America, where you can test your senses by identifying 46 different wine aromas.

✔️ Top Tip: You’re allowed to travel with wine bottles in your carry-on on domestic flights within Argentina. If you’re planning to stock up, consider bringing a wine suitcase to safely bring your favourites back home.

If you can extend your trip we recommend adding it to Mendoza. We didn't want to leave since it was so relaxing and there are over 900 wineries to discover 👀!

Best Time to Visit Argentina

Vast green vineyard stretching toward snow-capped Andes under a clear blue sky in Mendoza, Argentina.
The beautiful Mendoza wine region

If you’re travelling to both the Mendoza wine region and Buenos Aires, the best time to visit is spring, between October and December.

You’ll catch the vineyards during the growing season, when the vines are lush and full of life, and enjoy Buenos Aires before the summer heat sets in.

It’s also a great way to avoid the peak tourist crowds in January and February.

Taking out Argentine Pesos

Falena bookstore with brick floors, colourful books on display, and a view of a courtyard filled with palm trees.
Falena book store in Buenos Aires

Due to Argentina’s ongoing monetary challenges, accessing cash can be tricky. Many ATMs have low withdrawal limits, charge high fees, and often reject international cards altogether.

Cash is still king here, and the best way to get Argentine Pesos is to bring USD bills and exchange them once you arrive.

There are also an increasing number of Bitcoin ATMs and crypto exchanges around the country, which some travellers use as an alternative way to access pesos.

Enjoy your one week in Argentina!

🎥 Watch our Argentina vlog.


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