15 Things To Know Before Visiting Argentina

Things to Know Before Visiting Argentina

Save & Pin It For Later!

Jump Ahead To:

1. Google Translate Is Your Friend

It’s the national language, and if you don’t speak it, download Google Translate. This app will be your best friend.

Even in larger cities like Buenos Aires and Mendoza, you’ll find English speakers hard to come by. And you know what? It’s ok!

Jesse and I used Google Translate every day when we were in Argentina, and it worked like a charm! The app translates signs and menus and allows you to easily navigate conversations with the locals!

Seriously. Download the Google Translate app to your phone.

Weekend market in Recoleta, one of the nicest neighborhoods in Argentina

PRO TIP: Even if you speak Spanish, Spanish in Argentina is very different, so downloading the app is still a good idea.

2. Credit Cards Are Used in Argentina, But Cash is King!

Use that Credit Card of yours, but there are a few things to know.

While you may want those credit card points, understand that using your credit card may not be an option in some instances.

In larger cities, where you can dine at more mid-to-upscale restaurants, stay at nicer (or chain) hotels, or book a tour (like a hop-on, hop-off bus), those places will accept credit cards.

But when shopping at smaller shops and restaurants (especially in smaller towns), cash is usually the only accepted form of payment.

Long story short, while you can use your credit card, ALWAYS plan to have cash on hand.

PRO TIP: “Tarjeta” is the Spanish word for credit card, whereas “Efectivo” is the Spanish word for cash. If you have no cash on you, ALWAYS ask the establishment if they accept credit cards. Simply say, “Acepta tarjeta?” or even just “Tarjeta?” and they’ll let you know.

3. The Argentinan Peso Fluctuates

The national currency of Argentina is the Argentinian Peso (ARS), and you’ll soon come to find that the only consistent thing about the Argentinian Peso is its constant inflation and decades of uncertain economic stability.

Navigating money is honestly a super important thing to know before visiting Argentina. So let us help educate you….

If you look at what the Argentinian Peso is to your home country’s currency today, check again tomorrow because it will be different.

During our time in Argentina, the most common note was the $1,000 ARS.

There are other notes we encountered (like 100, 200, 500), but $1,000 ARS was by far the most popular note in our wallet and what was given at the ATM.

And if you carry cash (which you’ll need to), be prepared to carry LOADS of it.

During our time in Argentina, on average, the $1,000 ARS came to be anywhere from $1 USD to $1.50 USD.

So yeah, you’re going to be carrying a lot of $1,000 ARS bills. Wads of it.

PRO TIP: Since you’ll be walking around with a decent wad of cash, it’s really imperative to keep your cash securely stored. Money belts are a great way to keep cash safe and out of sight. And never carry all your cash with you, only take what you think you’ll need for the day, leaving the rest safely stored in your room.

4. ATMs In Argentina

We were running at a cadence of about every 2-4 days, making trips to the ATM to withdraw more pesos.

PRO TIP: We use a Charles Schwab Debit Card, and if you qualify, we can’t recommend this card enough! The Charles Schwab Debit Card comes with zero foreign transaction fees and they’ll reimburse all your ATM fees. This is our go-to travel card, and it’s a complete game changer.

You may be in for a world of hurt if you don’t have a debit card that reimburses your ATM fees.

ATMs are awful in Argentina. Downright offensive!

They often run out of money (especially in small towns). Pretty much daily.
While the money is being replenished at ATMS, you’ll have to wait in long lines that sometimes wrap around the block.
You can only withdraw a small amount of cash at a time (i.e., 30,000 – $40,000ARS).
The ATM transaction fees are so high. They almost make up half of the amount you are withdrawing.

See, told you. Downright offensive.

5. Exchanging Your Home Currency (The Blue Dollar)

Argentina loves the USD and the Euro, as both are stable currencies.

So, how do you exchange USD or Euros in Argentina? Well, have two options:

Exchange your cash at the airport when you land
Head to a Western Union or to a Cuevas (cave), which are unofficial currency exchange houses that use the blue market rate.

PRO TIP: Your USD or Euros must be crisp! Meaning if they are torn (even in the slightest) or crumbled up, you’ll have a hard time getting them exchanged for Argentinian Pesos.

We’re sure you’ve come across the words “Blue Dollar” when researching Argentina. But what is it?

Well, the blue dollar is the unofficial exchange rate that runs parallel to the official rate, which is set by the government.

And the blue dollar is far from straightforward.

So far from straightforward that we didn’t mess with it. Because we had the Charles Schwab Debit Card, we never exchanged USD for ARS and withdrew cash through ATMs.

However, if you need to exchange currency and want to go the Blue Dollar route, you’ll need to locate a trustworthy Cueva. To do this, we recommend asking your hotel, Airbnb hosts, or tour guides.

It’s our understanding that there are some sketchy cueva and people always looking to scam tourists (and locals, for that matter).

When traveling in Argentina, cash is king. And we can’t stress enough to look into a Charles Schwab Debit Card for Argentina and other countries you visit around the world!

6. Dinner is Late, and Nights Out Are Even Later

If you normally eat dinner between the hours of 5:30 PM – 8 PM, you’re going to have to adjust that ASAP.

Most restaurants serving dinner in Argentina won’t even open until 7 PM, with a standard dinner rush happening between 9 PM and 10 PM, and those meals can go well after midnight.

Speaking of after-midnight. If you have any desire for a night out in Argentina, especially in its larger cities, don’t plan on even getting to any bars or clubs until midnight.

Bars and clubs stay open till 5 AM….on a TUESDAY. Yup! So if you want to party till the sun comes up, you’re in good company in Argentina.

We suggest a late afternoon or evening nap 🙂

7. Make Sure You Have The Correct Outlet Adapter

So….not complicate things, but there are two different outlets found (randomly) throughout the country.

During our one month traveling around Argentina, we ran into two different outlets – Type C and Type I. If you don’t know what these two types look like, just do a quick Google to see if your current outlet adapter has both options.

If your current adapter doesn’t, or you’re in need of an adapter in general, we highly recommend you purchase a travel adapter that has both (like this one!) so you are prepared.

8. Eating Is a Several-Hour Experience

If you’ve been to Italy, then having a 2-4 hour dinner shouldn’t surprise you. If you haven’t, well, just be prepared that meals are enjoyed slowly and at a relaxed pace.

Don’t be alarmed if everything takes a little while to come out or for your server to come back around. This is all a part of the leisurely Argentina dining experience.

Relax, enjoy, and order another glass of wine 🙂

9. Asado, Alfajores, Mate, Empanadas, and Malbec

If there are five foods that sustain Argentina, it’s Asado, alfajores, empanadas, Mate, and Malbec. Ok, Mate and Malbec are not food, but you get it 🙂

Food and drink are super important things to know before visiting Argentina. Here is a breakdown of the top foods you have to try!

Asado: Argentina loves its meat and is home to some of the tastiest steaks in the world! Known for their barbeques called Asado, an Asado consists of proteins like beef, pork, chicken, and chorizo. But what makes Asado so special to Argentina is how they cook the meat over an open fire on a grilled called a parrilla.
Alfajores: This is similar to a macaroon, but instead of the French pastry, an Alfajores is two shortbread cookies that sandwich a sweet dulce de leche filling, and it’s amazing! Sold at pretty much any coffee shop or bakery in Argentina, Alfajores are a must-eat food!
Mate: It seems like everyone in Argentina was addicted to this drink. Mate is a caffeine-rich infused herbal drink – think of a VERY strong and bitter tea. Dried loose-leafs from the yerba mate plant are steeped in hot water and sipped through a bomba (metal straw). Drinkers repetitively fill the mate (the cup/vessel holding the loose leaves) with water to enjoy the drink throughout the day.
Empanadas: If you are planning to travel around Argentina, having empanadas in each region you go to is a must! Depending on the area you visit, empanadas will either be filled with meat or potatoes, deep-fried or pan-fried. They are different all around Argentina, so have these on your list to try…many times.
Malbec: If there is one wine around the world Argentina is known for, it would be Malbec wine. Drink it a lot while you’re here. Or better yet, visit Mendoza and Cafayate and drink it straight from a local Malbec-producing winery.

10. Argentina is Utterly Massive and Incredibly Diverse

To help put this into perspective, Argentina is about half the size of the United States (about the size of the U.S. east of the Mississippi River).

Making up 1.1 million sq. miles, Argentina is the second largest country in South America and the eighth largest country in the world.

So yeah, she’s a big girl.

Serranía de Hornocal, rainbow mountain of Argentina

And with all that size, she’s bound to have some incredible things to see, right?

From the massive waterfalls of Iguazu to the Andes Mountain Range, to the insanely beautiful Patagonia, to the wine regions of Mendoza and Cayafate, to the arid desert landscapes of Humahuaca, and its major bustling cities like Buenos Aires, to say Argentina is diverse is the understatement of the century.

There is SO much to see and explore in this country! It feels like a year here won’t even cover it.

11. Flying Is The Best Way To Get Around

Our opinion! But bus travel takes AGES in Argentina. Per the above, it’s an absolutely mammoth of a country. So, if you want to make the most of your time, flying is the fastest way to get from point A to point B, especially when covering great distances.

Of course the caveat to the the above is when flying isn’t an option. If you’re looking to go a short distance, bus travel is a great option, OR don’t be afraid to rent a car!

We rented a car twice during our one month in Argentina, and it was great and totally easy to drive and navigate.

12. Yeah, You Need to Tip in Argentina

Tipping. Do it. 10% is customary, and 9.9 times out of 10 (at least from our experience), tips are only accepted in cash, even when paying with a card.

So, to reinforce the cash is king rant, always, always, always have cash on you!

13. Argentina Is A (Relatively) Cheap Country To Visit

Oh, one of the top things people want to know before visiting Argentina. Is it cheap?

Yes. Relatively speaking, Argentina is a very affordable country to visit, especially if your home country is America, Europe, Australia, etc.

You can enjoy steak dinners, tours, and fine wines without bleeding your wallet dry.

However, to caveat, all this money in Argentina varies due to drastic and unpredictable swings with inflation. Inflation is so in flux that you can guarantee any post you read about the cost of traveling in Argentina is already out of date if written a few months ago.

On average, a coffee at a cafe or an empanada for lunch will cost around $2-$3 USD.
If you’re looking for a nice steak dinner, you can expect to pay in the range of $20 – $25 USD (of course, if you are at an upscale restaurant, expect to pay more)
You can buy a nice bottle of wine for around $10 USD
Uber rides will cost you only a few USDs

Now, room rates will vary drastically depending on the type of traveler you are and where you are visiting in Argentina. Just know you can find affordable accommodations and luxury stays throughout Argentina.

14. Argentina Is In The Southern Hemisphere, So Seasons Are Opposite

Obviously, this only applies to people visiting Argentina from the Northern Hemisphere, but an important point to call out. We’d hate for you to show up in July wanting to lay by the beach to find freezing temps and snow!

Summer in Argentina = December to February
Autmum in Argentina = March to May
Winter in Argentina = June to August
Spring in Argentina = September to November

Because Argentina is so diverse, it really is a year round destination. However, Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit the country.

Now, we visited in January (their summer) and loved it. Sure, there were a few rainstorms, but they rolled in and right out. The temperatures were warm, and overall, it was a lovely time to visit!

15. Be Aware of The Mosquitoes

During our visit to Argentina in January, ESPECAILLY in the city of Buenos Aires, the mosquitos were alive and well and SUPER aggressive.

This is definitely one of the top things we feel other travel guides didn’t touch on when writing about things to know before visiting Argentina.

If we didn’t douse ourselves in mosquito repellent at dusk and dawn, we would have 20 new bites. No lie or exaggeration.

If you don’t want to travel to Argentina to buy spray, no worries at all! They sell it everywhere, so you can easily pick some up when you arrive.

Ready To Visit Argentina?

Hopefully, you are prepared and ready for your trip after reading our above list of things to know before visiting Argentina!

We spent one month in Argentina and truly loved every second of it. The people are kind and welcoming, the food is dynamite, and the scenery is exceptional.

Enjoy every second!

Want More Information on Argentina?!

How To Spend 3 Days in Buenos Aires

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls

How To Visit Argentina’s Rainbow Mountain

The Best Things To Do in Cafayate

An Epic 2 Week Argentina Itinerary

The Best Way To Spend 3 Days in Mendoza

Iguazu Falls Itinerary: The Best Things To Do At Iguazu Falls

Top 16 Things To Do In Humahuaca

Your Guide To Driving Quebrada De Las Conchas (Ruta 68)

Pin It For Later: Things to Know Before Visiting Argentina

For more travel tips, guides, and awesome travel shots, be sure to poke around our site and follow us on Instagram @wanderingstus, Pinterest, and Facebook. Oh, if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section. We’re happy to answer. Or, leave us a positive note!

Happy Travels,

– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stu’s)