Argentina (AR)
Argentina is South America's second-largest country — a land of European-influenced culture, world-class wine, legendary beef, breathtaking landscapes from Patagonia to the Andes, and one of the most vibrant expat communities in Latin America.
Country Profile
Everything you need to know before you arrive.
Argentina is South America's second-largest country — a land of European-influenced culture, world-class wine, legendary beef, breathtaking landscapes from Patagonia to the Andes, and one of the most vibrant expat communities in Latin America. Buenos Aires, the 'Paris of South America', offers sophisticated urban life at a fraction of European cost, while cities like Mendoza, Córdoba, and Bariloche draw expats seeking outdoor adventure and wine country living.
Climate
September–November: 12–22°C in Buenos Aires. Warming temperatures, occasional rain. Patagonia begins to open up for trekking. Mendoza vineyards are beautiful.
December–February: 25–35°C in Buenos Aires (can hit 40°C in heatwaves). Humid and hot. Patagonia is peak season (20–25°C). Mendoza is hot and dry.
March–May: 12–22°C in Buenos Aires. Mild and pleasant. Patagonia foliage is stunning in April. Best time to visit Buenos Aires.
June–August: 5–15°C in Buenos Aires. Mild winters; frosts are rare in BA but snow does fall occasionally. Bariloche and Patagonia see heavy snow (skiing season). Mendoza winters are cold (-5 to 10°C).
Demographics
Religion
Social Culture & Etiquette
Argentines greet with one kiss on the cheek — always, even on first meeting (men and women, women and women; men sometimes shake hands). This applies to social situations; business is more formal. Warmth is genuine and immediate. Address people as "vos" (informal you) rather than the "tú" used elsewhere in Latin America.
Being late is normal and expected in social settings — arriving 30–60 minutes late to a dinner party or social event is standard. For business meetings, punctuality is more expected but still flexible (15 minutes is acceptable). "La hora argentina" is a recognised concept.
Buenos Aires is style-conscious — Porteños dress well and expect visitors to make an effort in good restaurants and clubs. Casual is fine for daytime; nightlife requires smart-casual minimum. Interior provinces are more relaxed.
- ✕ Never confuse Argentines with Brazilians — culturally and linguistically very different, and Argentines are proud of the distinction.
- ✕ Avoid political discussions about Peronism vs. anti-Peronism with strangers — it runs very deep and can turn heated quickly.
- ✕ Do not stir the mate gourd or touch the bombilla (metal straw) — this signals disrespect.
- ✕ Do not refuse mate when passed in a social circle — accept, drink, and pass back. Say "gracias" only when you want no more.
- ✕ Football rivalry between Boca Juniors and River Plate is intensely serious — know which you are with before declaring a side.
- ✓ Dinner is served late — restaurants typically fill between 9pm and midnight. Arriving at 8pm, you will be alone.
- ✓ Asado is a weekend ritual that takes all afternoon — the host (asador) controls the fire and it is rude to rush them.
- ✓ Mate is shared from the same gourd — this is how friendship and trust are expressed, not a hygiene concern.
- ✓ Tipping: 10–15% is expected in restaurants (not included in bills). Leave cash, not added to card.
- ✓ Buenos Aires has arguably the most active nightlife of any major city — clubs open at 2am and run until dawn.
🍽️ Traditional Food & Drink
Argentina's legendary BBQ — grilled beef ribs, chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), and offal cooked over open coals. A social ritual lasting hours. The ultimate Argentine experience.
Baked or fried stuffed pastries filled with beef, chicken, ham & cheese, or vegetables. Each region has its own recipe — Salta's are considered the best.
Breaded and pan-fried beef or chicken cutlet — Argentina's answer to schnitzel. Served with fried egg (a caballo), chips, or in a sandwich (milanesa napolitana is a version with tomato sauce and cheese).
Thick caramel sauce made from slowly heated milk and sugar. The national obsession — spread on toast, filled in alfajores, swirled in ice cream, or eaten by the spoonful.
Two soft biscuit rounds sandwiched with dulce de leche and coated in chocolate or powdered sugar. Argentina's definitive snack — Havanna and Cachafaz are premium brands.
Thick winter stew made with corn, beans, squash, and meat. A traditional dish of the Andean northwest, especially popular on national holidays (25 May, 9 July).
Grilled provolone cheese seasoned with oregano and chilli flakes — the classic asado starter before the meat arrives.
Argentina's version of croissants — slightly sweeter and smaller than French ones. Essential at breakfast with café con leche.
Argentina's national drink — a bitter herbal infusion drunk from a gourd through a metal straw (bombilla). A deeply social ritual: sharing mate means friendship and trust. Accept the gourd when offered; say 'gracias' only when you want no more.
Argentina produces the world's best Malbec — particularly from Mendoza and San Juan. Bold, full-bodied red wine with dark fruit notes. Budget bottles (ARS 2,000–5,000) are excellent; premium bottles (Catena Zapata, Zuccardi, Achaval Ferrer) rival French Bordeaux.
Fernet-Branca (bitter Italian herbal liqueur) mixed with Coca-Cola. Ubiquitous at asados and house parties — the unofficial national cocktail, especially popular in Córdoba.
Argentina's most popular lager beer — a light, refreshing pilsner. Named after its city of origin. Standard table beer at restaurants and bars.
Argentina's signature white wine grape — floral, aromatic, dry white from Salta and La Rioja. Best drunk young and chilled. Excellent with empanadas and seafood.
📍 Tourist Highlights
One of the world's largest and most spectacular waterfalls — wider than Niagara, with 275 falls spanning 2.7 km. Set in subtropical rainforest. The Devil's Throat is unforgettable.
A rare advancing glacier that periodically ruptures in spectacular fashion. Walk on the ice or watch 60m-tall walls of ice calve into Lago Argentino from viewing platforms.
The 'Paris of South America' — Recoleta Cemetery (Eva Perón's tomb), La Boca's Caminito neighbourhood, San Telmo market, Tigre Delta, tango milongas, and world-class restaurants.
The world capital of Malbec — over 1,200 wineries nestled beneath the Andes. Bike between bodegas, taste reserve wines at Catena Zapata, and visit the thermal spas of Cacheuta.
The world's southernmost city — gateway to Tierra del Fuego National Park, Beagle Channel boat trips, penguin colonies, and End-of-the-World Museum.
UNESCO World Heritage Site — a dramatic Andean valley with rainbow-coloured mountain cliffs (Cerro de los Siete Colores), Inca ruins, and indigenous Quechua communities.
Swiss-style chocolate-box town on Lago Nahuel Huapi. World-class skiing in winter, hiking and kayaking in summer. Patagonia chocolate shops on every corner.
📖 Brief History
Argentina's history spans from indigenous civilisations — including the Guaraní, Mapuche, and Quechua peoples — through Spanish colonisation from 1516, independence from Spain in 1816 under General San Martín, and waves of European immigration (primarily Italian and Spanish) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that shaped the country's culture and identity. The 20th century saw periods of political instability, military dictatorships, the devastating 1976–1983 Dirty War, the Malvinas/Falklands conflict in 1982, and a return to democracy. The 2001 economic crisis resulted in a catastrophic peso devaluation. Since 2023, under President Javier Milei's libertarian government, Argentina has embarked on radical economic reform including significant deregulation, public spending cuts, and peso stabilisation.