Mendoza
Shaded by Huarpe-rooted irrigation canals and plane trees at the eastern foot of the 6,960-metre Andes, Mendoza is Argentina's sun-drenched Great Wine Capital and the world benchmark for high-altitude Malbec.
Quick decisions
- How many days? Spend 4 to 5 days to explore the five plazas and Parque General San Martín, dedicate two days to the wineries of Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, and the Uco Valley, and take a full-day excursion up the High Andes to Aconcagua or Potrerillos.
- Where should I stay? Base yourself near Plaza Independencia or leafy Quinta Sección for evening dining walkability, in the garden village of Chacras de Coria, or at an architectural vineyard lodge in the Valle de Uco.
- Do I need a car? You do not need a car for downtown Mendoza or the Metrotranvía light rail to Maipú, though hiring a car or private driver is essential for visiting multiple bodegas in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley.
- Best for: High-altitude Malbec and Cabernet Franc wine tasting, vineyard gastronomy, Andean mountaineering, geothermal hot springs, and open-fire asado a la llama.
- Before you go: Almost all Mendoza wineries require advance reservations for tastings and multi-course vineyard lunches; book your bodega slots at least two to three weeks ahead.
- Getting around: Walk the shaded avenues of the five-plaza grid, tap a SUBE card on the Metrotranvía tram to Godoy Cruz and Maipú, and book a dedicated wine driver or small-group tour for winery days.
- Continue your trip: Fly north or east to Buenos Aires, or cross the Andes via the Paso Internacional Los Libertadores highway (or a 50-minute flight) to Santiago, Chile.
Overview
Resting at 746 metres (2,448 feet) on an arid desert plain transformed into a lush urban forest by snowmelt channelled down from the Principal Cordillera of the Andes, Mendoza is the capital of Argentina's Cuyo region and one of the world's eleven official Great Wine Capitals. Founded on 2 March 1561 by Pedro del Castillo and completely rebuilt one kilometre south-west after a catastrophic 20 March 1861 earthquake, the city was laid out around five symmetrical tree-shaded squares watered by open stone irrigation channels (acequias) first engineered by the indigenous Huarpe people. Producing more than seventy per cent of all Argentine wine across the alluvial terraces of Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, and the Uco Valley, Mendoza pairs world-renowned Malbec and wood-fired vineyard cuisine with direct road access up Ruta Nacional 7 to Cerro Aconcagua (6,960.8 metres), the highest peak in the Americas.
Getting there
Fly directly into El Plumerillo International Airport (MDZ), eight kilometres north-east of the centre, from Buenos Aires (1 hour 50 minutes) or Santiago (50 minutes), or cross the Andes overland from Chile via the scenic Paso Internacional Los Libertadores highway.
Where to stay
Stay around the five plazas of the Microcentro and Quinta Sección for walkability to wine bars and Parque General San Martín, in leafy Chacras de Coria, or among the high-altitude vines of the Valle de Uco.
Things to do
Taste old-vine Malbec and extra-virgin Arauco olive oil along the Luján de Cuyo and Maipú wine route, tour architectural cellars beneath the Tupungato volcano in the Uco Valley, climb Cerro de la Gloria in Parque General San Martín, hike to the Horcones viewpoint in Aconcagua Provincial Park, and soak in the canyon thermal pools of Cacheuta and Potrerillos.
Food and drink
Savour multi-course vineyard lunches featuring carne a la masa, costillar a la llama, and chivito, start the morning with flaky tortitas mendocinas, and spend evenings along Avenida Arístides Villanueva.
Culture
Every first weekend of March, Mendoza celebrates the end of the grape harvest with the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia, culminating in a cast of a thousand dancers and musicians performing beneath the stars at the open-air Teatro Griego Frank Romero Day.
Weather by month
Mendoza is warmest in January, with average highs around 32°C, and coldest in July, when nights drop to about 2°C. January is the wettest month, with rain on about 6 days. For mild weather with fewer rainy days, aim for August.
| Month | Low | Range | High | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19°C | 32°C | 42 mm | 6 d | |
| Feb | 17°C | 30°C | 35 mm | 5 d | |
| Mar | 15°C | 27°C | 35 mm | 5 d | |
| Apr | 10°C | 22°C | 21 mm | 3 d | |
| May | 6°C | 18°C | 21 mm | 3 d | |
| Jun | 3°C | 15°C | 14 mm | 2 d | |
| Jul | 2°C | 15°C | 14 mm | 2 d | |
| Aug | 4°C | 18°C | 14 mm | 2 d | |
| Sep | 7°C | 21°C | 21 mm | 3 d | |
| Oct | 11°C | 25°C | 21 mm | 3 d | |
| Nov | 15°C | 29°C | 28 mm | 4 d | |
| Dec | 18°C | 31°C | 35 mm | 5 d |
Averages of daily values from 2015 to 2024. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm of rain. Source: Open-Meteo · Compare destinations by month.
Mendoza on the map
Every place we cover in Mendoza. Tap a category or pin to explore.
- Luján de Cuyo & Maipú Wine Route Guide: Old-Vine Malbec & Arauco Olive Mills →
- Uco Valley (Valle de Uco) Guide: High-Altitude Vineyards & Architectural Wineries →
- Aconcagua Provincial Park, Puente del Inca & High Andes (Alta Montaña) →
- Potrerillos Reservoir, Termas de Cacheuta Hot Springs & Río Mendoza →
- Villavicencio Nature Reserve, 365 Curves Road & Uspallata Valley Day-Trip →
In-depth Mendoza guides
Browse the guides grouped by topic: sights, neighbourhoods, food, transport, day trips and trip planning.
Sights, Landmarks & Parks
Key monuments, viewpoints, museums and nature trails.
- 12 Best Things to Do in Mendoza: Malbec Bodegas, Uco Valley & AconcaguaDiscover the 12 best things to do in Mendoza, Argentina: taste old-vine Malbec in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, hike in Aconcagua Provincial Park, soak in Cacheuta hot springs, and climb Cerro de la Gloria.
- Best Time to Visit Mendoza: Harvest Season, Vendimia Festival & Sunny WintersMonth-by-month weather guide to Mendoza using official 1991-2020 SMN climate normals: compare the February-April grape harvest and Vendimia festival, spring blooms, and crisp winters.
- 3 Days in Mendoza Itinerary: Plazas, Luján de Cuyo Bodegas, Uco Valley & High AndesPlan the perfect 3 days in Mendoza, Argentina: explore the Five Plazas, Parque San Martín, and Luján de Cuyo on Day 1, the Uco Valley on Day 2, and Aconcagua or Cacheuta on Day 3.
- Parque General San Martín, Cerro de la Gloria & the Five Plazas GuideExplore Mendoza's green urban masterpiece: walk through the 1908 Scottish iron gates of Carlos Thays's Parque General San Martín, climb Cerro de la Gloria, and tour the Five Plazas.
- Área Fundacional, San Francisco Ruins, Paseo Sarmiento & Mercado Central GuideDiscover Mendoza's 1561 colonial roots and downtown promenades: explore the subterranean Museo del Área Fundacional, the 1731 Jesuit ruins of San Francisco, Paseo Sarmiento, and Mercado Central.
Neighbourhoods & Where to Stay
Districts, historic quarters and the best bases for your stay.
- Mendoza: Oasis City Grid, Wine Regions & High AndesPlan your visit to Mendoza, Argentina: understand the 1861 five-plaza oasis grid, the acequia irrigation system, and the three wine sub-regions of Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, and the Uco Valley.
- Where to Stay in Mendoza: Five Plazas, Quinta Sección, Chacras de Coria & Uco ValleyCompare the best areas to stay in Mendoza, Argentina: downtown Plaza Independencia and Plaza Italia, leafy Quinta Sección, village lodges in Chacras de Coria, or Uco Valley vineyard hotels.
- Chacras de Coria, Avenida Arístides Villanueva & Mendocino Wine Bars GuideExplore Mendoza's two favourite lifestyle neighbourhoods: cycle the leafy adobe lanes and family bodegas of Chacras de Coria by day, and dine along Avenida Arístides Villanueva by night.
Food & Drink
Local dishes, markets, cafés and dining districts.
Getting Around & Arrival
Airport transfers, public transit, passes and driving rules.
Day Trips & Excursions
Easy half-day and full-day trips from the city.
- Luján de Cuyo & Maipú Wine Route Guide: Old-Vine Malbec & Arauco Olive MillsExplore Mendoza's historic Primera Zona wine region in Luján de Cuyo and Maipú: discover the 1989 Luján de Cuyo DOC, century-old estates in Perdriel and Agrelo, and Maipú olive oil mills.
- Uco Valley (Valle de Uco) Guide: High-Altitude Vineyards & Architectural WineriesPlan a day trip or overnight stay in Mendoza's Valle de Uco (Tupungato, Tunuyán, and San Carlos): explore high-altitude vineyards from 900m to 1,700m in Gualtallary and Paraje Altamira.
- Aconcagua Provincial Park, Puente del Inca & High Andes (Alta Montaña) GuidePlan a full-day High Andes excursion from Mendoza up Ruta Nacional 7: hike the Horcones lagoon trail beneath 6,960.8m Cerro Aconcagua, see UNESCO-listed Puente del Inca, and visit Cristo Redentor.
- Potrerillos Reservoir, Termas de Cacheuta Hot Springs & Río Mendoza GuideEscape 40 to 50 km south-west of Mendoza into the Precordillera gorge: soak in the granite thermal pools of Termas de Cacheuta, cross the suspension bridge, and kayak on turquoise Embalse Potrerillos.
- Villavicencio Nature Reserve, 365 Curves Road & Uspallata Valley Day-Trip GuideExplore the northern mountain road from Mendoza to Uspallata via Ruta Provincial 52: visit the 1940 Hotel Termas de Villavicencio, spot wild guanacos on the 365 Curves road, and see the Bóvedas de Uspallata.
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