What to do in Mendoza, Argentina as a tourist (2026)

Mendoza had been on my radar for a while before I finally made it there, and I am so glad I did. Nestled at the foot of the Andes, it is a beautifully relaxed city, packed full of fun things to do. The tree-lined streets, the brilliant sunshine, and the sheer volume of incredible wine make it one of my favourite places in Argentina.

Most people come for the malbec, and honestly, that alone is reason enough. But there is so much more to discover beyond the vineyards. From dramatic mountain scenery and natural hot springs to beautiful parks, Mendoza has such a wonderful relaxed pace of life, with beautiful scenery and friendly people, that I found hard to leave behind.

Here are the things I enjoyed most during my time in Mendoza. I hope it helps you plan the perfect Argentinian adventure.

Also visiting Buenos Aires? Then check out my favourite things to do there!

Walk around the city

I believe one of the best ways to get to know a place is to start by walking around and getting a feel for the place. I often also like to kick off with a walking tour from a knowledgeable local tour guide.

It is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have of the area, plus you can get plenty of tips for food, drinks, and other must-see sights.

On my first full day in Mendoza I attended a walking tour which took us around the main squares in the centre. We learnt about their clever water irrigation system (with the canals and trees lining each street), the earthquakes and subsequent design of their streets, plenty of history and recommendations for other things to do whilst in Mendoza.

Most importantly, it helped me to get a good understanding of the city, plus my bearings! If you do decide to do a tour you can find plenty of paid options, but also some ‘free’ walking tours where you tip afterwards.

Wine tasting at a vineyard

One of the main reasons most tourists visit Mendoza is for the wine. It was also one of a few reasons for my visit! And for a very good reason, there is a lot of incredible wine made in the Mendoza region. They are known for their malbec, but I also enjoyed many fantastic natural wines, white wine and rosé!

The city of Mendoza is surrounded by vineyards and wineries, many of which you can get to within 20 minutes in a taxi. There is even an area south of the city where you can rent bikes to do (slightly drunken) bike tours around a variety of vineyards.

When it comes to planning your vineyard visits, you can either look for an individual vineyard (and book a tour/tasting direct with them) and organise a taxi or Uber there, or you can go on an organised vineyard tour. Here are some places that I visited:

• Animal Organic (L’Orange): A great winery and restaurant serving a mixture of their own natural wines, plus other organic and natural wines from the region. I recommend going for their lunch (they made a delicious vegan meal for me which I requested in advance).
• Finca Beccero: A vegan certified vineyard, with a great (and affordable) personal tour. It took 30 mins to get there from central Mendoza in an Uber, and the tour itself took 1 hour and included 4 wines to try.

Discover the Andes mountains

Mendoza sits just underneath the stunning Andes mountain range, that runs up the border of Argentina and Chile. When leaving the centre of Mendoza, you can see the mountain range in the distance. Particularly when you head out to the surrounding vineyards.

But I recommend finding a way to get into the Andes to experience their magnificence! Be it a hike, a drive, or a tour. I was very fortunate to do a full-day hike of the Andes whilst visiting Santiago de Chile. So this time I opted for a driving tour which took us to many historical stops, including old railway towns, an Inca bridge and the border between Chile and Argentina.

It is such a staggering place and was definitely one of the biggest highlights of my trip to Mendoza! You can find a few different guided tours, including some with hikes:

Go swimming

Mendoza is located right next to a large reservoir that you can swim in, called Potrerillos Dam (pictured above), you just need to get transport there. There is a bus that you can pick up from the bus terminal in Mendoza, or you can organise a taxi/Uber.

Alternatively, you may want to check out the hot springs next to the reservoir – Termas de Cacheuta. You can find many tours which include hotel pick up and drop off for the hot springs, which makes life a lot easier!

If you visit Termas de Cacheuta you can also organise some river rafting.

Watch the sunset from a rooftop bar

There aren’t many tall buildings in Mendoza, which allows for a magnificent view over the mountains and city. You just need to head to a rooftop bar like Tower Bar Piso 14 (located in the city centre).

At Tower Bar Piso 14 you will find a good amount of outdoor seating with views of both sides of the city, including with views over the mountains. It makes for a magnificent sunset view!

I sat there for a good hour or so watching the sky go from a lovely pale blue, to pinky purple. Which went down perfectly with an Aperol Spritz, or two.

Drink mate in the park

If you want to blend in with the locals, then grab yourself a large thermos with hot water and some yerba mate. Head on down to one of the many beautiful parks in the area, and share some matecitos around with friends.

You will see many locals doing just this, in all the squares and parks. My favourite park in Mendoza, which is perfect for relaxing with friends (or alone with a book), is Parque General San Martín. It is a huge park with a lake and plenty of places to explore.

Where to stay in Mendoza

Mendoza is a very walkable and pretty small city. So really anywhere in the city centre is going to be a great spot, but also you’ll do just fine outside of the main centre!