How we spent five days in Mendoza
Mendoza is best known as Argentina’s wine region, growing 65% of the country’s wine. It’s best known for its Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, grown across the region and in the foothills of the Andes mountains.
Mendoza city is the capital of the province, and we stayed here for five days in March. The city has a slower and more relaxed pace than Buenos Aires but, as the second largest city in Argentina, it still has plenty going on – mostly around food and drink.
We visited the city as part of a three week trip around Argentina. This is everything you need to know if you’re planning a trip to Mendoza, Argentina, including a review of both self-guided wine tours and visiting Mendoza vineyards with a driver.
Where is Mendoza?
Mendoza is in the west of Argentina, in the foot of the Andes mountain range which separates it from Chile. The area is largely desert-like with very few rainy days, but the weather does still get cool overnight and in the winter months.
How to get to Mendoza
The best way to get to Mendoza is by air, as its well-connected airport is only 20 minutes from the city centre, and has frequent flights from Buenos Aires and other major cities. There is also a bus between Mendoza and Santiago, Chile, which takes 7-9 hours but is famous for its stunning views, so if the prices work out and you have the time, that could be a more affordable choice.
Where to stay in Mendoza?
We stayed at Casa Lila, which is a small hotel/bed and breakfast a short walk from the city centre. This was perfect for us as the location was very central but still quiet and we found it easy to get around the city on foot, catching Ubers when we went further afield. The hotel itself is lovely and relaxing, with very helpful staff, a good breakfast, and the adorable Bernese Mountain Dog Violeta!
There are lots of hotels to suit all budgets in Mendoza city. But if you’re visiting exclusively for the wineries you might prefer to stay in one of the smaller neighbourhoods outside of the city with easier access to the vineyards.
How long should I stay in Mendoza?
We stayed for five days in Mendoza which was plenty of time to see the city and visit two different wine areas. We had one day of bad weather but if that hadn’t happened we would have taken a day trip to Aconcagua.
What is there to do in Mendoza?
The main attraction for most visitors to Mendoza is the vineyards surrounding the town. But if you’re looking for other ways to pass the day, these are the best things to do in Mendoza:
Visit Plaza Independencia, Plaza Italia, and Plaza Chile
Wander around Parque General San Martin
Take a day trip to Aconcagua
Check out the night life on Aristides Villanueva
Eat and drink
Where to eat and drink in Mendoza
There are so many places to eat and drink in Mendoza including vineyards that offer lunches and tasting menus, and plenty of bars and restaurants that appear on the Michelin guide. Since we only had five days in the city we were limited in how many dining spots we could try. But these were our favourite places to eat and drink in Mendoza:
El Asadito
Cariñito Fonda
Lobopollito
Monono
Santa Cantina
Almacen de Pizzas
Meva vineyard
Bodega La Bressia
Which are the best wine tours in Mendoza?
There are so many wine tours in Mendoza that you can easily feel overwhelmed when trying to choose. All hotels will be able to help you plan your day trips, and we opted for one day self-guided and one day with a driver and guides.
Self guided tours are cheaper and mean you have more flexibility, while guided tours will give you a fuller experience but less flexibility and a higher cost.
We did one day self-guided on bikes in Maipu valley and another day of guided tours in Lujan de Cuyo.
Find out about what happens on self-guided vs guided wine tours in Mendoza here, including their pros and cons compared to guided wine tours.
Do you need to rent a car in Mendoza?
Mendoza is a fairly sprawling city and the vineyards are 20 minutes to 2 hours drive out of town. We chose not to rent a car and book Ubers and bikes instead. But having your own car and designated driver would be an easier way to see more vineyards. It’s also a good way to visit Aconcagua as this is about 3 hours away and would give you the flexibility to organise your own trip without joining a tour group.
Is Mendoza cheap?
While we found Mendoza to be cheaper than the capital, Buenos Aires, there are still some fairly expensive and upmarket restaurants. But the great thing about this city is that you can easily plan your trip to suit your budget.
If you’ve got more to spend you can eat at Michelin restaurants and visit the top bodegas.
If you’re on a budget you can eat and drink just as well in some of the city’s smaller local restaurants, and take self-guided tours of the great wineries in Maipu which offer very affordable tastings and are usually free to enter.
What to pack for a long weekend in Mendoza
We visited Mendoza in March and the weather was mixed. The day we arrived was bright and sunny, but the next two days were overcast with lows of around 10°c so it’s worth checking the forecast and planning depending on the time of year you’re visiting.
For five days in Mendoza in March I packed:
Two pairs of light trousers
Two shirts
Three T-shirts
One vest top
One pair of shorts
One dress
One jumper
One pair of Birkenstocks
One pair of trainers
Sunglasses
A sun hat
Daily toiletries including SPF
Find my full packing list for three weeks in Argentina here.