Best Time to Visit Argentina

Three cities, three calendars

Argentina is huge, so there's no single best month. Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Cordoba each peak at a slightly different time.

Buenos Aires is nicest in April and May, and again from September to January. Spring brings jacaranda trees (purple-flowering) to the city's streets and parks. Mendoza, the wine capital, is best from March to May and August to October. Cordoba, in the central hills, has a long good stretch from April to October.

Summer: hot, and wetter than you'd think

January is the hottest month in all three places. Mendoza reaches 33°C, Cordoba 32°C and Buenos Aires 28°C. Afternoons in Buenos Aires feel sticky, and the city goes quiet when many locals leave for the coast.

Rain follows the heat. Cordoba's wettest month is January, at 132 mm, and it often falls in short, heavy storms. Buenos Aires peaks later, in March, at 114 mm. Mendoza is drier, with its wettest month, February, at only 52 mm.

Autumn and spring: the sweet spots

Autumn is harvest time in Mendoza. Vineyard visits are lovely in March and April, and the Vendimia wine festival (harvest festival) usually runs in late February or March. Spring suits walking in Buenos Aires, around Palermo's parks or the cobbles of San Telmo. Cordoba's winter is dry and cool, good for day trips into the Sierras (the local hills) without summer storms.

Holidays and crowds

High season is December to February, when Argentine school holidays run. Beach towns fill up, and prices rise in popular spots. Another busy window is July, the winter break, when families head to ski areas near Mendoza. Easter week and long weekends around public holidays also push up demand for buses and hotels.

If you hate crowds, aim for April, May or September. You'll get mild weather, shorter queues and easier bookings in all three cities.