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How many days in Mendoza? 4 days for the city, Malbec country and the Andes
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Mendoza is the capital of Argentina's main wine region, a tree-lined city of about a million people in the metropolitan area, built in a dry valley at the foot of the Andes. Water from the mountains runs through open channels called acequias along almost every street, feeding the plane trees and the vineyards. Give it four days: one in the city, one at the wineries close to town, one in the higher Uco Valley, and one on the mountain road towards Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas at about 6,960 metres.
Short answer
Three days covers the city, one winery area and the Andes road. The fourth day adds the Uco Valley, where many of the most dramatic wineries stand at over 1,000 metres with the mountains behind.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The city: plazas, Parque San Martín and Cerro de la Gloria
Morning. Start at Plaza Independencia, the main square, then walk a few blocks to Plaza España, decorated with painted tiles, and the other squares laid out around it after the city was rebuilt following the 1861 earthquake. Walk along the Peatonal Sarmiento, the pedestrian street, for coffee and medialunas (croissants).
Afternoon. Visit the Parque General San Martín, a large park west of the centre with a lake, rose garden and tall trees, about 20 minutes on foot from Plaza Independencia. Take a bus or taxi up to Cerro de la Gloria, a hill with a monument to the Army of the Andes, which crossed into Chile in 1817 under General San Martín.
Evening. Dinner starts late, around 21:30. Walk along Arístides Villanueva street, lined with bars and restaurants. Order a bife de chorizo (sirloin) with a glass of Malbec; a steak dinner with wine costs very roughly AR$35,000-60,000 per person, depending on the restaurant and exchange rate.
Many shops close for a long siesta, roughly from 13:30 to 17:00. Plan sights for the morning and late afternoon, and use the hottest hours to rest.
Day 2: Wineries in Luján de Cuyo and Maipú
Morning. Head about 30-40 minutes south to Luján de Cuyo, the area that built Mendoza's Malbec reputation. Book two winery visits in advance; tours with tastings usually cost the equivalent of about US$25-60 per person, and wineries often quote prices in dollars. Many open only by reservation.
Afternoon. Have a long lunch at a winery restaurant, often 4-6 courses with paired wines (roughly US$60-120 per person). Alternatively, rent a bicycle in Maipú, the closest wine area, and ride between wineries, olive-oil producers and small farms on flat roads.
Evening. Return to the city or stay in Chacras de Coria, a leafy suburb with a small plaza and restaurants between the city and the vineyards. A light dinner of empanadas costs a fraction of a winery lunch.
Do not drive after tastings: Argentina's national road-safety law sets a zero blood-alcohol limit for drivers, and checks are common on wine routes. Hire a driver, join a tour, or cycle in Maipú.
Day 3: The Uco Valley
Morning. Drive about 1.5 hours south to the Uco Valley (Valle de Uco), covering Tupungato, Tunuyán and San Carlos. Vineyards here rise to about 1,000-1,500 metres, under the snowy wall of the Andes. Book visits ahead; many wineries are architectural landmarks, with long gravel drives through the vines.
Afternoon. Have lunch at a winery restaurant facing the mountains; expect several courses with wine and a pace of at least 2-3 hours. Take time for a walk through the vines before the drive back.
Evening. Return to Mendoza around sunset, or stay overnight at a lodge in the valley. Back in the city, finish with ice cream; Argentina's helado shops serve dulce de leche flavours until late.
Distances between Uco wineries are long, often 20-40 minutes. Plan only two or three visits a day, and leave the driving to a guide if you are tasting.
Day 4: The Andes road to Aconcagua and Puente del Inca
Morning. Leave early on Ruta Nacional 7 towards Chile, passing the turquoise Potrerillos reservoir and the valley town of Uspallata, about 2 hours from Mendoza. The road climbs through red and ochre mountains along the Mendoza river.
Afternoon. Enter Aconcagua Provincial Park at the Horcones entrance, about 3 hours from the city, and walk the short trail to Laguna de Horcones, about 1 hour return, for a view of Aconcagua's south face. Visitors pay an entrance fee that is much higher for foreigners. Then stop at Puente del Inca, a natural rock bridge coloured yellow and orange by mineral springs.
Evening. Drive back to Mendoza, arriving after dark, or stay in Uspallata. On a long weekend, you may want to continue to Santiago in Chile, about 6-8 hours by bus including the border.
The road reaches about 2,700-3,200 metres. Drink water, go slowly on walks and avoid heavy meals. In winter, snow can close the road and the Chile border; check the official Paso Cristo Redentor status before leaving.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, keep the city, Luján de Cuyo and the Andes road. Visit one Uco Valley winery on the way back from the mountains if you have a driver, or save the Uco Valley for a future trip.
Got extra days?
On a 5th day, go rafting on the Mendoza river near Potrerillos, ride horses in the foothills, or relax in the Termas de Cacheuta hot springs, about 45 minutes away. Further south, San Rafael has its own wineries and the Atuel canyon.
Where to stay in Mendoza
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Around Plaza Independencia | Hostels and simple hotels near the squares, buses and restaurants. | AR$40,000-70,000 |
| Mid-range | Near Arístides Villanueva / Parque San Martín | Walk to bars and the park, with quieter streets than the centre. | AR$90,000-160,000 |
| Mid-range | Chacras de Coria | Leafy suburb with guesthouses and pools, close to the Luján wineries. | AR$100,000-180,000 |
| Comfort | Winery lodges in the Uco Valley and Luján | Lodges among the vines with mountain views, spas and fine dining. | AR$300,000-800,000 |
Getting around
Central Mendoza is walkable and flat, laid out on a grid. City buses use a rechargeable SUBE card, and the Metrotranvía light rail links the centre with Godoy Cruz and Maipú. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are cheap by European standards. Mendoza's airport, El Plumerillo, is about 20-30 minutes by taxi. For wineries, hire a driver, join a tour or rent a car; for the Andes road, tours leave early from the centre. Long-distance buses leave from the main bus terminal for Santiago and other Argentine cities.
What to eat in Mendoza
Mendoza eats asado: beef cooked slowly over wood or charcoal, with chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage) and provoleta (grilled cheese). Other dishes include empanadas (meat pastries), humita and locro, a hearty stew. The province produces olive oil and dried fruit. Wine is the star: Malbec, but also Cabernet Franc and Torrontés from the north. A simple café lunch costs AR$15,000-25,000; a winery lunch with paired wines can cost much more, often quoted in dollars. Tipping about 10% is usual in restaurants.
Best time to visit
March to April brings the grape harvest, autumn colours in the vineyards and the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia, the harvest festival in early March. October to November is spring, with mild weather and flowering vines. Summer (December to February) is hot, often 30-35°C. Winter (June to August) is cool and dry, with snow in the Andes and skiing at Penitentes and Las Leñas.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | AR$35,000 | AR$90,000 | AR$225,000 |
| Food & drink | AR$30,000 | AR$60,000 | AR$120,000 |
| Sights & tickets | AR$15,000 | AR$60,000 | AR$135,000 |
| Local transport | AR$8,000 | AR$40,000 | AR$90,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about AR$90,000 | about AR$250,000 | about AR$570,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Argentine pesos, roughly US$60, US$165 and US$380 a day at the time of writing; Argentine prices and exchange rates change quickly, so check current rates and expect many wineries to quote prices in dollars.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need to book Mendoza wineries in advance?
Yes, in most cases. Many wineries in Luján de Cuyo, Maipú and the Uco Valley accept visitors only by reservation, and lunch tables at popular ones fill weeks ahead in March and April. Book directly on the winery's website or through a tour operator. Plan two or three visits a day at most.
Can I visit the wineries without a car?
Yes. Day tours with a driver and guide leave from Mendoza every day. In Maipú, you can rent a bicycle and ride between wineries on flat roads. The Metrotranvía light rail reaches Maipú, and taxis or ride-hailing apps can take you to Luján de Cuyo. For the Uco Valley, a driver or tour is the easiest option.
How do I pay in Argentina?
Cards are widely accepted in Mendoza's hotels, restaurants and wineries, and contactless payment is common. Bring some cash for small shops, buses and tips. Rules and rates have changed often in recent years, so check current advice before travelling. Wineries and lodges may quote and charge in US dollars.
Can I see Aconcagua on a day trip?
Yes. Organised day trips and self-drive visits follow Ruta 7 through Potrerillos and Uspallata to the Horcones entrance of Aconcagua Provincial Park, about 3 hours each way. You can walk to the Horcones lagoon for a view of the mountain and stop at Puente del Inca. Climbing Aconcagua itself needs a permit and two to three weeks.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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