Comparison · Mendoza vs Napa Valley · Argentina / United States
Mendoza vs Napa Valley
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Silviaanac, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Mendoza for Malbec, wineries, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon, winery tastings and a short break. Mendoza is generally less expensive, and the two are about 9,651 km (5,997 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 9,651 km (5,997 mi)
- Less expensive
- Mendoza
- Best time for Mendoza
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Napa Valley
- April–June and September–October
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Mendoza | Napa Valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Argentina | United States |
| Known for | Malbec, Wineries and Aconcagua | Cabernet Sauvignon, Winery tastings and Fine dining |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$100–200 | US$350–600 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | January, 32°C (90°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 14°C (57°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 3 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MDZ | SFO, OAK, STS |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Mendoza in February–March and November–December, and Napa Valley in June–September. Both are at their best in April–May and October.
| Month | Mendoza | Napa Valley | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C (90°F), 6 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 10 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 30°C (86°F), 6 rainy days · shoulder season | 17°C (63°F), 9 rainy days | Mendoza |
| March | 27°C (81°F), 5 rainy days · best time | 19°C (66°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | Mendoza |
| April | 22°C (72°F), 3 rainy days · best time | 22°C (72°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 18°C (64°F), 2 rainy days · best time | 26°C (79°F), 2 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 14°C (57°F), 2 rainy days | 29°C (84°F), 1 rainy day · best time | Napa Valley |
| July | 14°C (57°F), 1 rainy day | 31°C (88°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | Napa Valley |
| August | 17°C (63°F), 2 rainy days | 31°C (88°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | Napa Valley |
| September | 20°C (68°F), 2 rainy days · shoulder season | 30°C (86°F), 1 rainy day · best time | Napa Valley |
| October | 25°C (77°F), 3 rainy days · best time | 26°C (79°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 29°C (84°F), 4 rainy days · best time | 19°C (66°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | Mendoza |
| December | 31°C (88°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | 14°C (57°F), 9 rainy days | Mendoza |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Mendoza for…
Malbec, wineries, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Mendoza is the capital of Argentina's largest wine region, a low-rise city of plane-tree avenues watered by open irrigation channels (acequias) at the foot of the Andes. Rebuilt on a wide grid after the 1861 earthquake, it centres on Plaza Independencia and…
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Choose Napa Valley for…
Cabernet Sauvignon, winery tastings and a short break. Napa Valley is a narrow valley about 50 km long, running from the Carneros wetlands at the top of San Francisco Bay north to Calistoga at the foot of Mount St Helena. Highway 29 and the parallel Silverado Trail link the towns of Napa, Yountville, Oakville…
Top sights compared
| # | Mendoza | Napa Valley |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plaza Independencia | Napa Valley Wine Train |
| 2 | Plaza España and the satellite plazas | Oxbow Public Market |
| 3 | Parque General San Martín | Downtown Napa tasting rooms |
| 4 | Cerro de la Gloria | Castello di Amorosa |
| 5 | Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins | Beringer Vineyards |
Food compared
| Mendoza | Napa Valley |
|---|---|
| Malbec | Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Asado | Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay |
| Empanadas mendocinas | Tasting menus |
| Chivito | Oysters |
Which is cheaper?
Mendoza is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$100–200 per person there, against US$350–600 in Napa Valley (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Mendoza on a budget.
Mendoza or Napa Valley from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Mendoza | Napa Valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | +2 h Jan, +1 h Jul | −3 h |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +5 h Jan, +4 h Jul | Same time |
| From New York (JFK) | 5,090 mi (8,190 km) | 2,560 mi (4,120 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 5,630 mi (9,060 km) | 371 mi (596 km) |
| U.S. plugs | Adapter needed | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Napa Valley is about 2,530 miles (4,070 km) closer than Mendoza in a straight line. Mendoza is the smaller time change: 2 hours from New York in January, against 3 for Napa Valley.
Can you visit both?
They are about 9,651 km (5,997 mi) apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mendoza or Napa Valley cheaper?
Mendoza is usually less expensive: about US$100–200 a day mid-range against US$350–600 (estimates).
+Is Mendoza or Napa Valley better for a first trip?
Pick Mendoza for Malbec, wineries, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon, winery tastings and a short break.
+How far is Mendoza from Napa Valley?
About 9,651 km (5,997 mi) in a straight line.