5 days in Mendoza

Day by day

1. Day 1: Plaza Independencia and Plaza España and the satellite plazas

   Plaza Independencia, Plaza España and the satellite plazas and Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins, then Avenida Arístides Villanueva in the evening.

   1. Breakfast

      Breakfast: Mate and medialunas

   2. Morning

      Plaza Independencia

      Come on a weekend evening, when the craft stalls are out and families gather around the lit fountains. (45 minutes, free).

   3. Late morning

      Plaza España and the satellite plazas

      Walk a loop of all four satellite plazas from Plaza Independencia; it takes under an hour and shows the city's grid plan. (1 hour, free).

   4. Lunch

      Lunch: Asado

      Parrillas in the Quinta Sección and the centre, and Sunday asados at many winery restaurants.

   5. Afternoon

      Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins

      Take a short taxi from the centre and combine the museum with the ruins on the plaza opposite in one visit. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   6. Café break

      Café break: Malbec

   7. Evening

      Avenida Arístides Villanueva

      Start with dinner at a parrilla around 9:30pm, then move to the bars as the street fills later.

2. Day 2: Luján de Cuyo wineries and Museo Casa de Fader

   Luján de Cuyo wineries and Museo Casa de Fader, then Avenida Arístides Villanueva in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Luján de Cuyo wineries

      Book a winery lunch rather than only tastings; the multi-course menus are the highlight of a Luján day and pace the drinking. (Full day, expensive).

   2. Late morning

      Museo Casa de Fader

      Combine it with a Luján winery visit or lunch in Chacras de Coria, both a few minutes away. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Empanadas mendocinas

      Bakeries and empanada shops across the city and the counters of the Mercado Central.

   4. Evening

      Avenida Arístides Villanueva

      Several blocks of bars, craft-beer pubs and parrillas in the Quinta Sección, crowded from about midnight at weekends.

3. Day 3: Parque General San Martín and Cerro de la Gloria

   Parque General San Martín, Cerro de la Gloria and Museo de Ciencias Naturales Juan Cornelio Moyano, then Microcentro in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Parque General San Martín

      Rent a bike near the main gates and ride the loop around the lake and up towards Cerro de la Gloria. (2–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Cerro de la Gloria

      Go late in the afternoon for the view; the walk up from the park lake is steep, so taking a taxi up and walking down is easier. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chivito

      Parrillas and country restaurants, especially on the road south and in traditional places in the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Museo de Ciencias Naturales Juan Cornelio Moyano

      Pair it with a walk around the park lake; it is a good choice for a hot afternoon or a rare rainy day. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Microcentro

      Wine bars and cafés around Plaza Independencia and Paseo Sarmiento for earlier, quieter evenings.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Uco Valley

   About 1.5 hours by car each way. Getting there: Car, private driver or organised wine tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Uco Valley

      About 1.5 hours by car (Car, private driver or organised wine tour); about 100 km.

   2. Day

      Uco Valley

      The high vineyards of Tupungato, Tunuyán and San Carlos grow wine at up to about 1,500 metres beneath the Andes. Best for couples, food lovers and luxury.

   3. Evening

      Back in Mendoza

      Dinner: try Tomaticán.

5. Day 5: Mercado Central and Paseo Sarmiento

   Mercado Central and Paseo Sarmiento, then Chacras de Coria in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mercado Central

      Eat lunch at one of the counters with locals, then buy olives and dried fruit for a winery picnic. (45 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Paseo Sarmiento

      Order a café con leche and medialunas at an outdoor table in the morning before the shops get busy. (30–60 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tomaticán

      Restaurants serving regional cuisine and some home-style eateries in the centre.

   4. Evening

      Chacras de Coria

      Wine bars and restaurants around the village plaza, popular with locals on weekend evenings.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Luján de Cuyo wineries before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Microcentro keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Quinta Sección and Arístides Villanueva ($$) suits nightlife, couples and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–23 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10 hours in June to 14.3 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Mendoza
• 2 days in Mendoza
• 3 days in Mendoza

Questions travellers ask