How Many Days Do You Need In Mendoza?
Most travellers need 2–3 days in Mendoza to enjoy the city and visit its famous wineries.
Mendoza can easily be visited over a weekend from Buenos Aires, but you might extend your stay if you want to explore the Andes, hike in Aconcagua National Park, or enjoy local adventure activities.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how many days needed in Mendoza:
| Mendoza Itinerary | Highlights | Perfect For... |
|---|---|---|
|
2 Days |
City Day, Maipu Wine Route |
Quick weekend getaway from Buenos Aires |
|
3 Days |
City Day, Maipu Wine Route, Lujan de Cuyo |
Wine loverswanting a relaxed pace |
|
5 Days |
All of the above and a day trip outside of the city |
Travellers with time to spare and who want to explore beyond the city i.e Aconcagua |
If you’re struggling to work out how many days to spend in Mendoza, my Argentina Trip Planning Service can help!
Mendoza 2-Day Itinerary
Two days in Mendoza is perfect for wine lovers visiting on a short trip from Buenos Aires or Santiago. Spend your first day exploring the city’s plazas, parks, and cafés, and your second day cycling between Maipú’s vineyards for wine tastings.
🌍 Day 1: Morning flight to Mendoza → Free walking tour of the city → Afternoon in Parque General San Martín → Evening at a local steakhouse or ‘asado’ experience.
🍷 Day 2: Maipú wine bike tour with stops at 3–4 wineries (e.g., Trapiche, Tempus Alba, Familia di Tommaso) → Return to Mendoza for dinner.
💵 Budget: $200-$300 USD for two days (accommodation, meals, wine tastings, bike rental).
📅 Best Time: October-April for sunny, warm weather.
Day 1 – Arrival / Walking Tour
Using a free walking tour is a great way to see the city. Mendoza is home to many parks and plazas that are perfect for relaxing in, enjoying the beautiful weather and people watching.
You always get the best insights from local on one of these tours too, and will leave with lots of great recommendations for bars and restaurants. I used Vivizma.
They offer tours Monday to Sunday at 11:00AM and Monday to Saturday 3:00PM. You can book through their website.
In the evening I recommend checking out the many great steak restaurants (parillas) or if you prefer a more cultural experience – the Argentinian asado is always a great way to learn more about the traditions of the country!
Day 2 – Maipu Wine Bike Route
One of the best activities in Mendoza is the ‘Maipu wine bike route’.
On the outskirts of Mendoza city centre, you will find several of the best wineries all along the same road.
Here you can find bike rental shops offering to rent cheap bikes and provide a map to the best wineries. I recommend Maipu bikes.
All the wineries allow you to visit and enjoy a tasting from somewhere between $5-15. One of the best bodegas is Trapiche, where you can sit out on the balcony and look out over the vineyard whilst tasting all their incredible wines.
Mendoza 3-Day Itinerary
Three days in Mendoza lets you enjoy the city, explore Maipú by bike, and visit the prestigious wineries of Luján de Cuyo. This itinerary is ideal for travellers wanting a slower pace or an extra day of wine tasting.
🌍 Day 1: Morning arrival → Free walking tour of Mendoza → Afternoon in Parque General San Martín → Dinner at a parrilla.
🍷 Day 2: Maipú wine bike tour with 3–4 tastings (Trapiche, Tempus Alba, Familia di Tommaso) → Return to Mendoza for the evening.
🍇 Day 3: Full-day winery tour in Luján de Cuyo, home to some of Mendoza’s most famous Malbec producers (e.g., Bodega Catena Zapata, Bodega Norton). Enjoy guided tastings and vineyard views before returning to the city.
💵 Budget: $300–$450 USD for three days (accommodation, meals, tastings, tours).
📅 Best Time: October–April for warm weather and grape harvest season (March).
Day 3 – Luján de Cuyo
Instead of returning to Mendoza on day 2, stay overnight in Maipu. I recommend staying at Finca Mula which is a nice place with beautiful gardens and a pool.
The benefit of staying overnight is that you can make up the next day and visit more vineyards.
I would recommend doing a full tour today, especially at Casa Vigil which is home to Mendoza’s biggest wine cellar, and also has an incredible restaurant.
In the afternoon, you can head to Luján de Cuyo, one of Argentina’s most prestigious wine regions and the birthplace of world-famous Malbec. Join a guided tour to visit iconic bodegas like Catena Zapata, Bodega Norton, or Achaval Ferrer, where you can enjoy cellar tastings and vineyard views framed by the Andes.
Optional Day 3 – Lake Potrerillos
If you want to fill your 3 days with more action, then return to Maipu on the evening of the 2nd day and spend your third day at Lake Potrerillos.
This man-made lake on the outskirts of Mendoza and a popular spot for outdoor adventure activities. One of the best activities is white water rafting and there are options for Grade III and IV rapids.
Check out Potrerillos Explorer for more tour options.
PATAGONIA...
is a must visit for travelers visiting Argentina. Check out these posts to help you plan a hassle-free trip:
Mendoza 5-Day Itinerary
Five days in Mendoza allows you to enjoy the city, visit Maipú’s wine route, and head deep into the Andes for a multi-day adventure to Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere.
🌍 Day 1: Morning arrival → Free walking tour of Mendoza → Relax in Parque General San Martín → Dinner at a parrilla.
🍷 Day 2: Maipú wine bike tour with tastings at 3–4 wineries.
🏔️ Days 3–5: Travel to Uspallata, a scenic mountain town 3 hours from Mendoza → Visit Aconcagua Provincial Park and hike to Confluencia or explore shorter trails → Overnight in Uspallata → Spend Day 4 exploring more of the Andes (Potrerillos Lake, Camino del Inca) → Return to Mendoza on Day 5 for a final evening of great food and wine.
💵 Budget: $600–$850 USD for five days (accommodation, meals, wine tours, car rental or guided tour).
📅 Best Time: December–March for warm vineyard weather and prime hiking conditions in the Andes.
Day 3 – Rent Car / Drive To Uspallata.
If you are an avid hiker, then you’ll want to dedicate some extra time to visit Aconcagua.
The best way to do this is to set aside 2-3 days and stay in Uspallata which is the small town closest to it.
The town of Uspallata is a 3 hour drive from Mendoza and a 1 hour drive from the mountain.
How To Get To Uspallata From Mendoza
You have two options to get to Uspallata from Mendoza:
- Car – renting a car and driving to Uspallata is a an easy option that gives you a lot of freedom. I always use Rentalcars.com to find the best deals before renting a car. You can turn the journey into a road trip and stop at Potrellilos and Camino Del Inca on the way.
- Public Bus – you can take the public bus from Mendoza to Uspallata which will take 2-3 hours. Use Budbud to book and go with Andesmar company
Where To Stay In Uspallata
I stayed at Pukarainca in Uspallata. I always have to spend a bit extra on nice accommodation after a big trek!
With full views of the Andes from every room, trails, private rivers and woods, this is great place to stay.
However, you can find lots of budget options in town.
Day 4 – Aconcagua Base Camp
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere and visiting this national park is a must if you are a lover of epic scenery and hiking.
It’s a popular destination for hikers from around the world and is often considered to be one of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each of the seven continents).
How to Get To Parque Provincial Aconcagua From Uspallata
- Take the Andesmar bus from Upsallata to Punte Del Inca (an hour and 15 minute journey)
- Ask the bus driver to drop you off at the park entrance which is a 5 minute drive further down the road from Punte Del Inca.
Hiking In Parque Provincial Aconcagua
You have a couple of options:
- Confluencia Self Guided – the trek to base camp is a 4-6 hour hike and around 7km from the park entrance. Make sure to register before hand as you’ll have to show your registration at the park entrance. There’s a small café at Confluencia where you can buy drinks, beers and snacks but it is expensive.
- Guided – Alternatively, if you don’t want to organise any of this yourself and prefer to want to get picked up and dropped off in Mendoza on the same day, then try this guided tour:
Day 5 – Drive Back To Mendoza
Check out of your hotel and drive or take the bus back to Mendoza. Then in the evening, enjoy a good feast at one of the many great restaurants before a well-earned night’s sleep.
Alternatively, you can also take the bus to Chile from Uspallata.
Did you know Argentina has its very own Salt Flat and Rainbow Mountain. These are two of the best sights in the country, hidden away in the north and well worth a visit. Check out these posts for more:
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Is Mendoza Worth Visiting?
Mendoza is well worth a visit for a weekend.
It’s Argentina’s top wine producing region and you’ll find some of the best vineyards in the world here. Therefore, it’s a must for wine lovers.
On top of that, it’s the closest city to Aconcagua National Park where you will find the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere.
So if you love wine or hiking or both, Mendoza is absolutely worth visiting.
Head to the post below for the top 8 reasons to visit Mendoza:
When Is The Best Time To Visit Mendoza?
The best time to visit Mendoza is in the spring and summer months in Argentina.
- Spring – from March to May you’ll have pleasant temperatures in Mendoza with few tourists. This will be the best time for cheaper prices and less crowds.
- Summer – from December to February you’ll have the best weather in Mendoza, with sunny days. However, crowds will be bigger as this is the summer holidays in Argentina. You may also need to book ahead for popular winery tours.
Check out this curated itinerary to help you make the most of your time in Argentina:
Do You Need A Car In Mendoza?
If you’re only staying in Mendoza for 2-3 days and are happy to stay in the city then you probably don’t need a car.
You can take the bus out to Maipu to visit the wineries and you can book guided tours to any other places you wish to visit.
However, if you’re planning to do an extended stay in Mendoza (5-7 days), then I would recommend getting a car.
Many of the best things to do are outside the city and require driving. For example:
- Uspallata/Aconcagua – 120km / 1h 20m drive
- Potrerillos Lake – 70km / 1h drive
- Termas Chaceuta Spa – 40km / 50m drive
Renting a car gives you the freedom and flexibility to visit all these places on your own schedule.
I always use Discover Cars when looking to rent a car in South America.
“We ended up with a better itinerary than anything a travel agent suggested – and without the expensive price tag!
Maeve & Martin – 3 Weeks In Argentina
Planning a trip to Argentina?
Are you struggling with any of this?
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spent hours researching… and still feeling lost
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo!
I help travellers like you plan custom Argentina trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
