Making it to the End of the World: How to Get to Argentina
Wondering how to get to Argentina? You’re in the right place. This massive South American country may look far on the map, but getting there is more straightforward than you might expect, especially with major international airports and plenty of flight options.
Whether you’re planning a full Argentina itinerary or adding it onto a longer South America trip, there are several ways to get there depending on where you’re coming from. With the right planning, visiting Argentina can also be more affordable than many travelers assume.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different options for how to get to Argentina, including flights, land border crossings, entry requirements, and helpful tips to plan a smooth arrival.
How to Get to Argentina: The Basics for Visiting
Before diving into the logistics of how to get to Argentina, let’s quickly cover where it’s located and why it’s worth the journey.
🤩 Why Visit Argentina?
Argentina is one of the most diverse countries in the world, offering everything from vibrant cities to remote natural wonders. You can explore glaciers in Patagonia, waterfalls in Iguazu, wine regions in Mendoza, deserts in the north, and vibrant streets in Buenos Aires all in one trip.
It’s a destination that balances adventure with comfort, making it perfect for travelers who want epic landscapes without giving up good food, great wine, and charming cities. Argentina also feels less touristy than many other bucket-list destinations, especially once you venture beyond Buenos Aires.
📍 Where Is Argentina Located?
Argentina is located in the southern part of South America and is the second-largest country on the continent. It borders Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay, and stretches all the way down to Patagonia at the southern tip of the Americas.
Because of its size, travel distances within Argentina are long, which is why flights play such a big role in getting around the country.
✈️ How Do I Get to Argentina?
Most travelers reach Argentina by air, though it is also possible to enter by land or sea from neighboring countries. Below, we’ll break down the main ways to get to Argentina and what to expect with each option.
How to Get to Argentina: Entry Requirements
Before traveling, it’s important to understand Argentina’s entry requirements so there are no surprises at immigration.
🛂 Visa Entry Requirements for Argentina
Many travelers can enter Argentina without a visa for short stays. Visitors from the US, Canada, UK, EU countries, Australia, and many others can typically stay up to 90 days as tourists.
Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay, and you may be asked to show onward travel. Entry rules can change, so it’s always a good idea to double-check requirements before your trip.
Argentina is a welcoming country, and for a while they were even incentivizing digital nomads to stay! While the program isn’t going on anymore, it is still a great destination for travelers looking to give themselves a good South American home base.
How to Get to Argentina: Comparing Travel Options
Now that you know where Argentina is and what you need to enter, let’s look at the different ways to actually get there.
✈️ How to Get to Argentina by Flight
Flying is by far the easiest and most common way to get to Argentina. The main international gateway is Buenos Aires, which is well connected to North America, Europe, and other parts of South America.
🛩 Which Airport Do You Fly Into in Argentina?
Most travelers visiting Argentina will have to fly to Buenos Aires first. However, little by little there are a few more airports throughout the country that are receiving international flights.
Long-haul flights typically arrive at Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza Airport), located outside the city center. From there, you can easily connect to domestic flights or continue exploring Buenos Aires.
Here is a breakdown of the main airports travelers fly into:
Buenos Aires (Ezeiza International Airport – EZE): the main international airport with long-haul flights from all over the Americas, some European cities, and Aukland, New Zealand.
Buenos Aires (Aeroparque – AEP): mainly domestic flights, but you can also find surrounding countries that fly here. It’s a much more ideal airport compared to EZE.
Córdoba (COR): international flights from some Central and South American cities, as well as Madrid.
Mendoza (MDZ): international flights from several cities in Central and South America.
Calafate (FTE): almost all domestic flights, but with direct flights from Santiago, Chile as well.
🇺🇸 Can You Fly Directly to Argentina from the US?
Yes, there are direct flights from several US cities to Buenos Aires. Common departure cities include Miami, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles.
Flight times vary depending on where you’re flying from, but most nonstop flights range between 9 and 11 hours, and are overnight flights with a very small time change.
🇨🇴 Other Cities in the Americas That Fly Direct to Argentina
Cities in North America (other than the US) that fly direct to Argentina include Mexican destinations like Cancun and Mexico City, as well as Caribbean destinations that include Oranjested, Punta Cana, and Santo Domingo. Also, Panama City is the one city that flies direct from Central America to Argentina.
Brazilian cities that fly direct to Argentina include Belo Horizone, Brasilia, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Maceio, Natal, Porto Alegre, Porto Seguro, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Sao Paulo.
Other South American cities that fly direct to Argentina include Asuncion, Bogota, Guayaquil, Lima, Montevideo, Punta del Este, Quito, Santa Cruz, and Santiago.
🇪🇺 Cities in Europe That Fly Direct to Argentina
From Europe, there are direct flights to Buenos Aires from major cities like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Spain has especially strong connections, making Madrid one of the easiest European hubs for flying to Argentina.
International Flights to Argentina Cheat Sheet
Buenos Aires (Ezeiza International Airport – EZE): Amsterdam, Asuncion, Atlanta, Auckland, Barcelona, Bogota, Brasilia, Cancun, Dallas, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Frankfurt, Guayaquil, Houston, Lima, Madrid, Maceio, Medellin, Mexico City, Miami, Montevideo, Natal, New York, Oranjestad, Panama City, Paris, Porto Seguro, Punta Cana, Quito, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Salvador, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Santo Domingo, and Sao Paulo.
Buenos Aires (Aeroparque – AEP): Asuncion, Belo Horizone, Bogota, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Lima, Montevideo, Porto Alegre, Porto Seguro, Punta del Este, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Salvador, Santa Cruz, Santiago, and Sao Paulo.
Córdoba (COR): Asuncion, Bogota, Florianopolis, Lima, Madrid. Panama City, Punta Cana, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, and Sao Paulo.
Mendoza (MDZ): Panama City, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, and Sao Paulo.
Calafate (FTE): Santiago.
👉🏻 Something to Consider When Flying to Argentina
Because Argentina is so large, many travelers underestimate internal travel time. It’s smart to plan buffer days, especially when connecting international flights with domestic ones. Delays do happen, and distances are long.
🛣 How to Get to Argentina by Land
Argentina is bordered by several other countries, including Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil. You can either drive your own vehicle and cross the border, or take a bus from the major cities in each country. Here is a breakdown of the different land borders into Argentina:
🇧🇷 How to Get to Argentina from Brazil
If you’re researching how to get to Argentina from Brazil by land, there are a few different crossings in southern Brazil. Popular land borders include Foz do Iguaçu–Puerto Iguazú, Uruguaiana–Paso de los Libres, and São Borja–Santo Tomé. If you have a car, you can cross one of these – just make sure to have the correct documents with you.
Long-distance buses run from cities like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, and Porto Alegre to Buenos Aires, often crossing overnight and making this an affordable option if you have time and have a lot of luggage or can’t find affordable flights.
The best way to get from Brazil to Argentina though is definitely via Iguazu Falls. This natural wonder is straddles the two countries, and there getting from Foz do Iguazu to Puerto Iguazu is super easy. We’ve even taken internal flights from elsewhere in Brazil to Foz do Iguazu, crossed the border, and then flown from Puerto Iguazu to Buenos Aires. It oftentimes saves money, and gives you an excuse to enjoy one of the best places to visit in Argentina.
🇧🇴 How to Get to Argentina from Bolivia
For travelers wondering how to get to Argentina from Bolivia by land, northern Argentina offers a few well-used crossings. The most popular route is Villazón–La Quiaca, with buses continuing south to Jujuy, Salta, or Tucumán. Other routes pass through Yacuiba–Salvador Mazza, commonly used when coming from Santa Cruz or Aguas Blancas, and buses are frequent on both crossings.
🇨🇱 How to Get to Argentina from Chile
If you’re planning how to get to Argentina from Chile by land, there are multiple established crossings through the Andes. The busiest route is Santiago–Mendoza via Paso Los Libertadores, served by daily buses. In Patagonia, popular land crossings include Puerto Natales–El Calafate and Osorno–Bariloche, both known for incredible scenery but occasional weather-related delays.
🍷 If you’re planning on visiting Mendoza, then it’s a great city to pair with Santiago, as they both have plenty of connections between one another.
🇵🇾 How to Get to Argentina from Paraguay
Those looking into how to get to Argentina from Paraguay by land will find several easy border crossings. Common routes include Asunción–Clorinda, Encarnación–Posadas, and Ciudad del Este–Puerto Iguazú. Buses run frequently across all of these borders, connecting Paraguay with northern Argentina and onward routes to Buenos Aires.
💦 If you’re visiting Iguazu Falls, don’t miss the nearby Saltos de Monday in Paraguay, an underrated waterfall just over the border.
🇺🇾 How to Get to Argentina from Uruguay
If you’re figuring out how to get to Argentina from Uruguay by land, crossings are simple and well connected. Popular land routes include Montevideo–Buenos Aires by bus via Fray Bentos–Gualeguaychú and Salto–Concordia. These routes are fast, reliable, and commonly used by both locals and travelers moving between the two countries.
🎉 If you’re visiting Argentina from Uruguay by land in the summer, don’t miss Carnival in Gualeguaychu, which goes from January into February!
🌊 How to Get to Argentina by Sea
If you’re in Uruguay, the best options for getting to Argentina is actually by ferry. Buquebus runs ferries from both Colonia de Sacramento and Montevideo with several daily sailings.
Another option is arriving by cruise ship, especially into Buenos Aires or Ushuaia. There are a few different cruise lines that visit the bottom of South America, and this is a fun option in the summer months (December-March) for getting to Argentina and also visiting several unique destinations along the coast of Argentina and surrounding countries.
How to Get to Argentina: Final Tips & Thoughts
Now you know everything you need to know about how to get to Argentina, but here’s a quick recap to make planning easier.
✈️ Flying is the easiest and most popular way to get to Argentina, especially via Buenos Aires.
🛂 Many travelers can enter visa-free for up to 90 days.
🗺 Argentina is huge, so plan flights carefully once you arrive.
🚗 Land crossings are a great option if you’re already traveling South America.
💦 Iguazu Falls is the perfect entry point if you’re coming from Brazil.
🍷 Santiago and Mendoza are excellent cities to connect a trip with Chile and Argentina.
⛴ You can easily get to Buenos Aires from Uruguay by taking the ferry.
📆 Build in flexibility, especially when connecting international and domestic flights.
