Wonderful Things to do in Bariloche, Argentina (2024)

Table of Contents

Bariloche: Northern Patagonia’s All-Season Wonderland

Bariloche is one of those places where you start planning your return before you’ve even left. Hopefully after reading all these wonderful things to do in Barioche you’ll share the same enthusiasm as us!

San Carlos de Bariloche is located in northern Patagonia, close to the border with Chile but still in Argentina. It’s the perfect year-round destination, but keep in mind that its winter is in North America and Europe’s summer!

Bariloche has great hiking, chocolate, skiing, breweries, and amazing day trips. Whether you’re traveling solo or with kids, Bariloche is one of the best places to visit in Argentina.

Let’s get into the absolute best things to do in Bariloche!

Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase.

20 Wonderful Things to do in Bariloche

1. Hike to Bariloche’s Refugios

Bariloche’s hiking is simply unbeatable, with the multi-day refugio hikes absolutely taking the cake. If you don’t have time to stay overnight at any of the refugios – don’t worry! They’re all reachable in day hikes. However, staying overnight and being way out in the mountains for sunset and sunrise is simply an incredible experience.

Hike to Refugio Jakob Bariloche — ^{Hike from Refugio Frey to Refugio Jakob}

While we were in Bariloche, we hiked to Refugio Frey and Refugio Jakob – staying overnight at both – before returning to Bariloche. These three days were the best we spent in Bariloche and the hike from Frey to Jakob was the most stunning hike we’ve done.

Read all about hiking to Refugio Frey and Refugio Jakob!

Sunset-at-Jakob — ^{Sunset at Refugio Jakob}

2. Drive the Route of the Seven Lakes

The Route of the Seven Lakes is a road trip that starts in Bariloche and ends in San Martin de Los Andes, a beautiful town tucked away in the mountains and located on a lake. This drive can be done in a day, but we highly recommend carving out a couple of days for it if you can. You’ll pass by seven significant lakes that have great lookouts, a magnificent valley, and views that make it difficult to concentrate on the road!

You can go as part of a tour like this one, or rent your car for cheap here or with Booking.com if you are in the Genius loyalty program! We drove all the way to San Martin de Los Andes, then doubled back and stayed the night in Villa La Angostura, another quaint mountain town, then drove back the next morning. For 24 hours of renting a car, we only paid $38!

Click here for everything you need to know about doing the route of the seven lakes!

3. Take in the Views at Cerro Campanario

Cerro Campanario yields the best views of Bariloche. Admire the 360-degree views of the giant mountains, forested hills, islets and lakes of all sizes. Enjoy the views over a beer, coffee, hot chocolate, or the stereotypical American food like hot dogs and hamburgers! You can either hike 1 hour up or take the chairlift for $7!

Read all about visiting Cerro Campanario

4. Do a Day Trip to Villa La Angostura

If you aren’t planning on doing the Seven Lakes Drive, you should definitely make time for Villa La Angostura! The main street is lined with cute cafes, restaurants, and shops, all of which have beautiful alpine architecture. There aren’t tons of things to do here other than eat and shop – though in the summer there are some boat trips you can do – but it’s definitely worth doing if you want a relaxing day trip from Bariloche!

Villa La Angostura is easiest to reach with a car, which will allow you to stop at some of the beautiful Lago Nahuel Huapi lookout spots, but if you don’t have one, you can check bus schedules here!

5. Admire Bariloche’s Cathedral

The Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi Cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches we’ve been to! It fits the alpine and ski town vibe perfectly, and towers over beautiful Bariloche. Entrance is free and you can do (free) guided tours in Spanish that have a focus on architecture and sculptures every Thursday at 5:30 pm.

6. Hike Cerro Tronador

This hike is a bit further away from Bariloche, but definitely worth doing if you have the time! Cerro Tronador is located on the border of Chile and Argentina and stands at 3,491 meters. On this hike, you don’t actually summit the mountain, you just hike to Refugio Otto Meiling, where you can either stay the night or head back to Bariloche. The drive to Cerro Tronador takes about 2 hours and the hike takes around 7-8 hours, so we definitely recommend staying the night if you can!

You can book your transportation to and from Cerro Tronador here!

7. Taste the Famous Bariloche Chocolate

Bariloche is famous for its chocolate, and there is certainly no shortage of it here! Mamushka and Rapa Nui are two of the more popular chocolate shops in Bariloche – Rapa Nui even has an ice skating rink inside of it! Just walking down Mitre street, you’ll pass so many chocolate shops that it’ll be quite the challenge to try them all! Don’t forget to try hot chocolate wherever you go – it’s the best I’ve ever had. If you want to tour a chocolate factory, check out Havanna Chocolate!

8. Hike the Cerro Llao Llao Loop

Hiking Cerro Llao Llao can either involve doing a loop that can take upwards of 3 hours, or you can just do the main viewpoint in a quick 1.5 hour trip. It really depends on how much time you want to spend here, but we recommend carving out at least a few hours here. The views throughout the loop are absolutely stunning, this is certainly a must-do in Bariloche.

Read all about hiking at Cerro Llao Llao

9. Hang Out in the Main Square

This is where it happens in Bariloche. Gatherings, family outings, people sipping Mate, concerts, street performers and much more take place in Bariloche’s iconic square. The Swiss-Alpine-style wooden buildings that overlook the gorgeous lake and surrounding mountains make this a perfect place to relax, people-watch, and be grateful you’re in such a marvelous destination.

10. Drive the Circuito Chico

The Circuito Chico is a road that forms a loop and has amazing viewpoints, like Cerro Campanario and Patagonia Brewing. The trailhead for Cerro Llao Llao is also on this road, so it is a great place to combine a few of the best activities in Bariloche! You can rent a car here or do this as part of this tour!

11. Cerro Otto

Cerro Otto yields spectacular views of the Bariloche and the surrounding lakes and mountains. You can take the gondola, hike, or drive up to the top to enjoy the rotating cafeteria, art gallery, and various activities like rock climbing, ziplining, sledding in the winter! It is one of the most popular things to do in Bariloche, so try to get there when it opens! If you want to take the cable car up, make sure to check if it’s running on their website.

The cable car costs $17 for adults, and $9 for seniors and kids under 12. If you hike up, you will still have to pay 2/3 of the cable car price for entry to this building, so if you plan on entering the cafeteria, we recommend just taking the gondola up!

Read all about visiting Cerro Otto!

12. Francisco Moreno Museum of Patagonia

This small museum is a great way to learn about the history of Bariloche and greater Patagonia. One exhibit focuses on nature, teaching you about all the animals, which ones are endangered, and educates visitors on all of the negatives, like pollution, that Patagonia experiences. The other exhibit focuses on history, from the indigenous cultures to the colonization, to the brutal Argentine regime in the 70s and 80s. The nature exhibit is all in English, but the history exhibit doesn’t have many English descriptions.

The museum costs ~$2 and is open from 10 am – 12:30 pm and 2 – 5 pm on weekdays.

13. Hit the Slopes!

The Bariloche Ski Area, or Alto Catedral is just west of the town, on Cerro Catedral. This is the biggest ski area in Patagonia, and is reachable with public transportation. While we haven’t been because we visited Bariloche in the fall, we’ve heard great things and the views look absolutely amazing!

14. Sample Craft Beer

Bariloche is home to a wealth of craft breweries and brewpubs. I personally think Bariloche has the best beer in South America and as a white male in his late 20s who makes his entire personality revolve around drinking IPAs, I believe I’m a qualified expert on the matter!

Make sure to check out Wesley Brewery, Antares, Blest, Kunstmann, and Patagonia Brewing. If you’re here for a while, or just an alcoholic, there are Growler refillers, where you buy or bring your own growler and fill it up for discounted beer!

15. Do a Day Trip to Colonia Suiza

As if Bariloche wasn’t pretty enough, the nearby Colonia Suiza is a charming town with a European feel. There isn’t a ton to do in Colonia Suiza as it’s not very big, but walking the streets, grabbing a bite to eat, and admiring the views makes for an afternoon well spent!

If you can, try to go on a Wednesday or Sunday, when their famous Curantos take place. Curantos are famous barbecues where meat and vegetables are smoked in a pit with hot stones in the ground covered by leaves. This slow-cooking style makes them extremely delicious!

To get to Colonia Suiza from downtown Bariloche, take the #10 bus that leaves every 1.5-2 hours!

16. Learn About Nazis in Bariloche

Every new traveler who arrives in Bariloche notices how much German and Swiss influence there is in the architecture, the cuisine, and its people. This is largely due to the influx of Europeans in the 1800s, which is obviously before the Nazis existed.

However, Bariloche became a haven for Nazis, like Erich Priebke, after the second world war. There is even a conspiracy that Hitler and Eva Braun didn’t actually commit suicide and lived out their days in a chalet just north of Villa La Angostura! You can learn about the troubling past of Bariloche’s Nazis on this guided tour!

17. Get a Great View of Lago Gutiérrez

In our opinion, this was the least impressive hike in Bariloche, but still worth doing! Perhaps this should be the first hike you do in Bariloche to get your legs warmed up. This hike is short and sweet – it only takes about an hour round trip!

Read all about hiking to Lago Gutiérrez

18. Take a Boat Cruise to Victoria Island

Victoria Island is a beautiful and large island located on Nahuel Huapi lake, home to the Arrayanes forest. While you will see a few Arrayanes trees on the Cerro Llao Llao hike, Arrayanes cover 80% of the island so it’s a much more impressive sight! To get here, you take an absolutely gorgeous boat ride from Bariloche, which is worth the trip in itself!

19. Try Goulash and Spaetzle

Eating goulash and spaetzle while in Bariloche is an absolute must. This German dish is super popular here – almost every restaurant offers it – and it’s amazing. We had it at a few different restaurants, and our favorite was at La Casita Restaurant in Hosteria Suiza.

20. Shop Your Heart Out

Whether it be the various Artisanal Crafts Markets or along Mitre, the most popular street in Bariloche, Bariloche is a great place to shop for souvenirs, warm clothes, household items, and more! Mitre is where most of the chocolate shops are, so make sure to treat yourself before, during, or after shopping!

Shopping Center Bariloche — ^{Shopping Center along Mitre}

Best Time to Visit Bariloche

Bariloche is truly a year round destination, with your best time to visit dependent on what you’re looking for from your vacation!

Summer Sunshine and Outdoor Activities (December to February):

For the warmest and sunniest weather in Bariloche, visit between December and February. This is Argentina’s summer and promises long, sunny days perfect for exploring all of the great hiking that Bariloche has to offer. However, keep in mind that this is peak tourist season, so expect higher prices and bigger crowds.

Winter Activities (June to August):

If you’re itching for a ski vacation in Patagonia, look no further than Bariloche! During the winter, Bariloche’s iconic Cerro Catedral ski resort comes alive, offering world-class skiing and snowboarding opportunities. However, be aware that hiking activities and the Route of the 7 Lakes may be inaccessible during these months due to snow.

Shoulder Seasons (March-May & September-November):

For travelers who are looking for a balance between good weather and fewer crowds, the shoulder seasons may be best. We visited during April, and as a biased traveler, I think that April is the best month to visit Bariloche if you’re able to deal with a few days of rainy and uncertain weather. April falls in Bariloche’s autumn, and the fall foliage made the hikes we did just that much more impressive. If you travel at the right time, you may even be able to attend Bariloche’s Chocolate Festival, typically held around the end of March/early April.

Where to Stay in Bariloche

We recommend staying downtown to be near the main attractions and the public bus stops. However, the Llao Llao Resort is legendary, and a great place to splurge for a day or two! When we were in Bariloche, we stayed in Hosteria Suiza and loved it – it felt just like a vintage ski hotel. The restaurant there was also amazing!

Bariloche Accommodations

How to Get to Bariloche

By Plane

The most common way to get to Bariloche is flying into its international airport. Aerolineas Argentina is the most popular airline, and you can book cheap flights on Skyscanner!

From the airport, you can take bus #72 which you can catch by walking out the ground floor and down a short set of stairs. You need a SUBE card before arriving in Bariloche if you plan on taking this bus. Check the #72 bus schedule here. This only comes every 1.5-2 hours so take a taxi or book this private transfer if you don’t want to wait!

To use the buses in Bariloche, you need a SUBE card. Find places to buy and recharge your SUBE card using this map. Worst case scenario, you can pay someone on the bus to use their SUBE card, but this is not a guaranteed option. Make sure to wave down the bus so it stops, and scan your SUBE to pay. When it’s almost time to get off, press the button on the railings near the rear door to alert the driver to stop at the next stop.

By Bus

Bariloche is accessible by bus from various other cities in Argentina, like Mendoza, Buenos Aires, and El Chalten, as well many places in Chile. Book your city-to-city buses here!

Rent a Car in Bariloche

We highly recommend renting a car in Bariloche for at least one day. If you plan on doing the Seven Lakes Drive, this gives you a ton of freedom versus going with a tour. The Circuito Chico is an amazing loop with tons of lookouts of the beautiful lakes, mountains, and islands. Many travelers rent a car in Bariloche so that they can do the Circuito Chico as well as Colonia Suiza. When we return to Bariloche we’re going to rent a car just so we can drive along the coast of Lake Nahuel Huapi and find amazing accommodations to stay at!

Rent your car here or with Booking.com if you’re in the Genius loyalty program for cars less than $40/day!

Where to Eat in Bariloche

La Fonda del Tío: A Bariloche staple famous for their massive milanesa, which is similar to schnitzel. Get here 10 minutes before it opens because the lines are super long!
La Familia Weiss: For great goulash and alpine vibes
Trevisan: For cheap sandwiches, perfect for bringing on hikes!
La Casita: For some of the best goulash we’ve ever had!
Rico Vegetariano: Buffet-style, delicious vegetarian food. The also have Mate, which is a must-try when visiting this region of South America!
Manush Centro: A brewery with amazing food!
Manduca Food Truck: This is a bit outside of Bariloche and right near Cerro Campanario, but I would be remiss not to mention the lamb and adobo sandwiches here!

^{Chicken Pot Pie and Lentil Stew at Manush Centro}

Keep Exploring Bariloche…

Our Favorite Travel Resources

Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.

Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.

Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.

Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.

International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.

eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.

Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!