Whether you have a week or just a couple of days to discover the natural beauty and unique character of Argentina’s spectacular Lakes District, here are our top recommendations for the best things to do in Bariloche.
With its commanding position overlooking the waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi, and the mountains of the Andes rising as a dramatic backdrop behind, it’s little wonder San Carlos de Bariloche is one of Argentina’s most popular getaways.
A city of four seasons, Bariloche is a gateway to the outdoor adventure and alpine appeal of the foothills, forest, lake and steppe that distinguish this corner of Argentine Patagonia. There are countless opportunities for getting out into the surrounding nature, delving into the history and culture of this Bavarian-inspired town, or simply taking in the expansive views with a Malbec or craft beer in hand.
We spent six days exploring the best things to do in Bariloche and the beautiful lakes-and-mountains landscape surrounding the town, and we’ve selected ten of our favourite experiences to include on a must-do list for a Bariloche trip.
This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, which helps us to keep this website running. Your support is very much appreciated!
Planning a Trip to Bariloche Argentina
Getting to Bariloche
Bariloche is in Río Negro Province in the west of Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes.
It’s a 2.5-hour flight from Buenos Aires and a hub for flights and buses from around the country, as well as for buses to and from Chile. With a bit more effort, Bariloche can also be reached by car, train and boat. Check flight routes and prices on CheapOair.
We personally travelled to Bariloche by bus from El Chalten in Patagonia. It’s a journey of almost 24 hours but we broke up our trip with a stopover in Perito Moreno to see the World Heritage Cueva de las Manos ancient rock art site.
More information about transport to Bariloche can be found on the Bariloche Tourism Website, and if you plan to buy your bus tickets in advance, check out routes and prices on BusBud.
Click above for an interactive Google map of our top Bariloche attractions.
Best time to visit Bariloche
Being a year-round destination, the best time to visit Bariloche will really depend on your interests.
Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will most likely prefer the summer months between December and February to make the most of the warmer, drier weather. Plan ahead if you intend to visit Bariloche during this period as it’s also peak season.
The winter months between July and September see more rain in town, but also plenty of snow in the mountains. It’s another busy season though, with skiers and snowboarders flocking from all over the region.
We visited during April, which was mostly dry and a little on the cooler side. The beautiful autumnal colours more than made up for the slight chill.
Where to Stay in Bariloche
Surrounded by national parks, Bariloche is the main tourism hub for the Argentine Lake District and as such, there’s no shortage of accommodation options from hostels, to apartments and lakeside hotels. The following options get consistently decent reviews from guests:
Good value: Hostería Sur – very central | simple rooms | comfy bed | friendly staff
Mid-range:Hotel Ayres Del Nahuel – lake and mountain views | central | large comfy rooms
Indulge:Design Suites Bariloche – lakeside | 2.5km from town | fantastic views |stylish modern rooms
We stayed at Hotel Tirol, a modern, comfortable 3-star option in an excellent location near the centre of town that pretty much ticked all our boxes.
Getting Around Bariloche and the Lake District
While Bariloche’s Centro Historico and the main part of town are easily walkable, the town stretches some distance along the shore of Lake Nahuel Haupi. So getting further afield requires travel by either bus, taxi or car. The main bus terminal is located around 10 minutes’ drive out of town by taxi.
Public bus travel in Bariloche is straightforward and buses depart regularly from the main terminal and downtown, running along the main routes tracing the lake (Bustillo and Av. de los Pioneros).
You’ll need a magnetic Sube card to travel on local buses. These can be bought (and topped up) at some local newsagencies (look out for Sube signs). We’ve also read that cards can be purchased at the airport as well as some other cities in Argentina, notably Buenos Aires.
We hired a car for a couple of days during our stay, which we organised through our hotel. There are also quite a few car hire companies in town.
Ten Awesome Things To Do In Bariloche Argentina
1. Stroll The Centro Historico
Modern Bariloche got its start in the late 19th century, but a Bavarian make-over in the early 1930s – designed to attract more European tourists – gave the town its cosy alpine village feel. Much of the historic city centre retains that wood-and-stone character today.
An independent wander should start with a coffee and a pastry in one of the cafés that cluster around the historic centre and Avenida Bartolomé Mitre, the town’s main shopping street. Then make your way through the Centro Civico to Plaza Expedicionarios Del Desierto. This is Bariloche’s administrative centre and tourist hub. On its north side and facing beautiful Lake Nahuel Huapi is the historic log-and-stone Civic Centre, built in 1940.
You’ll find the tourist office in here, where you can pick up a map of Bariloche and visit the Francisco P. Moreno Museum of Patagonia, a good spot to brush up on the history and culture of the region.
Outside the Civic Centre, say hello to (or dodge) the slobbery St Bernard dogs strategically positioned around the square to tempt tourists into parting with a few pesos for an ‘alpine’ pic.
Behind the square, the Plaza Ciudades Hermanas is a pretty park filled with trees and flowers, and a pleasant spot to people watch. Another block over, on Urquiza, there’s a daily handicrafts market where you can browse for Argentinian crafts and souvenirs, like mate cups.
The historic centre is itself quite small. With many Bariloche attractions located outside of town, you’ll find a morning or afternoon is probably enough to acquaint yourself with the city’s historic and cultural heart.
Tour Bariloche’s Centro Historico on a self-guided stroll or a guided walk.
2. Feast on Bariloche Chocolate
Chocolate lovers rejoice! Bariloche is renowned as Argentina’s chocolate capital, and almost every second shop in town is a cacao fiesta.
The city’s chocolate obsession was born in the mid-20th century with the arrival of two Italian immigrant families with a skill for producing the confection. These days, dozens of chocolate dens cluster around the city centre, tempting sweet-tooths into their bright, candy-coloured spaces with tantalising aromas and irresistible free samples.
Resistance is futile in Argentina’s capital of chocolate.
For true choco-devotees, there’s even a chocolate museum, where you can trace the history of our love affair with the cacao bean from the days of the Aztecs.
Visit during Easter as we did, and you’ll get to experience what must be the next best thing for the choc-afficionado to winning a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory: the annual Bariloche Chocolate Festival.
This is when the town really comes into its chocolatey-own, with shops ramping up their delectable displays, decorative easter eggs popping up around the old town, and a festival program of egg hunts, activities, fireworks and the pinnacle event: the creation (and devouring) of the world’s largest chocolate bar along Mitre Street.
We joined the throngs on the evening of Easter Saturday to watch the action unfold as the giant chocolate bar was poured, smeared and shaped by the town’s skilled chocolatiers along a table stretching two city blocks.
Watch the live creation of the world’s largest chocolate bar during the Bariloche Chocolate Festival.
We figured it was going to take some time for all that fondue to be spatalua’d and harden, so we hit a nearby pub to wait it out.
When we returned a little later though, there was no sign the record-breaking confectionary had ever existed. All that remained was an empty street littered with gold and silver foil wrappings. Its creation may take time, but the demolition of the world’s biggest chocolate bar is apparently swift and brutal.
Just as well then that, while chocolate is nice and all, it’s not our favourite thing. If you do want a (literal) piece of the action though, stick around!
3. Take The Cable Car Up Cerro Otto
Baroliche gets its name from an Indigenous Mapuche word, Vuriloche, which means ‘people from behind the mountain’. It’s the perfect title for a city tucked into the foothills of the Andes, and if you do just one thing while you’re in town, make a point to get up to the heights of the city’s soaring backdrop.
Perhaps the easiest way to do this is to take the cable car to the peak of Cerro Otto, which rises 1,405-metres (4,610 feet) above sea level to the south-west of Bariloche.
Free, dedicated shuttles depart from downtown Bariloche to the cable car departure point throughout the day. We bought our cable car tickets and boarded the free bus from the little log cabin on the corner of Independencia and San Martin streets. However, if you want to book your tickets in advance you can do so through GetYourGuide. Then it’s a 12-minute cable car ride up the mountain to the visitor hub at the top of Cerro Otto.
It’s up to you how busy or chill you want to be once you’re up there. Depending on the season, Cerro Otto offers a wide range of outdoor activities, from guided mountain treks and the Otto Kart gliding track in warmer months, to sledding and snowshoeing in winter. There’s also the Otto Circuit, a trail of activities through the forest, including a labyrinth and a suspension bridge.
Or you can keep it simple like we did: head up to Cerro Otto mid-afternoon, wander the panoramic deck and snap some pics, then find a table by the window in the rotating restaurant, and enjoy the 360-degree views as the sun dips with a cerveza or two.
4. Stretch Your Legs On A Hike Up Cerro Campanario
In the warmer months, Bariloche is a hiker’s dream destination. There are dozens of trails to stretch your legs on, from easy woodland strolls to full-day treks in the mountains that backdrop the town.
If you’re on limited time though, and you’re wanting to work off all the chocolate and craft beer you’ve been sampling, then we recommend the short but heart-pumping hike up Cerro Campanario, a half-hour bus ride from the centre of town.
It’s a 40-minute climb up the steep forest trail to the top, but the journey is accompanied by occasional signage describing the nature along the way, a perfectly valid excuse to pause and let your pulse slow down.
The panoramas that await at the 1,050-metre (3,445 feet) peak of Campanario have been named among the best in the world by National Geographic, so don’t expect to get your breath back when you do finally emerge from the trees.
These were some of the most spectacular views we came across on our travels through Patagonia, and – along with the hike – the reason we think this is one of the very best things to do in Bariloche.
The views from Cerro Campanario make this trip one of the best things to do in Bariloche.
You don’t need to hike back down either. Once you’ve wandered the paths around the peak, spotted some circling chimango caracara falcons, taken in your fill of the 360-degree vistas and enjoyed a hot drink in the café at the top, you can jump on the chairlift and appreciate the sweeping scene on the way down with your feet up.
5. Release Your Inner Gaucho On A Bariloche Horse Riding Tour
Bariloche and some 700,000 hectares of the surrounding land are protected as part of Nahuel Huapi National Park, a vast landscape of valleys and mountains, beech forest and steppe.
Private ranches, called estancias, can be found throughout the park, and many offer horse riding expeditions into the serenely beautiful Patagonian countryside.
Bariloche horse riding trips can last from a couple of hours to more than a week, and offer a unique glimpse into the lives of Argentina’s legendary gauchos. The old tales of these wild, nomadic cowboys live on in folklore and tradition, but today, ‘gaucho’ generally refers to the skilled and resilient country folk whose livelihoods are farms, livestock and horses.
We joined one of the region’s modern-day gauchas, Carol Jones, for a guided full-day horse ride through her estancia. It’s just 23km (14 miles) north-east of Bariloche but a world away from the lakeside town.
Carol is the granddaughter of a pioneering Texan who bought the family ranch back in the late 1800s. She grew up on the land and was the first to start guided horse rides in the region.
On arrival at the estancia, we watched as our placid criollo horses, a tough native breed, were saddled up. Then we made our way with Carol out into the flaxen-coloured grasslands and rolling hills of her scenic ranch. It was a slow and tranquil journey with panoramas in every direction and the peaks of the Andes rising in the distance.
On our return, a traditional Argentinian asado (barbecue) was underway and we wrapped up our day in the afternoon sun, eating tasty roasted meats and sipping on Malbec.
Experience the great outdoors on a Bariloche horse riding excursion through the countryside.
6. Road Trip The Scenic Seven Lakes Route
You’ve explored Bariloche from street level, you’ve risen above it on the local peaks, and you’ve ridden through steppe and forest on horseback. Now it’s time to set your sights further afield on a road trip.
The Route of the Seven Lakes is said to be one of Patagonia’s most beautiful stretches of road, and it is possible to drive the route on a long day trip from Bariloche.
With more time, you can extend the road trip out over two to three days and take your time exploring this epic expanse of mountain, lake and forest scenery along the famous Ruta 40.
Passing through the national parks of Nahuel Huapi and Lanín, there are campsites all along the route, while the alpine villages of Villa La Angostura and San Martín de los Andes offer a range of eating and accommodation options.
If a day or two is all you have though, we’ve put together a one-day itinerary for the Seven Lakes Route (with tips on making it an overnighter), an unforgettable Patagonian road trip.
Road-tripping the Seven Lakes Route is one of the best things to in Bariloche.
7. Get Physical and Explore the Best Bariloche Hikes
There are enough hikes in Bariloche and the surrounding Lake District to keep even the most avid of ramblers busy indefinitely. We’re talking some of the best mountain scenery in the country, with iconic Patagonian views over glacier lakes and snowcapped mountains.
These range from relatively short, lung-busting hikes like the one to Cerro Campanario (see entry No. 4), to multi-day adventures into the Andes, walking between refugios.
Three of the most popular Bariloche hikes are listed below, but there are plenty more to choose from to suit all interests and fitness levels.
Cerro Llao Llao | Distance: appx. 6km (4 miles) return | Time: appx. 2-3 hours return Only a short distance from Bariloche, Cerro Llao Llao is ideal for those that want a slightly easier half-day hike, while still enjoying panoramic mountain views over lakes Moreno and Nahuel Huapi. This is a relatively easy forested trail with a steeper climb at the end to the viewpoint. While you can’t see the famous Hotel Llao Llao from the summit, you can visit both the hotel and Villa Tacul beach as part of the same trip if you have a little more time to spare.
Refugio Frey | Distance: appx. 19km (12 miles) return | Time: appx. 6-8 hours return This is one of the most popular hikes in Bariloche for incredible views across Lake Gutierrez and the nearby mountains. It’s steep and uneven in places, especially the final kilometre of the ascent. There’s also the option of spending the night in the mountaintop refugio (if you book ahead), allowing time for a swim in Lake Toncek, before enjoying a spectacular sunset on top of the mountain.
Refugio Otto Meiling | Distance: appx. 28km (17 miles) return | Time: appx. 9-11 hours return This incredibly popular, but slightly longer and more challenging hike, rewards you with panoramic mountain views and a unique overnight stay between the Castaña Overa and Alerce glaciers. It’s relatively easy for around the first 8km (5 miles), before giving way to a steep and rocky ascent to the refugio. Again, it’s more realistic as an overnight hike, but we have read reports of people doing it as a day trip with a very early start. The hike starts around 2 hours’ drive from Bariloche at Pampa Linda.
Tips for Hiking in Bariloche
The summer months between December and February are the best time to go hiking in Bariloche.
Even though it might be cool in the mountains, remember to always take plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat and some food or snacks to keep you going.
As the refugios get quite busy, it’s best to plan ahead if you want to sleep in the dorm beds or camp on site.
There’s a mandatory requirement to register for trekking in Nahuel Huapi National Park at least 48 hours in advance. See the National Park Office website for more information.
More detailed information on hiking in Bariloche, including interactive maps and detailed trail reports, can be found on the Alltrails and Bariloche Trekking websites. If you’d prefer a guided hike check out some of the great options available on Viator.
8. Eat Steak, Drink Malbec
Argentina is renowned for its wine and its beef. If you’ve travelled to Bariloche via Buenos Aires and you enjoy vino and carne, there’s a good chance you’ve already sampled both.
Even if you have, it’s worth seeking out one of Bariloche’s parilla houses for a meat feast, and sampling some fine Argentinian wine at one of the town’s cool wine bars.
For our part, we kicked off our Bariloche stay with an evening at Alto El Fuego Parilla, a charming rustic-chic house near the centre of town.
Some meals stay with you long after the trip is over, and for us, this is one of them: a bubbling provoleta cheese in a cast iron pan, followed by rich, juicy cuts of Bife de Chorizo with a simple salad and creamy mash, topped off with a smooth bottle of Manos Negras Malbec from Mendoza. We found our food nirvana that night, and we’re still talking about it.
There are plenty of choices in town to indulge your carne and malbec desires. Just as well we got to balance it all out with plenty of outdoor activity too!
If you’re a carne-fan, don’t leave Bariloche without enjoying a parilla feast.
9. Ride or Drive Circuito Chico
If you’re fit enough, and don’t mind the occasional hill (well lots actually), then consider hiring a bike and riding beautiful Circuito Chico (short circuit). This is the perfect way to experience this popular and iconic Bariloche excursion.
The circuit takes in some of the best alpine scenery in Patagonia, with plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the staggering mountain and lake views, or take a dip at one of the many beaches along the way.
For the more active, there are plenty of short and longer hikes along the circuit. Or if you want a more leisurely journey, there are a couple of breweries along the way.
Circuito Chico can be visited on a 60km (37 mile) round trip from Bariloche, or 25km (15 mile) circuit from kilometre 18, where it’s also possible to hire bikes.
10. Get a Taste of the Bariloche Brewery and Craft Beer Scene
As well as being an epicentre for chocolate, Bavarian-influenced Bariloche is also a hub for craft beer. There are small breweries located all over town, as well as on the outskirts, in some spectacular settings.
If you’re in Bariloche for a couple of days, you can easily put together a beer trail and sample a range of the local ‘cerveza artesenal’ around town. Most run happy hours too, a good time to rock up and try several different Bariloche beers.
We tested the wares at a handful of brewhouses, including Bachmann, a corner bar with a good suite of beers on tap, including a decent IPA, some tasty dark ales and an easy-drinking Honey beer. It was quiet when we arrived mid-afternoon, but bustling when we hauled ourselves out a couple of hours later.
We also tried Manush, a gastropub that sprawls over two floors of a charming house in the centre of town. Manush is a great spot to grab dinner alongside your beer sampler…if you manage to get in. We had to queue here for a good while before finally nabbing a table upstairs, perusing their extensive craft beer menu, and settling on their distinctive Cacao IPA and a couple of burgers.
Looking for a snack in Bariloche? Don’t miss the moreish pockets of empanada goodness baked fresh to order at the tiny corner takeaway, La 10 Empanadas, on Avenida 20 de Febrero.
Watching our spicy beef and chicken empanadas arrive fresh from the oven on a conveyor belt (and then eating them piping hot) was the best possible finale to a night of Bariloche beer tasting. Yum!
We knew what to expect of our next stop, Antares, having previously sipped on a flight of their brews at the Antares outfit in Palermo, Buenos Aires. Antares has the slick feel of the larger venture that it is, but the beers are good and so is the vibe. Try their seasonal offering.
This lovely Bariloche brewery is located on the road west out of town, and while its taphouses can also be found at another location in Bariloche, as well as in Buenos Aires and Rosario, we can attest to the fact that a glass of their IPA (or any one of the huge selection of beers they brew) in the beer garden at KM/12 makes for a very pleasant follow-up to a hike up Cerro Campanario.
One of our favourite Bariloche excursions: an afternoon in the beer garden at Berlina KM/12.
Got more time and looking for some Bariloche adventure?
Bariloche is Argentina’s adventure capital so if thrill-seeking and adrenaline are your thing, and if you have a little more time up your sleeve, there’s plenty here to get your heart racing.
During the winter months, Bariloche is a haven for skiers and snowboarders. But there’s also kayaking, white water rafting, fishing, climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, and a host of other adventurous outdoor pursuits available to the more energetic traveller!
Is there anything you would add to this list of the best things to do in Bariloche Argentina? Share with us in the comments below!
2 thoughts on “10 Awesome Things To Do In Bariloche Argentina”
I am in Bariloche and have been searching and searching for great hikes and drives and best places to eat. Thank you so much for your well written information. I am going to look into the other information you mentioned at the end regarding other places in Patagonia to visit. Thank you!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
I am in Bariloche and have been searching and searching for great hikes and drives and best places to eat. Thank you so much for your well written information. I am going to look into the other information you mentioned at the end regarding other places in Patagonia to visit. Thank you!
Hi there Gretchen, really glad you found this post useful.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Patagonia.