Hi there! Planning a trip to the beautiful city of Bariloche in Patagonia, Argentina? Welcome to your epic Bariloche travel guide and itinerary!
San Carlos de Bariloche is a beautiful town located on Nahuel Huapi Lake and surrounded by the Andes Mountains. The town has a quaint, old-world feel as it and is primarily made up of buildings built in the Swiss Alpine-Style.
There is so much to do in Bariloche year round, and it is a great addition to any Patagonia adventure. Bariloche makes a great weekend destination, and 2-3 days in this city is a great amount of time to explore and see many of the major attractions.
Let’s get right into the Bariloche travel guide and itinerary!
Bariloche Travel Guide
Sleep – Hotel Recommendations in Bariloche
There is no shortage of hotels in Bariloche, and travelers will find accommodations at a variety of price points. Bariloche is very popular with young travelers (high school and college), so many properties cater to budget-friendly guests.
Hotel Tres Reyes ($$):
I stayed at Hotel Tres Reyes, a cute hotel with amazing views of Nahuel Huapi Lake. The location of the hotel is amazing, as it is a two minute walk to the Main Street, Calle Mitre.
Hotel Tres Reyes has a beautiful lobby and hotel bar, and they also offer breakfast each morning. Additionally, there is parking for your rental car and fast wifi! This is definitely a great place to stay in Bariloche!
Bariloche Hotel and Hostel Recommendations:
- Selina Bariloche ($ hostel)
- Vintage Bariloche Hostel Boutique ($)
- Hotel Panamericano Bariloche ($$$)
- Alma Del Lago Suites & Spa ($$$)
Eat – Delicious Restaurants in Bariloche
- Cafe Delirante – a great place to grab a coffee + pastry
- Chiado – a beautiful teahouse on Lake Nahuel Huapi. Great for breakfast, lunch, tea + coffee
- Punto Empanada – a great choice for take-out empanadas
- Jauja – one of the oldest restaurants in Bariloche, and a great place for meat + fish
- Familia Weiss – a traditional Swiss style restaurant
- Mamuschka – a must visit for chocolate + ice cream
Activities – Things to do in Bariloche
Explore the Artisan Markets
One of my favorite parts of Bariloche is the artisan markets. Some of these markets are open year round and others pop-up during the holiday season.
You can spend an entire day in Bariloche wandering from market to market and shopping for beautiful crafts. I was able to find gifts ranging from belts, to paintings, to pottery to handmade soap!
Take the Gondola up Cerro Otto
Cerro Otto is a mountain located about 9 miles from downtown Bariloche. To get to the top, you can either drive your car (super windy roads), hike, or take the gondola.
I highly recommend taking the gondola. The views are absolutely amazing!
A round trip ticket on the gondola is around $15 for adults. This fee also includes admission to the art gallery at the top of the mountain, as well as access to the upper mountain outdoor viewing areas.
In the winter, in addition to the amazing views, you can also enjoy cross country skiing at the top of the mountain.
Eat Lunch at the Cerro Otto Revolving Restaurant
At that top of Cerro Otto you can enjoy lunch or a snack at the revolving restaurant! While you dine, the restaurant slowly revolves so that you can enjoy the views from every angle.
In 20 minutes, the restaurant moves a full 360 degrees. While eating, it is likely that you’ll see tons of paragliders – if the weather is nice!
Go Paragliding
This is super adventurous, I know, but it also seems so fun! I was too nervous to go paragliding, but other travelers in our group went and had a great time!
I was able to watch the paragliders from the top off Cerro Otto, and it definitely looked like an amazing experience.
Go to one of the Many Beaches
There are tons of lakes around Bariloche, and many have beaches! Lake Nahuel Huapi itself has numerous beaches, one of which, Playa del Centro, is right downtown and walkable from most hotels!
If you’re looking to get a little outside of Bariloche, click here to find out more about the other beaches on Lake Nahuel Huapi, and others in the area.
Visit Colonia Suiza
Colonia Suiza was the first European settlement in this area of Argentina! Currently, in addition to its historical charm, the town is known for its hippie vibes – making for an interesting mix.
Located just 15 miles from downtown Bariloche, it’s an easy drive and definitely a fun place to spend the afternoon.
I recommend visiting Colonia Suiza on a Wednesday or a Saturday, as these are the only days that the large artisan market is operating. Although you can still visit the town on other days, the artisan market is definitely the main attraction, and you don’t want to miss it.
In addition to the market, there are also stalls that sell food, snacks and sweets!
Check out the Arrayanes Trail
About 40 minutes driving from the center of Bariloche you will find the Arrayanes Trail, part of Parque Municipal Llao Llao.
Arrayanes are a species of tree with a twisted trunk that grow in the Andes between Argentina and Chile. Once arrived at the Information Center Llao Llao on the Circuito Chico road, you’ll walk about fifteen minutes before coming across a small forest filled with beautiful arrayanes.
This walk is lovely, and it’s a great way to see the arraynes without taking a day trip to Victoria Island, to the Arrayanes Forest.
However, if you would like to experience seeing more arrayanes, and see the place that inspired the film Bambi, then definitely check out the day long excursion to Victoria Island.
Take Guided Tours
When I travel I really enjoy going on unique, guided tours so that I can learn more about a city and its culture! I also find guided tours to be a great way to get out of the city center and to see some of the nearby areas.
Tour Recommendations in Bariloche:
- Horseback Riding Tour with Traditional Argentine Asado
- Andean Lakes Crossing from Argentina to Chile by Bus and Boat (great for travelers who want to visit Chile!)
- Sailing on Nahuel Huapi Lake
- Mate Lesson in Patagonia
- Kayak in Moreno Lake
I hope you found my Bariloche travel guide and itinerary to be helpful for your trip planning! Bariloche is such a fun place to visit, especially after exploring the town of San Martin.
If you have any questions, or recommendations to add to this post, let me know in the comments!
Be sure to also check out my top tips for visiting Argentina, with all of the information you need for your trip!
Lastly, remember to share this Bariloche travel guide with someone you know who would love to visit Patagonia!
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♡Kate
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Thank you very much Kate for this article, it really describes Bariloche as it is. We wait for you again here!
Familia Weiss looks like such a cute restaurant! I’d love to go to the artisan markets too! :]
Wow what a wonderful post on Bariloche, Argentina.
The artisan’s shop with the cute cafes are worth a visit!
Do you think renting a car is necessary for a weekend / 48 hr trip? Trying to figure out if it’s worth the cost!
Hi! Thanks for your message. I definitely don’t think a car is necessary, but not having one will limit your ability to see sights outside of the main town. For example, Colonia Suiza and the Arrayanes Trail in Llao Llao park would require a rental car, as well as some of the more secluded beaches. That being said, there is certainly enough to see in the center of Bariloche to have a great 48 hours. There is a beach in town, tons of stores and artisan markets and you can also book tours, like horseback riding, that offer hotel pick up and will get you outside of the main town. Hope this is helpful and please let me know if you have any other questions!