San Carlos de Bariloche
Discover San Carlos de Bariloche
Bariloche is in the Río Negro Province, near the Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentina. One of the most visited cities in Argentinian Patagonia, it is famous for skiing and is great for sightseeing, water sports, trekking and climbing. Despite being an undeniable tourist magnet, Bariloche is set amidst incredible landscapes which should not be missed by nature-loving travelers. Another claim to fame is its Swiss-like atmosphere and its chocolate boutiques and breweries, and look for the St Bernard dogs on display for tourists. San Carlos de Bariloche is a city in the province of Río Negro, Argentina, situated on the foothills of the Andes, surrounded by lakes (Nahuel Huapi, Gutiérrez Lake, Moreno Lake and Mascardi Lake) and mountains (Tronador, Cerro Catedral, Cerro López).
What to Experience in San Carlos de Bariloche
Taste of San Carlos de Bariloche...
Bariloche offers an excellent array of restaurants, with cuisines from all around the world, serving quality food. Teens from all over Argentina arrive on a school trip to Bariloche to celebrate their last year of high school with their classmates. That is why Bariloche features a lot of sophisticated dance clubs. Prices vary with the season, being the highest during ski season (July-August) and very high during summer (December-February). The accommodation is varied, from renting bungalows and cottages to five-star hotels with the best views. Bariloches budget accommodation quickly gets fully booked, so make your reservations in advance, particularly during high season. Because of the high tourist presence, petty crime is a reality but there tend to be a large number of police in force and the smaller and relatively affluent nature of the city makes crime less likely than in Buenos Aires. Still, exercise caution and keep valuables within sight. Never hike alone on the trails which touch the city, particularly up to Piedras Blancas. There have been many reported robberies of tourists on these paths. If you decide to change money with the street changers, be very careful of fake notes, check every bill and count them properly.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere is a local bus #72 that serves the airport and passes through the central bus station and continues to El Centro. The ride from the airport costs AR$5800 (Dec 2025) Minibus service is also available and will drop you at your hotel. The once-weekly El Tren Patagónico slowly winds along the vast open plains on a 19-hour journey from Viedma on the Atlantic coast stopping by in San Antonio Oeste and several remote outposts along the route. The train offers Pullman seats and sleepers and it's also possible to bring along vehicles. Departures are Fridays at 18:00 from Viedma, arriving just after 12:00 the next day. To go by car to Bariloche from Buenos Aires takes about 22 hours. One of the best alternatives is to go to Neuquen on the first day (a distance of about 1200 km) and then to continue the second day driving about 450 km....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Excellent public bus service, served by just one company (since 2017): My Bus. The only exception is if you want to visit Dinahuapi, then you should catch a bus of "Las grutas". The bus uses the same "Sube" system used in Buenos Aires so your can pay with any contactless debit or credit card or with an official "Sube" card if you already have one. The bus ride from the airport on line 72 costs AR$5800 (Dec 2025) while other local routes cost AR$1895 (Dec 2025). Confusingly, there is also another IC card in use in Bariloche, e.g. to go by bus to Dina Huapi northeast of Bariloche. This one is called Solución. However, you might find someone helpful on these buses to share his card with you if you give the related money in exchange. If you're interested in going to the lakes and islands: There are many trekking trails close to Bariloche. You can get more information on Trek Bariloche which provides a comprehensive guide to the trekking routes in the National Park.
Where to Stay
Prices vary with the season, being the highest during ski season (July-August) and very high during summer (December-February). The accommodation is varied, from renting bungalows and cottages to five-star hotels with the best views. Bariloches budget accommodation quickly gets fully booked, so make your reservations in advance, particularly during high season. Because of the high tourist presence, petty crime is a reality but there tend to be a large number of police in force and the smaller and relatively affluent nature of the city makes crime less likely than in Buenos Aires. Still, exercise caution and keep valuables within sight. Never hike alone on the trails which touch the city, particularly up to Piedras Blancas. There have been many reported robberies of tourists on these paths. If you decide to change money with the street changers, be very careful of fake notes, check every bill and count them properly.
Money & Budget
Bariloche offers an excellent array of restaurants, with cuisines from all around the world, serving quality food. Teens from all over Argentina arrive on a school trip to Bariloche to celebrate their last year of high school with their classmates. That is why Bariloche features a lot of sophisticated dance clubs. Prices vary with the season, being the highest during ski season (July-August) and very high during summer (December-February). The accommodation is varied, from renting bungalows and cottages to five-star hotels with the best views. Bariloches budget accommodation quickly gets fully booked, so make your reservations in advance, particularly during high season.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Because of the high tourist presence, petty crime is a reality but there tend to be a large number of police in force and the smaller and relatively affluent nature of the city makes crime less likely than in Buenos Aires. Still, exercise caution and keep valuables within sight. Never hike alone on the trails which touch the city, particularly up to Piedras Blancas. There have been many reported robberies of tourists on these paths. If you decide to change money with the street changers, be very careful of fake notes, check every bill and count them properly.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of San Carlos de Bariloche
green trees near body of water under blue sky during daytime
an aerial view of a city next to a body of water
Discover the Victoria Island in the Nahuel Huapi lake in Argentina !
a view of a city with a lake in the background
a rocky beach with trees and water
a body of water with mountains in the background
a very tall mountain covered in snow and clouds
a view of a mountain range with trees in the foreground
a mountain covered in clouds
blue sea near mountain under blue sky during daytime
green trees near body of water under blue sky during daytime
an aerial view of a city next to a body of water
Discover the Victoria Island in the Nahuel Huapi lake in Argentina !