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.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
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). San Carlos de Bariloche weather is transitional between the wet climate of the Andes to the west and the dry climate of Patagonia to the east. Areas to the west such as the city centre receive more precipitation than areas to the east such as the airport. Summers are characterized by long stretches sunny, dry, and windy weather with pleasant afternoons and cold nights, occasionally dropping below freezing.
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.
2 Museo de la Patagonia (Museum of Patagonia), Centro Cívico s/n (At main plaza, near the Tourist Info center), ☏ +54 294 442-2309, museodelapatagonia@apn.gov.ar. Tu-F 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-17:00. "Stuffed" native wildlife, pictures, and a great section covering the indigenous pre-Hispanic inhabitants of the region. Entrance on voluntary donation. 3 Huemul Project Site (on Huemul Island, just outside San Carlos de Bariloche). In the early 1950s, an Austrian scientist named Ronald Richter attempted to build the world's first fusion power plant on an island in a lake in the Andes, the undertaking being known as the Huemul Project.
1 Catedral Alta Patagonia (Skiing). It has the biggest ski centre in South America, with a skiable area of 2 km² (0.77 sq mi), over 100 km (62 miles) of ski runs, and a lift capacity of 22,200 skiers per hour. It is located 19 km (12 miles) from Bariloche. If you enjoy hiking, there is trail to the Frey refugio which takes about 6½ hours (4 up, 2½ down). Look for the trailhead in the far corner of the parking lot. 2 Isla Victoria. (updated Aug 2017) If you're interested in going to the lakes and islands: Turisur, Mitre 219.
Bariloche offers an excellent array of restaurants, with cuisines from all around the world, serving quality food. 1 El Boliche de Alberto, Ada María Elflein 158. Has, according to some, the best meat in Argentina. There are two restaurants in town, and one located about 8 km out of town. Ask a taxi driver to take you there. Be aware that if you arrive after 20:00, you may have to wait in line for 30 min or more, especially if you are a party of 6 or more. El boliche de Alberto has a meat version of the restaurant which specialises in meats such as beef, chicken or pork etc. and there is a pasta version which serves a variety of different pastas.
South Bar, Juramento. Popular local bar. Asia Bar, Mitre 774. Salsa evening every Friday, 01:00-05:00. (updated Jun 2018) 1 Antares Brewery, Ada M. Elflein 47, ☏ +54 294 451 3128. Daily 18:00 - 02:00. Nice variety of food and great beer. The barley wine is especially potent. Two-for-one pints during happy hour, every day 18:00-20:00. (updated Oct 2025) 2 Manush, Dr. Juan Javier Neumeyer 20, ☏ +54 29 4470 1405. M-Tu 17:00 - 02:30, W-Su 12:30 - 02:30. Brewpub serving large, reasonably priced meals. Casual place with a menu that's heavy on the beef with burgers, steaks, and homemade empanadas stuffed with diced meat. (updated Oct 2025) 3 Kunstmann, Av.
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.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, San Carlos de Bariloche typically sees ~7°C daytime highs and 11 rainy days.
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