Things to Do in Bariloche: Top 10 Attractions & Day Trips

Our Top 3 Hotel Tips for Bariloche

Our Top 10 Things to Do in Bariloche

Bariloche is one of the most popular destinations in the Argentine part of Patagonia, and both the city and the surrounding lakes and mountains are breathtakingly beautiful.

By the way, the city’s official name is San Carlos de Bariloche, but everyone just calls it Bariloche.

If you’re doing a longer road trip through Patagonia, you absolutely can’t miss Bariloche. Here are the best attractions and highlights the city has to offer.

Route of the Seven Lakes

The Ruta de los Siete Lagos is one of the most famous driving routes in Patagonia and a top attraction in Argentina. The route runs from Villa la Angostura to San Martín de los Andes and passes seven breathtakingly beautiful mountain lakes:

• Lago Lácar
• Lago Machonico
• Lago Falkner
• Lago Villarino
• Lago Escondido
• Lago Correntoso
• Lago Espejo

The total distance one-way is 110 kilometers. Bariloche is about 80 kilometers from the start of the road — so most people kick off their road trip right from Bariloche.

No car? You can explore the Ruta de los Siete Lagos on a guided day trip instead.

Book the Siete Lagos day tour from Bariloche

For cycling enthusiasts, riding the route by bike is a seriously great option. You can camp at all the lakes, and there are bike rental shops all over Villa La Angostura and Bariloche.

Centro Cívico

The Centro Cívico is the heart of Bariloche, and its architecture is truly unique in South America — the buildings are strongly reminiscent of Alpine houses in Europe.

The main square is the standout and the central meeting point of the city. You’ll find the Museo de la Patagonia and the tourist office right here.

The Centro Cívico takes on a really special atmosphere at sunset. The sky lights up with color and street performers add to the great vibe — don’t miss it.

Cerro Otto

Cerro Otto is Bariloche’s local mountain. It’s about 6 kilometers from the city center, and from the top you get a fantastic panoramic view of Lake Nahuel Huapi. There’s also a great restaurant up there: the Confitería Giratoria Cerro Otto.

The easiest way up is by teleférico (gondola). You can also drive up from Bariloche by car, or if you’d rather earn the view, there’s a hiking trail about 2.5 kilometers long starting from the gondola base station, with an elevation gain of around 550 meters.

A round-trip gondola ticket costs 35,000 ARS (20 euros) — buy it on-site.

Circuito Chico

The Circuito Chico is a driving or cycling route located 20 kilometers from Bariloche. The loop is about 25 kilometers long and winds around several small and large lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass loads of great viewpoints as well as the well-known Cervecería Patagonia brewery — more on that shortly.

No rental car and not feeling like cycling? A guided half-day tour is the perfect solution.

Book the Circuito Chico half-day tour

Refugio Frey Hike

The popular Refugio Frey hike starts from the village of Villa Catedral, about 50 kilometers from Bariloche.

You can tailor this hike to your preference — do it as a day trip or a multi-day trek. For the day route, you’ll cover about 10 kilometers and 800 meters of elevation gain from Villa Catedral to Refugio Frey.

For the return trip, you have two options: 1. Hike back the same way, or 2. continue a bit further uphill past Laguna Schmoll and descend on the other side of the mountain.

For option 2, you should have alpine experience and no fear of heights. The trail is significantly more challenging than the standard return route.

On the multi-day version, you walk from Refugio Frey to Refugio San Martín, then on to Refugio Manfredo Segre and finally Refugio López. The endpoint is the village of Colonia Suiza. The full trek takes four to five days.

You can find more details about the routes at barilochetrekking.com.

Cerro Catedral

The Refugio Frey hike largely takes place in the Cerro Catedral area, which in winter is one of Argentina’s most popular ski resorts.

In summer, it’s absolutely worth taking the lift up and soaking in the stunning views from the top — even if hiking isn’t really your thing.

In winter, it’s all about the slopes. Since you probably won’t be hauling ski gear on your vacation in Argentina, you can easily rent equipment on-site.

Rent ski equipment and a ski pass for Cerro Catedral

Cerro Campanario

Cerro Campanario is another beautiful mountain and vantage point near Bariloche. Just like Cerro Otto, there’s a cable car to the top — or you can hike up if you prefer.

A round-trip on the lift costs 20,000 ARS (12 euros); tickets are available on-site.

Book the Cerro Campanario and Circuito Chico combo tour

Colonia Suiza

Colonia Suiza (Swiss Colony) is a small village on the Circuito Chico, known especially for its food scene and artesanía.

Surrounded by tall mountains, you’ll find many small, charming houses, nearly all of which are restaurants or souvenir shops. The Swiss influence is unmistakable — a restaurant called Zürich and the Swiss flag flying proudly are just two examples.

Eating Chocolate

Chocolate as a highlight? Okay, it might sound a bit unusual — but Bariloche is genuinely famous for its chocolate, so we had to include it. After all, who’s going to say no to great chocolate?

You’ll find chocolate shops on every corner in Bariloche. Our top pick is the Rapa Nui chocolate shop. Buy some as a souvenir, sit down for a coffee, or treat yourself to a delicious ice cream.

Cervecería Patagonia

Besides chocolate, Bariloche is also known throughout Argentina for its excellent beer. Patagonia is one of the country’s most popular brews — the brewery sits right on the Circuito Chico, and it’s definitely worth stopping in for a cold one.

If you’ve been missing great beer on your South America trip, Cervecería Patagonia is your answer.

Beautiful Towns Near Bariloche

Once you’ve worked through the main things to do in Bariloche, it’s well worth venturing out to a few of the neighboring towns. Here are our top picks.

El Bolsón and the Cajón Del Azul

The hippie village of El Bolsón is approximately 130 kilometers from Bariloche. Buses run hourly from Bariloche’s bus terminal to El Bolsón — the trip costs 10,000 ARS (6 euros) and takes just over two hours.

The absolute must-see in El Bolsón is the Cajón Del Azul: a gorgeous gorge between tall mountains, through which a river with brilliantly green water flows.

The hike starts in Wharton, which you can reach from the center of El Bolsón in a 20-minute drive or by bus. Pay the bus fare in cash directly to the driver.

From Wharton, it’s about 7 kilometers to the Cajón Del Azul. The hike is generally easy, though there are some ascents that can be quite strenuous depending on your fitness level.

Villa La Angostura

Villa la Angostura is about 80 kilometers north of Bariloche. The town is smaller, more refined, and more laid-back than Bariloche — a really nice contrast.

The town sits on two lakes connected by a small river, with a bridge crossing it where you’ll find lovely viewpoints. If you want to get up high, you can hike from Villa la Angostura up to Cerro Bayo, which doubles as a ski resort in winter.

San Martín de los Andes

San Martín is the endpoint of the Ruta de los Siete Lagos and our absolute favorite place in Patagonia, Argentina. Honestly, we can’t recommend it highly enough.

This small town sits on the beautiful mountain lake Lago Lácar. There are fewer tourists here, and the panorama of the lake and mountains is simply indescribable.

There are plenty of short and longer hikes as well as fantastic viewpoints around San Martín, so you’re guaranteed never to be bored. Our personal favorite, though, was the beach Playa Bonita, five kilometers from San Martín — we could have spent the whole day just lounging there.

General Tips for Bariloche

Here are a few important pointers to make sure you’re perfectly prepared for your trip to Bariloche.

Also check out our travel tips for Argentina

How much time should you plan for Bariloche?

We recommend planning one week in total for Bariloche and the surrounding area. That gives you enough time to see all the major highlights, go on a few hikes, and explore the surroundings — like El Bolsón, for example.

Short on time and just want to hit the absolute must-sees? Three to four days will do.

Getting There

From Buenos Aires, you can reach Bariloche by bus, plane, or car.

The bus ride takes almost 24 hours, so we don’t recommend it. By car, it’s a good 16 hours — with a few breaks along the way, it’s very doable.

Flying is the most comfortable option. Flights are available from as little as 50 euros and take about two hours. You can find the best flight connections on Skyscanner.

Search for flights on Skyscanner

From Bariloche airport to the city center is about 25 minutes by car. Your best bet is to take a taxi or book a transfer in advance:

Book an airport transfer in Bariloche

Getting Around

The city center of Bariloche is quite compact and easy to explore on foot. For the sights in the surrounding area, a rental car is a great option.

Compare rental car deals on Discovercars

Many destinations can also be reached by bus. Unfortunately, the buses run very irregularly, and information on departure times and routes is fairly sparse. Your best bet is to ask at your accommodation about schedules — that’s where you’ll get the most reliable advice.

Note that you can’t pay cash on the buses; you’ll need the SUBE card, which is available at kiosks or at Bariloche airport.

You may already have one from Buenos Aires — it’s valid there too. Just top up your SUBE card with cash at a kiosk before you go.

The Best Time to Visit Bariloche

The best time to visit Bariloche is from November to April — the summer months in Patagonia. Skiing is possible from June to September.

Peak season is January and February, when it’s warmest but also most crowded. The shoulder months are quieter, though a bit cooler.

Keep in mind that Bariloche sits at around 800 meters above sea level, which means it rarely gets truly hot even in summer — temperatures usually stay below 30°C (86°F).

You can find more about the climate in our travel season articles:

Is Bariloche expensive?

The price level in Bariloche is higher than in many other cities in Argentina. During peak season, it’s a bit pricier than in the off-season.

We cover travel costs in Argentina in more detail in a separate article.

Is Bariloche safe?

Yes, Bariloche is generally a safe destination in Argentina. That said, there are a few areas in the city that can be a little sketchy. Especially at night, stick to the city center and avoid venturing into deserted areas.