What to pack
The short answer
Fly. Almost always fly. A flight takes under two hours and costs as little as USD 40–90 one-way if you book a few weeks in advance. The 14-hour overnight bus is a uniquely Argentine experience — beds, dinner, breakfast — but unless you actively want it or you’re on a tight budget, the flight wins on every practical measure.
Which airlines fly the route
Which airlines fly the route
Three airlines compete on this route, which keeps prices low:
- Aerolíneas Argentinas — the national carrier, most flights, full-service.
- JetSMART — low-cost, often the cheapest tickets.
- Flybondi — low-cost, similar price band to JetSMART.
There are around 95 flights per week between the two cities — so frequency is never an issue.
Which Buenos Aires airport
Which Buenos Aires airport
This is the most important detail of the whole trip. Buenos Aires has two airports:
- Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) — in the city, 15 minutes from the centre. Use this for Mendoza if you can.
- Ministro Pistarini / Ezeiza (EZE) — the international airport, 45 minutes to an hour outside town.
Most Mendoza flights leave from AEP, which is much easier. If you’re connecting from an international flight that lands at EZE the same day, you’ll either need to transfer between the two airports (allow at least three hours to be safe — Buenos Aires traffic is real) or fly from EZE directly to Mendoza, which is possible but with fewer options.
Putting it together: a practical first day
Most travelers do this:
- Morning: check out of Buenos Aires hotel, taxi to Aeroparque (AEP).
- Early afternoon: fly to Mendoza, land at MDZ.
- Late afternoon: taxi/Uber to your hotel in Mendoza city, Luján de Cuyo or the Uco Valley.
- Evening: dinner in Mendoza city or at the bodega/hotel restaurant, an early glass of Malbec to begin the trip.
If you’re following our 14-day Argentine wine itinerary, this is Day 3 or 4 of the trip — and the gateway to the heart of the journey.
For planning around season and weather, see our best time to visit guide. For which estates to prioritise once you land, see our best wineries in Mendoza guide. For the trip itself, browse our wine tours.
