How to Explore Bariloche, Argentina’s Little Switzerland on a Budget in Winter?
First, I haven’t set foot in Switzerland, but that’s the buzz online ~
→ Transportation 🚗🚌
I hopped on a bus from Calafate, expecting to arrive at 7:30 PM, but it rolled in at 3 AM—a whopping 7.5-hour delay, which was utterly absurd. Perhaps there are more direct flights to Bariloche during the ski season? But to be fair, the bus ride was surprisingly comfortable, even for someone with shorter legs like me.
The bus was packed with young travelers from all corners of the globe, and everyone was well-mannered, making the 30+ hour journey surprisingly quiet and peaceful.
Once in the city, public buses are your go-to. Grab a SUBE card, and you can access most places around town 【the SUBE card is also valid in Buenos Aires】. A regular fare is 115 pesos, and it’s 215 pesos to the airport.
⚠️ Important Note ⚠️ The location to purchase the SUBE card and the place to top it up are different, and the office in the square doesn’t sell cards.
Prices vary at each convenience store, so it’s best to ask the office staff, who will point you to the cheapest option. Also, the bus to the airport runs every one and a half hours, so make sure to plan your schedule accordingly.
→ Activities 🧆🧗⛲️⛰️
Bariloche is a charming, compact city, and you can explore its heart in just half a day. Since my stay was brief, I only managed to visit Villa Llao Llao and Cerro Otto.
Villa Llao Llao is accessible by bus from the city. It’s a picturesque peninsula jutting into the lake, with pristine air quality.
Trails lead up to Cerro Llao Llao, and the hike is relatively easy. At the base of the mountain, a side path winds down to the lakeside, where many young foreigners enjoy swimming and sunbathing on sunny days.
Cerro Otto is also reachable by bus. I opted to walk up instead of taking the cable car, but the dirt road made it a dusty trek, especially when cars passed by, kicking up clouds of dust.
By the way, I highly recommend stopping by the tourist center. During my visit, it happened to be the 121st anniversary of the city’s founding, and I got to watch a parade and even snagged two free cookies!
→ Food 🧆🌮🍕🍖
If you’re craving Chinese cuisine, there’s a restaurant called Huang Ji. The food is decent, and I went with a friend who had a hankering for it.
Near Villa Llao Llao, there’s a place called Cerveceria Patagonia, which is said to be the brewery behind the ubiquitous Patagonia beer. My friends before me could just walk in, but when I visited, a reservation was required.
.. In the end, I dined at a random spot on the island. The food was average, but the lakeside ambiance was delightful.
In the city, there’s a pizza place called Santa Muzza. The owner doesn’t speak English, so we used translation software to communicate. The pizza can be ordered half-and-half, and the flavor he recommended was absolutely delicious—juicy and bursting with flavor in every bite, paired with a slightly charred crust.
A slice of pizza and a sip of beer made for a perfect meal.
Honestly, just spending a quiet day in Bariloche, surrounded by the serene lake and mountain views, is incredibly soothing.
