The city of Salta was my first stop in Argentina, and my first time ever in the country. I spent two days here, and the city hit me like a wall of noise, traffic, and energy. I arrived at rush hours to a busy, chaotic city that got me a bit overwhelmed, if I’m being completely honest! It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just meant I had to adjust my expectations quite quickly.
Here’s a fun fact: Salta sits at 1,187 metres above sea level (so nothing too crazy altitude-wise, in fact, it was some sweet relief for me, arriving straight from La Paz!), and it’s nicknamed “Salta la Linda” which means “Salta the Beautiful”. The city’s known for its colourful cathedrals and old colonial buildings. Salta is the capital of Salta province, and it’s been around since 1582 when it was founded as a stopover point on the trade route between Buenos Aires and Lima, Peru.
All of this being said, most people don’t actually come to Salta for the city itself. Yes, the architecture is beautiful, but the surroundings of the city are something else entirely. The mountains, Cerro San Bernardo (which you can hike or take a cable car up), the high-altitude vineyards, the otherworldly landscapes… you get the idea. The city is more of a jumping-off point than a destination in its own right, but it does have its own charms worth exploring.
An Intro Guide to Salta, Argentina
I really liked Salta as my introduction to Argentina. Argentinians are incredibly welcoming by nature, and I felt that straight away. The city was busy and bustling, but not in the same polished, put-together way as Buenos Aires (which was my next stop in Argentina). There’s an authenticity, a rawness, to the chaos, if that makes any sense at all.
The city centre is full of pretty things to see: colourful cathedrals (Iglesia San Francisco is absolutely stunning), colonial buildings with their intricate facades, and this lively central plaza where locals hang out in the evenings. The city centre also isn’t particularly unsafe, which was a relief. I felt comfortable walking around during the day, and the main touristy areas are reasonably well-monitored.
The best things to do in Salta city itself are visiting the Mercado Artesanal de Salta (great for picking up souvenirs and local handicrafts), touring the colonial cathedrals (Convento San Bernardo is beautiful, but you can only admire it from outside, unfortunately), wine tasting at local bodegas, and just wandering around soaking it all in. Salta feels like a proper Argentine city that happens to have tourists passing through, rather than a place that’s completely reinvented itself for tourism.
How to Get to Salta, Argentina
Obviously how you get to Salta depends on where you’re starting from, but it is fairly well-connected.
The trip I did was pretty unusual. To be honest, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, but I had quite unusual circumstances. I started in La Paz, Bolivia, and took the overnight bus to the Villazón-La Quiaca border. I woke up the next morning, crossed the border into Argentina, and then hopped onto another 12-or-so hours bus straight to Salta. That’s a story I still haven’t written about on this blog yet, but one I’m very keen to write! (There were about five times on that trip that I thought I wasn’t going to make it to Salta at all…
If you’re coming from northern Chile, you’ll probably end up taking the 10-12 hour bus ride that goes directly from San Pedro de Atacama to Salta, crossing the border at San Antonio de los Cobres, the scenery along that route is meant to be absolutely incredible, by all accounts.
Long-distance buses in Argentina are actually really good. They’re comfortable, they have reclining seats, and on the longer routes you often get snacks and water included. Salta’s bus terminal has connections to Buenos Aires (around 20 hours, which sounds horrific but honestly isn’t too bad, especially if you upgrade your seat for an extra 10$), Tucumán, Mendoza, and loads of other cities.
There isn’t a trainline that goes all the way to Salta; there is the famous Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) that runs on certain routes from Salta, but that’s more of a tourist experience than actual transport. From Buenos Aires, you can also fly to Salta, which is a much more reasonable option, taking about 2.5 hours.
As for driving, it’s generally safe in this region. A lot of people rent cars to explore the surrounding areas, though I’d say the mountain roads can be a bit challenging if you’re not used to that kind of driving. The main thing to remember if you’re driving long distances in Argentina is that you can go for hours and hours without meeting civilisation, which you need to be prepared for. (This really isn’t the case in Europe, for example, where you will find at least a small town every half hour or so.)
Where to Stay in Salta, Argentina
The most touristy district in Salta is definitely the historic city centre, all clustered around Plaza 9 de Julio (the main plaza). This is where you’ll find most of the hostels, hotels, and guesthouses that cater to travellers. It’s the most convenient spot for exploring on foot, you’re close to restaurants and cafes, and it feels reasonably safe to walk around during the day.
I stayed at LEAD Pod Hostel in the centre, and I’ve got mixed feelings about it, to be honest. On the plus side, I really liked the privacy. They have these individual pod-style beds with curtains, which is perfect when you need a proper night’s sleep after a long bus journey (and trust me, I needed it). The facilities were clean and modern, which is always a bonus. However, there wasn’t much of a vibe there. I’d say it’s fine if you’re just looking for somewhere to crash (in fact, more than fine, because it was clean, quite, private, and safe!), but not great if you’re hoping to meet other travellers and make friends.
It wasn’t a problem for me as I was already meeting up with a friend I’d made in Colombia, but if I went back to Salta, I’d probably look for somewhere with a bit more social atmosphere.
Weather & Best Time to Visit Salta, Argentina
Salta has a subtropical climate, which basically means it’s pretty sunny most of the year (you’ll get loads of sunny days), but the seasons are quite distinct. Summer (December to February) can get really hot and humid (we’re talking 30°C+ with occasional afternoon thunderstorms that come out of nowhere).
Winter (June to August) is much drier and cooler, with temperatures around 15-20°C during the day but dropping quite a bit at night. I was there in late autumn and the weather was lovely, warm during the day but comfortable enough for walking around, and it got cooler at night time.
If you’re planning a trip, I’d say the best time to visit is during autumn (March to May) or spring (September to November) when the weather is mild and there’s less rain.
Sunrise varies from around 6:30am in summer to 8am in winter, whilst sunset ranges from about 7:30pm in summer to 6pm in winter. The high season is December to February (summer holidays) and July (winter break), so expect higher prices and more tourists around then.
Things to Do in Salta, Argentina
Beyond what I’ve already mentioned, there’s a decent amount to keep you busy in Salta city for a day or two. Free walking tours leave from the main plaza and give you a good overview of the city’s colonial history and architecture. I always always recommend doing a free walking tour, or a paid tour like a historical tour or food tour, when you first arrive somewhere new, they really help you to get your bearings.
You can visit the Museum of High Mountain Archaeology (Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña), which houses those famous Inca children mummies that were discovered on nearby mountain peaks (it’s fascinating, if a bit eerie). The Museo Histórico del Norte is also worth a visit if you’re into colonial history. It talks a lot about General Martín Miguel de Güemes and his role in Argentina’s independence.
Parque San Martín is perfect if you want to escape the chaos of the city centre, or if you’re feeling energetic you can hike up San Bernardo Hill (though most people just take the cable car, let’s be honest). The Mercado Artesanal also worth visiting, especially if you want to pick up some souvenirs (although be warned, you might end up with too many things to fit inside your backpack).
Beyond these things, most people use Salta as a base for day trips to the surrounding areas. The landscapes around here are incredible, and there are loads of things to visit if you have time: Quebrada de Humahuaca, the Salinas Grandes salt flats, Quebrada de las Conchas, Los Cardones National Park… that’s where the real magic is.
Where & What to Eat in Salta, Argentina
Argentinian food is, unsurprisingly, very meat-focused. But there’s more to it than just steak (though the steak is absolutely incredible, by all accounts). Empanadas another food that you have to try Salta – pastry parcels filled with spiced meat, cheese, or vegetables. Perfect for a quick lunch, or even just an on-the-go snack, although it’s much less culturally common to eat literally on-the-go than it is in the US and the UK.
The local specialty is empanadas salteñas, which are slightly smaller and juicier than the kind of empanadas you get in other places in Argentina. You’ll also find humitas (which are a bit like tamales, made with corn and wrapped in corn husks) and locro, which is a hearty stew that’s especially popular in winter.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on alfajores! Completely addictive sandwich cookies that are filled with dulce de leche and often coated in chocolate. There are no words for how good they are.
The best place I ate while I was in Salta was a cafe/restaurant called Rocco. The food they serve there is really light and they serve some of the most amazing, filling salads which was a godsend after a lot of time on the road. It was the first time I’d seen a vegetable in about a week!
La Casona del Molino is another great option, which serves traditional Argentinian food in a beautiful colonial setting. There are also loads of parillas (grill restaurants) where you can get the full Argentine steak experience.
Money and Prices in Salta, Argentina
The currency in Argentina is the Argentine Peso (ARS). The situation in Argentina is quite variable, so it’s always best to check the latest situation with a local, try asking the reception at your accommodation or a friendly cab driver.
A couple of years ago, there was a wild situation going on with exchange rates, where there was an “official” exchange rate and a “blue” (unofficial) exchange rate which gave you a staggaringly better deal than the official rate. However, recently that has changed, and due to a change in leadership in Argentina there is now not much of a difference between the official rate and the blue rate (just fyi, I am writing this at the beginning of 2026).
Prices in Salta are generally cheaper than Buenos Aires, but more expensive than some of the smaller towns in northern Argentina. If you’re travelling on a budget, you can probably get by on around 30,000-40,000 ARS (30-40€) per day including accommodation, food, and local transport. Mid-range travellers might spend more like 60,000-80,000 ARS (60-80€).
A hostel bed will set you back about 15,000-25,000 ARS (15-25€) per night, a decent meal at a restaurant is around 10,000-15,000 ARS (10-15€), and local buses are just a few hundred pesos. Cash is still king in Argentina, especially outside the major cities, so make sure you’ve got plenty of pesos on you. Many places will also accept US dollars, but you usually get a better deal if you pay in pesos.
FAQs About Salta, Argentina
What is Salta Argentina known for?
Salta is known for well-preserved colonial architecture (hence the nickname “Salta la Linda” or “Salta the Beautiful”). The city’s also famous as a gateway to some of Argentina’s most spectacular landscapes (outside of Patagonia, of course), like high-altitude deserts, colourful mountain valleys, massive salt flats, and high-altitude vineyards.
Is Salta a nice city?
Salta has beautiful colonial architecture, friendly locals, and a genuine city atmosphere. That said, it can feel chaotic and a bit overwhelming, especially in the busy city centre. Most travellers go to Salta to use it as a base for exploring the stunning surrounding landscapes, rather than as a destination in its own right.
What is the history of Salta Argentina?
Salta was founded in 1582 by Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma. It started out as an outpost along the trade route between Buenos Aires and Lima. The city’s name actually comes from an indigenous Aymara word “Sagta,” which means “the very beautiful” (hence the nickname!). The region also has a rich indigenous history that predates Spanish colonisation – the Inca children discovered on nearby mountain peaks are evidence of that.
Conclusion
Salta Argentina might not be the most obvious choice for first-time visitors to Argentina, but it’s definitely worth adding to your itinerary. The city itself offers a real glimpse into Argentine life away from the tourist bubble, and the mountain landscapes, the high-altitude vineyards, the desert scenery around it is even more spectacular.
