If you find yourself in Ushuaia, Argentina, there’s a good chance that you’re on your way to Antarctica. Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world and popular for being the gateway to the 7th continent. But while this might be what it’s most famous for, Ushuaia is so much more than that. Seeing the mountains tower over the city from the main streets, you can really feel the presence of nature colliding with humanity. But because many come with just the goal of getting to Antarctica, they don’t tend to spend much time here. This is my complete guide on the best things to do in Ushuaia if you only have one day to explore.
Why You Should Spend At Least One Day In Ushuaia
If you planning to visit Antarctica from Ushuaia, you should arrive at least one day before your journey starts. If you’re leaving from the U.S. there are no direct flights to Ushuaia, so you’ll likely fly to Buenos Aires first. No direct flights means more chances for your luggage to get lost. The good news is that there are many places in Ushuaia to buy things just in case this happens. But you would need some time to do this, so it’s best to get this a day early.
And if your luggage doesn’t get lost, you’ll have a day to explore Ushuaia! You’d truthfully need a few days to explore the city properly, but one day is better than nothing. Ushuaia is beautiful and you’ll be glad you gave yourself the opportunity to explore downtown Ushuaia, partake in outdoor activities, and immerse yourself in its stunning natural beauty.
Getting Around Ushuaia
Ushuaia’s Malvinas Argentinas International Airport is only about 10 minutes from downtown (about 6 kilometers / 3.7 miles). The best way to get there is via taxi if you have cash in Argentine pesos. If not, Uber is readily available at the airport and all over Ushuaia. If you have multiple people and lots of luggage, it’s best to pre-book an airport pickup. This one from Get Your Guide is 10 USD per person.
One thing to note is that if you didn’t exchange or withdraw local currency USD is widely accepted for transportation. However, the driver most likely will not have change for you so it’s best to have small bills on you. One minor issue that I ran into was that when I called my Uber from the airport into town, a regular cab showed up as my ride. Because of this, I had to pay in cash, even though I booked through Uber. I’m not really sure how that happened with me, since I haven’t heard of anyone else having the same issue. My card never got charged for the ride, so I don’t believe it was a scam. I ended up paying 10 USD for my ride. The price of the ride was 6 USD, but my driver didn’t have change.
In town, I was able to get Ubers everywhere and payment always went through via the app.
Where To Stay In Ushuaia
When planning your stay I think it’s best to stay in the downtown area near the ports, especially if you’ve booked one of the Antarctic cruises. The main reason is for convenience– it’s a central location for day tours and luggage storage. If you’re heading to Antarctica, you’ll have to tag and drop off your luggage at a separate location before heading towards the ship. Staying closer to the ports will give you plenty of time to do this (the lines can get pretty long). I stayed at Hotel Canal Beagle, which was within walking distance of our departure point for the cruise. Not sure if I would recommend it for anything other than convenience. The location was great and the rooms were nice. It also has a spa that is very decently priced compared to US rates.
Things To Do In Ushuaia: Full Day Itinerary
Whether you only have one day In Ushuaia or plan to stay longer, these are the top things to do. I crammed a lot into the day and a half that I was there, but you could spread these out and have a way more relaxing trip if you have the time.
Tierra Del Fuego National Park
Start your day early with a visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park, the world’s southernmost national park. If you’ve only got one day to explore, a half-day tour is a great way to immerse yourself in some of the most breathtaking landscapes at the end of the world. I did this one via Get Your Guide, which provides pickup and drop-off from hotels near the city center. This specific tour lasts 5 hours and also has afternoon departures if it works better with your itinerary. It includes everything except the national park entry fee, which is an additional AR$ 40.000 per person (38 USD). You can buy them in person with cash or credit card when you get to the park.
Take A Photo With The End Of The World Sign
One of the most iconic places you can visit in the park is the End of Route 3, in Bahía Lapataia (Lapataia Bay). In its parking lot, you will find the famous El Fin del Mundo (End of the World sign), which marks the southernmost point of the Pan-American Highway. From here, you can walk through several short trails that wind through the park, offering panoramic views of snow-capped mountains, dense forests, and the Beagle Channel.
Ride The End Of The World Train
Another popular thing to do in the park is ride El Tren del Fin del Mundo (The End of the World Train). In the past, it used to transport prisoners to gather timber for the former penal colony in Ushuaia. Now, the historic steam train offers tourists a scenic journey through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the park. It’s definitely the most beautiful train station I’ve ever been to. The ride is about an hour and makes a stop where you can do a short hike up to some beautiful waterfalls.
Visit The End of The World Post Office
If you’re a fan of postcards, one of the most unique ones you can send is from the End of the World post office, located within the national park. I think this is one of the best souvenirs you can give from Ushuaia. Just know it can apparently take months for your postcard to arrive in the U.S. I sent mine out on December 21st, and none of them have arrived yet. If you have more time in Ushuaia, I would spend a full day in the park. This way you’ll have enough time to visit the post office, ride the train, and take your time exploring and doing some of the best hikes the park has to offer.
Have Lunch in the City Center
You’ll get back from the park around 2 pm, and probably be starving. Here are some of my best recommendations for lunch and dinner in Ushuaia.
- Ramos Generales El Almacén: This is one of the most popular spots in Ushuaia among tourists and it’s definitely worth the hype. The food and drinks are delicious and it’s decorated with antique relics saved by the owners over the years that give it a really cozy vibe.
- Cerveza Patagonia-: A laid-back brewery with a gorgeous view of the Beagle Channel. Make sure to get a seat upstairs for the view. The burgers were surprisingly good, and there was a huge selection of beers.
- El Viejo Marino: It’s a basic, no-frills restaurant where you can get centolla (king crab). Plan to get there right when they open (11 am or 7 pm) if you plan to order the crab because they were sold out the first time we went. They close between 2:30pm and 7, so if you want to try it, it’s better to plan for dinner.
- Isabel– another good restaurant with a view. They have an extensive menu and most of the options are shared plates. So only go if you have a second person, or if you’re really hungry. Also, the bread they give you before your food comes out is so delicious, it’s worth the visit for just that!
If you plan on ordering centolla in Ushuaia you’ll notice that there’s usually a “disclaimer” on the menu saying that it’s for two people. In my opinion, although the crabs are big they’re not quite enough for food for two people, especially if you’re hungry. Maybe it’s because I’m American, but comment and let me know if you think it’s enough food for you.
Explore the City of Ushuaia’s Downtown Area
After you’ve gotten your dose of nature, you can spend the rest of the day exploring Ushuaia’s charming downtown area. Since it is the gateway to Antarctica, Ushuaia is very much a tourist town. It’s very walkable, with all the tourist attractions located on two main streets: Avenida San Martín and Avenida Maipú. You can easily walk from one end to the other in about 15-20 minutes, with a gorgeous mountain range view surrounding you. Just keep in mind it’s all hills other than the main street, in case you have any mobility issues.
Souvenir Shopping
Walking down the main streets of Ushuaia, you will notice an abundance of souvenir shops. They all have their own unique charm, but they pretty much all sell the same things. My absolute favorite was La Bita Ultima. They had the biggest selection of souvenirs and some unique ones that I didn’t see in the other stores. It’s a great place to grab a last minute souvenir if you didn’t get anything on the ship. They also have a really cute backyard area for photos and sell stamps to send your postcards from Ushuaia to the US (not all souvenir shops do).
I didn’t mean to make postcards the main focus of this blog post, but if you are hoping to visit the Penguin Post Office in Antarctica, it’s best to purchase your postcards in Ushuaia before getting on the ship. There are a few reasons for this:
- You’ll only have so much time during the landing and there will definitely be a line while you’re there.
- The ones sold on the ship were pricier and weren’t anything special. The ones sold in Ushuaia were much nicer.
- I didn’t actually get to visit the Penguin Post Office on my expedition because the weather wasn’t good enough for us to make the landing. But I was told that the post office often runs out of postcards, so you’ll want to make sure you have some as a backup.
Visit the Tourist Office For A Passport Stamp
This one is a bit controversial since tourist stamps seem to have been causing trouble for some travelers at airports. It’s not an official stamp, so technically it makes your passport invalid. It’s rarely enforced, seeing as the TSA person would have to flip through every page of your passport to find it. But when it is enforced it can cause you some pretty serious problems (like denial into the country you’re trying to visit). Just in case you’re worried about it, you could either stamp your postcards or bring a journal to stamp.
Visit One of the Museums
If you’re into museums Ushuaia has quite a few you could visit. Just remember for whichever you choose to visit, they are cash only and only accept Argentine pesos. They are very strict about this. and consider it harassment if you insist on paying any other way.
Ushuaia used to be home to a prison penal colony set up by the Argentine government and has a huge prison museum. It’s one of the city’s most popular attractions since it’s housed within the original structure of the prison. It’s a haunting, yet fascinating, place that delves into the lives of the prisoners, the harsh conditions they endured, and the role the institution played in shaping Ushuaia’s history.
I also visited El Museo del Fin del Mundo. This is a must for travelers who are interested in learning about the local history and cultural heritage of Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. It’s a very small museum, with fascinating exhibits that tell the story of the region’s Indigenous peoples, European explorers, and the natural environment at the end of the world. This museum actually has two locations: the Founding Headquarters (Former Banco Nación) (Maipú 173) and the Old Government House (Maipú 465). If you buy a ticket you can visit both buildings, but you only pay one time.
Get A Photo at the Fin Del Mundo Sign
Most travelers want a photo next to the Fin del Mundo sign. It’s almost like a right of passage, proving that you made it to the southernmost city in the world. The sign is on the waterfront right next to the tourist pier where all the ships depart from. There are also benches here, so if it’s not too cold it’s a great place to have a coffee and watch all the boats pass through. If you’re visiting for an Antarctic cruise, it’s summer season in Ushuaia, so there’s a good chance there will be some fairly warm days!
Finish Your Day With Dinner and Drinks
If you do everything on this list, it’s a pretty long day. Visit any of the restaurants listed above for dinner or drinks. And if you’re up for it, there were some nice spots for after-dinner drinks:
- Taberna Del Viejo Rojo: has tables with a great view.
- Krund Ushuaia: the first Antarctic bar in Ushuaia.
- Club 1210: if you’re looking for music and dancing.
Other Popular Things To Do In Ushuaia
Here are some things to do if you have more time in Ushuaia!
Beagle Channel Tours
Exploring the Beagle Channel by boat is one of the most popular tourist experiences in Ushuaia, offering an opportunity to explore the landscapes and local wildlife of the region. You could see penguins, dolphins, and sea lions on these tours. Some also stop at Les Eclaireurs lighthouse (Lighthouse at the End of the World). I didn’t include this in my main list because I was going to be on a boat for 10 days, and I figured I’d already be seeing lots of wildlife.
See Penguins on Martillo Island
This is another Ushuaia activity I skipped over since I knew I would be seeing penguins in Antarctica. Martillo Island is one of the best spots to see Magellanic and Gentoo penguin colonies. The penguins can only be seen during the summer months in Ushuaia (October to mid-April). There are guided tours to the island which visitors to step onto the island and walk among the penguins. You aren’t allowed to approach them, but if they’re anything like the penguins in Antarctica, they will waddle right up to you.
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I hope this post gave you some inspiration for things to do in Ushuaia. If it did, make sure to check out my other posts for more travel tips. Have you already visited Ushuaia? If so, let me know your favorite “end of the world” moment in the comments below! 🌍✈️
I love this! So helpful. Thank you!
Thank you!! Have fun!!!