Culture & Traditions

Argentina's culture is a lovely blend of Indigenous and European influences, most notably from Spain and Italy. This cultural fusion is evident in the country's language, customs, and particularly its gastronomy.

The soul of Argentine culture is perhaps best expressed through its distinctive music and dance. The tango, which originated in the lower-class districts of Buenos Aires, encapsulates the essence of Argentine passion and melancholy. Today, tango is not just a dance but an art form that's celebrated worldwide, with Buenos Aires hosting the annual World Tango Festival. See the city’s best spots and a fabulous tango show with Goway’s Buenos Aires Highlights itinerary.

Argentine sports, particularly football, inspire fervent devotion among its people. The nation is synonymous with football legends like Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, and the sport is a binding cultural force, with match days igniting impassioned conversations in every corner of the country. Argentines are divided on their support of Buenos Aires’ two most popular teams: River and Boca Juniors. Even citizens who have never visited the capital are fervent fans of one of those two teams.

Literature also plays a significant role in Argentine identity. The nation has produced numerous literary giants, including Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar, whose works have become part of the global literary canon. Their stories often reflect the complex nature of Argentine society and the rich tapestry of its urban and rural life.

Argentine cinema and theatre are fields where creativity flourishes, often exploring social and political themes reflective of the country's turbulent history. The Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema is a testament to the country's vibrant film scene.

Religion, mainly Roman Catholicism, also influences Argentine culture, with traditions like the annual pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján. However, Argentina is known for its progressive social policies, highlighting a society that values tradition and religion while embracing change and diversity.

This diversity also extends to Argentina's visual arts, which range from traditional crafts to the avant-garde works of artists like Xul Solar and Benito Quinquela Martín.

What is the visiting etiquette in Argentina?

Argentines are very proud of their cuisine and international travellers are likely to be invited to a barbecue, called an asado. This can be either an all afternoon affair, or a late night dinner. Either way, it’s best to arrive a half an hour to an hour after the time you’re invited for and to bring a bottle of Argentine wine. If you’re not there for a meal, a bottle of fernet is just as welcome as wine.

What is Argentina best known for?

On the global stage, Argentine football and tango stand out on a competitive field. Much of the world watched Lionel Messi lead Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup against France in one of the best games in World Cup history, cementing his name and his country’s reputation in sports history. However, more international visitors in Argentina go to a tango show than a football match and the image of tango dancers is what first springs to mind when most people start to plan their vacation in Argentina.

After those two cultural stars, it’s Argentina’s natural beauty that entices tourists from around the world. Argentina has little global competition with a landscape that includes rainforest, sunny vineyards, massive glaciers, and sparkling white salt flats dotted with pink flamingos.

What are some Argentine traditions?

The most beloved Argentine tradition is gathering family and friends together for an asado. Often hosted in a family’s backyard, the asado is an abundant barbecue that starts with a lot of talking around the fire while one or two people do the grilling. Traditionally, the appetizers are chorizo, blood sausages, and sweetbreads. The first course is ribs, followed by steak. Most asados also have some potatoes and veggies grilled on the side, but in general family meals in Argentina are difficult for vegetarians. While an asado begins with red wine, it’s usually followed by a type of amaro called fernet.

Unique to Argentina is the pilgrimage to Our Lady of Luján on the first weekend of October. Pilgrims set out on foot from Buenos Aires and walk 60 km (37 mi) to the basilica in Luján. In contrast to the solemn pilgrimage, cities on the northern border with Uruguay fill with celebrations for carnival in the weeks leading up to Lent. Join the festivities to experience Argentina’s most exuberant tradition.

What are Argentines like socially?

Argentines spend a lot of time with their family and delight in bringing home extra guests. They’re very proud of Argentina’s natural beauty, exquisite wine and prowess at football, so expect to be regaled with stories of the wonders of Patagonia, Iguassu Falls, the wineries of Mendoza, and Lionel Messi’s most recent accomplishments. Amongst each other, they complain about politics and the economy, but it’s not considered polite conversation with international guests.

The first thing you may notice in Argentina is the number of people carrying around a thermos and a small gourd with a metal straw sticking out. The gourd is called a mate (pronounced mah-tay) and the herbal beverage brewed in it is yerba mate, often simply called mate. It’s made from the mate plant, which grows in the wetlands of the northeast, near the border with Paraguay.

Argentines are very social and love to share a drink, whether that’s wine or a hot mate. Anywhere they congregate, somebody will offer mate to the group and it’s polite to accept and to share the metal straw, called bombilla. In 2020 and 2021, some people started to carry their own bombilla around to avoid sharing, but that habit died quickly. If you’re not comfortable sharing the same bombilla with everybody present, it’s best to pretend that you don’t want to drink any mate at the moment.

What language do Argentines speak?

Spanish is the common language in Argentina, though if you spend enough time in Buenos Aires you may pick up the local dialect. The people of Buenos Aires are called Porteños, in reference to the city’s port, and besides Spanish, most also speak a dialect called Lunfardo. Fifteen Indigenous languages are spoken throughout Argentina and you’re more likely to meet Indigenous Argentines who can share their language and culture with you in the far north and far south.