Weekend Escapes5 min readUpdated 2026-04-12

Mar del Plata Weekend: Argentina's Beach City for British Expats

Mar del Plata is 400km south of Buenos Aires — Argentina's biggest beach resort and a surprisingly good weekend escape from the city.

Rosie CarterWriter · Palermo, Buenos Aires

My first visit to Mar del Plata was in January, which was a mistake. The beach was so crowded that finding a patch of sand required negotiation. The traffic into town was solid for two hours. The hotels were double the normal price.

My second visit was in March. The beaches were almost empty. The restaurants were better and cheaper. The seafood was the same quality. I now tell everyone: go in November or March. January is for Argentines with children who have no other choice.

Getting there

Bus: The most popular option. Empresa Nueva Chevallier, El Rápido Argentino, and others run frequent daily services from Retiro bus station. Journey time: 4.5-5.5 hours. Book at least a week ahead in January. The bus is comfortable (full reclining seats, meals included on some services), and cost is around ARS 8,000-15,000 each way depending on class.

Car: 400km south via the Autopista Atlántica. 4.5-5 hours in good traffic. Longer in January. Having your own car gives flexibility for beaches outside the city centre.

Train: Trains from Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata exist and are popular with Argentines. Scenic but slower — around 6 hours. Book the Tren de la Costa service (Ferrobaires) in advance.

When to go

January: Argentine summer peak. Crowded, expensive, very hot. Go only if you want the full Argentine summer resort experience.
February-March: Shoulder season. Weather still good, crowds thin, prices drop.
November-December: The beach season begins. Excellent weather, barely any tourists.
July: Winter, quiet, cool. Good for the city itself (architecture, restaurants, food market) but not the beach.

What to do

The beaches: Mar del Plata has a string of beaches from the central Playa Bristol and Playa Popular (busiest) to quieter options north (Playa Varese, Playa Punta Mogotes) and south. The northern beaches are slightly less crowded. All beaches have balnearios (beach clubs with chairs, umbrellas, and food service) available for hire.

Seafood: Mar del Plata is Argentina's primary fishing port. The local specialities — merluza (hake), centolla crab, and camarones (prawns) — are excellent. Puerto (the fishing port area) has the best seafood restaurants. Cheaper and better quality than seafood in Buenos Aires.

The architecture: The early 20th-century resort architecture around the centre (villa Mar del Plata style) is genuinely impressive and underappreciated. The Centro Cultural Villa Victoria is open for visits. The Villa Ortiz Basualdo is a museum of decorative arts in a beautiful period mansion.

Mar del Plata Aquarium: If travelling with children, it's the main attraction. Not exceptional but well-run.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Mar del Plata from Buenos Aires?

400km south. 4.5-5 hours by bus or car. Buses run frequently from Retiro station and are comfortable.

When is the best time to visit Mar del Plata?

November-December or February-March. January is peak Argentine summer — crowded, expensive, and worth avoiding unless you want the full resort atmosphere.

What is Mar del Plata famous for?

Its beaches, Argentina's best seafood (it's the main fishing port), 1920s-1950s resort architecture, and being Argentina's most visited domestic tourist destination.