Visiting SALTA's Top Attractions 🏛️🌴 Trying Northern ARGENTINE FOOD (Lentil Stew, Empanadas, Steak!)

Hello and greetings from the city of Salta! We are back with another video from northern Argentina and this one’s a busy one! In this episode we’ll be showing you some of the colonial architecture that has earned the city the nickname of ‘Salta the beautiful’, we’ll try some delicious northern Argentine food including my personal favourite lentil stew, we’ll learn about Argentina’s colonial & revolutionary history at the Cabildo, we’ll visit beautiful plazas lined with palm trees and step inside cathedrals that are works of art, we’ll admire the views from atop Cerro San Bernardo, and we’ll also pick up a rental car because we need some wheels if we’re going to road trip the north properly!

So let's go travel Salta together, shall we?

🗺️ Places to Visit in Salta, Argentina 📍

01:34 - Cabildo / History Museum of the North
06:12 - Yerba Bueno for Souvenir Shopping
06:51 - Doña Salta for northern Argentine food
09:00 - Basilica and Convent of San Francisco
12:30 - Cathedral of Salta
15:35 - El Charrúa for steaks and pasta
18:43 - Cerro San Bernardo Lookout
20:30 - Chicoana
32:03 - Salta City at night

#salta #argentina #southamerica

Salta, Argentina: Colonial Beauty, Local Cuisine & Andean Road Trips | Ultimate Northern Adventure

Arrival in Salta: Colonial Charm & First Impressions 🏛️🌴

The journey begins in Salta, nicknamed “Salta la Linda” (Salta the Beautiful), a city famed for its colonial architecture, leafy plazas, and vibrant atmosphere. Our first day is all about soaking up the ambiance in the downtown core. We wander cobbled streets lined with stunning colonial buildings, ornate churches, and bustling squares shaded by palm trees and blooming jacarandas. The air feels alive with history—a city where Spanish colonial influence and revolutionary spirit intersect on every corner.

A Step Back in Time: Museums & Revolutionary History 📚⚔️

Our first stop is El Cabildo, the city’s historic town hall and now the Museum of the North. We explore arched white corridors, learning how Salta played a crucial role in Argentina’s fight for independence. Through stories of colonial governors, revolutionaries, and the “Exodus” strategy to resist Spanish advances, we’re reminded that Salta’s quiet squares once pulsed with the drama of revolution. We even check out a traditional leather wine vat used in old winemaking, connecting local history with Argentina’s deep wine culture.

Sampling the Flavors of the North: Regional Food Tour 🍽️🥟

No visit to Salta is complete without tasting its signature northern dishes. We stop at a bustling local favorite—Doña Salta—for empanadas (both cheese and beef), crisp fries, and my personal highlight: a hearty lentil stew with bacon and spicy sausage. The food is deeply satisfying, with flavors perfect for the Andean climate. Steak lovers are in luck too: Salta’s underrated parrillas rival Buenos Aires for their juicy, perfectly cooked cuts of beef.

Cathedrals, Convents & Salta’s Spiritual Heart ⛪✨

After lunch, we visit the stunning Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, rebuilt in 1759 and home to the tallest belfry in the Americas. The grand interior and serene cloisters are awe-inspiring—a must for architecture fans. Later, we wander into the pink-and-cream Cathedral of Salta, rebuilt after an earthquake in 1856, with its golden altar and bustling congregation.

Picnics & Local Living: Nighttime in Salta 🌃🥗

Evenings in Salta are best spent at a relaxed pace. After a massive lunch, we opt for a simple indoor picnic—snacks, a cold beer, and reflections on the day’s discoveries. The city’s social rhythm is infectious.

Getting Road-Trip Ready: Rental Car Adventures 🚗🛣️

With the city explored, it’s time to plan our Andean journey. Renting a car is the best way to unlock Salta’s surrounding beauty, but automatics are rare and expensive—$100 a day! City driving is nerve-wracking, with minimal signage and chaotic intersections, so we only use the car for countryside trips.

San Bernardo Hill: Salta from Above 🌄🚡

We take a taxi up San Bernardo Hill for panoramic city views—sprawling neighborhoods, mountain backdrops, and the patchwork of colonial rooftops. You can reach the summit by cable car, taxi, or on foot (for the fit: 1,070 steps!). It’s the perfect spot to appreciate the scale and setting of Salta.

Day Trip to La Viña: Small-Town Serenity & Rural Life 🌳🐕

With our wheels ready, we set out for La Viña, a sleepy colonial town an hour south of Salta. The town square is peaceful, shaded by ancient trees, and watched over by friendly street dogs. Adobe houses and slow rhythms make it feel like time has stood still. We search for a traditional Salta hat to take home for Argentine-style barbecues in Canada.

Visiting SALTA's Top Attractions + Trying Northern ARGENTINE FOOD (Lentil Stew, Empanadas, Steak!)

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