Stand on the Plaza 9 de Julio at dusk and the city shows you its hand at once: the colonnaded Cabildo on one side, the Cathedral Shrine and the Museum of Contemporary Art on the others, and a gallery wrapping almost the whole square. Salta is a city of colonial streets, high-altitude archaeology and long views over the Valle de Lerma.
It suits travellers who like their history indoors and their mountains close by, and who are happy to spend a morning in a museum and an afternoon on a hilltop. This guide covers the sights in the city centre, one full-day excursion into the mountains, and how to string the best of them together if your time is short.
Top things to do in Salta
1. MAAM Museum (Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña)
On Plaza 9 de Julio, this museum exhibits the discovery of the three Inca "Llullaillaco Children" found frozen at the peak of Mount Llullaillaco. It is small and its focus is narrow, which is precisely what gives it impact: you leave thinking about the belief system that put the children on the mountain, and about whether the mummified bodies should be on display at all.
It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 18:30, with guided tours at 12:00 and 18:00. Pair it with the other buildings around the same square so you are not crossing town twice.
2. Cabildo Histórico de Salta
The old town hall of 1783, with a colonnaded exterior that helps make the main plaza one of the finest in Argentina. It is now one of three buildings housing the Museo Histórico del Norte, and the capitulary room, with its linked timber chairs where the Governor's advisors sat, has had an outsized place in Argentinian history. Other exhibits cover the region from prehistoric times to the mid-20th century.
Exhibits are labelled in Spanish only, so bring a translation app or a good dictionary. It sits on Plaza 9 de Julio, so combine it with the MAAM Museum and the Cathedral Shrine in a single circuit.
3. Cerro San Bernardo
The hill rising east of the city centre reaches 1,458 m above sea level, 258 m above the city. From Parque San Martin a cable car goes to the summit, where the view of the city and the entire valley is excellent; the landscaping at the top, including a large water feature, makes it a tranquil setting rather than just a viewpoint.
A popular option is to ride up and walk down, or to take the 1,070 steps from the statue of Güemes a little north of the cable car station. The last car to the summit is 19:00 and the last return is 19:30, so aim to be up there by about 17:30. A meal or a beer is available at the top at reasonable rates, and it is a good escape on a hot day because it is shady and cool.
4. Iglesia San Francisco
A beautiful 1796 red and ivory basilica with a remarkable tower, on the corner of Caseros and Córdoba. It is within walking distance of the July 9th Square, which makes it an easy addition to a centre-of-town walk rather than a separate trip.
Combine it with the pedestrian streets nearby: Alberdi, Florida and Caseros all run close by.
5. Tren a las Nubes (Train to the clouds)
A day trip by train up into the mountains to La Povorilla at 4,220 m above sea level. The scenery is rugged and variable, and the engineering of the track continues to impress decades after it was built. It runs April to November on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with extra services during the high season at Easter and the winter holiday.
It leaves Salta at 07:15 and returns between 23:00 and 00:00, so give it the whole day. Book by phone, online, or a couple of days before at any city excursion office. Breakfast and an afternoon snack are included; the dining car and bar car are a bit expensive, but you may bring your own food. Coca leaf tea helps prevent altitude sickness and coca leaves are provided by the staff, and there are nurses on board with oxygen. Seats are somewhat cramped for leg space.
6. Explore Salta Museum Complex
At the corner of Florida and Caseros, entered from the Peatonal Florida rather than from Caseros, in the same building as the tourist information centre. It presents the history of Salta with an emphasis on cultural heritage, and the many interactive displays are fun.
The best part may well be the section dedicated to the music of Salta, where you could spend hours listening to everything from classical to the city's modern rock bands. It is open 10:00 to 20:00, Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays.
7. Museum of President Jose Evaristo Uriburu
On Caseros 417, this is the house where President Uriburu was born and lived as a child. It is small and does not take long to visit, presented as a home with household items and furnishings of the Uriburu family, and it is one of the three Museums of the North. Entry is free.
Because it is quick, slot it into the same walk as the Iglesia San Francisco and the pedestrian streets rather than making it a destination in itself.
8. Museo El Tribuno Guillermo Pajarito Velarde
On Pueyrredon 106, this small house-museum is a tribute to Velarde, a lawyer and banker who was more importantly a Bohemian patron of the arts, especially tango, at a time when it was not yet accepted by society in Salta. The guide does a great job of presenting the colourful tales.
It opens Monday to Friday 10:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 18:00, and Saturday 10:00 to 14:00. The guide speaks only Spanish, but if you do not understand Spanish she will ask another guest to translate into English.
9. Museo Antropológico
On Avenida Ejército del Norte, this museum offers an insight into the various indigenous cultures that have flourished over the centuries in this part of Argentina. Entry is free.
It is away from the main plaza cluster, so treat it as a separate outing rather than something to fold into a plaza circuit.
10. Balcarce Street
The three blocks of Balcarce Street closest to the train station are the centre of night life in Salta, with restaurants, pubs and cafés on both sidewalks and concerts every night. It is the natural end to a day of sightseeing.
Go after dinner rather than early; the point of the street is the evening itself.
11. The April Culture Festival
One of the main activities in Salta, lasting the entire month of April and offering a wide variety of activities including cultural performances, a handcraft exposition and live orchestral performances.
If your trip can be moved, April gives you a month-long programme on top of the city's usual calendar of art exhibitions, shows and music festivals.
12. Horse riding, cycling, trekking and mountain climbing
Several operators run activities out of the city. Horse riding can last from a couple of hours to several days, with options that include snacks, accommodation in country houses or camps, and typical foods, created to show you the real gaucho life. Cycling covers rides around the city or mountain tracks, motorcycling runs with a qualified guide, and trekking ranges from short strolls around the bordering mountains to several days in the region at varying degrees of difficulty.
Mountain climbing in the region covers mountains and volcanoes between 3,500 and 6,740 m and requires previous experience, equipment and logistics. Choose according to your fitness and acclimatisation rather than booking the biggest option first.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start on Plaza 9 de Julio with the MAAM Museum when it opens at 11:00, taking the 12:00 guided tour, then walk the square to the Cabildo Histórico de Salta and its Museo Histórico del Norte exhibits.
Afternoon: Walk to the Iglesia San Francisco at Caseros and Córdoba, then continue to the Explore Salta Museum Complex on the Peatonal Florida and the Museum of President Jose Evaristo Uriburu on Caseros. Aim to be at the Cerro San Bernardo cable car by about 17:30, ride to the summit for the view, and walk down the steps or take the cable car back before the last return at 19:30.
Evening: Head to Balcarce Street near the train station for restaurants, pubs and cafés, where there are concerts every night.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit Salta?
Salta has pleasant weather year-round. Over 80% of its yearly rain falls between December and March, when thunderstorms occur almost daily; during the rest of the year blue skies dominate. Winter nights are cool and frost is common, while spring brings sunny weather with warm days and mild nights.
How do I get to the top of Cerro San Bernardo?
By car, by cable car from Parque San Martin, or on foot up the 1,070 steps from the statue of Güemes a little north of the cable car station. Taxis are also an option. The last car to the summit is 19:00 and the last return is 19:30.
Do I need to book the Tren a las Nubes in advance?
Yes. Book by phone, online, or a couple of days before at any city excursion office. It runs April to November on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with extra services during the high season at Easter and the winter holiday.
Will I find English spoken in the museums?
Not always. The Cabildo Histórico de Salta labels its exhibits in Spanish only, and the guide at the Museo El Tribuno Guillermo Pajarito Velarde speaks only Spanish, though she will ask another guest to translate into English if needed.
Decide your dates, check whether the Tren a las Nubes is running that week, and build the rest of your days around the plaza and the hill.