Argentina’s Oktoberfest takes place in Villa General Belgrano, a small town with alpine-style buildings in the Calamuchita valley, in the hills of Córdoba province. It was founded by settlers from Central Europe, and every October it holds a beer festival that lasts several days and takes in a national long weekend.
What the festival is like
The main venue is the Parque Cervecero, a festival ground with a stage, brewery stands and food. Parades in traditional dress go along the main street, and the barrel is tapped in a ceremony called the espiche. Entry to the ground is ticketed separately, and the busiest days have queues.
Dates are announced each year. Check the festival’s official site.
Getting there
The town has no airport. Visitors fly to Córdoba and continue by road into the valley. It is a hill road, and on festival weekends it moves slowly.
- Bus. Services leave Córdoba’s bus terminal. Late-afternoon seats back sell out.
- Hire car. Only sensible if one of you is not drinking. Parking near the centre is hard.
- Day tours. Agencies in Córdoba sell day trips.
- Private transfer. One vehicle for your group and a return time of your choosing. The route is described under Córdoba to Villa General Belgrano. Availability is confirmed at booking.
If you start in Buenos Aires, compare the ways of getting from Buenos Aires to Córdoba first.
Where people stay
Rooms in the town are booked months ahead. Many visitors sleep in nearby valley towns such as Santa Rosa de Calamuchita or Los Reartes, or in Córdoba city, and come for the day. That makes the trip there and back the centre of the plan.
Tips for the day
- Agree a meeting point with the driver before you go in. Streets are closed during the parades.
- Set a realistic time to leave. Everyone heads out together at the end of the day.
- Keep La Cumbrecita, a car-free mountain village nearby, for another day.
For a group, a minivan takes 6–7 passengers and a van 8.