Mar del Plata

Argentina's original and most active beach resort is well-known throughout the country for the masses that gather here when the temperature rises. Every summer, throngs of international and local tourists flock to the dunes of Mar del Plata to soak in the rays before hitting an endless assortment of stylish restaurants and bars after dark. It's not exactly a peaceful location, so consider going somewhere else if peace is your major goal. Plenty of activities, such as scuba diving, golf, fishing, and sailing, help to make up for the congestion.

Out-of-season visitors, on the other hand, will discover that Mardel, once a glamorous seaside resort in the 1920s and 1930s, and again during a midcentury development boom, has grown into a large and interesting city with stunning architecture and plenty of cultural attractions unrelated to the beach. Many of them are linked by appealing pedestrian thoroughfares that lead to an oceanfront promenade that winds around Mar del Plata's beautiful arced coastline.

Location: Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina