In short
Bariloche is built on Lake Nahuel Huapi, in a setting of forests and peaks that gave the town its alpine chalet architecture and its chocolate tradition, inherited from Swiss and German immigrants.
Nahuel Huapi national park, the oldest in Argentina, begins at the edge of town. The Seven Lakes road runs north and links up with San Martín de los Andes.
What it really costs
It is one of the more expensive Argentine destinations, but it stays cheap for a visitor holding foreign currency. Inflation makes any figure perishable: the exchange rate matters more than the posted price.
Two high seasons overlap: the southern summer for hiking, December to March, and winter for skiing at Cerro Catedral, July to September. The shoulder seasons are quiet and much cheaper.
What nobody tells you
In January the town is overrun by Argentine school-leavers' trips. It is noisy, and much of the central accommodation is reserved for them.
Wind and weather changes are abrupt in the mountains, summer included. Park refuges must be booked, and trails can close.
Volcanic ash from Chilean eruptions has disrupted flights to Bariloche several times. It is not frequent, but it happens and it grounds everything for days.