There's only two reasons to stop in Neuquén - the wealth of paleontological sites in the surrounding area, or the three excellent wineries just out of town. That said, the town has a strangely hypnotic effect, with its wide, tree-lined boulevards and liberal smattering of plazas. If you do find yourself hanging around, make sure you take a stroll through the central park, a strip of reclaimed railway land that is slowly filling up with public art, sculptures, fountains and galleries.Most travelers hit Neuquén en route to more glamorous destinations in Patagonia and the Lake District - the town is the area's principal transport hub, with good connections to Bariloche and other Lake District destinations, to the far south and to Chile.