Ah, Buenos Aires, the city of tango, vibrant culture, and rich history. It’s a place where every street and alleyway is drenched in stories, waiting to be discovered.
If, like me, you find yourself in this mesmerising city with only a finite amount of time to explore, you’re in luck. I’ve spent days wandering these streets, and I’m thrilled to share with you my handpicked selection of Buenos Aires’ most captivating spots. These are the places that left a lasting imprint on my heart and are sure to do the same for you.
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About Buenos Aires
The capital of the South American nation of Argentina – Buenos Aires – is a cosmopolitan metropolis brimming with European sophistication and Latin American vitality. Its cityscape unfurls with continual change from the colourful La Boca to the avant-garde Palermo; the tango-filled cobbled streets to the sophisticated boutiques.
Theatres such as the incredible Teatro Colón emanate grandeur and serve up an assortment of imagined dances, symphonies and rhythmic arias from Paris to Moscow and from New York to Sydney. The very best museums also place Buenos Aires firmly on the global tourist map with exhibits showcasing the arts in all its forms. Tango has become Argentines’ distinctive export, and steakhouses and cafés culture prevails. The city literally buzzes with life!
Where to Stay in Buenos Aires
After a lot of research and chatting with locals is seems that Palermo is where it’s at if you’re a first time visitor to Buenos Aires. It’s divided into several distinct neighbourhoods, each of which is full of charm and very safe to explore.
Palermo Soho is probably one of Buenos Aires’ trendiest: a fusion of local colour with an urban vintage flavour. Its nightlife is bustling and food is served by traditional spots that can actually give good idea about the local food. It doesn’t take a long time to walk from one side to another due to the neighbourhood’s small size, which makes it a great spot for bars and cafes.
Krista Boutique Hotel
With an appreciative eye for detail and a warm, welcoming service, Krista Boutique Hotel does what it says on the tin. Arguably one of Palermo Soho’s best-located hotels, it offers a central and gently bohemian neighbourhood with a load of fabulous dining, shopping and cultural options right on its doorstep. Plus – it’s got a pool!
Nearby, Palermo Hollywood is always buzzing. This Palermo is the vibrant one, 24/7, where you will find lively bars, clubs and shops. It’s ideal for those interested in being at the heart of the city and having everything close at hand. The public transport, including taxis, are very easy to access.
Palo Santo Hotel
Nestled in the trendy Palermo Hollywood area of Buenos Aires, the Palo Santo Hotel emerges as a top choice for those looking for a harmonious blend of style and comfort.
As the first urban green hotel in Latin America, it stands out for its eco-conscious design and modern architecture.
Another possibility for a quieter and more tranquil stay, though without quite the cosmopolitan atmosphere, is Palermo Viejo or Palermo Chico, which is Palermo’s oldest neighbourhood. Here you can soak up a little historic atmosphere, and it’s not far from the city’s cultural hubs, including the Malba museum. The downside: hotels are harder to find.
Awwa Suites & Spa
Located at a calming hideaway in Buenos Aires’ Palermo Chico neighbourhood is the boutique hotel Awwa Suites & Spa. Many top rated attractions are within easy walking distance such as the Japanese Garden and Palermo Soho district, as well as other cultural highlights such as the Colón Theatre and the Obelisk area.
Palermo overall is a great spot: no matter if you are on a boozy night out or a peaceful historical walk through its elegant parks and tree-lined streets. This is also a great residential neighbourhood, and its extensive transport links as well as being the centre of the city’s nightlife will give you more options when picking your hotel.
How to get around Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a vibrant city that offers numerous cultural activities but also roads that can turn into a bit of an adventure when getting around the city. There is plenty of transport options to suit any type of traveller.
Buses (Colectivos): Buses are a great way to get around Argentina. They work the majority of the city, and are very affordable and frequent. To check out how to use buses in more detail (including info on the SUBE card, the ticket system, where the buses go, etc) have a look at my specific article here.
(Subte): Buenos Aires’ subway system is a fast and affordable means of city transportation that connects with the most important tourist spots and neighbourhoods.
Taxis and Ride-Sharing Apps: Taxis are abundant and can be picked up from the side of the street. Ride-sharing apps (such as Uber) are also available and are a good option for a direct trip.
Cycling: The city has a public bike-sharing system, which is a great way to travel short distances and reduce pollution.
Guided tours in Buenos Aires
A guided tour of Buenos Aires represents one of the best ways to enhance your experience in this wonderful city. Having a local expert by your side who’ll explain details about the fascinating history, interesting culture and beautiful architecture of Buenos Aires will give you a deeper insight and you’ll also likely learn many things that aren’t necessarily common knowledge.
Here’s some great tour options in Buenos Aires:
- Sherpa Food Tour: Local Foodie Adventure in Buenos Aires – Check out the Palermo Food Tour in Buenos Aires where you get to dine at four different eateries, all of which capture the various culinary influences, culinary culture and character of the city on this restaurant crawl. Along with all the dishes included, the tour has all the wine covered, which is fantastic, considering how much food you get to try.
- Small-Group Gaucho Day at a Farm in San Antonio de Areco – Experience the essence of Argentine culture with a Gaucho tour, featuring horseback riding, a traditional asado BBQ lunch, and an enthralling gaucho folklore show.
- El Viejo Almacén Tango Show – El Viejo Almacen offers a uniquely lovely tango evening accompanied by a magnificant a la carte dinner. In the heart of historic San Telmo, El Viejo Almacen is a most charming setting that recreates the old bodegas of classical tango culture, while embracing the modern-day inventiveness with an international cuisine a la carte dinner.
Things to do in Buenos Aires
Plaza del Congreso: An Urban Retreat with Historical Charm
First on the agenda: the quiet Plaza del Congreso, which is less a park and more a historical monument in the middle of a bustling city. It’s circled by sculptures, statues and monuments all with their own stories. The impressive Monument of the Two Congresses, for example, symbolises the ‘gathering of Argentine provinces’ in one. The monument to Mariano Moreno, an important figure in the drive towards independence of Argentina, is also a short walk from the park. Just a short, leisurely walk from the plaza, you’ll find yourself at the iconic Casa Rosada and Plaza de Mayo, two of Buenos Aires’ most historic sites.
Botanical Gardens: A Lush Haven in the Heart of the City
Next, let’s escape to the Botanical Gardens in Palermo. Let’s say you are finally fed up with the constant rush of the big city and you are looking for one of those parks or gardens where you can just leave your city worries behind and enjoy nature. You go for a stroll inside the public gardens with 5,500 species of plants collected from all over the world. Magnificent, nicely trimmed lawns, perfectly taken care of by meticulous groundskeepers. Paths so narrow you feel like you are walking on a trail inside the plant forest. Ponds, fountains, a greenhouse, an amazing diversity of flora. And all of it free of charge so, especially if you are travelling on a low budget, this is a must do in the city.
El Ateneo Bookshop: A Literary Haven with a Theatrical Past
Now, let me take you to a place that seems straight out of a bibliophile’s dream – El Ateneo Bookshop. And I want to The bookshop is housed in an old theatre and is a spellbinding mixture of preservation and renovation. The theatre’s original balconies, ornate carvings, and plush red curtains have all been kept as they are, and the expansive space is filled with thousands of books. In 2019, National Geographic declared it to be one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. The stage, where actors used to perform, is now a lovely café where you can order a coffee, sit and lose yourself in a book. Note – there is only a very small english section here, but you go for the experience more than for the shopping!
Caminito Street: A Colourful Journey through Argentine Culture
Let’s wander over to Caminito Street, one of the coolest places in town and the quintessential Buenos Aires experience if ever there was one. This is not a street, this is a spectacle, a celebration of Argentine culture that often feels three-dimensional, as if you had stumbled into a living painting through a rip in space and time. Striking shades of colour, deep crimson, indigo, violet, lime green and cerulean mark bright, boxy houses lined up side-by-side on a winding, alley-like avenue in La Boca. Caminito was the inspiration for a legendary tango song of the same name and by walking down the street, you’ll quickly see that it’s designed to let you experience the energy, colour, and chaos (in the best possible way) that define the city. As one of the most touristic spots in Buenos Aires be sure to arrive early to beat the crowds, we got there around 10am and it was just starting to liven up – I personally enjoyed having breakfast in a cafe while we watched people queue to take a photo with the Messi statue.
El Rosedal Garden: A Symphony of Colours and Fragrances
You haven’t been to Buenos Aires if you haven’t smelled the roses, and this stop is exactly that – El Rosedal Garden in Palermo. Tucked away from the business of the city, this oasis is filled with roses and sculptures giving you the perfect backdrop for a floral scented walk. We really enjoyed spending an hour or so walking around looking at thousands of roses, inhaling their scents and relishing their beauty.
Palacio Barolo: A Tribute to Literature and Architecture
The next stop, Palacio Barolo, is more of a homage to architecture or literature than just a building. Based on the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, the floors of the building correspond to the three parts of his work – Hell, Purgatory and Paradise – and the ascent to Heaven is symbolised by the lighthouse at the top of the building. A thousand details are hidden in its interior and the only way to enter is on a guided tour. The tour will take you all the way up the building where you’re finally rewarded with spectacular views over the city (it’s worth taking the tour for the viewpoint alone in my opinion!). Palacio Barolo is definitely a must-see, not only for those who are interested in the role that art plays in architecture, but also a different and interesting way to get an amazing view over Buenos Aires!
San Telmo Market: A Sunday Affair to Remember
There’s no doubt that the Mercado de San Telmo, an old-world indoor market in Bueno Aires, captures the character of the city. Built in 1897, the market was designed to serve European immigrants and became a central hub in cultural life in Buenos Aires. Today, it continues to serve the local community and tourists with an eclectic mix of old antiques paired with fresh fruit, spices, crafts, records, toys, and in my opinion, some of the best coffee‚ at the stall where Coffee Town takes residence.
The market is open every day except Monday but has different hours depending on the day. Sunday is probably the liveliest – particularly if you visit the San Telmo open-air antiques market on the nearby commercial avenue, Defensa – which is also where you’ll find numerous street performers, musicians and tango dancers.
Aside from shopping, the market is also a source of history and architecture: it’s a short walk to the underground historic tunnels at the El Zanjon de Granados museum or to the bizarre La Casa Minima – a house of unique square proportions.
Teatro Colon: An Ode to the Arts
Teatro Colon is more than just a theatre; it’s a symbol of Buenos Aires’ rich cultural heritage. As one of the most renowned opera houses in the world, it’s a place where art comes to life. The grand old theatre boasts outstanding acoustics, and a history that inaugurated the careers of many Argentinian performers and conductors. Tourists can also participate in the theatre through the guided tours which provide deeper insight into this cultural institution’s mechanical and historical structure.
Tours are available Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4:45 pm, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 11 am to 4:45 pm. English tours are offered at specific times throughout the day. The experience lasts about 50 minutes and allows visitors to explore the Main Hall, Foyer, Bustos Gallery, and the Golden Hall.
Recoleta Cemetery: Where History Sleeps
Buenos Aires’ Recoleta Cemetery occupies an unmatched place in the city’s history and architectural heritage, with a cemetery design and burial landscape that effectively chronicles the city’s unique history. Built in 1822, we think of it today as the historic, and gorgeous, first public burial space in Buenos Aires. Evidence of the lives lived by the elite in Argentina can be found not in the city itself, but rather in Buenos Aires’ fascinating necropolis of mausoleums and monuments. Its most famous inhabitant, Eva María Duarte de Perón, known affectionately as Evita, lies in Recoleta. Walking around the place, you pass by the tombs of presidents, politicians, Nobel Prize laureates, authors, actors, judges, engineers, military leaders, captains of industry – each mausoleum a story in itself, telling as much about the deceased as about the time and place in which they lived. The Recoleta Cemetery is open to the public every day of the year and offers visitors a detailed story on Argentina’s past – with an admission fee of 5090 Pesos to non-residents and free entry to Argentine residents. It is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.
Colon Fabrica: Touching the Art of Performance
After being awed by Teatro Colon, take the opportunity to delve deeper into the world of theatre at Colon Fabrica. This isn’t just a behind-the-scenes tour; it’s an immersion into the craft of performance art.
Teatro Colón is one of the few factory theatres in the world where every essential element for a theatrical production is crafted in-house. This includes scenery, costumes, wigs, shoes, and special effects. Visitors to Colón Fábrica can choose between self-guided tours or opt for a guided tour experience. The self-guided tours provide an hour to explore at your own pace, while the guided tours last approximately 40 minutes and are conducted in groups of up to 34 visitors. These tours offer an immersive glimpse into the backstage magic and the incredible craftsmanship behind some of the most famous productions hosted at the Teatro Colón – you can even touch the exhibits!
Where to Eat in Buenos Aires
After seeing all these things to do in Buenos Aires, chances are you’ll be hungry. So, here’s some of the best places to eat in Buenos Aires – tried and tested!
La Alacena
If you want Italian food, this is one of the best traditional Italian restaurants in Buenos Aires. Located in the trendy Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, this Italian restaurant has excellent and affordable food served with great hospitality. The restaurant is small with a friendly feel and you can choose to be seated both inside and outside the quaint venue, overlooking the local architecture and ambience.
La Terracita Asado
La Terracita in Buenos Aires turns is essentially a magical rooftop barbecue: an Argentinean feast of empanadas, asado, and dulce de leche with fine wine to wash it all down. Located in the vibrant neighbourhood of Palermo Soho, it turns out not to be just about the food but also the vibe, the great company, and the hospitality of the hosts. One of my favourite experiences in Buenos Aires!
Don Julio
Don Julio in Buenos Aires is not just a restaurant; it’s a culinary landmark where Argentina’s love for meat takes center stage. Awarded a MICHELIN Star, this steakhouse charms with its heritage – a family tradition rooted in butchery and cattle breeding. Here, you’re not just eating steak; you’re tasting a carefully honed craft. The Hereford and Angus meats, aged to perfection, and the sustainability ethos add depth to the dining experience. And, oh, the Argentinian wines! They turn a meal here into an unforgettable encounter with Buenos Aires’ gastronomic soul.
Alfahores from Guolis
Guolis Alfajores, born in Buenos Aires in the late ’90s, are a delightful treat that combine traditional Argentine flavours with a unique twist. Their range includes a raspberry-filled alfajor with a chocolatey exterior, a luxurious white chocolate variant overflowing with dulce de leche, and an intense dark chocolate alfajor for the true chocolate aficionado. They’re a must-try for anyone with a sweet tooth looking to experience authentic Argentine indulgence!
Pizzeria Güerrín
Stepping into Pizzería Güerrín in Buenos Aires is like taking a delicious journey back in time. Since 1932, this iconic spot on Corrientes Avenue has been dishing out what many locals consider the best pizza in the city. Their secret? It’s all in the dough – perfectly thick and fluffy, smothered in rich, melty cheese. Try their famous ‘Especial Güerrín’ topped with mozzarella, ham, and green olives for a true taste of Buenos Aires. It’s a bustling, vibrant place, so popping in early might save you from the queues. But trust me, the lively atmosphere and mouth-watering pizza are well worth any wait!
So there you have it – my personal, in-depth guide to Buenos Aires. Each of these places holds a special place in my heart, and I hope they’ll capture yours too. Buenos Aires is a city of stories, waiting to be discovered and cherished. Pack your sense of wonder and dive into the adventure – Buenos Aires is ready to welcome you with open arms.
