Buenos Aires Destination Guide
Buenos Aires, the dynamic capital of Argentina, resonates with a rich history of European flair mixed with Latin American heritage. For many visitors the initial impression is the elegance of a cosmopolitan European city, with ornate architecture features and shaded plazas dotted amongst weaving cobblestone streets. Once termed the Paris of South America it is a city where fashionable locals sit and chat in corner cafes, stroll along tree lined avenues and sip quality Argentine wine.
Follow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Buenos Aires:
However, it is often the pulsing undercurrent of Buenos Aires that seeps into the travellers' veins. Such as the faded elegance of state buildings, the sultry steps of the tango and the electrifying nightlife.
This Buenos Aires Destination Guide describes many of the highlights that a traveller can see and do. You can cycle the paths in Palermo, chant with football fans at a classic River or Boca football match, shop in boutique stores or visit cultural centers like the Teatro Colon and MALBA. Take any Buenos Aires tour to meet proud locals who welcome visitors to this unique city. You should also check out our Buenos Aires Country Guide for more general travel information.
Things to See & Do in Buenos AiresFollow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Buenos Aires:
Downtown Buenos Aires
The center of Buenos Aires city is often best explored on a walking tour as it is bursting with points of interest.
The Plaza de Mayo is the central point of the city center and also the location of the Thursday vigils by the Mothers of the Disappeared. The Plaza is overlooked by the La Casa Rosada, the impending Pink House where the President holds office and also the site where Evita would stand on the balcony to wave to the crowds. Also surrounding the Plaza is the Cathedral, a baroque styled building that contains the tomb of the national hero, San Martin. And El Cabildo, the historic house where the May Revolution began.
Leading from the Plaza is Avenida de Mayo which is lined by historical buildings including La Prensa, the Castelar hotel and Café Tortoni, the oldest café in Buenos Aires. The Avenue leads to Palacio del Congreso, an extraordinarily beautiful site inspired by the Washington Capitol building.
Just off the bustling pedestrian strip of Florida is the beautifully restored Galerias Pacifico with high vaulted ceilings decorated with painted murals. It is a shopping mall and also houses the Centro Cultural de Borges, which always has art exhibitions, shows and concerts.
Buenos Aires boasts the widest avenue in the world, 9 de Julio. Standing proudly in the middle is The Obelisk, a city icon that was constructed to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires.
The Plaza de Mayo is the central point of the city center and also the location of the Thursday vigils by the Mothers of the Disappeared. The Plaza is overlooked by the La Casa Rosada, the impending Pink House where the President holds office and also the site where Evita would stand on the balcony to wave to the crowds. Also surrounding the Plaza is the Cathedral, a baroque styled building that contains the tomb of the national hero, San Martin. And El Cabildo, the historic house where the May Revolution began.
Leading from the Plaza is Avenida de Mayo which is lined by historical buildings including La Prensa, the Castelar hotel and Café Tortoni, the oldest café in Buenos Aires. The Avenue leads to Palacio del Congreso, an extraordinarily beautiful site inspired by the Washington Capitol building.
Just off the bustling pedestrian strip of Florida is the beautifully restored Galerias Pacifico with high vaulted ceilings decorated with painted murals. It is a shopping mall and also houses the Centro Cultural de Borges, which always has art exhibitions, shows and concerts.
Buenos Aires boasts the widest avenue in the world, 9 de Julio. Standing proudly in the middle is The Obelisk, a city icon that was constructed to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires Neighbourhoods
Buenos Aires is a city of barrios, or neighbourhoods, 48 in total, each with their own distinct character. Some of the best neighbourhoods to visit include:
La Boca. Well known for their football team and local hero Maradona, Boca is part of the old port area. The brightly coloured houses of El Caminito, a tiny street filled with tango dancers and craft stores make a classic photo opportunity.
San Telmo. Every Sunday the cobblestone streets overflow with antique stalls, street performers and buskers. The festivities are best enjoyed from one of the many cafes and bars that surround the Plaza Dorrego.
Recoleta. Visit the final resting place of many of Argentina's most influential people at the Recoleta cemetery filled with elaborate family mausoleums. Alternatively you can enjoy different forms of art at the Fine Art Museum, one of the city's best galleries.
Palermo. One of the trendiest neighbourhoods Palermo, is filled with many local desingers clothing stores, up and coming art studios and coffee shops on every corner. Plaza Serrano is the perfect place for people watching, or for modern art viewing try the modern arts museum, MALBA.
Puerto Madero. The newest barrio in Buenos Aires in which each street named after a famous Argentine woman. With very little traffic Puerto Madero is ideal for walking as you pass luxury hotels, high class restaurants and open parkland.
La Boca. Well known for their football team and local hero Maradona, Boca is part of the old port area. The brightly coloured houses of El Caminito, a tiny street filled with tango dancers and craft stores make a classic photo opportunity.
San Telmo. Every Sunday the cobblestone streets overflow with antique stalls, street performers and buskers. The festivities are best enjoyed from one of the many cafes and bars that surround the Plaza Dorrego.
Recoleta. Visit the final resting place of many of Argentina's most influential people at the Recoleta cemetery filled with elaborate family mausoleums. Alternatively you can enjoy different forms of art at the Fine Art Museum, one of the city's best galleries.
Palermo. One of the trendiest neighbourhoods Palermo, is filled with many local desingers clothing stores, up and coming art studios and coffee shops on every corner. Plaza Serrano is the perfect place for people watching, or for modern art viewing try the modern arts museum, MALBA.
Puerto Madero. The newest barrio in Buenos Aires in which each street named after a famous Argentine woman. With very little traffic Puerto Madero is ideal for walking as you pass luxury hotels, high class restaurants and open parkland.
Parks of Buenos Aires
The city is designed with many green plazas as well as immense parks.
The Costanera Sur is an ecological reserve located right on the River Plate. It is a perfect place for bike riding, bird watching and strolling.
Half of Palermo consists of the immense Bosques del Palermo, with three artificial lakes, the Rosedal (Rose Garden) and the largest Japanese Garden outside of Japan. This huge green area is popular with locals and tourists on sunny days and weekends.
The Costanera Sur is an ecological reserve located right on the River Plate. It is a perfect place for bike riding, bird watching and strolling.
Half of Palermo consists of the immense Bosques del Palermo, with three artificial lakes, the Rosedal (Rose Garden) and the largest Japanese Garden outside of Japan. This huge green area is popular with locals and tourists on sunny days and weekends.
Tango in Buenos Aires
The national dance, tango evolved from the seedy backstreets of La Boca into a world famous and prestigious art form. You can join in a tango class to learn a few dance steps. Watch an elaborate tango show at the theatre or visit a milonga (dance event) late in the evening to watch local dance away their evenings.
Sports in Buenos Aires
Football is the national obsession with matches played on most weekends. The superclasico is one of the seasons biggest events when arch rivals River Plate play Boca Juniors. If you are lucky enough to be at this event at the Boca home ground of La Bombenera you will feel the ground shake when the local teams arrives.
The flat terrain and bike paths make Buenos Aires a great city to explore on bike. Join a Buenos Aires bike tour or self navigate through one of the many parks.
The Argentine national polo team is one of the best in the world. You can catch them in action at the Campo Argentino del Polo or learn the basics of the game yourself at one of the local polo schools.
Take the Tren de la Costa out of the city center to Tigre where you can kayak or canoe the river ways and mangrove forests to fully appreciate a unique environment.
The flat terrain and bike paths make Buenos Aires a great city to explore on bike. Join a Buenos Aires bike tour or self navigate through one of the many parks.
The Argentine national polo team is one of the best in the world. You can catch them in action at the Campo Argentino del Polo or learn the basics of the game yourself at one of the local polo schools.
Take the Tren de la Costa out of the city center to Tigre where you can kayak or canoe the river ways and mangrove forests to fully appreciate a unique environment.
Theatre and Museums Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a cultural hub, with museums, galleries and theatres spread all around the city. There are dozens small museums dedicated to the life and history of influential historical figures including, Carlos Gardel, the famous tango singer, Bartolome Mitre, the country's first president, Eva Peron, known by her admirers as Evita and Xul Solar, the eccentric painter.
If you can only visit a couple art galleries, the best include the Museo Nacional de Belas Artes, the fine arts museum and MALBA, the modern arts museum. For an insight into the life of the gaucho, the Mapuche people and the history of Argentina the Jose Hernandez Museum in Palermo is the perfect place to start.
Outdoor art can be viewed throughout the city, from the classic fountains including Las Nereidas, the replica of Rodins The Thinker and the immense monuments dedicated to national heroes such as San Martin.
Corrientes Avenue is the location of many Buenos Aires theatres. The most impressive of all is Teatro Colon. Over one hundred years old, it has held performances by Caruso, Maria Callas, Toscanini, Pavarotti and Nikinsky. It has recently been completely refurbished and is worth a visit just to see the interior decorations.
If you can only visit a couple art galleries, the best include the Museo Nacional de Belas Artes, the fine arts museum and MALBA, the modern arts museum. For an insight into the life of the gaucho, the Mapuche people and the history of Argentina the Jose Hernandez Museum in Palermo is the perfect place to start.
Outdoor art can be viewed throughout the city, from the classic fountains including Las Nereidas, the replica of Rodins The Thinker and the immense monuments dedicated to national heroes such as San Martin.
Corrientes Avenue is the location of many Buenos Aires theatres. The most impressive of all is Teatro Colon. Over one hundred years old, it has held performances by Caruso, Maria Callas, Toscanini, Pavarotti and Nikinsky. It has recently been completely refurbished and is worth a visit just to see the interior decorations.
Buenos Aires Nightlife
Buenos Aires is truly a city that never sleeps. There are hundreds of choices of bars and clubs to spend every evening, with trends and fads deciding which is the most popular spot each night. Nights start late, most bars start getting busy around midnight and most clubs don't open until 2am, although they entice early arrivals with free entrance and complimentary drinks. It is possible to go out every night of the week for months and never visit the same place.
Hola, meet Marlo and all the team from Vamos Adventure Travel, your local connection in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Buenos Aires charms her visitors with its European heritage combined with the strong local traditions of welcoming travelers with Latin passion. The proof is in the fact that travellers always want to return to explore more of Argentina. Our local team of experienced professionals can’t wait to help you plan an unforgettable visit to our marvellous city, the gateway to Argentina!
