I may be slightly biased, but Buenos Aires really is an incredible city. Whether you enjoy music, dancing, architecture, art galleries, history museums, street art, food markets, craft markets, antiques, wining, dining, cocktails bars, night clubs or laid-back leafy squares, this city really does have something for everyone. If you’re planning to spend a night or two here, you might like to take a look at our most Recommended Hotels in Buenos Aires.
On arrival (here’s some more information on Buenos Aires’ Airports) we really do suggest taking a guided tour, whether it be a “sit in bus” style tour, a walking tour or a cycling tour. These are great ways to orientate yourself in the city, learn a bit of background history and culture and get some insider tips from a local “Porteño”. You will visit locations such as the 80m Obelisc that stands proud in the middle of the enormous Avenida 9 de Julio, the Government Palace locally known as the “Pink Palace”, the Recoleta Cemetery where Evita was finally laid to rest and the artistic, tango neighbourhood of La Boca.
Once you’ve visited the must sees of this sensational city, here are some of my top recommendations of how to spend and free time you might have.
- Avenida de Mayo – Walk the Avenida de Mayo from the Casa Rosada until the Plaza de Congreso stopping on the way to poke your head into or stop for a coffee in the Café Tortoni (825) a great way to get a feel for what Buenos Aires would have been like in the early 1900’s.
- Teatro Colon (Opera House) – This world famous building sits proudly on the very wide Avenida 9 de Juilo. The inside is breathtaking and a tour not only takes you into the auditorium and many rooms of the Opera House but gives you a great overview of the history of Buenos Aires at the time it was built. Tours in English on the hour, every hour lasting 50 mins from 09:00 – 19:00 – ARG$130. (The entrance is on the left hand side of the building on Tucuman).
- San Telmo neighbourhood and its cafés – San Telmo is where the aging and young bohemians of Buenos Aires hang out. Traditionally where the upper classes lived until 1871 when a yellow fever out break drove them out. Nowadays you can still see some of the traditional 1800`s architecture, antique shops and sometimes tango in its square. There are also some great cafes – La Poesia – Chile/Bolivar & El Federal – Peru/Carlos Calvo; Plaza Dorrego for people watching, some handicrafts and maybe some tango.
- Train Lovers…..
- Metro Line C – for metro lovers, the stations along these lines have some fantastic mosaics.
- Retiro Station – a grand old station with its tea rooms still running.
5. Ecological Reserve – beyond Puerto Madero you find the extensive Ecological reserve which is quite good for bird spotting and escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. Take a pic-nic, plenty of water and watch the ships as they sail in and out of the River Plate.
6. Palermo neighbourhood – all within relative proximity to each other you can head to Palermo (take metro line D and get off at Plaza Italia) and visit:
- Museo Evita, Lafinur 2988; open 11 – 19, ARG$20.
- MALBA (Museum of Latin American Art), Avda. Figueroa Alcorta 3415; open12 – 20, ARG$45.
- Palermo parks.
- Around Plazoleta Cortazar – Palermo Soho and Palermo Viejo is where all the trendy young Porteños can be found, quirky clothes shops, some great street art and cafes.
7. Galerias Pacifico – a beautiful old shopping centre, on the busy (quite tacky) pedestrianized street Florida but with this one great highlight – –100% worth a look inside.
8. Puerto Madero – the newly developed dock yard is a great place for strolling and also has 2 old naval ships docked in docks 3 & 4 that you can visit. A wonderful place to come in the evening as it is well lit, safe and has plenty of restaurants.
Be safe and enjoy!
(Look out for Freddo`s Ice-cream shops – not to be missed!)
Are you visiting Santiago? Here are Sally’s tips on Things to do in Santiago
