A vibrant, metropolitan city full of culture, Buenos Aires very much beats to its own drum. The beautiful capital of Argentina looks a bit like an European city, with 19th century French-inspired buildings. It’s a little Italian, and it’s a little French. Still, with its friendly people drinking mate and joking around everywhere, it’s also entirely Latin American. Thanks to a popular 80s rock song, Buenos Aires is nicknamed La Ciudad de la Furia: the City of Fury. So, there’s a lot going on in it! There are so many things to do and places to see in Buenos Aires, that visiting Buenos Aires is a heady experience!
We visited Buenos Aires as part of our 3 months traveling in South America and for us, stepping into this city was a case of love at first sight. We marveled at the snippets of history Buenos Aires offered on every corner, as well as its beautiful parks. We were also lucky enough to visit when the jacaranda trees were in full bloom: the city shined in purple.
In all, it was a mesmerizing sight, and I can’t wait to come back!
By the way, I am Linda Voltaire and I run Travel With a Silver Lining. Not too long ago my boyfriend and I decided to take some time off from our jobs to travel for three months in South America. Buenos Aires is definitely one of the highlights.
Things to Do in Buenos Aires
A major capital in the region and a meeting point for international culture lovers, Buenos Aires is huge. I’d definitely recommend a hop-on-hop-off to get a better glimpse and get to see even the less touristic spots. The city has very distinct neighborhoods, each with its own personality. Still, some traits are common, like the many parks and cafés full of people discussing life. I am excited to share my favorite Buenos Aires neighborhoods, as I think they are the best places for sightseeing in Buenos Aires.
Like all metropoles, the city is really several cities at once. Like many European capitals, it’s also a city built for pedestrians, and it’s a joy to walk around town. A nice, warm day in the sun is always good for the soul!
The city offers great theater, fine dining, and one-of-a-kind sights and places. If you are visiting Buenos Aires, or anywhere in Argentina, you will want to try the local specialties, so check out Things to Eat in Argentina. If you are seriously considering a trip, you will also want to check out where to stay when visiting Buenos Aires. Then read on for my favorite places to see in Buenos Aires. I am sure you are going to find somewhere you can’t wait to experience!
1. San Telmo Sundays: Tango & Market Day
San Telmo is the oldest neighborhood in Buenos Aires, and the place to really get a pulse of the city. It was a joy to walk by its old little buildings and see the many pubs and up-and-coming restaurants here. This very much feels like the heart of artsy life in town, with a very boho chic vibe to it.
Every Sunday, Defensa Street opens for craftspeople and becomes a meeting point for visitors. Here, you can find all kinds of artists, as talented people line up to show their creations. We loved looking around the handmade coats, jackets made of famous Argentine leather, and all sorts of cute little souvenirs. It’s also heaven for vintage lovers! There are a lot of little antique shops and even smaller galleries dedicated to memorabilia from other times. Be warned, though: on nicer days, it can get super crowded!
Walking through Defensa, we caught some of that porteño magic: every couple of blocks, there’s tango. Professionals of world-renowned tango dance in the streets and show off their skills, marveling tourists. A lovely experience that shouldn’t be missed if you’re staying in town on a Sunday.
2. A History Lesson in Microcentro
If Sundays are for San Telmo, weekdays are for Microcentro. It’s the place to be to see how this great capital functions!
Microcentro is where the famous Casa Rosada, the Argentine seat of government, is located. The house’s balcony hosted Eva Perón talking to her people on many occasions – and later Madonna when filming Evita!
Casa Rosada overlooks Plaza de Mayo, the city’s main square, built by the Spaniards during colonial times. It’s surrounded by Casa Rosada, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the old Cabildo, the legislative building in the Spanish reign.
There are many colonial buildings here, including the 16th century Metropolitan Cathedral. Until walking inside, you wouldn’t know this is a church: it looks very much like a pantheon. It’s Neo-Classic, and as so much of Buenos Aires, very French. It’s also the final resting place of Argentina’s Libertador, José de San Martín.
We were happy to get a glimpse of past centuries and even souvenirs from the previous decades in Microcentro. It’s always exciting to be where big decisions happen!
Not far from here, you’ll find Avenida Corrientes, Buenos Aires’ Broadway. It’s a huge avenue for night dwellers, with a long string of iconic theaters. You’ll also find iconic pizzerias like Güerrin here. Most Buenos Aires residents descend from Italians, so you can imagine pizzas and ice creams are amazing here.
An unmissable place is Café Tortoni, the most famous coffee-house in the city. It’s hosted a good number of celebrities!
3. Instagram-Friendly Boca, the Place for Football Fans
Boca is a very traditional working class neighborhood, and home to arguably the most famous club in Argentina: Boca Juniors. The team’s stadium, La Bombonera (“the chocolate box” due to its shape), is among the most iconic anywhere. A total joy for any football fan – and since I travel with one of those, it was a big deal!
On the stadium you can find cutoffs of iconic players and even impersonators you can take pictures with. Plus, of course, a whole lot of memorabilia!
That’s not where Boca’s charms end. The neighborhood hosts Caminito, a little museum/pathway mentioned in tango songs. It’s full of super talented tango players dancing around for the perfect Buenos Aires pic. Much of the tango mythology comes from this cute little barrio, and you can feel it on every step.
But it’s the colors that made me fall in love with this neighborhood. There are bright hues in every house, and a number of restaurants and little shops. The colorful atmosphere is in tune with the neighborhood’s evident camaraderie.
While the main Caminito strip in Boca is a little touristic, we still couldn’t resist its charm. Keep in mind this isn’t the safest neighborhood in town, so be a little on your toes here!
4. Recoleta – A Slice of Paris in the Southern Hemisphere
The entire city of Buenos Aires feels fairly European, but Recoleta takes the cake in Parisian vibes. In the mid 19th century, this is where most French immigrants in Argentina located, and made Recoleta feel like home. Its buildings have the iconic Parisian Haussmannian rooftops, and a classic look to them. Its narrow streets and cute little parks add to the look, and it feels a bit like Opéra in Paris. This is certainly the farthest arrondissement!
This traditional upper class neighborhood has housed some of the most famous residents of the city. Oddly enough, Zorro actor Guy Williams spent his later years here. And years before the revolution called him, Che Guevara himself lived here with his aristocratic family.
Besides its architecture, what sets this neighborhood apart is its peculiar center of activities: a cemetery. The Recoleta Cemetery, right in the middle of the city, is a spooky yet beautiful 19th century cemetery. Many of the most important historical figures of Argentina are interred here, including legendary First Lady Eva Perón. The cemetery is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city due to its gorgeous mausoleums. Its huge, beautiful graves speak of a time of opulence in Argentina.
What’s crazy here is that the cemetery is actually a focal point of nightlife for tourists. There’s an upscale mall with a cinema right in front of the cemetery, plus many bars and restaurants. It really lights up at night!
Just a few steps away from the cemetery, there’s the Recoleta Cultural Center, a must for art lovers. They always hold exhibitions and fun stuff, and it’s home to famous theater group Fuerza Bruta.
I found that walking around Recoleta is one of the great joys in Buenos Aires. Seeing the parks, maybe going into the local Palais de Glace, having some brunch at Le Blé Café. Another sight not to miss is the gorgeous Floralis Generica statue. It’s a huge metal construction shaped as a flower; its petals follow the sunlight every day!
5. The P in Palermo is for Partying!
Palermo is where everything is always happening in Buenos Aires. Most of the local foodie scene is located here, as well as the art. Up-and-coming designers, from clothes to décor, have showrooms in this neighborhood. Palermo is young, hip, and with an undeniably artistic feel to it. We just loved spending time here, in the heart of all local trends!
Palermo is full of little cafés, local breweries, restaurants for all tastes. Whether you’re looking for a three-course dinner, great tacos or a righteous fancy burger, this is the spot. The neighborhood is actually so huge, it has subdivisions. Palermo Hollywood houses local movie and TV studios. Palermo Soho, around Plaza Serrano, houses many local artists and street art. And there are actually a few more!
Everyone around here is beautiful, hip, clearly in the know. There are many Instagrammable spots here, with its restored homes and amazing street art. Locals and expats from all over the world meet here to talk about life and new, exciting projects. Plus, there’s always a cute little boutique with the perfect item that will catch your eye here.
Getting deeper into the neighborhood, you’ll find the most beautiful park in Buenos Aires: Bosques de Palermo. This huge Central Park-like place includes a rose garden, the Planetarium, a Japanese garden and many cute lakes. A picnic around here is a must!
Local brasserie Casa Cruz here in Palermo quickly became a favorite for us and Palermo was for sure one of our favorite areas.
6. Glimpse into the Future at Puerto Madero
In another Parisian twist, the tech district of Buenos Aires has a lot of La Défense. A place full of glass buildings and huge hotel chains, it’s one of the most high-end places in town. Puerto Madero is right behind the Casa Rosada, but it feels like an entirely different city. Modern skyscrapers, a huge harbor full of fancy yachts, this is about two centuries newer than vintage-loving Buenos Aires.
Puerto Madero is mostly offices and hotels, but there are also many upscale bars and restaurants. We started our night here at Italian restaurant Sottovoce, and it was delicious! That reminds me, we have given you so many great things to do in Buenos Aires, but not a lot of places to eat. So be sure to see our choices for the best restaurants in Buenos Aires.
Find some crazy good deals on hotels in every neighborhood of Buenos Aires!
Outside Buenos Aires…
If all of our favorite things to do in Buenos Aires still haven’t given you enough reasons to visit this amazing city, there are also some equally amazing places to visit in the surrounding area. Argentina takes up about half of the South American continent, and it offers a lot of sights. And, if you are considering visiting Argentina in 2019, the country will be blessed by a rare total eclipse. If you plan your trip right, you could be there to see the solar eclipse!
My two favorite places in Argentina, outside of Buenos Aires, that I truly recommend to visit:
Tigre
A 40-minute train ride away from Buenos Aires, there’s Tigre, a natural resort town for porteños. It’s a cute little town that’s also a delta, with gorgeous river views. It’s a respite from the buzzing town, and a definite must for those craving an oasis of calm.
Iguazú
The largest waterfall system in the world, Iguazú, is partly located in Argentina, in the border with Brazil. You can take a flight to the nearest city, Puerto Iguazú, and then a fixed-rate taxi to the hotel. Here, we stayed at what was basically a jungle hotel, La Cantera.
Once you’re in the actual waterfalls, the sight is just breathtaking. The communion with nature can be both frightening and awe-inspiring. A breathtaking sight that should definitely be on your bucket list! Plan for two days full to visit both the Argentinian and Brazilian side and prepare yourself for days full of natural wonders! Be sure to see our Iguazu Falls Travel Guide for more in depth info about where to stay, and more stunning photos.
We truly loved Buenos Aires and we hope that we inspired you to plan a trip to this South American gem!
Perhaps our favorite things to do in Buenos Aires are not exactly what you are looking for. You can find a ton of other fabulous places by starting on the Our Destinations page.
In the meantime, be sure to Pin this, for a reminder of all the great things to do in Buenos Aires when you are planning your trip.
About the Author
My name is Linda Voltaire and I have been a travel addict the last 15 years or so. I love to see new places, experience new cultures and meet new people. 1,5 year ago me and my boyfriend decided to take some time off from our jobs to travel for three months in South America. A dream coming true and a trip that kind of changed our lives. I realized that I do not only love to travel but also to share my travel experiences with others and Fredrik found a new interest in photography!
During that trip, I started my blog, made my Instagram account public and the rest is history☺! My niche is Travel with a Silver Lining. For me this means a more personal and authentic experience by staying at cozy design & boutique hotels, finding small hip eateries and leaving the crowds behind to get a feeling of the local life beyond the crowds! You can find us on Facebook, and Instagram.
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