Explore Buenos Aires
About Buenos Aires
Bienvenido a Buenos Aires! Anyone who’s seen the romantic sidewalk cafes, cutting-edge fashion, historic architecture, a blend of Latin and European culture, and the pulsating music and dance scene of Buenos Aires understands why it’s called the Paris of South America. As the capital of the 8th largest country in the world, the city is awash in culture, history, and things to do.
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Best Time To visit
The best time to visit Buenos Aires depends on you. The busiest time to visit is in the southern hemisphere’s summer, from January to March. Shoulder season between September to December and April to June are some of the best times to visit to avoid crowds and enjoy the warm weather. There is no bad time to visit, though. Even Buenos Aires in winter, during July and August, is a crisp 60 degrees with lows not going below 47 degrees.
What to expect
As Argentina’s capital, there are many things to do in Buenos Aires. You’ll want to visit Recoleta’s cemetery on a Saturday or Sunday to enjoy the artisan market, local entertainment, and famous monuments. Sunday is also the day for the famous San Telmo market, with souvenirs, performers, and street food. If you can’t make it on the weekend, this neighborhood is still worth visiting to see the Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the indoor market.
Buenos Aires’s vibrant neighborhoods are full of iconic art, architecture, and local restaurants.
Palermo is a large area in Buenos Aires with the famous Plaza Armenia and Plaza Serrano. The European-style boutiques, sidewalk cafes, street art, and the city’s best restaurants and bars fill the streets. The city’s wealthy past is apparent not only in Palermo but throughout with the many palaces and mansions, offering a historical look into a time past.
It might be one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, but Buenos Aires isn’t flashy. So don’t feel the need to keep up with the most recent trends or dress up. Instead, soak in the city in comfortable walking shoes and clothes. The only exception is if you go to an authentic tango experience. A milonga, unlike the tango street performers you’ll find in the tourist areas, has its own set of rules and is best visited with a local tour guide.
For more Argentinian culture, Buenos Aires museums are some of the best in the world. Their art museums include the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires and Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo. Teatro Colon is an elegant opera house for concerts. And for book lovers, Buenos Aires has more bookstores per capita than any other city in the world. El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Recoleta is the most iconic.
For a day trip from Buenos Aires, visiting one of the working ranches or estancias is a wonderful way to spend the day with horseback rides, barbeque lunch, folklore music, snacks, and tea. Another day trip from Buenos Aires is to the Parana River Delta in Tigre. A private boat tour takes you to exclusive islands dotted with restaurants and quaint houses.
Things to know
Buenos Aires is a popular tourist destination, and the city is relatively safe, but you should avoid keeping valuables easily accessible and visiting La Boca at night. If you speak Spanish, don’t expect to understand their unique dialect, Rioplatenses Castillian. With its fast pace, local slang, and highly expressive pronunciation, it’s easy to see the port city’s Italian influence. You’ll hear plenty of Buenos Aires Spanish if you’re invited to an asada. This Argentinian barbeque is full of camaraderie, yerba mate, and meat. If you’re not invited to an asada, the Parrillas or local steakhouses are an excellent place to experience local food.
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, the most traditional meals in Buenos Aires will be challenging, but there are plenty of vegetarian restaurants in the city. Kensho in Palermo is one of the best for a special occasion. Its tasting menus are entirely vegetarian, with an emphasis on health and raw foods. Sacro, also in Palermo, is a high-end vegan restaurant with a variety of cocktails and cold-pressed juices. Verde is another famous organic raw food vegetarian restaurant as is Bio Solo Organico, an entirely organic restaurant with seasonal and vegetarian choices.
While Buenos Aires isn’t known for its organic fare, some of the best restaurants in the city are focused on organics.
And when it comes to unwinding, Buenos Aires’ luxury wellness scene is full of hotels, spas, and wellness programs to relax after exploring jungles, sipping wine, and tango-dancing. Alvear Palace Spa and Fitness are great for a quick moment of respite — they have beauty express and full-day treatment options. Faena Hotel and Spa is also one of the best places to stay in Buenos Aires. It combines Eastern and Western treatment options, Zen-meditation rooms, Ayurvedic massage, pranic healing, and one-on-one yoga for a great place to relax in the city.
how to get around
The subway is the quickest way to get around the city, but tour buses, taxis, and bike tours are another great way to experience the city. In addition, we recommend walking around the neighborhoods to get a feel for the city’s culture. While you can rent a car, you’ll spend more time searching for parking and being stuck in traffic within the city limits.
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