Buenos Aires Itinerary: How To Spend 3 Days In Buenos Aires
Is Buenos Aires worth visiting?! YES. As the capital city of Argentina, Buenos Aires is full of rich history, Paris-like architecture, and a vivacious buzz that can be found around every corner. With a 3-day Buenos Aires itinerary, you’ll be able to see some of the best things Buenos Aires has to offer.
Buenos Aires is massive! While three days in Buenos Aires is a good start, most folks skip it altogether to jet set off to their next destination in Argentina, and that’s a big mistake!
We spent nearly 10 days on our one-month trip to Argentina in Buenos Aires and loved it. Sure, it’s a large city, but Buenos Aires has so much to see and do!
From its different neighborhoods, exceptional restaurants, sprawling green parks, and tango-filled atmosphere, you’ll see why so many people spend weeks in Buenos Aires.
It’s modern, yet nosologic, and really does have a little something for everyone.
3 Day Buenos Aires Itinerary
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What Is The Best Month To Visit Buenos Aires?
Buenos Aires, like Argentina, is a year-round destination to visit. However, when planning your Buenos Aires itinerary, spring and Fall tend to be the best seasons.
Argentina’s Spring months, like September to November, and its Fall months, like March to May, are often considered the best months due to weather and fewer crowds.
However, we visited during Argentina’s summer, January, and we loved it!
While the summer months in Argentina (December – February) are considered their rainy season, we’re here to tell you otherwise! It barely rained, and when it did, it was a short little storm that rolled in and out.
The lovely summer weather in Argentina made a perfect break from the U.S. winters!
How Many Days Do I Need in Buenos Aires?
This is a little bit of a loaded question because we highly recommend spending whatever time you can spend in Buenos Aires. Sure, you can spend 1 day here, but you’ll miss so much!
To get a good feel of what Buenos Aires has to do, we really recommend 3 days.
Three days for a Buenos Aires itinerary will give you a chance to hit the city’s highlights and top attractions.
Of course, if you have 3 or more days, you can explore the areas around the city, giving you a greater feel of what lies outside of this bustling metropolis.
Check out our planning guide and 2 week itinerary to Argentina!
How To Get Around Buenos Aires?
Buenos Aires is a fantastic city to walk through! With safe and fun neighborhoods like Palermo and Recoleta, walking in Buenos Aires is a great way to get around.
If you want something a little quicker, you can opt to join a bike tour or even look at jumping on the hop-on-hop-off bus tours that whisk tourists around the city.
PRO TIP: When we visited Buenos Aires, there was an orange Buenos Aires city bike system (EcoBici) that you could rent via app by the hour. However, the app did not work for us. Definitely try it and see if you are luckier than we were!
Finally, while there is public transportation in Buenos Aires, we stuck to calling an Uber when we were heading to a place that was too far to walk.
Uber in Buenos Aires was always reliable and VERY affordable when we visited.
Tips for Spending 3 Days In Buenos Aires
1. People Eat Late
This is for all of Argentina, not just Buenos Aires. People start late and stay out late!
If you arrive at a restaurant before 8 PM, you’ll likely be one of the only people in the place. Most people in Buenos Aires start eating dinner between 9 PM – 10 PM. And if you’re visiting a popular restaurant, reservations are highly recommended.
2. Mosquitos
When we visited Buenos Aires (mind you, in the summer), one of the most surprising things was how many mosquitos there were! No lie, we could not leave our apartment unless we had bug spray.
So, if you plan to visit Buenos Aires in the summer, bring bug spray!
3. Google Translate Is Your Friend
We highly recommend downloading the Google Translate App if you don’t speak Spanish. This app is seriously our go-to when we visit Spanish-speaking countries.
Just like it saved us in Colombia and Guatemala, Google Translate also came in handy in Argentina!
Google Translate is one of our go-to travel apps, from translating menus or signs to allowing us to communicate with waiters and shop owners easily. It’s amazing and so helpful.
4. Outlet Adapters
If you are visiting Argentina from the U.S. (like we did!), or any other country for that matter, be sure the check if your outlets match the outlets in Argentina.
For U.S. visitors, we’ll do you a favor and give you a heads-up that you’ll need an outlet adapter to charge your devices, etc., in Argentina.
Argentina uses type C and type I power plugs and sockets, so an outlet adapter like this will cover you!
5. Tipping & Cash
While you can pay with credit cards in Buenos Aires, you are not allowed to tip with your credit card. At least in our experience. Whatever payment system restaurants in Buenos Aires use only allows for tips to be in cash.
Tipping 10% in Argentina is customary, so please ensure you always have cash.
Oh, and sometimes, restaurants won’t accept cards, so it’s best to ask before sitting down if cards are accepted.
Want to know more? Check out the 15 things to know before visiting Argentina!
Where To Stay In Buenos Aires
Palermo
We stayed in Palermo and loved it!
Palermo is a quaint, walkable neighborhood with bars, shops, and cafes. There are loads of nicer hotels like BE Jardin Escondido (where Francis Ford Coppola stayed!), Mine Hotel, and Magnolia, all of which are great accommodation options to consider when booking in Palermo!
If you’d rather stay in an apartment in Palermo, this modern studio and apartment are wonderful options! And for those looking for budget-friendly accommodations, PH Palermo Hostel and LOPEZ Hostel & Suites are for you!
Recoleta
Recoleta, the nicest area in Buenos Aires, is upscale and, like Palermo, home to many bars, shops, and cafes.
Accommodations like Casa Par, Poetry Building, and Casa Bevant are exceptional places to call home while exploring Buenos Aires!
And for those budget seekers, hostels like Mons and Casa Franca are cost-effective places to stay in the nicer areas of Buenos Aires.
In reality, you really can’t go wrong with either neighborhood! They’re both charming, safe areas of the city close to many amazing things to do in Buenos Aires!
About This Buenos Aires Itinerary
For this Buenos Aires 3-day itinerary, we assume you have three FULL days in Buenos Aires. This means you’ll arrive in Buenos Aires the day before Day 1 and leave the day after Day 3.
If you arrive in Buenos Aires on Day 1, that’s ok! Depending on when you land, you may have to cut a few things or plan to follow the 2-day Buenos Aires itinerary.
PRO TIP: Spending a weekend in Buenos Aires is a must! The San Telmo Sunday Market was one of our favorite experiences in Buenos Aires. Not to mention, spending a Saturday on Caminito in La Boca getting lunch is a must, too! So, depending on the days of the week you are visiting, you may need to shift San Telmo to a Sunday and La Boca to a Saturday.
Buenos Aires Itineary Day 1: Walking Tour, Recoletta, Asado
Morning: Buenos Aires Walking Tour
If you stay in Palermo during your 3 days in Buenos Aires, we highly recommend starting your day with a coffee and bite to eat at Vive Café, Cuervo Café, or Rita Specialty Coffee.
Our favorite way to start a first day in a new place is by participating in a city walking tour or bike tour. When visiting a place as big and full of history as Buenos Aires, walking/bike tours not only take you to see top sights but also teach you about the city as well.
When we visited Buenos Aires, we first reserved a FREE walking tour that took us to the Recoleta and Retiro neighborhoods over the course of the morning and early afternoon.
PRO TIP: There are other Buenos Aires walking tours, but the one above is what we did and really enjoyed! While it’s a free booking, tips are encouraged at the end.
The walking tour starts off at Teatro Colón (the famous opera house in Buenos Aires).
From there, you’ll wander past must-see sights of Buenos Aires like The Big Ben of South America (Torre Monumental), Malvinas/Falklands War Monument, and Plaza San Martín, as well as walk across the widest avenue in the world, Av. 9 de Julio.
At the end of the free walking tour, you’ll be in Recolota, the lavish neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The tour will stop near the famous Recoleta Cemetary, where you can opt to pay to enter.
TIP: If you visit Recoleta over the weekend, there is a good chance you’ll find vendors selling handmade items. You can walk from stall to stall to see if something catches your eye!
Afternoon: Recoleta Cemetery
A cemetery? You want me to visit a cemetery? Yes. Hear us out.
The Recoleta Cemetery (Cementerio de la Recoleta) is beautiful and peaceful, and the architectural detail of the vaults and mausoleums is stunning.
In our opinion, worth the $6 – $8 USD (pending inflation) to get in.
Built-in 1822 as the city’s first public cemetery, it wasn’t until the 19th century that the wealthiest families began to move to this area. Once they passed away, the Recoleta Cemetary became the eternal resting place of political leaders, presidents of the Nation, writers, Nobel Prize winners, and athletes.
The famous of who has been laid to rest here is Eva Perón (Evita), an activist and philanthropist for women and the lower class.
After all that walking, we’re sure you’re hungry! Regardless if you pay to enter Recoleta Cemetary or walk around the Recoleta neighborhood some more, we recommend lunch at La Rambla, located a few blocks from the Recoleta Cemetery.
La Rambla has a lovely patio and serves up one of the best steak sandwiches you’ll ever have in your life. Enjoy a cold Quilmes (Argentina beer) or an Aperol Spritz as you rest those feet and enjoy the afternoon!
Night: Asado Dining Experience
For your first night in Buenos Aires, we recommend an authentic Argentina dining experience!
Reservations are strongly required to indulge in an Argentina Asado dinner at either Fagon Asado or The Argentina Experience.
This was one of our favorite things we did during our time in Bueno Aires!
Afterward, if you want to carry on into the night, there is a speakeasy in Palermo called Uptown. While a cheap drink can’t be found here, a good time and fun experience sure can!
TIP: If you want something a little more low-key, Strange Brewing is a popular, fun spot that we frequented many times in Buenos Aires! Great craft beers and bar food.
Buenos Aires Itinerary Day 2: San Telmo & Puerto Madero
After an amazing first day in Buenos Aires, are you ready for day two?!
Day 2 of your 3-day Buenos Aires itinerary can easily done on your own, aka no tour!
However, if you love tours, tours like this walking tour or food tour are top-rated ones to consider when exploring San Telmo and Puerto Madero!
Plaza De Mayo
For those opting not to book a walking tour, Plaza De Mayo will be the first stop of your second day in Buenos Aires.
Plaza De May is where you can see the “Pink House” (Casa Rosada), where the President of Buenos Aires lives. Spend a little time meandering the plaza before heading off to the main event of the day, San Telmo Sunday Street Market.
San Telmo Sunday Market
The Sunday San Telmo Market runs the length of Defensa Street, starting in Plaza de Mayo and ending at Plaza Dorrego.
Spanning dozens of blocks, you’ll find the streets lined with vendors selling antiques, handmade items, and random trinkets and souvenirs every Sunday.
There are street performers and live music, stalls selling fresh juice, and crowds as far as the eye can see.
While the official hours of the Sunday Market are from 10 AM to 4 PM, plan to arrive later, around 11 AM – 12 PM. People get a little later start in Buenos Aires 🙂
Now, the Sunday San Telmo open-air Street Market should not be confused with the actual San Telmo Market (Mercado San Telmo). The San Telmo Market is an indoor market that’s packed with vendors selling AMAZING food.
And the best part? The indoor San Telmo Market entrance is on the same street as the Sunday Market, Defensa Street.
You should plan to stop here for a meal as you walk the Sunday Street Market. We ate at Hierro Parrilla in the indoor market, which was unbelievable!
It goes without saying that the Sunday Market in San Telmo is one of the highest highlights there are to see in Buenos Aires.
El Federal Bar – Bares Notable (Optional)
El Federal Bar is a special bar in Buenos Aries. It also happens to be conveniently located in the San Telmo neighborhood, a short stroll from Defensa Street, where the Sunday market is held.
Established in 1864, El Federal Bar is one of the oldest bars in Buenos Aires, making it a Bares Notables or historic bar. Your to-do here is simple. Order a beverage and wander around the bar, taking in all its history.
Think of this as a short little pitstop for a refreshment on your way to the next activity.
PRO TIP: There are other historic cafes (Café Notable) and historic bars (Bares Notables) in Buenos Aires. If you want to knock a few more out, try Café Tortoni or La Biela. There are others, too!
Puerto Madero
The last stop of the day is Puerto Madero. From San Telmo Market, Puerto Madero, is a 15-minute walk.
Puerto Madero is a revamped dockside Barrio (neighborhood) with apartments, restaurants, shops, and bars along either side of the canal. The once port of Buenos Aires now caters to joggers, foodies, and those just looking to stroll the neighborhood and cross its suspension bridge.
Like the theme of your second day in Buenos Aires, stroll around the canal, taking in the sights, and if you feel so inclined, stop at one of its many waterfront eateries for a snack or drink.
Dinner & Night Out In Palermo
After Puerto Madero, return to your accommodation for a little chill time before ultimately getting ready to head back out.
Palermo is the area we stayed in during our time in Buenos Aires, and it’s a great place for dinner! Plan to get dinner (9 PM or after) at either Tigre Morado, Calden del SoHo Grill, or El Preferido de Palermo.
After dinner, go to Boticario, BrukBar, Backroom Bar, or Festival for an after-dinner drink and carry on into the night.
Buenos Aires Itinerary Day 3: La Boca & Tango
Caminito, La Boca
On your last day of 3 days in Buenos Aires, you’ll be heading to the colorful neighborhood of La Boca.
La Boca, specifically the Caminito, is famously known in Buenos Aires for having rows of colorful homes and restaurants. During your visit, walk the pedestrian-friendly streets, take in the colorful houses and shops, and see street performers dancing the tango.
La Boca is also home to two very important entities – La Bombonera and Tango.
La Bombonera is the Boca Juniors stadium. One of two Buenos Aires soccer teams. And La Boca fans are serious! If you are in town during their season, you should make it a point to get tickets to a game.
Secondly, La Boca also happens to be the birthplace of Tango. Said to have originated in the 1800s on El Caminito, you’ll find endless references to Tango during your stroll around La Boca.
PRO TIP: Saftey in La Boca. This area is only safe to visit during the day and you should do your best to stay as close as you can to El Caminito. Around dusk, shops will start closing. We asked one of the bar owner why, and they replied “Once it gets dark, the area is unsafe.” While, we felt totally safe during the day, we took advice of the bar owner and caught an Uber back to Palermo at sunset.
Samovar de Rasputín For Live Music
If you happen to be going to La Boca over the weekend (which you should totally plan to do), you MUST stop at Samovar de Rasputín.
Samovar de Rasputín is a little bit of an institution with some famous rock-n-roll celebrities like Keith Richards having walked through its doors.
The owner, El Napo, plays live music outside the establishment, and it’s amazing! While we visited, El Napo performed with a band and played for several hours.
Locals and tourists alike will gather, pull up chairs, order rounds of food and drink while enjoying the live music. A perfect way to spend an afternoon!
Experience A Tango Show
What better way to end your 3 days in Buenos Aires than with a Tango?!
Seeing that you visited the birthplace of Tango during your day in La Boca, it only feels right to end your night with a proper Tango show and performance.
Places like Señor Tango, El Viejo Almacen, Cafe de los Angelitos, or La Ventana offer top-rated tango performances Each offer a delicious 3-course dinner while showcasing authentic Argentine tango music and performances.
If you’re looking to end your time in Buenos Aires with a bang, a tango show is one heck of a send-off!
FUN TIP: If learning the Tango is something you’ve been apirising to do, well here is your chance! Book a 2-hour tango lesson while in Buenos Aires!
Have More Than 3 Days In Buenos Aires?!
If you have more than 3 days in Buenos Aires or want to swap one of the below suggestions for something in the above itinerary, by all means! It’s your trip, so make it the best for you 🙂
Day Trip To Uruguay
Separated by the Rio de la Plata, a day trip to Uruguay is a great way to get out of Buenos Aires and see a new country! Talk about killing two birds with one stone, eh?!
You’ll take a ferry across the Rio de La Plata to the UNESCO town of Colonia del Sacramento. You’ll spend your day exploring the colonial town before making your way back to Buenos Aires.
Boat Ride To Tigre
Take a boat ride up the Rio de la Plata to the Tigre Delta and the town of Tigre. Tigre is a town that sits just north of the city of Buenos Aires. It’s considered the gateway to the wetlands of the vast Paraná Delta.
Tigre is known for its old harbors, restaurants along the river, and craft markets.
Spend your day enjoying the city before returning via boat back to Buenos Aires.
Gaucho Day at an Estancia
If you want to get a feel for the cowboys of Argentina (Gauchos) and explore an Estancia (a ranch), then this tour is for you!
You’ll be whisked to the country town of San Antonio de Areco where you’ll ride a horse and enjoy a traditional barbecue lunch. You’ll also enjoy a folklore show followed by a demonstration of gaucho roping and riding skills!
Cooking Class & Tour in Buenos Aires
For those who enjoy eating food and making it, a cooking class is one of our favorite things to do in the cities we’re visiting. And Buenos Aires has no shortage of cooking classes!
From an Argentine Masterclass of Meat and Empanadas to a Parrilla Food Tour to learning how to make Alfajores, or a cooking class to learn how to make a variety of traditional Argentinian dishes, there is a class or food tour for everyone!
Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires
If you’re not able to make it to Argentina’s wine regions of Mendoza and Cafayate, then this winery tour outside of Buenos Aires is for you!
You’ll visit a local Bodega (winery), where you’ll sample a variety of different Atgetnina wines during a guided tasting tour. At the end of the tour, you’ll enjoy a picnic in the vineyards before returning to your Buenos Aires accommodation.
Is Buenos Aires Safe? Can You Walk Around at Night?
Just like other big cities around the world, you should use the same caution and common sense when exploring Buenos Aires.
Let’s face it, not all areas of big cities (or even your home town for that matter), are safe.
When unsure if walking is safe, opt to call an Uber. And a good rule of thumb is to keep valuables (phone, wallet, etc.) out of sight in either a cross-body bag or in your front pockets (never your back!).
Speaking from experience, we never felt unsafe in Buenos Aires and had no issues walking around in the area of Palermo or Recoleta.
However, locals told us numerous times to avoid taking videos out the window of a moving car and be cautious of having your phone out on the street in fear of someone coming by and swiping it.
But again, we encountered no issues during our one month in Argentina.
Just use common sense and listen to your gut. If something feels sketchy, remove yourself from that situation and opt for Uber when unsure.
Learn how to spend 3 days in Mendoza! Or how to plan the ultimate visit to Iguazu Falls!
Is Buenos Aires Expensive?
So, this is a little tough to answer because the money in Argentina (Argentinian Pesos) is hard to nail down due to political instability and insane inflation.
Rates change daily (if not hourly) for the Peso, so anything you read will likely be outdated. Your best bet is to check the daily conversion rate for your home currency vs. the Argentinian Peso, and even that isn’t always accurate.
So as you can see, it’s a little hard to answer but for the sake of providing an answer, we found it very affordable when we visited Buenos Aires. But of course, our budget and what we deem affordable may not be what you do 🙂
On average, and depending on what we were doing that day, we’d spend anywhere from $50 USD – $70 USD per day (3 meals, Ubers, not including accommodations).
The city really has something for every type of travel. If you want cheap hostels and cheap food, budget-friendly travelers can find it in Buenos Aires.
And for those looking for high-end restaurants and luxury accommodations, guess what? Buenos Aires has that too.
Want More Information on Argentina!?
How to Spend 2 Weeks in Argentina
How To Visit Argentina’s Rainbow Mountain
15 Things To Know Before Visiting Argentina
Iguazu Falls Itinerary: The Best Things To Do At Iguazu Falls$
16 Things To Do In Humahuaca (Jujuy), Argentina
How To Spend 3 Days In Mendoza
Your Guide to Driving Scenic Quebrada De Las Conchas
The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls
Pin It For Later – Buenos Aires Itinerary!
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Happy Travels,
– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stu’s)