20 Unforgettable Things To Do In Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a city known for its bright colors, high energy, and rich history. From the bustling plazas connected by the world’s widest avenue to delicious asado made with love by locals, there are so many fun things to do in Buenos Aires!
We spent two weeks exploring and working remotely in Buenos Aires, and during our time here, we uncovered some of the best things this vibrant city has to offer!
From exploring the best neighborhoods (barrios) to devouring tasty meals and drinks at some of the city’s can’t-miss places to eat and drink, we loved every single second in Buenos Aires.
So, whether you are looking to explore Buenos Aires on a walking tour, take a stroll through the San Telmo Market, or see a soccer match or a tango show, our list of 20 things to do in Buenos covers some of the best things everyone should experience about this city!
Let’s dive into this city’s heart and explore all there is to experience!
20 Things To Do in Buenos Aires, Argentina
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1. Partake In a Buenos Aires Free City Walking Tour
If you’re hoping to visit Buenos Aires like a local and see the best of the city, consider taking a free city walking tour!
One of our favorite things to do when exploring a new city is seeing what walking tours are available. In our opinion, a walking tour is the best way to see the highlights and best sights of the city within a few hours!
Plus, having a local guide sharing stories, insights, and their perspective about the history, culture, and hidden gems of the city they were raised in is just a cherry on top!
Now, there are a few different options. One tour takes you through the City Center, and the other takes you through Recoleta and Retiro. They’re at different times, so you can catch both if you’re up for it!
We opted for the Recoleta and Retiro tours and really enjoyed it!
It’s a fun and laid-back way to get your bearings before exploring more of the city on your own! Plus, it costs nothing (outside of the tip at the end), so it’s a great free activity in Buenos Aires!
PRO TIP: If the free city walking tour is booked or the times do not fit your schedule, consider other walking and bike tours!
2. Walk Across the Widest Avenue in the World, Av. 9 de Julio, to the Obelisco
Have you ever seen a street that stretches 16 traffic lanes wide? If you’ve never been to Buenos Aires, chances are slim you have!
But here, in Buenos Aires, you can walk across what’s been named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the widest avenue in the world!
It’s called Avenida 9 de Julio, which translates to ‘9th of July Avenue,’ Argentina’s Independence Day.
The avenue spans 140 meters when combined with the traffic lanes and medians. Most pedestrians take it in two stages because of how wide it is, although you’ll have the right of way if you’re on foot!
Standing in the middle of a section of Av. 9 de Julio is the Obelisco, one of the city’s most iconic monuments. Built in the 1930s, it is a monument to the 400th anniversary of Buenos Aires.
It’s located between Av. 9 de Julio and Av. Corrientes, Buenos Aires’ main road, makes it a must-see stop as you’re crossing the widest avenue in the world!
Read our Buenos Aires itinerary to learn how to spend three days in this fantastic city!
3. See A Opera at Teatro Colón
Known for being a world-renowned opera house next to Teatro all Scala in Milan, Italy, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Teatro Colon should be on your list of things to do in Buenos Aires!
This beautiful building hosts everything from operas to ballets and symphonies.
Many people visit to see the intricate architecture inside the theater.
If you’re interested in seeing a performance, it’s highly recommended that you book in advance. You can check out the performance schedule on their website to see what is playing while you’re in town.
If you’re not too keen on seeing a performance, you can take a behind-the-scenes guided tour to learn more about Teatro Colon’s history.
4. Stroll Through The Recoleta Cemetery
Recoleta Cemetery is unlike any other cemetery that you’ve ever seen. It’s really like its own city within the city, filled with elaborate and intricate mausoleums and statues.
There are over 4,000 tombs here, including the resting places of some of Argentina’s most notable people, like Eva Perón.
All of the sites are above ground, and most are beautifully decorated to celebrate life for those who have passed.
Strolling through the narrow walkways almost feels like an open-air museum, with each tomb having its own story and design.
You can book a tour, buy a self-guided ticket online, or go purchase a ticket at the gates to walk the cemetery yourself.
PRO TIP: Visit in the morning, right when it opens, to avoid the crowds. Afterward, you can get breakfast in REcolata or walk around the neighborhood.
5. Indulge In A Coursed Argentina Asado Dinner
While every country you visit has its own food traditions, the traditional Argentina asado is a MUST, MUST, MUST thing to do in Buenos Aires.
Argentina asado is essentially a barbeque-style meat that’s often served in social gatherings around the country.
The term ‘asado’ is usually associated with the meat as well as the method of cooking it and the social event where you eat it.
In Buenos Aires, Fagon Asado is known for having one of the best multi-course asado dinners that is cooked in the kitchen right in front of you. Now, it’s not the cheapest dinner, but speaking personally about the dining experience, it was wonderful!
Another option is making a reservation at The Argentina Experience, which offers six courses, wine pairings, and an incredible dinner experience.
We treated ourselves to Fagon’s coursed dinner during our last night in Buenos Aires, and it was well worth it!
Learn how to spend 2 weeks in Argentina!
6. Wander Through Plaza De Mayo and Plaza San Martin
Plaza de Mayo and Plaza San Martin are two must-see spots in Buenos Aires.
Plaza de Mayo is the oldest public square in the city. It’s known for being the heart of the city and is surrounded by iconic landmarks.
You can see the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo (colonial town hall) while you’re here. Oh, and be sure to also snap a picture in front of Casa Rosada (think Argentina’s White House, but Red!), which is the seat of the Argentine National Government and where the President’s office is found!
Plaza San Martin is a bit different. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens, statues, and the Torre de los Ingleses (or Torre Monumental), a large clock tower with an observation deck from which you can see the Retiro neighborhood.
Both of these plazas are great areas for strolling and learning more about the city’s unique culture. They’re also great free things to do in Buenos Aires since you can wander as you’d like without spending anything!
PRO TIP: If you’re planning to visit San Telmo Market, stop at Plaza De Mayo first, as it is located just off the Plaza. If you want to add another thing to do, your route could look like this: walk Av. 9 de Julio to the Obelisco, then head to Plaza Mayo, then to San Telmo Market.
7. See La Boca Juniors or River Plate Play A Soccer Match
Soccer runs in the blood of Argentinians, so seeing a match during your visit is one of the top things to do in Buenos Aires!
While getting tickets to matches can be tough, especially when these two rival teams play each other, they are sometimes available a few days before the game or if you book with a tour company!
La Boca Juniors and River Plate are the two soccer teams in Buenos Aires to watch, and if you’re able to snag tickets, they’re sure to put on an exciting match!
8. Visit El Ateneo Grand Splendid
This former theater-turned-bookstore is likely one of the most unique bookstores you’ll ever visit.
It has a grand ceiling with intricate details. Each of the balconies and theater boxes is original and houses thousands of books!
Back in its day, it housed performances for large artists, but now it acts as a beautiful place to stroll through and find a quiet place to read.
There’s even a cafe on the main stage, which still has the classic red curtains!
Plan to stop in to admire the stunning architecture of this historic building, rest your legs, and enjoy a coffee before you set off to your next adventure in Buenos Aires!
9. Find Quiet in Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays
If you need a bit of time to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, Jardin Botanico is a great spot to slip away.
This botanical garden has over 6,000 plants and trees scattered among the grounds. Spend a few hours in the afternoon wandering through the garden before heading off to your next thing to do in Buenos Aires!
PRO TIP: Jardín Botánico is just one of the many parks in Buenos Aires. If you’d like to explore other parks, Tres de Febrero Park, Barrancas de Belgrano, Paseo El Rosedal Garden, and Jardín Japonés are great options to add to your list.
10. Stroll Through The Sunday San Telmo Market
If visiting Buenos Aires over a Sunday, you must head to the Sunday San Telmo Market!
In the San Telmo neighborhood, just south of the city center, you’ll find what seems like an endless street full of vendors selling local fruits, trinkets, handmade goods, street performances, and Buenos Aires souvenirs.
Starting from Plaza De Mayo, plan to walk down Defensa Street (the street the market is on) to take in the sights and do a little shopping.
You can walk the full length of the Sunday San Telmo Market, which ends at Plaza Dorrego, or make a pit stop in Mercado San Telmo for lunch.
This market is an enclosed food stall market offering amazing local plates for you to enjoy! We recommend stopping at Hierro Parilla for lunch!
Oh, and FYI, lunch in Buenos Aires is 2-3 PM 🙂
11. Have A Drink At a Bares Notable or A Cafes Notables
Stopping at local bars, cafes, and restaurants while traveling is a great way to learn more about the region. And that’s no different in Buenos Aires!
Like many cities around the world, Buenos Aires is home to historic bars and cafes. Establishments that have been around for many decades, if not 100+ years in some instances, are scattered about the city.
Buenos Aires is filled with notable bars (Bares Notable) and notable cafes (Cafes Notables) where important figures like artists, poets, musicians, politicians, and more would meet to write, debate, or talk.
We recommend El Federal, a classic bar with a picturesque vibe. While you’ll often find many other tourists here, it’s worth stopping. It’s a unique spot on the corner in San Telmo, making it a perfect addition to your market adventures!
We recommend either La Biela or Cafe Tortoni for a cafe. These traditional coffee houses are popular with tourists and locals alike.
12. Wander Around Puerto Madero and Walk Across Puente de la Mujer
Puerto Madero is one of the many barrios (neighborhoods) of Buenos Aires. Best known for being a revamped dockside home to eateries and bars alongside the waterfront, Puerto Madero is the perfect place to walk around and enjoy the day.
Its most notable feature is the Women’s Bridge, a pedestrian bridge over the river.
Women’s Bridge, or Puente de la Mujer, represents an abstract couple dancing the tango. It’s pretty unique in the engineering world as well, as it has one of the largest turning mechanisms in the world to allow it to open for ships and vessels to pass through.
13. Visit The Colorful Neighborhood of La Boca (Caminito)
Buenos Aires has dozens of neighborhoods (barrios), each known for its own thing, but La Boca, specifically Caminito Street, really stands out among the rest!
La Boca is known for its bright, colorful buildings, street art, and the birthplace of Tango! Walk the pedestrian-friendly streets, take in the colorful houses and shops, and see street performers dancing the tango.
La Boca is the perfect place to visit during the afternoon on a weekend in Buenos Aires! Oh, and definitely don’t miss live music at Samovar de Rasputín.
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 to El Caminito as possible. Around dusk, shops will start closing. We asked one of the bar owners why, and they replied, “Once it gets dark, the area is unsafe.” While we felt totally safe during the day, we took the advice of the bar owner and caught an Uber back to our accommodation.
14. Take a Tango Lesson or See A Tango Show
Buenos Aires is the home of the tango, which has long been called the most romantic dance in the world. It was created in the 1930s, and since then, Buenos Aires has been the World Capital of Tango.
While in Buenos Aires, watching a tango show is a great way to experience this dance. Shows at Señor Tango, El Viejo Almacen, Cafe de los Angelitos, or La Ventana offer top-rated tango performances. Each offers a delicious 3-course dinner while showcasing authentic Argentine tango music and performances!
It’s really a fun night for those looking to experience something unique in Buenos Aires!
Alternatively, you can get in on the action yourself by booking a tango lesson, where an instructor will teach you the basics of the country’s dance!
Sure, you may not be a lead in a Tango performance anytime soon, but learning a few tango steps in Buenos Aires will surely be unforgettable!
15. Enjoy A Buenos Aires Sunset From Palacio Barolo or A Rooftop Bar
Catching the sunset from a rooftop bar in Buenos Aires is the perfect way to end your day, and with so many options, it might be hard to choose where to go!
The city is beautiful at night, so seeing it from above is a must!
Places like Salon 1923, Alvear Roof Bar, and Florida 165 Rooftop Bar are great choices. They all have fantastic views of the city and an extensive menu of food and drinks you can enjoy as you watch the sunset over Buenos Aires.
Alternatively, if you’re not up for drinks, another great spot for sunset is the top of Palacio Barolo. This building’s architecture was inspired by poetry, and you will need to book a tour to get to the rooftop.
16. Enjoy Buenos Aires At Night
Your day doesn’t have to end just because the sun went down! As we mentioned above, the city is beautiful after dark, and there are so many different things to do in Buenos Aires at night.
Drink At A Buenos Aires Speakeasy
Buenos Aires is home to a few speakeasies, but one of its most popular is Uptown, located in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Uptown is themed like a New York City subway, forcing guests to go below ground and navigate a short tunnel until they reach the end, where the bar is located. The menu has upscale drinks, and everything, of course, has that unique speakeasy vibe to it!
Fair warning: Plan to arrive right when they open. As the night progresses, it quickly turns into a one-in-one-out bar with a rather long line.
PRO TIP: While in Buenos Aires, you should try a few other speakeasies, such as J.W. Bradley, Nicky Harrison, and The Hole Bar.
Have Dinner & Drinks in Palermo
Palermo is not only the neighborhood where we stayed during our time in Buenos Aires, but it’s also where most of the city’s nightlife is found.
Plan to grab dinner at places like Tigre Morado, Don Julio, La Mar, La Pescadorita, Calden del SoHo Grill, or El Preferido de Palermo.
After dinner, go to Boticario, BrukBar, Backroom Bar, Uptown, or Festival for an after-dinner drink and carry on into the night.
Enjoy Buenos Aires Craft Beer at Strange Brewing
Strange Brewing is one of the city’s local breweries, where you can get beer on tap. And we should know! We spent many nights here during our several-week stay in Buenos Aires.
The beers are great, and so is the food. It’s a no-frills place with friendly staff and a great laid-back atmosphere. Sit outside at one of the tables on the sidewalk or grab a table inside at the bar.
Strange Brewing is known for creating some unique, and dare we say, “Strange” beers 🙂
17. Go Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires
Argentina is well known for its wines, and if you can’t make it to Mendoza or Cafayate, the best to experience Argentinian wine is to go on a wine-tasting tour in Buenos Aires.
Visit Bodega Gamboa on the city’s outskirts, where you’ll try various Malbec wines as you wander through the Bodega’s vineyards.
You’ll finish the tour with a picnic featuring local cheeses. Since this is a small group tour, it’s intimate, and you’ll get the full experience with your local guide.
18. Explore Some of Buenos Aires Art Museums
Just one look around Buenos Aires will tell you that it’s an artistic city with beautiful architecture, sculptures, and designers. The city is often referred to as the Paris of South America.
And like Paris, stopping at a few art museums will give you an even deeper appreciation of this city’s beauty.
While Argentina has many other museums, the below are the top visited, and for good reason.
- Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA) is the Museum of Latin American Art, featuring art from local artists in Latin and South America. It’s a beautiful museum with a restaurant, cafe, and, of course, lots of artwork.
- Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts) and the Museum Nacional de Arte Decorativo (National Museum of Decorative Arts) are two other museums that are great for visiting, both featuring beautiful artwork and different pieces from around Argentina.
19. Take a Cooking Class or Food Tour in Buenos Aires
One of the best ways to fully experience a culture is to try its food. That’s why booking a cooking class or taking a food tour is the perfect thing to do in Buenos Aires.
There are dozens of cooking classes around the city that allow you to learn how to cook (and, of course, eat!) traditional Argentinian food like Chipa, empanadas, and alfajores.
If you’d prefer not to cook, taking a food tour is another great way to try the local cuisine and explore some of the city’s best restaurants!
Whichever you choose to partake in, just be sure to sample as much of Argentina’s cuisine (and wine!) as you can 🙂
20. Enjoy A Day Trip From Buenos Aires
If you’ve seen enough of Buenos Aires and want to branch out a bit, taking day trips from Buenos Aires is a great way to spend your time in Argentina!
Buenos Aires to Urugay Day Trip
If you did not know, Uruguay is a short ferry ride across Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires.
This Uruguay day trip takes you from Buenos Aires to the small town of Colonia del Sacramento, located in southwestern Uruguay. Colonia del Sacramento is home to cobblestoned streets lined with historic buildings from its time as a Portuguese settlement.
You can spend your day exploring this charming UNESCO World Heritage Site town by walking the cobblestone streets, stopping to eat at the restaurants, and wandering into the small shops.
Spend A Day At An Estancia Near Buenos Aires
A popular day trip from Buenos Aires is spending time at a traditional estancia.
What’s an estancia you might ask? Well, an estanica is a ranch that is home to, historic buildings on a sprawling estate, horses, and of course gauchos (cowboys)!
This tour to an Estancia will allow visitors to experience life like a gaucho, enjoy a barbeque lunch, go on a horseback ride, and learn the ropes of living on a ranch.
Visiting an estancia is not only a great break from the bustling city of Buenos Aires but also another wonderful way to immerse yourself in Argentina’s culture.
Take a Boat Ride to Tigre
Sitting North of Buenos Aires is Tigre. Tigre is known for its old harbors, restaurants along the river, and craft markets.
To get here, you can take a boat tour on the Tigre River Delta. Once at Tigre, you can shop at the local markets and enjoy lunch by the water before hopping on the boat back to Buenos Aires.
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 excellent accommodation options to consider when booking in Palermo!
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 bunk up for a couple of days!
Want More Information on Argentina!?
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How To Visit Argentina’s Rainbow Mountain
How to Spend 2 Weeks in Argentina
15 Things To Know Before Visiting Argentina
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An Itinerary For Three Days in Buenos Aires
Your Guide to Driving Scenic Quebrada De Las Conchas
The Best 2 Day Itinerary To Iguazu Falls
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Happy Travels,
– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stu’s)
