Officially Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, it is the capital and the largest city in Argentina. It is one of the most visited cities by tourists and there is a lot of places to visit. It is commonly known as the Paris of South America for its architecture.
This city is huge so in this guide I will explain how to move around, I will give you some recommendations of places to visit and some tips. Although it is a very large city, the vast majority of places are in the center and it is easy to get around on foot.
How to move around the city:
If you are traveling to Buenos Aires, most likely, you will arrive by plane at Ezeiza airport and although there is no subway straight from the city to the airport, you have several ways to get to the city center.
- Bus: You can take line 8 or 51 and although it is very cheap, the journey will be long and not as confortable if you are going with some luggage.
- Microbus Ezeiza: Much faster since it is direct to San Telmo it costs approximately 6 USD.
- Taxi: Much more expensive than the other option it can cost around 15 USD to get to your hotel in the center. It is a good way although I recommend caution. Since I arrived to Buenos Aires, they recommended me to use taxis with care since there are a large number of illegals. This can make the journey more expensive or you can get robbed. At the airport you can take a safe taxi at the counter.
If you are already in the city center, my recommendation is to walk. I love walking and I know that not everyone likes it, but I find it wonderful to move around the cities like this. If you don’t like it, in Buenos Aires has a metro system called Subte that can be quite useful.
My case was particular because I was traveling South America on my motorcycle with my dad and my brother this made it easier for me to get to the center of the city and also move around it in some cases.
What to do in Buenos Aires
Now the fun part! If you have already arrived to the city center it is time to start walking the streets and discover this incredible city. Here are some places I recommend you visit:
Get lost in its streets:
Buenos Aires is a city where you will find wonderful places in every corner. So I recommend you walk and discover new streets. Do not hesitate to stop at the small coffee shops and bars that you will find on the streets of Buenos Aires.
La Boca:
One of the most famous neighborhoods in the city and home to La Bombonera and Caminito Street. Its brass houses were painted and built with the leftovers from the city’s shipyards. A great place to visit coffee shops and see a Tango show on the street.
Although it seemed safe to walk through its streets, they recommended that you do not stray too far from the tourist streets and try not to be too late around here.
La Recoleta
A luxurious cemetery and where Eva Peron is buried, the square meter for this space costs almost the same as the one of housing. Although it is listed as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world, I must confess that it did not seem like anything from the other world. A jungle of cement, mausoleums and tombstones where it is difficult to look for any special one.
Puerto Madero:
Although it is difficult to believe, the Paraná river is quite shallow so large boats cannot reach Buenos Aires. The Madero project was designed to create a small port where passengers and the arriving cargo could be transported in small boats by the end of the 19th century.
In the past, Puerto Madero was the main port and was surrounded by silos and warehouses where merchants kept their goods. Over time, the port was abandoned due to the growth of boats and everything was abandoned for almost 80 years. In the 90s, it was proposed to reestablish the warehouses and a great place full of restaurants, bars and offices.
Floralis Genérica:
A sculpture by Eduardo Catalano, it is designed to open and close with the sun. Throughout the day, the flower moves following the sun. It is surrounded by gardens and paths where you can enjoy the park and rest from a good walk.
Palermo Gardens and Race Track
Palermo is one of the neighborhoods that I recommend walking. In the neighborhood it is possible to find several parks such as Bosques de Palermo and the Japanese Garden. Perfect places to spend the day and rest on the grass. You can visit the race track that was founded in 1876 and if you are lucky you will be able to watch some horse races and bet a bit. Likewise, it is a place where you can find several restaurants and enjoy good Argentine gastronomy.
Tigre:
Located almost 30 km North from Buenos Aires, Tigre is a city that you can go to enjoy the day. I recommend you go on the coast train and enjoy the landscape. This city is in the delta of the Parana river and you can tour the different islands and look for hidden restaurants.
Sunday in the San Telmo market:
The oldest neighborhood in Buenos Aires and very nice place to look for cafes, see Tango and old shops. Every Sunday, the market opens and although I did not have the opportunity to visit it, I have been told that it is spectacular to visit it and walk its halls.
La Recoleta Cultural Center:
An exhibition center that seeks to free the artistic expressions of the Argentines. It is right next to La Recoleta cemetery and a place worth spending time. I really liked their exhibits.
Where to stay in Buenos Aires
Being the capital, you find all kinds of accommodation. I had the opportunity to see some very comfortable hostels such as: Che Juan BA and Ideal Social Hostel very close to Puerto Madero. In our case we had decided to stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Puerto Madero.
I recommend you stay close to Puerto Madero because it’s a centered neighborhood and everything is very close to you and you can walk to almost all the places I mention. It is a nice area to go for a walk.
Where to eat in Buenos Aires
I am sure that all your life you have dreamed of eating a piece of meat in Argentina. At least this was one of my dreams, Argentina has always been a country famous for its barbecue and being a meat lover I couldn’t believe I was here.
- Cabaña Las Lilas: Although I know it is a fairly expensive place, if you want to try good Argentinian meat this is the ideal place. Located in the middle of Puerto Madero, you can sit on the terrace and enjoy the view while you eat a good piece of meat.
- La Biela: A traditional cafe in Recoleta, a place where you can order a good empanada and a beer with the heat of the city.
- Tonno: If you escape through Palermo, a restaurant with a nice terrace to enjoy the view and see how people walk on the streets.
- Filo: An Italian restaurant in the city center. A place to enjoy a good pizza or a good calzone.
- El Hornero (Tigre): If you visit the channels of Tigre, you will have a very large offer of restaurants of all kinds. This was the one we found and the truth is I think it was a very good combination of price and quality.
