Last Updated on August 31, 2026

Buenos Aires is my city! I was born and lived 23 years in Buenos Aires before moving to London, and I still visit every year. This is my complete Buenos Aires bucket list, built from a lifetime of actually living here, not a whistle-stop tour.

BUENOS AIRES ESSENTIALS

✈️ Getting There / You can really only get to Buenos Aires by plane, it’s pretty far south compared to almost anywhere else in the world (Uruguay is the exception, you can get to Colonia in about an hour by ferry). Book a private airport transfer with WelcomePickups for a hassle-free arrival. Search flights on Skyscanner, I’ve flown to Buenos Aires from London at least once a year for the past five years and it consistently finds the best deals.

🚗 Getting Around / Buenos Aires is a bustling, well-connected city with an extensive public transport system, buses (colectivos), the subway (Subte), and trains. You can now tap a contactless credit or debit card, or a phone wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay, directly on the Subte and most buses, no need to sort out a SUBE card in advance if you’d rather not. The SUBE card is still worth getting if you want it, buy it at any subway station, kiosk, or Correo Argentino post office and load credit onto it as you go. Uber and Cabify are widely available and usually cheaper than street taxis. I also just enjoy walking, the neighbourhoods are super pedestrian-friendly.

🎟️ Tours / A guided tour is a great way to get properly oriented, especially for tango, football, and the cemetery. The best ones to book in advance:
Piazzolla Tango Show with Optional Dinner
La Boca Guided Walking Tour
Recoleta Cemetery Guided Tour

🏨 Stay / Skip the endless scrolling, these are the ones I’d point a friend toward (full picks in Where to Stay below):
Budget: My Mom’s Airbnb
Mid-range: CasaSur Palermo Hotel
Splurge: Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires

🧳 Luggage Storage / If you’re early for check-in or have time to kill after checkout, no stress, there are luggage storage points all over Buenos Aires, including Recoleta, Palermo, Retiro, and Microcentro. Use this website to find one nearby.

📱 Connect / Stay connected from the moment you land with an eSIM. I use Holafly, use code TRAVELWITHPAU for 5% off.

🛡️ Get Insured / Things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for over 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Buenos Aires Bucket List: 24 Things to Do

1. Have Asado at a Parrilla

Asado (barbecue) is just such a big part of our culture. It brings Argentina’s friends and families together, and it’s done so differently from anywhere else in the world. My favourite spots for it are La Cabrera, Don Julio, and La Brigada in San Telmo. If you’d rather have it explained to you properly, book a rooftop barbecue and flavours experience or an 8-course asado experience at Fogón Asado.

2. Stroll, Shop and Eat in Palermo Soho

Hands down my favourite attraction in Buenos Aires is walking around Palermo Soho, named after New York’s own Soho and every bit as cool, cobblestone streets, old Spanish-style houses converted into independent boutiques and art galleries, and some of the best street art in the city covering the walls of Calle Serrano and Calle Honduras. Start from Plaza Armenia and make your way to Plaza Serrano. Stop for brunch at Mark’s Deli, Cocu Boulangerie or Pani. If street art is your thing, book a Palermo graffiti and street art walking tour.

3. Take Colourful Shots at Caminito in La Boca

Caminito is a street in La Boca filled with colourful painted houses, remains of the communal houses built by Italian immigrants in the 19th century. My mum is from La Boca and even lived in a conventillo (a “tenement house”, one of the shared houses these Italian immigrant families divided into single rooms, often with a whole family per room and shared kitchens and bathrooms) when she was a child. Book a La Boca guided walking tour to get the full history.

4. Watch a Boca Juniors Match

Football, or fútbol as we call it, is an obsession for many in Buenos Aires. Boca Juniors’ fans are so intense they’re called “la 12”, the 12th player on the field, and the stadium itself is nicknamed La Bombonera (“the chocolate box”), the story goes the architect’s friend gave him a box of chocolates and he realised the unusual D-shape he’d sketched looked just like it. Book the Boca Juniors match experience, or if there’s no match on, take the stadium tour instead.

5. Visit the MALBA Museum

MALBA, the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires, is my favourite museum in the city and very worth spending a couple of hours in, its permanent collection holds real Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera pieces alongside the big names of Latin American modernism, and the striking limestone and glass building itself was designed by a competition jury that included Norman Foster.

6. Catch La Bomba del Tiempo or La Grande

Every Monday for over 20 years, La Bomba del Tiempo, a band of more than 17 percussionists, has been delighting locals and foreigners with their beats. Book tickets for La Bomba del Tiempo at Ciudad Cultural Konex. Prefer Tuesdays? La Grande is the one to go for.

7. Spend Your Sunday in San Telmo

Sundays are the best day to visit San Telmo, Buenos Aires’ oldest barrio, dating back to the 1600s and originally home to dockworkers and immigrants whose conventillos are where tango itself really took shape. San Telmo Market is open every day but Plaza Dorrego Flea Market is Sundays only. Book a San Telmo and market guided tour if you want the full story behind it.

8. Try Empanadas

Empanadas are a go-to food item in Argentina, we eat them all the time, with friends, at home, as an appetiser for asado. My picks are La Cocina, La Morada, and De Rosa.

9. Marvel at the Teatro Colón

Teatro Colón is considered one of the ten best opera houses in the world, and National Geographic once ranked its acoustics third on the planet, beaten only by La Scala in Milan and Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, all down to the horseshoe shape of the auditorium. Buy tickets for a performance, or if you’d rather see it in daylight, book a small-group city tour that includes Teatro Colón.

10. Get Lost at Recoleta Cemetery

One of the world’s best cemeteries, you’ll be amazed by the mausoleums, sculptures, and detail of Recoleta Cemetery. It’s also the final resting place of Eva Perón, whose tomb remains one of the most visited spots in the whole city. Book a Recoleta Cemetery guided tour to get the full history behind the names.

11. Take a Tango Lesson

You can’t leave Buenos Aires without trying tango, it grew out of the working-class immigrant barrios in the late 1800s, a blend of African rhythms, Italian and Spanish folk music, and the European waltz, all mixing together in courtyards and general stores. Book Piazzolla Tango, a majestic live music and tango performance inspired by Astor Piazzolla’s work, you get a 30-minute tango class before the show.

12. Have Cocktails at Buenos Aires’ Quirkiest Bars

Go back to Prohibition-era through a telephone box at Frank’s, drink at a steampunk speakeasy at Victoria Brown, sip cocktails in a flower shop at Florería Atlántico, or get your fix in a New York pharmacy you enter through a subway carriage at Uptown.

13. Browse Books at Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid

El Ateneo Grand Splendid is considered one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, and that’s because it used to be a theatre. It opened in 1919, became one of Buenos Aires’ grandest cinemas in 1929 (the first in Argentina to screen sound films), and only became a bookshop in 2000. Tango legends like Carlos Gardel once performed here, and the original frescoed ceiling, ornate carvings, and crimson stage curtains are all still intact. The old theatre boxes are now cosy reading nooks, and the stage itself, where all those performances once happened, is now a café where you can sit and browse with a coffee under the fresco. Over a million people walk through it every year, so go early if you want photos without the crowds.

14. Eat Argentine Pizza

Our pizza is thick, cheesy to levels you could never have imagined, and it has olives on top, it comes from Genoese focaccia rather than Neapolitan pizza, a La Boca baker’s son is said to have invented “fugazzeta” by slicing a dry focaccia in half and stuffing it with cheese. Try El Güerrin, El Cuartito, Las Cuartetas, or Pirilo.

15. Stroll Through El Rosedal

El Rosedal is a rose garden within Bosques de Palermo, designed in 1914 by French landscaper Charles Thays, whose fingerprints are all over Buenos Aires’ parks, the roses, water fountains, white veranda, and bridge make it a genuinely pretty place for a wander.

16. Have Coffee at Café Tortoni

Café Tortoni is one of the oldest cafés in the city, around since 1858, tango legend Carlos Gardel had his own reserved window table, and writer Jorge Luis Borges was such a regular that there’s now a life-size wax figure of him sitting at his old corner table. Order “cafe con medialunas”, coffee and croissants, or chocolate con churros.

17. Visit La Casa Rosada and Plaza de Mayo

La Casa Rosada (Pink House) is the main government building in Buenos Aires, nobody agrees on why it’s pink, one story says the original paint was mixed with cow’s blood to weatherproof it against the humidity, another says President Sarmiento blended the red and white of the country’s two rival political parties to symbolise unity. Free guided tours run on weekends.

18. Eat Facturas at a Panadería

Facturas are pastries Argentines love, we buy them by the dozen, and some of the classic names are a lot more subversive than they sound, “vigilante” (the long straight one) is named after a policeman’s baton and “bola de fraile” (the round one) mocks a friar’s tonsure, both dreamed up by striking anarchist bakers in the 1880s poking fun at the police and the church. Try Confitería Dos Escudos, El Galeón, Santa Paula, La Argentina, or Ritz.

19. Visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes features art from renowned South American painters, as well as Monet, Degas, and Picasso, and it’s free, its 12,000-plus piece collection is the largest in Latin America, and the building itself used to be a pumping station for the city’s waterworks before it became a museum in 1933.

20. Photograph the Obelisco and Stroll Puerto Madero

The Obelisco is the most iconic monument in Buenos Aires, standing at the intersection of Avenida Corrientes and Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest street in the world at 16 lanes. Nearby, Puerto Madero is the refurbished port area, now one of the fanciest parts of the city, don’t miss the Puente de la Mujer (Woman’s Bridge).

21. Indulge in Dulce de Leche, Alfajores and Helado

First, you must try dulce de leche, similar to caramel but better, we eat it with everything. Ask for “panqueques con dulce de leche” or “flan con dulce de leche” for dessert, or grab alfajores (two round cookies with a filling) from any “kiosco”. For ice cream, try Freddo, Volta, Persicco, Rapa Nui, or Cadore.

22. Visit Palacio Barolo

Step into the grandeur of Palacio Barolo, an architectural masterpiece inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, it’s exactly 100 metres tall, one for each canto of the poem, with 22 floors split into Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven as you go up, and a lighthouse at the top that was visible from Montevideo when it opened in 1923 as the tallest building in South America. Book the day guided tour.

23. Explore Buenos Aires Off the Beaten Path

For hidden gems and lesser-known neighbourhoods beyond the usual Palermo/San Telmo/Recoleta circuit, barrios like Villa Crespo, Chacarita, or Colegiales, where locals actually live and hardly any tourists go, book a private off-the-beaten-path tour.

24. Try Yerba Mate

No trip to Argentina is complete without trying yerba mate, the bitter, grassy tea that’s less a drink and more a daily ritual here, shared from a single gourd and metal straw (bombilla) passed round a group. You’ll see it everywhere, in parks, on park benches, at football matches. Any supermarket or kiosco sells starter kits if you want to bring the ritual home.

Best Day Trips from Buenos Aires

Half-Day Trip to the Tigre Delta

Tigre is a riverside town on the Paraná Delta, the second-largest river delta in South America, a maze of waterways and stilt houses only reachable by boat, some of the islands still have no roads or mains electricity at all. It became a fashionable weekend escape for wealthy Buenos Aires families once the railway arrived in 1865, hence the old rowing clubs and grand villas you’ll still spot along the water today. It’s only about an hour from Retiro station, which makes it a lovely, easy half-day escape from the city without much planning needed. Book a Tigre Delta boat trip.

San Antonio de Areco and Estancia Day Tour

Step into the heart of Argentine culture with a visit to San Antonio de Areco, officially recognised by Argentine law as the National Capital of Tradition and still home to working silversmiths producing the same style of gaucho silverware their predecessors have made since the 18th century. Every November the town hosts the Día de la Tradición, one of the country’s biggest gaucho festivals, with horse parades and folk performances filling the streets. This tour includes a visit to a traditional estancia (ranch), a mouthwatering barbecue lunch (asado), and a folklore show. Book the San Antonio de Areco, Estancia and BBQ tour.

Day Trip to Colonia del Sacramento

Escape the city with a ferry ride to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its cobblestone streets and colonial architecture. I’ve actually taken this exact trip and loved it. Book a Colonia del Sacramento tour, or if you’d rather sort the ferry crossing yourself and explore independently, Ferryhopper covers the Buenos Aires to Colonia route.

Day Tour to Iguazú Falls

Experience the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls on a day tour from Buenos Aires, one of the largest waterfall systems in the world. It’s seriously one of the best trip experiences I’ve ever had. This tour includes flights and transport, so you get to explore the falls from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides in one day. Book the Iguazú Falls day tour.

Explore Campanópolis, the Magical Village

Wine Tasting and Lunch at Bodega Gamboa

Discover the enchanting Campanópolis, a whimsical architectural wonder just outside Buenos Aires, built from recycled materials with fairytale-like buildings and labyrinthine paths. It’s the passion project of one man, businessman Antonio Campana, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness in the 1980s and spent the rest of his life building it by hand with a small group of local masons, no architects, no formal plans, just a self-taught vision of a medieval European village on what used to be a rubbish dump. Wander the 12 forest houses and you’ll find a windmill, a chapel, fountains, bridges, and even an old locomotive tucked among the trees. Book a Campanópolis visit.

Indulge in Argentine wine at Bodega Gamboa, a boutique winery just outside the city, this tour includes a tasting session, a vineyard tour, and lunch surrounded by picturesque landscapes. Book the Bodega Gamboa wine tasting and lunch tour.

Where to Stay in Buenos Aires

I highly recommend staying in Palermo to make the most of your time in Buenos Aires, there’s an incredible amount of great restaurants, bars, and stores there compared to other areas.

Budget

• My Mom’s Airbnb: My mum, who is an artist, recently bought and renovated this studio apartment in Palermo, it’s decorated with her own artwork throughout and it’s genuinely lovely. She’s a great host, and everyone who stays there raves about her hospitality above all else. Self-catering and cheap accommodation in a perfect location. Works well whether it’s just you travelling solo or a couple with a young child, a cot is available if you need one. Best for: budget travellers who want a genuinely central location.
• Alfonsina Hostel: Right in Palermo Soho near Plaza Serrano, rated 9.0 on Booking.com from 282 reviews and 5/5 on Tripadvisor. Clean, friendly staff, an outdoor pool, and buffet breakfast included, genuinely impressive for the price. Best for: solo travellers and backpackers who still want a bit of comfort.

Mid-range

• CasaSur Palermo Hotel: A chic boutique hotel in Palermo Soho, known for its stylish design, comfortable rooms, and proximity to trendy cafes and shops.
• Fierro Hotel Buenos Aires: A boutique hotel with spacious suites, a rooftop pool, and an excellent on-site restaurant in Palermo Hollywood.
• Mine Hotel Boutique: A cozy, contemporary boutique hotel with stylish rooms, a garden pool, and a convenient location in Palermo Soho.
• Loi Suites Recoleta: A comfortable hotel with spacious rooms, a lovely indoor pool, and an excellent location near Recoleta Cemetery and the neighbourhood’s cultural attractions.
• Dazzler by Wyndham Buenos Aires: A modern, affordable hotel with well-appointed rooms and a fitness centre, with multiple locations across the city.

Splurge

• Alvear Palace Hotel: A luxurious, historic hotel in the upscale Recoleta district, with opulent rooms, a renowned spa, and impeccable service. It opened in 1932 in full Belle Époque style, French Baroque motifs inside and Second Empire grandeur outside, and it’s been a magnet for the famous ever since, past guests include Walt Disney, Sean Connery, and Antonio Banderas. It’s one of only four Argentine hotels on the Leading Hotels of the World list, and it’s officially a Historical Monument of the City of Buenos Aires. If you’re going to splurge on one hotel in this city, make it this one.
• Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires: A five-star gem blending modern luxury with historic charm, spacious rooms, a rooftop pool, and an excellent steakhouse.
• Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires: A restored palace in Recoleta, with elegant rooms, fine dining, and a beautiful garden.

None of these float your boat? Search all Buenos Aires hotels.

Where to Eat in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires as a capital city has the best food and the best restaurants you can find in Argentina, the offer is truly incredible. Rather than list a handful here, I’ve put together running Google Maps lists I keep adding to:

• Brunch and lunch in Buenos Aires
• Dinner in Buenos Aires
• Coffee in Buenos Aires

How Long to Spend in Buenos Aires

3 days is enough to hit the main highlights, Palermo Soho, San Telmo, La Boca, Recoleta Cemetery, and a proper asado dinner.

5 days lets you slow down, explore more neighbourhoods properly, and add one day trip, Tigre or Colonia del Sacramento are both easy half or full days.

7+ days is worth it if you want to add Iguazú Falls (it deserves its own day, ideally more), San Antonio de Areco’s gaucho culture, or Bodega Gamboa for wine, and still have time to just live like a local for a bit.

Getting To & Around Buenos Aires

You can really only get to Buenos Aires by plane, it’s pretty far south compared to almost anywhere else in the world (Uruguay’s the exception, you can reach Colonia in about an hour by ferry). Search flights on Skyscanner, I’ve been flying to Buenos Aires from London at least once a year for the past five years and Skyscanner always finds the best deals. For a reliable, hassle-free arrival, book a private transfer with WelcomePickups.

Once you’re here, Buenos Aires is a bustling and well-connected city with an extensive public transport system, buses (colectivos), the subway (Subte), and trains. You can now tap a contactless credit or debit card, or a phone wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay, directly on the Subte and most buses, no need to sort out a SUBE card in advance if you’d rather not. If you’re really trying to cheap out though, get a SUBE card instead, at any subway station, kiosk, or Correo Argentino post office, and load credit onto it as you go, contactless card payments get converted at the official exchange rate, which is worse than what you’d get otherwise. Taxis and rideshare services like Uber are widely available, though taxis usually cost more. I very much enjoy walking, the neighbourhoods are super pedestrian-friendly and full of charming streets to explore.

Best Time to Visit Buenos Aires

The best time to visit Buenos Aires is during spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May). The weather is pleasant, and the city’s parks and streets are particularly beautiful in these seasons. Remember the seasons are flipped from the northern hemisphere, so December to February is Buenos Aires’ summer and can get properly hot and humid, while June to August is winter, mild by European standards but chillier than most visitors expect from South America.

Buenos Aires FAQs

What is the best time to visit Buenos Aires?

The best time to visit Buenos Aires is during the spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May). The weather is pleasant, and the city’s parks and streets are particularly beautiful during these seasons.

Do I need to speak Spanish in Buenos Aires?

While many locals speak at least some English in tourist areas, it’s helpful to know basic Spanish phrases for getting around, ordering food, and interacting with locals.

Is Buenos Aires safe for tourists?

Buenos Aires is generally safe for tourists, but it’s always best to stay aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas. Avoid flashing valuables and be cautious when using ATMs. Stick to well-lit areas at night and use registered taxis or rideshares.

Can I visit Buenos Aires on a budget?

Yes. Buenos Aires is a great destination for budget travellers. Public transport is affordable, and there are many free or inexpensive attractions to explore, such as museums, parks, and historic neighbourhoods.

What’s the best neighbourhood to stay in?

Palermo is where I’d recommend staying to make the most of your time, there’s an incredible amount of great restaurants, bars, and stores there compared to other areas, and it’s well connected to the rest of the city.

How many days do I need in Buenos Aires?

3 days covers the main highlights, but 5 to 7 days lets you slow down, explore properly, and fit in at least one day trip, see How Long to Spend in Buenos Aires above for the full breakdown.

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