BUENOS AIRES BUCKET LIST AND TRAVEL GUIDE

Buenos Aires is my city! I was born and lived 23 years in Buenos Aires before moving to London and still visit every year as my family lives here. Without much further ado, these are the best things to do and see in Buenos Aires. I also include detail on some of the things you must eat when in Buenos Aires as well as where to stay.

VISITING BUENOS AIRES: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / It’s super easy to get around BA walking, by bus and subway. You’ll need a SUBE card which you can buy and load in subway stations and kiosks. Uber and Cabify are also widely used and cheaper that taxis on the street. The airport is quite a way from the city so I recommend you use WelcomePickups (which is what I use).

Tours / There are countless tours on BA but these are the most popular ones:
Buenos Aires: Piazzolla Tango Show with Optional Dinner
Buenos Aires: Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus Tour
Buenos Aires: La Boca Guided Walking Tour in English
Buenos Aires: City Highlights Guided Tour with Transfer
Buenos Aires: La Recoleta Cemetery Guided Tour in English


Stay / If you are looking for self-catering and cheap accommodation in a perfect location in Palermo then I wholeheartedly recommend you stay at my Mom’s Airbnb. If looking for hotels these are the best:

Alvear Palace Hotel $$$
Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires $$$
Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires $$$
CasaSur Palermo Hotel $$
Fierro Hotel Buenos Aires $$
Mine Hotel Boutique $$
Loi Suites Recoleta $$
Dazzler by Wyndham Buenos Aires $$

Eat / My top recommendations for each meal:
Brunch/Breakfast: Malvon
Coffee: Cuervo Cafe
Dinner: Don Julio (steak) / Sacro (veggie)

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Buenos Aires, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for Argentina.

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

WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO IN BUENOS AIRES

Have “asado” in a “parilla”

Our asado (barbecue) is just such a big part of our culture. Asado brings Argentina’s friends and families together, and it is done so much differently from anywhere in the world. It’s not just food, it’s a ritual, a tradition. Moreover, Argentineans eat practically the entirety of the cow in asados, not only the meat, but what we call “achuras”. Chinchulines (intestines), chorizo (thick sausage), molleja (sweet bread), morcilla (blood sausage) are only some of them, and they are delicious! We also have lots of sides that are cooked in the ‘parilla’ (the actual barbecue) as well. If you are visiting Buenos Aires for one day only, make a point of having asado. It’s definitely one of the main attractions in Buenos Aires. Now, asado in a restaurant will NOT be the real deal. Thankfully, you can now book the real deal here.

You should also go to a restaurant to have asado if you are staying for a while. This guided experience is excellent. If you prefer to just visit a restaurant on your own, the best places for asado are La Cabrera followed by Don Julio both in the neighborhood of Palermo and then La Brigada in San Telmo.

Stroll, buy designer items and eat in Palermo Soho

Hands down my favorite attraction in Buenos Aires is to walk around Palermo Soho. Similar to the Soho in London and New York, Palermo Soho is bustling with independent designer stores, trendy restaurants & cafes and colorful façades. Start from Plaza Armenia and make your way to Plaza Serrano. There are just dozens of places to eat from all cuisines and types, and most of them are good. Just pick one you fancy and check the reviews in Google Maps. My go-to places are Mark’s Deli, Fifi Almacen, Pani…but there are so much more! While you are there, you might want to do a street art and graffiti walking tour.

Take colorful shots at Caminito in La Boca

One of the most touristy attractions in Buenos Aires, but still absolutely worth it. Caminito is a street in La Boca filled by colorful painted houses. The houses, made of wood and sheet metal, are remains from the “conventillos” or communal houses built by Italian immigrants in the 19th century. There are also tango shows to watch, and traditional restaurants to eat in. My mum is from La Boca and even lived in a conventillo when she was a child, and my grandparents lived one block from the Boca stadium until the day they died so this neighborhood and its history are very dear to me. There’s a guided tour in English so you can learn a bit while you are there.

Watch a Boca Juniors match

Football, well Fútbol as that’s how we call it, is an obsession for many in Buenos Aires. Boca Juniors & River Plate are the most popular teams in all of Argentina, and rivals, and they are both from separate neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires. Watching a Boca Juniors match is in my opinion a unique goosebumps-level experience. The fans for Boca Juniors are so intense they are called “la 12” or the 12th, as of in they are considered a 12th player in the field as their support can help turn around a match. You can book the experience here. Don’t even try to do it on your own, you can’t actually purchase tickets to a Boca match unless you are a member and even when I was a member I didn’t even know how to do it. If there are no games when you visit and you are a football fan, you can also do a tour of the stadium.

Visit the MALBA museum

MALBA – Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires – has an impressive permanent collection. My favourite museum in Buenos Aires and very worth spending a couple of hours admiring it.

Go to “La Bomba del Tiempo” on a Monday or “La Grande” on a Tuesday

Every Monday for now over 20 years La Bomba Del Tiempo, a band comprised by over 17 percussionists, has been delighting locals and foreigners with their beats in the Ciudad Cultural Konex. If you want to get a feel of how alive Buenos Aires is and how much porteños love going out, head to La Bomba on Monday – get tickets here. Their show is so popular, they have even played in London (and sold out, of course). Can’t do Monday? Don’t worry, Santiago Vazquez the creator of La Bomba also does a similar show called La Grande on Tuesdays – get tickets here. Both venues sell drinks, food and are just a genuine experience and loads of fun.

Spend your Sunday in San Telmo

Sundays are the best day to visit San Telmo, because while San Telmo Market is open every day, Plaza Dorrego Flea Market is open on Sundays only. You’ll see tango dancers, performing artists and an array of antiques as well as great food. This is one of Buenos Aires must dos. I did this tour, and would recommend it so you know what to look out for!

Try empanadas

Empanadas are a go-to food item in Argentina. We eat empanadas all the time: with friends, at home, as an appetizer for asado, etc. Because of that, you gotta try them! Empanadas are generally good everywhere but if you want to ensure you are trying a really good one try La Cocina, La Morada or De Rosa.

Marvel at the Teatro Colón

Another one of the top attractions in Buenos Aires and one of its most important landmarks is the magnificent Teatro Colón. It is considered one of the ten best Opera houses in the world. I would encourage you to see an opera or ballet – you can book tickets here – or take a tour of the theatre.

Get lost at the Recoleta Cemetery

One of the world’s best cemeteries, you’ll be amazed by the mausoleums, sculptures and detail of this cemetery. It is death portrayed in it most beautiful form. I encourage you to take a tour to understand more about its story and its quiet inhabitants.

Take a Tango lesson

You can’t leave Buenos Aires without trying out Tango! Piazzolla Tango is a majestic piece of live music and tango performance inspired on Astor Piazzolla’s work. You also get to learn the basics of tango with a 30-minute class before the show. Book it below:

Have cocktails at one of Buenos Aires most quirky bars

One of the most fun things to do in Buenos Aires in my opinion is to visit its unique bars. Go back to the times of the Prohibition through a telephone box at Frank’s. Drink at a steampunk speakeasy at Victoria Brown. Have cocktails at a flower shop in Florería Atlántico. Get your booze fix in a New York pharmacy which you’ll enter from a subway carriage at Uptown.

Browse for books at Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid

It is considered one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, and that’s because it used to be a theatre. Definitely a great place to buy a book, or just take a really good picture while in Buenos Aires.

Eat Argentine pizza

Do you want a try a pizza like no pizza you’ve ever tried before? Time to take a bite of an Argentine pizza. Our pizza is thick, cheesy to levels you could have never imagined and it has olives on top. We also have some special types of pizza like the fugazzetta, a pizza filled with lots of cheese and with lots of onions on top. We also eat a lot of fainá, a chickpea pancake which we usually put on top of the “muzzarella” which would be the Argentine version of the margherita. You must go to try our pizza to El Guerrin, El Cuartito or Las Cuartetas. A pizza place I love which is not as famous is Pirilo and it’s close to the San Telmo market.

Have a stroll through El Rosedal

El Rosedal is a rose garden located within a big green area within the city called Bosques de Palermo. It’s such a pretty place, because of the roses, water fountains, white veranda and bridge. If you are in need of some nature, give it a visit.

Have coffee or tea at Cafe Tortoni 

One of the oldest cafes in Buenos Aires, being around since 1858. Have “cafe con medialunas” or coffee and croissants or chocolate con churros. Put Cafe Tortoni in your culinary Buenos Aires Bucket List.

Visit La Casa Rosada & Plaza de Mayo

La Casa Rosada (Pink House) is the main government building in Buenos Aires, and where the President works on weekdays. However, you can visit it on weekends where there are guided and free walking tours which you can book here. Plaza de Mayo is the square where La Casa Rosada sits, and as you might imagine, where demonstrations happen. Argentines love to demonstrate and its likely there will be some closed streets close to this area due to some kind of demonstration.

Eat “facturas” at a “Panadería” or “Confitería”

Facturas are pastries of different kinds which Argentines love. We buy them by the dozen (you can buy half or a quarter dozen as well). Medialunas (croissants but Argentinean style) are the most common factura and we have two different kinds.  The “Medialunas de grasa” (fat based croissants) are thinner and longer than regular croissants, and less moist, potentially a bit less sweet. The “Medialunas de manteca” (butter based croissants) are plumper, shorter and are usually painted with syrup, so they are sweeter. You might want to try the “cañoncito de dulce de leche” and “alfajorcitos de maizena” both are dulce de leche filled pastries. The best places where you can buy these are Confitería Dos Escudos (various locations), El Galeón, Santa Paula, La Argentina (various locations) or Ritz.

Visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

Include the Museum of Fine Arts of Buenos Aires in your list of places to visit in Buenos Aires. It features art from renowned South American painters, as well as from Monet, Degas and Picasso among others. Plus, it’s free!

Take a picture of the Obelisco & take a stroll through Puerto Madero

The Obelisco or obelisk is the most iconic monument of Buenos Aires. It stands at the intersection of two of the city’s most important streets: Avenida Corrientes and Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest street in the world with an incredible 16 lanes. If you are looking for a picture that says “I’ve been in Buenos Aires” this is it!

Then, walk for a bit to get to Puerto Madero. This is the port area which has been refurbished and is now one of the fanciest places in Buenos Aires. Just take a stroll besides the river, cross the Puente de La Mujer (Woman’s Bridge). There are many restaurants by the river where you can eat.

Indulge on the sweet stuff: dulce de leche, alfajores & helado

You might have picked up by now one of the best things to do in Buenos Aires is eat! First, you must try Dulce De Leche which is similar to caramel but just better. We eat it with everything: on toast in the mornings, on pastries, with chocolate, inside alfajores, on cakes and on desserts. If you are eating at a traditional Argentine restaurant ask for “panqueques con dulce de leche” or “flan con dulce de leche” for dessert.

Then let me introduce you to alfajores, these are essentially two round cookies with a filling. Most typically, the filling is dulce de leche, and they can be bathed in chocolate or powdered sugar. You can buy them in our “kioscos” essentially small convenience stores that you can find on almost every street.

Last our ice cream is incredible, and I am by no means overstating it. We love ice cream and we eat it all year long. We buy it by the kilo and just keep it in our freezers. The best ice cream is from Freddo, Volta, Persicco, Rapa Nui and Cadore. Of course, you need to have Dulce De Leche as one the flavors.

Visit Palacio Barolo

Step into the grandeur of Palacio Barolo, an architectural masterpiece inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. Located in the heart of Buenos Aires, this historic building combines European and Latin American styles. Book a guided tour to uncover its fascinating history, explore its intricate design, and climb to the lighthouse at the top for stunning panoramic views of the city. There’s also a beautiful tour that happens at night in case you are able to make it at that time which includes wine.

Visit Buenos Aires off the beaten path

Discover a different side of Buenos Aires with a customized tour takes you off the beaten path to hidden gems and lesser-known neighborhoods, offering a more authentic and personal perspective of the city. Perfect for those wanting to see beyond the main attractions, the itinerary can be tailored to your interests! Book it here.

BEST DAY TRIPS FROM BUENOS AIRES

Take a half day trip to the Tigre Delta

Tigre is a town in Greater Buenos Aires which lies on the Paraná Delta. As such it has a unique scenery, there are streams flowing everywhere as well as islands. As it’s not that easy to reach on public transport own I’d recommend you book a tour which includes a boat ride through the islands.

San Antonio de Areco and Estancia Day Tour

Step into the heart of Argentine culture with a visit to San Antonio de Areco, a charming gaucho town near Buenos Aires. This tour includes a visit to a traditional estancia (ranch), where you’ll enjoy a mouthwatering barbecue lunch (asado) and witness a captivating folklore show. Discover the traditions of the gauchos, ride horses, and immerse yourself in the authentic rural lifestyle. Book your tour here.

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 charming colonial architecture. Spend the day exploring this picturesque town at your leisure, soaking up its quaint charm and rich history. Perfect for a relaxing getaway from Buenos Aires. I’ve actually taken this exact same trip and loved it! Book your trip here.

Day Tour to Iguazú Falls

Experience the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls on a day tour from Buenos Aires. This natural wonder is one of the largest waterfall systems in the world, offering breathtaking views and unforgettable moments. It’s seriously one of the best trip experiences I’ve ever had. This tour includes flights and transport, allowing you to explore the falls from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides—all in one day! Book your adventure here.

Explore Campanópolis, the Magical Village

Discover the enchanting and mysterious village of Campanópolis, a whimsical architectural wonder just outside Buenos Aires. Built with recycled materials, this surreal village features fairytale-like buildings and labyrinthine paths. Perfect for photography enthusiasts and those who love unique experiences. Book your experience here.

Wine Tasting and Lunch at Bodega Gamboa

Indulge in the flavors of Argentine wine at Bodega Gamboa, a boutique winery just outside the city. This tour includes a wine-tasting session, a tour of the vineyard, and a delicious lunch surrounded by picturesque landscapes. It’s the perfect escape for wine lovers seeking a serene day out. Book your experience here.

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! From specialty coffee, to craft beer, amazing brunches and hipster dining spots there’s way to much to include here. So I’m linking my Google Maps lists below, save these so you can visit them when you are in a certain area and looking for brunch/lunch, coffee or dinner. These are the ones I actually use when I visit, and I keep saving spots into them:

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

WHERE TO STAY IN BUENOS AIRES

I highly recommend you stay in Palermo in order to make the most of your time visiting Buenos Aires as there is an incredible amount of great restaurants, bars and stores there compared to other areas.

If you are looking for self-catering and cheap accommodation in a perfect location in Palermo then I wholeheartedly recommend you stay at my Mom’s Airbnb. She recently bought and renovated this studio apartment which is lovely and she is a wonderful host. If you don’t believe me just look at her fantastic reviews!

Whether you’re seeking luxury, boutique charm, or budget-friendly comfort, the city offers accommodations to suit everyone’s needs. If you are looking for a hotel vs an Airbnb then I recommend the below hotels:

• Alvear Palace Hotel $$$: A luxurious, historic hotel located in the upscale Recoleta district, offering opulent rooms, a renowned spa, and impeccable service.
• Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires $$$: A five-star gem featuring a blend of modern luxury and historic charm, with spacious rooms, a rooftop pool, and an excellent steakhouse.
• Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires $$$: Nestled in a restored palace in Recoleta, this hotel boasts elegant rooms, fine dining options, and a beautiful garden.
• CasaSur Palermo Hotel $$: 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 $$: A boutique hotel offering spacious suites, a rooftop pool, and an excellent on-site restaurant in the heart of Palermo Hollywood.
• Mine Hotel Boutique $$: A cozy, contemporary boutique hotel with stylish rooms, a garden pool, and a convenient location in Palermo Soho.
• Loi Suites Recoleta $$: A comfortable hotel with spacious rooms, a lovely indoor pool, and an excellent location near the Recoleta Cemetery and cultural attractions.
• Dazzler by Wyndham Buenos Aires $$: A modern and affordable hotel with well-appointed rooms, a fitness center, and multiple locations across the city.

HOW TO GET TO AND AROUND BUENOS AIRES

You can really only get to Buenos Aires by plane, let’s face it, it’s pretty darn south compared to anywhere else in the world. Ok, Uruguay is the exception as you can get to and from Buenos Aires to Colonia in Uruguay in around an hour.

I’ve been flying to Buenos Aires from London and other places in the world at least once a year for the past five years and I’m a witness that Skyscanner always has the best deals. So make sure you use Skyscanner to find your next flight to Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires is a bustling and well-connected city, making it super easy to get around. The city has an extensive public transport system, including buses (colectivos), subways (Subte), and trains. However, you will need a SUBE card to use any public transport. The SUBE card can be purchased at subway stations, kiosks, or Correo Argentino post offices for a small fee. Once you have the card, you can load credit onto it at the same locations or in subway stations.

Taxis and rideshare services like Uber are widely available, though the prices for taxis are usually a bit higher. I very much enjoy walking, as the city’s neighborhoods are super pedestrian-friendly and full of charming streets to explore.

For airport transfers or private transport, I recommend using WelcomePickups for a reliable and hassle-free experience.

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 travelers. Public transport is affordable, and there are many free or inexpensive attractions to explore, such as museums, parks, and historic neighborhoods.

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