Buenos Aires is an incredible city. As Argentina’s capital, it does a brilliant job showcasing the nation, from traditional tango dancing to contemporary cuisine. I spent a total of four days in the sunshine-filled city, and honestly, it wasn’t enough time to truly get to know the place. What I did find in that time was a collection of gems that you may want to bookmark for your own visit… And do comment your own recommendations if you’re a local, or a well-seasoned Buenos Aires visitor!
6 Of The Best Things To Do In Buenos Aires
Here’s a little taster of Buenos Aires – scroll down for my top picks of things to do in the city!
Yellow Bus Tour
Address: Available at 22 stops across Buenos Aires, with buses every 20 minutes
To first familiarise yourself with the city, I really recommend booking in for the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour*. We chose the yellow buses, but there are other operators around the city. Spend an hour on the bus and you’ll begin to see just how BIG Buenos Aires is! Coming from London, I tend to find new cities are lesser, almost comically small places than the UK capital, but Buenos Aires just goes on and on and on. And every area is different!
On the Yellow Bus Tour, you’ll be able to sit up top and enjoy breezing through the city with the roof down. The tour itself is a recorded audio tour, and you’ll get a set of earphones when first boarding (be sure to hang on to these!) The audio tour comes in a range of languages, and gives a good insight into the history and culture of the city.
Buenos Aires Eco Park
Address: Ecoparque BA, República de la India, C1425 CABA Buenos Aires
If you’re interested in the varied flora and fauna of Argentina, the Ecoparque BA is a must-visit. Here, you’ll find plants, animals, and even beautiful bees and butterflies roaming about. One of my favourite finds were the Patagonian mara, pictured here, who are a smaller cousin of the capybara! They can be spotted around the park in groups and enjoyed jumping and chasing each other!
Across the wide roads around the Ecoparque is Buenos Aires’ Carlos Thays Jardín Botánico (Botanical Garden), another must-visit, with beautiful rose gardens and statues to meander around.
Tango at Café de los Angelitos
Address: Café de los Angelitos, Avenida Rivadavia 2100, Rincón, 1033 Buenos Aires
The Argentine Tango is one of the country’s most famous exports, with ballrooms around the world revering the notoriously complex dance. So, where better to watch it than at a traditional theatre in Buenos Aires?
After speaking with our hotel staff, we were recommended to Café de los Angelitos, a theatre offering traditional tango shows. We booked in to see just the show, but you could also make an evening of it with dinner too. Through our hotel, we also arranged transportation to and from the venue (included in our ticket price).
We thoroughly enjoyed the show, which showed how tango has evolved through the ages, and mixed different emotions and music styles too!
Street Food & Markets
Having watched Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown episode in Buenos Aires, one of the draws of the city had to be their street food and markets.
Upon arriving at the city, we found ourselves in close by to the bustling Palermo area, with street markets full of artisanal crafts, woollens, and incense. Alongside the modern stores and inexpensive bars, it quickly became one of our favourite areas to frequent.
For street food, we found the more traditional options were lined up close to Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve (see below), and dotted around Recoleta Cemetery.
For sustainable shopping, I also popped into Bunker, a second-hand fashion store boasting everything from designer goods to high street basics.
Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve
Address: Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, Buenos Aires
Speaking of Costanera Sur… Be sure to give yourself half a day to take an easy hike around the ecological reserve bordering the city and the beach!
Bridging the gap between city and nature, the reserve was our first introduction to the beautiful wildlife the country has to offer. With various butterflies, birds, and small animals to spot, it feels a world away from the city, while still keeping the glossy Puerto Madero skyline in view.
I recommend strolling from the south side of the reserve to the north, and swinging around to the quiet canal-side restaurants facing Puente de la Mujer (Woman’s Bridge).
Restaurants In Palermo
Finally, if you’re looking for good food in Buenos Aires, head to Palermo! Here we found some of our favourite eateries across our holiday. From Eretz Cantina, a Middle Eastern restaurant serving fresh, well seasoned mezze, to Green Bamboo, a Vietnamese establishment serving incredibly good food against a bougie backdrop, it’s the place to eat.
If you’re looking for similar eateries (and especially those that cater to a vegetarian or vegan diet), check out my Google List to Buenos Aires!
How To Make The Most Of Argentina…
Visiting Argentina was one of the best trips of my life. However, there are things I wish I’d known before going – so be sure to read through my top tips for visiting Argentina – and get planning!
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Buenos Aires, Fierro Hotel is my #1 recommendation. As far as inner-city hotels go, this has all the bells and whistles, with an indoor/outdoor restaurant, rooftop pool, and sauna, as well as spacious rooms and an incredibly welcoming team who will cater to you throughout your stay.
During my trip to Argentina, I also visited the regions of Iguazu and Salta, which I’d recommend to anyone looking to pair the natural wonders of the country with the buzz of Buenos Aires. Buen viaje!
