14 Top Things to Do in Buenos Aires, Argentina [+Where to Eat]

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Buenos Aires is the largest city in Argentina. It’s a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with a captivating and electrifying personality. You’ll need to be prepared with all the top things to do in Buenos Aires, from the top sights to the outstanding food. A combination of the two will give you a good overview of the city.

Buenos Aires is more than just a sprawling capital city. It’s a city with gritty edges, yet beautifully manicured parks everywhere you turn. It has a decidedly European feel, spiced with Latin-American sensuality, and it pulses with Tango dancing, late-night dining and nightlife that lasts until morning.

» Check out these 25 Traditional Dishes to Look for in Argentina.

things to do in Buenos Aires City

The key to discovering what Buenos Aires is all about is to dive into what makes it so unique. Exploring the city can be daunting because of its size, so you really need to narrow down what you want to do and make sure you’ve included a journey into some of the local neighborhoods, where the food, the nightlife and the people-watching are at their best.

Here’s a mini guide to getting to know Buenos Aires, Argentina, complete with all the top things to see and do. Make sure you experience as much as possible of this incredible city.

Top Things to Do in Buenos Aires

1. Go to a Tango Show with Dinner Included

Tango Porteno Buenos Aires
Tango Porteno Buenos Aires

Everyone knows that Buenos Aires is the capital of Tango, so an evening out at a tango show is practically a requirement. There are dozens to choose from, and they are all geared at tourists, so don’t be afraid to join the throngs and enjoy it for what it is. The dancing is the main attraction, so don’t expect an incredible meal.

Tango Porteño is a good option if you’re looking for a show. It’s the one we went to, and we really enjoyed it. The food wasn’t amazing, but it was very good and better than we expected, actually. Your hotel concierge can also book you a seat at a popular show, even at the last minute, so do ask for recommendations.

⇒ It’s always good to book your Tango Show & Dinner in advance. They sell out fast!

2. Take a City Tour and Visit Fun Buenos Aires Neighborhoods

During the day, one of the best ways to become acquainted with the city is to walk through the neighborhoods. San Telmo, Palermo and Recoleta neighborhoods each have a distinctive vibe that shouldn’t be missed. A stroll along Avenue Libertador and Puerto Madero will give you a different perspective of the city, plus dozens of shopping and dining choices.

Along the way, you’re sure to encounter one of the many parks in the city, which is one of my favorite things about Buenos Aires. The city has dedicated a lot of space to building parks and recreational areas, so despite it being the 8th largest city in the world, it feels quite spacious and inviting.

⇒ Book a small-group city tour in advance.

3. Plaza de Mayo

plaza de mayo

Home to the Casa Rosada—where Eva Peron famously stood on the balcony—and the Metropolitan Cathedral, Pope Francis’ former church, Plaza de Mayo is the historic and political heart of Buenos Aires. Named for the May 1810 revolution, the square’s centerpiece is the Pirámide de Mayo, an obelisk commemorating Argentina’s independence.

The best way to explore Plaza de Mayo is on foot, strolling around the leafy central plaza and stopping to admire the grand 19th-century buildings.

4. Teatro Colón

The regal façade of the Colon Theatre makes a popular photo stop on sightseeing tours of Buenos Aires, but visitors can also admire the lavish interiors on a guided theater tour.

Tours take in all the highlights, including the Golden Hall, the Gallery of Busts, and the Main Foyer. Attending a performance at the luxurious, 7-story, 2,500-seat theater is an even more memorable experience.

5. Recoleta Cemetery

Recoleta Cemetary

This labyrinthine city of the dead is often at the top of visitors’ must-see lists when spending time in the Argentinean capital. You’d be hard-pressed to find a city sightseeing tour that doesn’t make a stop here.

While it’s easy enough to visit independently, it’s well worth exploring the grounds with a guide, who can regale you with stories of the various tombs and monuments.

6. Tigre

tigre waterway

The highlight of a visit to Tigre is a boat cruise around the Tigre Delta, a scenic expanse of marshlands dotted with islands, traditional stilt houses, and floating markets. The town itself is easy to explore on a walking tour, taking in the harborside market and colonial architecture, or visiting the Parque de la Costa theme park.

Day tours from Buenos Aires often combine a visit to Tigre with the nearby colonial town of San Isidro. For the best value, combine a half-day tour of Tigre with a Buenos Aires city tour, an evening tango show, or a sightseeing cruise along the Rio de la Plata.

7. Eat at the Parillas

Fogon Asado
One of the courses at Fogon Asado in Buenos Aires
  • Don Julio is a perennial favorite. It’s exactly what you expect from an Argentina steakhouse: exceptional meat and a relaxed atmosphere. The food is rustic – large slabs of steak and your choice of sides.
  • Fogon Asado serves exceptional food, but what you must do here is the Asado tasting menu, with optional wine pairings. The chefs have prepared a 6-course tasting menu that combines modern and traditional techniques to form the perfect tasting menu. You can watch the action in the kitchen from the kitchen bar stools. Definitely worth it!
  • Calden del Soho is a classic style restaurant with fantastic service and really great food. Go for the Bife de Lomo (tenderloin) and a bottle of Malbec.. You won’t be disappointed.
  • Hierro Parrilla is located in the Mercado San Telmo, so the experience starts the moment you enter the market. The food is outstanding. It might just be the best steak you eat in Argentina. Great atmosphere, delicious food, fantastic service.

8. Buenos Aires Unique Fine Dining Experience at Aramburu

Aramburu shrimp
Aramburu in Buenos Aires serves the most creative dishes

Michelin-star restaurants and artfully designed food & wine pairing menus can be found in abundance in Buenos Aires. They have one of the best dining scenes in the world. One of our favorite food experiences in Buenos Aires was at Aramburu in the San Cristobal neighborhood.

One of the most incredible restaurant experiences of my life thus far was at Aramburu in the San Cristobal neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Aramburu was named one of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants and it’s easy to see why. The 12-course meal, optionally paired with Argentina wines, is a gastronomic masterpiece.

The menu changes seasonally and features local ingredients with molecular techniques like liquid nitrogen, smoke infusion, foams and delicate purees. During our visit, our favorites were a sizzling prawn served on hot rocks, a mousse served in a martini glass that tasted just like a freshly made tamale and a crispy-skinned white salmon with creamy avocado puree. The restaurant is quite a bit outside the tourist center of the city, so expect a 40-minute taxi ride.

Address: Calle Salta 1050 | Entre Humberto I y Carlos Calvo, Buenos Aires C1074AAV, Argentina
Phone: +54 11 4305-0439
Website: https://arambururesto.com.ar/

Traditionally, empanadas are deep fried in oil.

9. Closed-Door Dining Experience

One of the food crazes that took hold in Argentina is the concept of closed-door dining (puertas cerradas in Spanish). It’s a great way to dine, because you’ll meet other great like-minded eaters. But also because it’s a unique experience that you can’t have elsewhere.

It’s like you’re being invited over to someone’s house for a private dinner party. The restaurant is always run by a well-trained chef. The meal consists of multiple course, paired with wines, of course. It’s really a fun experience.

⇒ Book a dinner at a closed-door restaurant.

10. The Argentine Experience

The Argentine Experience is a super fun dining experience you must do when in Buenos Aires. You’ll meet up with other guests to learn about Argentinean food, cook up some empanadas, eat and drink great food, participate in a cocktail making demo, and make new friends. It’s a fun way to spend an evening in the city.

⇒ Book the Argentine Experience Cooking Class in advance.

Argentina steak

11. Take a Parilla Tour

Second is to take a Parilla Tour, where a guide will take you to the San Telmo or Palermo areas to eat various foods made by local artisans. The tour will give you a great perspective on the city and the food that makes it unique.

⇒ Book a Parilla Tour in the Palermo neighborhood.

12. Wine Tasting in Buenos Aires

If you’re a wine lover, or just want to try some of Argentina’s rich and fruity Malbecs, book a small group wine tasting. You’ll try some of Argentina’s lesser-known, high-quality wines with food in a really nice and relaxing setting.

⇒ Book a Buenos Aires wine tasting with tapas.

argentina beer

13. Go on a Buenos Aires Craft Beer Tour

Visit some of the cities best craft beer places. The city has a lot to offer in terms of craft beer. If you want to see what the Buenos Aires nightlife is like, a tour is the way to go. This walking food tour visits the most famous artisan breweries in the city, with a walk of the historic district of San Telmo, to drink two beers in the most varied options that are made in each place that visits.

⇒ Book a private walking tour and craft beer tasting.

14. Food Tour in Palermo

This food tour will take you to 4 amazing restaurants that cannot be found on any guidebook. Enjoy over 8 different dishes and drinks showcasing the best of Argentine cuisine. Discover the neighbourhood of Palermo while meeting fellow travellers. It’s an intimate food tour with a max of 10 guests to keep it personal.

⇒ Book a Small-Group Food Tour in Palermo with Dinner

Where to Stay in Buenos Aires

Alvear Palace Hotel
Alvear Palace Hotel (Photo by Wally Gobetz)

In Buenos Aires, there are lots of great boutique and luxury hotels. The Four Seasons Hotel and Alvear Palace are located in the Recoleta, a high-class neighborhood with upscale shopping and dining, and it’s a very safe neighborhood for travelers.

The trendy Palermo district is make up of several smaller areas and offers lots of green space to play in. The popular Mine Hotel Boutique is located there, along with the Miravida Soho Hotel and Wine Bar.

San Telmo might feel more like the real Buenos Aires – where the locals live. You’ll have your pick of great parrillas and nightlife. A few choices for hotels include Hotel Babel, or the Circus Hostel & Hotel for budget travelers.

CONCLUSION

If you manage to see a tango show, eat at a parilla, walk through some neighborhoods and relax in a park, you’ve definitely done it right! There are so many things to see and do that getting to know Buenos Aires can feel overwhelming to try to get around to everything.

The key is to get lost in the neighborhoods, soak up the vibes of the city and enjoy as much of the food and wine as possible. It is then that you’ll really feel like you’ve discovered something real about Buenos Aires.

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14 Top Things to Do in Buenos Aires, Argentina [+Where to Eat]

18 thoughts on “14 Top Things to Do in Buenos Aires, Argentina [+Where to Eat]

  1. Karla | karlaroundtheworld says:

    Latin America, one of my goals this 2016. Looking forward to it. I like how you gave basic need to know information about this city.

  2. Natasha Amar says:

    I love Latin American music and dancing and the capital of Tango sounds like a place I’d love. I think I’d also enjoy the dance shows, I don’t get it when sometimes these shows are referred to as touristy- I still think they can be spectacular and there must be a reason why they’re so popular.

    • Laura Lynch says:

      They are touristy, in that it’s pretty much only tourists who go to them, but so what. We are tourists, after all. The dancing is still incredible and well worth it.

  3. fadi says:

    cool short guide to the city, the basic info. that each one need plus to recommendations. i didn’t been yet in Latin america, but it would be someday.

  4. Stefan says:

    Steak…a pink parliament…hot guys everywhere…tango…what’s not to love? BA remains one of my favourite cities – up there with Barcelona and Cusco. I was really pleasantly surprised by just how gay friendly the city (and country generally) is.

  5. Jackie says:

    What a great post! Buenos Aires sounds like a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I’ve only transited through it. It does sound very much like Santiago, Chile, though. They both have the European vibe mixed with Latin American culture. Gritty edges, cosmopolitan city, etc… I’d love to do a wine tasting of malbecs. I am a wine lover, but it’s one of the grapes that I haven’t been able to truly embrace.

    • Laura Lynch says:

      Oh you will LOVE the Malbec there. So delicious! I agree that it has a similar feel to Santiago, but there’s a lot more green space in Buenos Aires.

  6. Mags says:

    I’m so jealous! Argentina is next on my to do list. I absolutely LOVE tango! I’m sure the shows are great, but I want to check out some of the tango clubs and get in on the action!

  7. Brenda Tolentino says:

    I love to dance so Argentina is high on my travel list! Tango is a good way to burn off all the meat we eat! I’ve always wanted to stay at the Alvear Palace. Buenos Aires is calling me….

    • Laura Lynch says:

      Absolutely! I love watching Tango dancers, they are so fluid and graceful. I wish I could just snap my fingers and be able to do it like they do.

  8. antonette says:

    I’m not a big fan of BUE, but that’s also because, unfortunately, I’ve seen it become more and more criminal over the past years. However, it’s still a very nice city if you know where to go and where to stay away from and I love Recoleta for sure!

    • Laura Lynch says:

      I can understand that. Cities do change rapidly sometimes, and not for the best. There are still some great places like Recoleta that make it a wonderful city.

  9. Vanessa says:

    I’d be all about the wine! I can only imagine how epic the meals are there. Looks like a beautiful place to visit.

  10. Meg Jerrard says:

    Fab guide! I can’t wait to get to Argentina and visit BUE. Re Tango – do you know if there are any fab places which offer tango lessons for tourists?

    • Laura Lynch says:

      There are many great places to take tango lessons. I would recommend La Viruta, but you should also look into social clubs. We went to a Tango performance that also included a short lesson before the dinner and show started – I think that’s a fun way to do it.

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