Here Are The Best Things To Do In Buenos Aires

For more than a decade, Argentina’s capital, famous with steak and tango, has been a tourist attraction. But there’s another city just off the main road that keeps people coming back: Buenos Aires, with its bustling art scene, famed nightlife, and welcoming locals.

Buenos Aires, the country’s pulsing heart and unquestionably one of Argentina’s highlights. This capital city is one of the destinations in Argentina you surely don’t want to miss, with its rich blend of architecture, excellent cuisine, vast range of excursions, and vibrant nightlife.

It may feel overwhelming at first, but trust me when I say that Buenos Aires will steal your heart in no time.

The city is divided into 48 neighborhoods (known as ‘barrios’), each with its own distinct characteristics.

We’ve put together this guide to help you make the most of your stay in Buenos Aires, whether you’re traveling for a few days or live here and want to try something new.

Here are the greatest things to do in Buenos Aires to ensure you have a great time in this magnificent city:

1. Go sightseeing – Free Walking Tours or Private Tours

One of Buenos Aires’ top sightseeing trips is free! Walking tours are great for getting to know a new city, especially one as huge as Buenos Aires. Learn about the city’s history, culture, and architecture while exercising. Meeting fellow tourists is also affordable.

We choose the most reputable free walking tour company in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Free Walks. The City Center and Retiro & Recoleta walking tours are free.

City Center Tour emphasizes Buenos Aires’ political past. Starting with the National Congress, you’ll visit many locations to learn about Argentina’s unique history, from the early 1900s’ affluence to The Dirty War. One of the country’s darkest moments, as the name implies.

Parks, architecture, and religious sites dominate the Retiro and Recoleta Tour, which is more cultural. Buenos Aires’ great war heroes and eccentric aristocracy will be revealed as you wander through its most gorgeous neighborhoods.

Monday through Saturday at 3 pm, City Center Tours take 2.5 hours. Monday through Saturday at 10:30 am, Retiro and Recoleta tours take 3 hours. You can accomplish both effortlessly (and for free!).

The Retiro and Recoleta tour is better if you only have time for one. We were more engaged and saw the city’s uniqueness.

The main drawback to free walking tours is that large groups might be overpowering. For a more personal encounter, take a paid walking tour. Free tours always require tips, so be generous!

A private tour is an excellent way to see many Buenos Aires sights in one day. This customizable tour is ideal for groups of up to four persons exploring Buenos Aires. Over four hours, you’ll drive and walk to attractions, covering a lot of land.

The trip has 12 stops. such as Casa Rosada, the Argentine government’s seat; San Telmo market; and La Bombonera, a world-famous soccer stadium.

If you’ve seen something you want to skip, say so! If you have extra time at the end of the tour, you can revisit a station.

Up to four people can do the $112 USD per car trip. Be aware that La Bombonera Stadium entry is $6 USD. If you want to do as much as possible in Buenos Aires, take a tour.

2. Visit Plaza de Mayo

Buenos Aires’ major square is Plaza de Mayo. Many of Argentina’s important political events have occurred here. Revolutions, political protests, and public meetings have occurred.

Casa Rosada, a pink building on Plaza de Mayo, is the most renowned. It houses the Argentine government.

The Metropolitan Cathedral, Buenos Aires’ primary church, and the Banco de la Nación’s headquarters are located there.

On Thursdays at 3:30 pm, the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo march through the square. This organization was created by moms whose children disappeared during the military regime. They march weekly for justice. A frightening but moving reflection of Argentina’s past.

3. You Gotta See A Show At Teatro Piazzolla

Teatro Piazzolla is the best spot to view Argentine tango. This gorgeous theater honors Argentine composer and bandoneón performer Astor Piazzolla.

The city center theater is a five-minute walk from Plaza de Mayo. You can buy $75 USD tickets online for two drinks and a 60-minute tango show, or $100 USD for a three-course dinner. For faster entry, buy a skip-the-line ticket.

Many packages include a quick tango instruction before the event. The lesson is for beginners, so don’t worry if you have two left feet!

Book a tango show and dinner tour to simplify everything. Dinner is optional on this $149 USD excursion, which includes hotel transportation.

4. Make the trip to Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls is breathtaking! It’s one of the world’s largest waterfalls, located on Argentina and Brazil’s border. There are 275 falls in this system!

Iguazu National Park, almost 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Buenos Aires, contains the falls. While it’s not a short trip, missing this natural treasure in Argentina would be a crime. Iguazu Falls may be reached from Buenos Aires by plane or overnight bus.

Flying from Jorge Newberry airport to Cataratas del Iguazú costs approximately $150 USD return. Several daily flights take under two hours. Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires’ other primary airport, has less flights.

5. Experience and Enjoy an authentic Gaucho experience

Visits to functioning estancias are among the most genuinely Buenos Aires experiences. Gaucho culture is part of Argentine history.

Gauchos—Spanish for “cowboy”—have been part of Argentine culture since its founding. Formerly known for their bravery and hard work, they are now celebrated for their traditional talents and lifestyle.

Touring an estancia is a terrific way to learn about Gaucho culture and ranch life in Argentina. A horseback ride (or horse-and-cart tour if you’re not a skilled rider), a BBQ meal, and Gaucho legends await you. One of the more expensive Buenos Aires activities on this list, it costs $159 USD per person, but we believed it was worth it.

6. Visit the River Plate Museum

Soccer fans must visit the River Plate Museum, one of the world’s largest sports museums.

For those unfamiliar with soccer, River Plate is one of Argentina’s most successful teams. This museum chronicles the club’s history from its 1901 founding to its many awards.

Even if you don’t like soccer, the museum is interesting because it’s so important to Argentine culture. The museum sits in River Plate’s Monumental Stadium, thus you can visit and tour the stadium.

The museum is easiest to reach by bus from Retiro station to Scalabrini Ortiz. El Monumental is a 5-minute walk away. Tickets start at $1 USD and take 15 minutes. A guided River Plate museum tour with skip-the-line entry costs $34 USD.

7. Taste and Enjoy traditional Argentinian BBQ

Traditional asado barbecues roast meat over an open fire. The party is a social thing and features wine and fernet, a native herbal liqueur.

In Palermo, the Terracita Asado Barbecue tour offers authentic asado. Enjoy a glass of Malbec and learn how to properly prepare and cook the meat on a rooftop patio while getting to know your host.

This $75 USD private group trip is for you and your friends or family.

8. Explore the botanical gardens

The Buenos Aires Botanical Garden is a nice place to escape the city. The large gardens provide a wide diversity of native and exotic species. Birds, butterflies, cactus, and mushrooms abound here.

Free admission to the gardens makes this a great Buenos Aires activity for budget travelers. It’s open every day except Mondays.

9. Go Shopping At San Telmo Market

San Telmo is one of Buenos Aires’ most atmospheric and ancient neighborhoods, and it has a vast indoor market with fresh produce, street cuisine, and antique stores.

A five-minute walk from Plaza Dorrengo is the San Telmo Market, where tango dancers practice. The market is open daily, but some stalls and shops are only open on weekends.

This market doesn’t start early. Arrive at 10 am to get coffee and breakfast without waiting, then sit and watch the neighborhood come alive.

The market is open until 9 pm on weekdays, 10 pm on Saturday, and 8 pm on Sunday, so it’s a fantastic spot to grab dinner and a drink after a day of exploration.

10. You Have To See The Planetarium

You must see this massive, UFO-shaped planetarium, one of Buenos Aires’ most famous attractions! Palermo’s Parque Tres de Febrero has the Planetario Galileo Galilei.

Besides meteorites and other space-related exhibits, the projection room offers stunning light shows on stars and planets.

The planetarium is open daily except Monday, and astronomical shows cost 300 pesos, or $2 USD. Visitors of all ages will enjoy it, but it’s one of the best things to do in Buenos Aires with kids (or big kids).

11. Drink At The Federal Bar

The Federal Bar is one of the best places to drink in Buenos Aires, regardless of your drinking habits.

The historic site is in San Telmo, a short walk from Plaza Dorrego. It’s a terrific pub that attracts locals and tourists, so it’s a great spot to meet people and experience Buenos Aires.

One of the first Buenos Aires bars to sell alcohol was the Federal Bar, founded in 1864. Vintage ad posters decorate the walls, and its sunken bar has a stained glass mantel.

Coffee, wine, and the 25-page menu at The Federal Bar are great. The atmosphere attracts folks here. Since it’s open from 8 am to 2 am, many people sit there and absorb in Buenos Aires’ culture for hours.