Top 5 Must Do's in Buenos Aires

1. Plazo de Mayo

Plaza de Mayo is Buenos Aires’s historic central square and a great place to start when touring the city. Positioned at one end of the square, is the pink fronted Casa Rosada, Argentina’s government offices. For this reason, the square is a focus point for social movements who regularly stage protests and set-up banners and artwork within the square. It is also a point of interest for its architecture, given that the square houses the Cabildo, the old City Hall, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Pirámide de Mayo, a white obelisk in the centre of the square which was built to mark the first year anniversary of Argentina’s independence from Spain.

2. Barrio San Telmo

San Telmo is a bohemian neighbourhood famous for its antique shops and the Sunday 'Feria', or market, which fills its streets with market stalls selling crafts, leather, jewellery and artwork. Hours can be spent weaving your way around the market and picking up souvenirs to take home. If you're visiting Buenos Aires at the start of your trip and want to keep your luggage light, then the market is still worth a visit to watch groups of musicians playing to couples performing tango in the street.

3. Cemeteria Recoleta

Recoleta Cemetery was built in 1822 and is the resting site for many of the wealthiest and most important figures in Argentina’s history. Home to more than 6400 mausoleums, including the tomb of Eva Perón, and covering an area equivalent to four city blocks, the cemetery is impressive both for its size and for the ornate detailing on many of the tombs. If you're keen to learn more about the history of the cemetery, then English speaking guides offer tours of the cemetery every Tuesday and Thursday at 11am.

4. Barrio la Boca

La Boca, famous for its multicoloured houses, tango and football team, is on every traveller’s list of places to visit in Buenos Aires. Located on the banks of the river Riachuelo, in the past, locals would use leftover paint from the shipyard to decorate the corrugated metal exteriors of their houses. Today these houses play home to artists and their art studios. The main attraction for visitors is 'El Caminito', a street which is lined by souvenir sellers, colourful murals and comically sculpted models, guaranteeing great photo opportunities.

5. Palermo Soho

Last on our list is Palermo Soho, one of Buenos Aires’s trendiest areas. Designer boutiques, chic restaurants and numerous cafes line its cobblestone streets, providing the perfect setting for people-watching and taking in the bustling atmosphere of the city. We recommend visiting the area at night too, when locals fill the bars and take over the central square, Plazaleto Jorge Cortazar.

We hope our list has helped to narrow down some of the key areas and attractions to visit in Buenos Aires. For our clients travelling to Buenos Aires, we will gladly provide more tips on where to eat and drink in the city. For help planning a tailor-made itinerary to Buenos Aires and other destinations in Argentina, take a look at our itineraries page or get in touch to speak with us directly.