The Best of Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, Argentina is a city full of great food, culture, history, and people. Many people fly through Buenos Aires on their way to other destinations in Argentina, such as Patagonia or Ushuaia. I’d highly recommend spending a few days in Buenos Aires to get the most out of this amazing city. Even if you only have a day to spend in Buenos Aires though, it’s well worth exploring! Keep reading for Buenos Aires travel tips and things to do in this amazing city!

Local Currency, Language, and Transportation

Before I get into where to go in Buenos Aires, there’s a few things about visiting Buenos Aires that are helpful to know beforehand.

The currency used in Argentina is the Argentine Peso. If you’re from the United States, it’s well worth looking into the Blue Dollar Rate, which is the unofficial parallel dollar rate of USD in Argentina. If you trade in dollars for pesos at the Blue Dollar rate, you have a better chance of getting more pesos per dollar. Therefore, I highly recommend exchanging cash for pesos with this rate at the start of your trip and paying in pesos instead of using a credit card. Any concierge staff or private transfer driver should be able to help you find a place where you can exchange at the Blue Dollar rate or do the exchange themselves. Alternatively, since the US dollar is so valuable in Argentina, it’s not uncommon for establishments to accept USD as payment, so that’s another way to get the most out of your cash in Argentina.

Now let’s talk transportation. For airport transportation, a bus or taxi are both budget-friendly options. Tienda Leon has an app for booking bus rides. If taking a taxi, be aware of your surroundings since drivers are known to scam tourists by taking longer routes. For a more hassle-free but pricier option. private transfers are your best bet. Once you get into the city, the metro is the best option for getting around. When you take the metro for the first time, go to the service booth – not the kiosk machine – and ask the staff member for a metro card. After you get your card, then you can load money on it at the kiosk machine. Alternate options are taxis or Uber – but Ubers are harder to come by than taxis.

The national language of Argentina is Spanish. I found that not many people speak English in Buenos Aires. Therefore, t’s very helpful to have Google Translate on hand. Despite the language barrier, the Argentine people are very kind and helpful.

Now let’s get to the fun part of this guide!

San Telmo Market

San Telmo Market is a great place to spend a few hours. The market opened in 1897 for European immigrants. Now, this historical market is filled with food stands and antique shops galore! The best time to go is on the weekends, since many stores are only open then. However, the market is open daily, so it’s still worth stopping by if you find yourself in Buenos Aires during the week. There were many food options to choose from, but I ended up El Hornero and grabbed two extremely delicious empanadas for 350 pesos (~$2.50).

Galeria del Viejo Hotel

The Galeria del Viejo Hotel is a hidden gem in San Telmo. It opened as a hotel in 1890, but in 1979 it was transformed into a space for art galleries. The courtyard in the center of the galleries has free access and is a very pleasant place to take a look around and get some photos! Unless you plan to visit the restaurant in the courthouse, you don’t need a whole lot of time here. But it’s well worth a visit – especially with all the beautiful street art nearby!

All Saints Cafe

All Saints Cafe is a great coffee shop to visit in the San Nicolás neighborhood, which is close to Plaza de Mayo. The staff are very friendly and serve up the best coffee and treats! I thoroughly enjoyed their alfajor – a cookie sandwich with dulce de leche filling!

Casa Rosada

La Casa Rosada (translation: The Pink House) is a key landmark in Plaza de Mayo and houses the president’s office. There’s numerous theories for why the house was painted pink, but one thing is for sure: it’s a beautiful house worth visiting! Inside the house, there is a free museum inside showcasing Argentinean history. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday. Even if you only have time to see the outside of the house, it’s worth stopping by – especially since there’s a lot of beautiful buildings surrounding Plaza de Mayo!

Puerto Madero

Puerto Madero is a great place to go – day or night – to view the Buenos Aires skyscrapers! Although there is a river separating the modern buildings from the historical ones, the Puente de la Mujer (Woman’s Bridge) beautifully connects the two areas together. This bridge, designed to represent a couple tango dancing, is a foot-traffic bridge that also rotates to allow ships to pass through. Whether you walk across it or not, it’s a beautiful bridge to see from the riverwalk! The puerto madero district also has a large number of restaurants and bars – perfect for nightlife in Buenos Aires.

Palermo Rose Garden

One of my favorite places I visited in Buenos Aires is the Palermo Rose Garden! You can easily spend an afternoon strolling through the garden and enjoying the nature. In addition to the wide variety of roses, this park has a beautiful lake with two and four-person pedal boats available to rent. This park is an expansive oasis of greenery in the middle of the city – a must-visit in Buenos Aires!

Gran Dabbang

Located in the heart of the Palermo neighborhood, Gran Dabbang serves up a fusion of Indian and Latin America flavors that can’t be missed when visiting Buenos Aires! This restaurant is listed as one of the top 50 restaurants in Latin America and for good reason. The dishes they offer are all so unique and flavorful. Everything I had there was amazing! When you get there, immediately put your name in with the host and then get in line to wait. Prepare to wait at least an hour, and then prepare to have one of the best meals of your life! So worth the wait.

Don Julio

Another restaurant that made the top 50 restaurants in Latin America list is Don Julio. In fact, this restaurant also made the list for top 50 restaurants in the world! And it 100% lives up to the hype. The service was top-notch, and everything I had – from the complimentary empanadas to the steak – was so delicious! On top of that, Don Julio offers an expansive selection of regional wines to enjoy with your meal. Be sure to make a reservation in advance.

Tango Show

No trip to Buenos Aires is complete without seeing a tango show! Buenos Aires is the birthplace of tango, so understandably there are many places to go catch a show, all varying in price. Many tango shows include a dinner as well. My friend and I found a tango show with a three-course meal and bottle of wine at La Ventana Tango for a decent price (~$100 USD per person). The steak was so juicy and flavorful, especially with the chimichurri sauce, and the show was just as delightful!

La Boca

A staple in Buenos Aires is the La Boca neighborhood. This Instagram-friendly area is filled with brightly colored homes and businesses! This area was originally the biggest port in the city, where immigrants and goods arrived regularly. The immigrants made the neighborhood their home and used leftover ship material to build houses. It wasn’t until 1960 when a local artist started painting the street, and other artists followed suit, that the neighborhood became the brightly-colored tourist attraction that it is today! Of course, with any tourist attraction comes tourist traps, so I’d recommend buying souvenirs and lunch elsewhere. But this is an amazing area to walk around and take pictures!

This guide to Buenos Aires only scratches the surface of all the wonderful things to do in this amazing city! It’s a place that everyone should add to their travel bucket list!