Top ten things to do in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires: Top 10 things to do

What’s new, Buenos Aires? What are the Top 10 things to do in Argentina’s amazing capital.

Buenos Aires – written about, sung about, loved, despised, paraphrased and generally dreamt about.

The rising saps of spring have re-energised this famous city, summer is nigh and the Buenos Aires is bursting to glorious life.

Here we look at just some of the top ten things you can do in this amazing South American capital, and if it gushes a little, it’s because Buenos Aires can do that to a person.

Feel free to add your own highlights – there are always new places to explore in Buenos Aires, even if Evita’s lyrics always come to my mind.

‘Buenos Aires. I’m new, I wanna say I’m just a little stuck on you. And if ever I go too far, it’s because of the things you are. Beautiful town, I love you.’

1.          Love the love hotels

Known as Telos in Buenos Aires’ slang, these hotels are renown more for their passion than for being seedy. Popular with locals, this is romancing at its impromptu best.

As the name suggests, you check in (prices often by the hour), and enjoy any number of themed rooms from water beds to mirrored ceilings. The hotels are usually identified by neon lights and a shrub outside the door. Go on, get passionate.

2.         Buenos Aires tours

Half-day or Full Day city sightseeing tours, by motorized vehicle, by bike, or if doing it independently, use the underground – Latin America’s first and with it’s old trains, like stepping back in time.

La Boca house Buenos Aires Argentina

This will help you cram in the main points of interest: Metropolitan Cathedral, Government House, Mayo Square, Congress Hall, Colon Opera Theatre (guided tours every hour), San Telmo, La Boca Italian District and Palermo Park.

There is the fashionable Recoleta area with its famous cemetery with Eva Peron’s tomb (night tours available), contrasting with the sidewalk cafes and elegant boutiques. On Sundays – there is an Antique Market in San Telmo area too.

Recoleta Cemetery

3.         Bargain hunting

During the day, explore the shops on Calle Defensa that offer up a whole treasure trove of antiques, collectables and rarities – often at bargain prices – and the Pasaje de la Defensa is overflowing with bric-a-brac.

4.         Dance the night away, Argentina style

Buenos Aires has a banging night time scene for those that want nocturnal entertainment that rocks until the early hours. Some of the trendiest and squelchiest of beats can be found at Niceto Club, or Zizek, where DJs mix traditional Latino beats with electronica.

Public tango Parque Patricio, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Placita Serrano is a good area for a drink at night time, and it also features a bohemian market by day.

5.          Picnic in a nature reserve

In the bustle of Buenos Aires, what luxury to find a nature reserve, right in the centre.

The Reserva Ecólogica Constanera Sur has lakes, pampas, trees and shrubs, and more than 200 species of birds to spot.

You can take a picnic to enjoy as you wander around this oasis of calm in the city, and, if you’re lucky, you may be able to organize a moonlight tour (advance booking required).

6.          Dinner & Tango Show

Buenos Aires IS tango (some forms known as Milonga, see below). There lot of Tango houses, we recommend – we suggest Esquina Carlos Gardel or Café de los Angelitos

Esquina Carlos Gardel: Named after Carlos Gardel, the most famous tango singer who, this used to be a restaurant that was the gathering place for the colourful characters of the popular market of Buenos Aires.

Café de los Angelitos: (The Angel’s Coffee Shop) was, for more than a century, one of the most traditional cafés in Buenos Aires. Established in 1890, it soon became the meeting place for poets, musicians and improvising folks singers or ‘payadores’.

Milongas: The kids arerevitalising the Milongas circuit. All sorts of folk now dance the Milonga, the most ‘authentic’ form of Tango, until very late at night, away from the tourist trail. Each Milonga has its own working hours, its own dancing style and its own crowd.

7.          Cooking Lessons

Argentine cuisine has become by its own right one of the country’s main attractions. The numbers and types of restaurants on offer has grown enormously over the last years, and the competition to offer the best product has become ferocious.

You can now prepare with your own hands the most typical dishes in Argentine cuisine, such as locro, carbonada, empanadas, milanesas a la napolitana, tamales, humita and bifes a la criolla, as well as its most delicious desserts, such as the budín de pan, the flan de dulce de leche, the alfajor rogel and the colaciones.

8.          Become a Boca – or River Plate – fan for the day

Maradona is the hero of Boca Juniors, and River Plate the fierce rivals. Pick your team and head along to watch one of Buenos Aires’ best specatacles when the two play their ‘el clasico’ derby.

Boca’s Bobonera Stadium is the more intimate, and the atmosphere created is fantastic. Keep an eye on your wallet though!

9.          Wine Tasting at Casa Coupage

Guests are welcomed to the house for a blind wine-tasting session.

Casa Coupage is a unique space in the heart of Palermo where you can discover & interpret wine, which is paired up with delicious regional food created by the in-house chef.

10.       Polo in Palermo

September to November is the time for polo – rumoured to be the world’s oldest sport – with November hosting the Argentinean Open (Abierto Argentino de Palermo).

There are schools available to have lessons, or head to the Campo Argentino de Polo to watch the spectacle.

These are but a few of the highlights. Go to Buenos Aires, and enjoy!

Contact us for more.