The moment I arrived in Buenos Aires I knew I’d love it. It’s such a diverse, fast-paced and multicultural city that offers so much for tourists whether you’re visiting for just a few days or for a week. Buenos Aires was my final destination on my trip to South America last February and it certainly did not disappoint! There are only a few places in the world that I’ve visited where I could 100% see myself living and Buenos Aires is one of them.
1. Visit La Boca
La Boca is one of Buenos Aires’ most visited neighbourhoods. With a strong Italian influence and located in the city’s south-east near its old port, it has proved very popular amongst tourists. The neighbourhood is typical of Buenos Aires and indeed Argentina, with its musical and dance influence ever present and it is also home to the Boca Juniors which is one of Argentina’s most popular teams. The Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera Stadium was home to one of the greatest footballers of all time, Diego Maradona. If you are a football fan like me I’d highly recommend stopping by to see the stadium.
If you visit La Boca it is also likely that you will come across some tango street performances which you can enjoy with some food or drink from a local restaurant or bar. The tango dance first originated in the working-class port neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires and as such these neighbourhoods remain popular with tourists. If you are visiting La Boca in the hope of seeing some tango, the Feria de Artesanos Caminito is a popular spot amongst tourists.
2. Visit San Telmo Market
San Telmo Market takes place every Sunday and attracts over 12,000 people each week. There is so much on offer with antique items and artwork being the most popular amongst visitors. The market is located on Defensa street and if you’re lucky you can even find some souvenirs that date all the way back to Buenos Aires’ golden age. There are some 270 stalls at the San Telmo Market so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to walk around and see them all. To make the occasion even better there are also street performers to provide some entertainment.
3. Walk down Corrientes Avenue
Much like New York’s Times Square, Corrientes Avenue is the street that never sleeps. This street allows access to so many of the city’s most popular landmarks, shops and restaurants and is a tourist attraction in itself. The street passes through Microcentro (the city’s financial district) and all the way across the popular shopping street Calle Florida. Calle Florida is a great spot for those looking to see some street performers, visit some art galleries or do a spot of shopping. If you’d like some help navigating Corrientes Avenue, there are plenty of walking tours available, most of which start at the National Congress.
4. Visit the Botanical Gardens
If you’d like a break from the hustle and bustle of city life in Buenos Aires then the Botanical Gardens are a perfect place for you. They are located in Palermo next to Plaza Italia and have a gorgeous lake, a 100-year-old greenhouse and some water fountains/features. I’d recommend exploring the gardens for at least a couple of hours, plenty of time for a picnic or just time to relax and take in the surroundings.
5. Go to a Tango performance
You cannot visit Buenos Aires without watching a tango performance. During my time in Buenos Aires I not only went to an evening tango performance, but I also had a tango lesson with some professionals. I’m not a brilliant dancer but it was so much fun! During the evening performance we had a three course dinner with some lovely red wine which made the event even more special. I’d recommend going for the whole package (food and performance) although there is the option to just pay for the performance and dine elsewhere. Tango epitomises what Buenos Aires has to offer, lots of fun and brilliant food!
