Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a beautiful and cosmopolitan capital city. Its rich mix Latin and European heritage is evident in the architecture, boulevards, parks, cuisine, and nightlife. From the balcony where Evita appeared to the multitudes, to the shopping centers, markets, and tango bars, Buenos Aires has a lot to offer. You could stay there for years and not see it all, but here is an itinerary for 5 glorious days in beautiful Buenos Aires.
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Day 1 – Historical Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo
Start your 5 days in Buenos Aires in the historical city center. Grab an espresso to fortify yourself and then head to the Plaza de Mayo. This is the oldest public square in the city and has been “the place” for the most important events since 1580. It is also where Argentines gather to celebrate and protest.
The plaza is surrounded by the Casa Rosada, the Catedral Metropolitana, and the Cabildo (town hall). At the center of the plaza, you will see an obelisk marking the first anniversary of independence from Spain. Mothers and grandmothers holding photos of their missing children encircle the obelisk each Thursday at 3:30.
The Casa Rosada, also known as the Pink Palace, is the office of the President of Argentina. Look for the balcony where Eva Peron addressed her adoring crowds. Try to time your visit for the weekend and reserve a space on the free guided tour, and you will get to step out on the balcony to see it as Evita did. Be sure to reserve tickets in advance.
The Catedral Metropolitana is a beautiful Catholic Cathedral. This is where Pope Francis led mass when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The cathedral is also home to the tomb on General José de San Martín.
The Cabildo was the seat of the town council during the colonial times. It also serves as the government house of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. Today it is a wonderful museum.
San Telmo
Next head south to San Telmo. This barrio (neighborhood) was very wealthy until a yellow fever epidemic in the late 19th century. At that point, the mansions were subdivided for housing the poor. If you can, visit on a Sunday so you can explore the antique shops at the San Telmo Market.
No matter when you visit, don’t miss the El Zanjón de Granados. The site features an old 19th century Spanish home and the tunnels where creeks flowed underneath. The home originally housed a seven-person family. They collected rain water in two underground cisterns. Drinking water was not taken from the ground, creek or river due to pollution.
They converted the home into tenements in the early 20th century with up to 100 residents at any single time living inside. The network of underlying tunnels is recognized as an archeological calendar of the city.
Day 2 – Teatro Colón, Recoleta Cemetery, and Tango
The first stop of the day is the Teatro Colón. The Teatro Colón is the first opera house in Buenos Aires. According to experts, the Teatro Colón has the best room for opera and the 2nd best for concerts in the world. Pavarotti reportedly once said that the acoustics are so perfect the audience can hear any mistakes. It is also absolutely beautiful inside.
Head to the opera house in time to take a tour of the interior before joining a free walking tour with Free Walks Buenos Aires (next door to the opera house). This free tour 3-hour tour will cover all the Recoleta highlights. The tour ends with a brief introduction to the Recoleta Cemetery.
Recoleta Cemetery is the final resting place of the country’s rich and famous. The tombs in and of themselves are interesting to see but the stories of their occupants are rich with history. The cemetery can be explored on your own, but you can book a guided tour for a more in-depth experience. These tours typically start about 3:30 but you can grab a bite to eat nearby while you wait.
Afterwards, take time to check out the world’s most amazing bookstore. The El Ateneo Grand Splendid is housed in a former theatre and is a site to behold for book lovers.
Head back to the hotel for a little rest after the bookstore because tonight, you tango! There are several options in the city to have dinner and see a tango show. No trip to Argentina is complete without this experience.
Day 3 – Take a Day Trip to the Tigre Delta
Today it is time to get out of the city and check out a different landscape. Enjoy a boat ride through the Tigre Delta and its islands. This is a great way to learn about the culture of the native isleños. You will enjoy admiring the architecture of the elegant homes on this half day excursion.
You will appreciate a lighter day of sightseeing after your night of tango!
Day 4 – La Boca and Palermo Shopping
Head to La Boca, to walk along Caminito. This colorful and vibrant area is the most colorful in the city. There you will see homes of the Italian immigrants to the area in the 1940s. These immigrants built their homes with materials from the ships in the nearby river port.
Browse the many shops the small arts and crafts market. You will often see tango dancers and artists selling their creations in the street. This is a very touristy area and the surrounding areas are quite poor so watch your bags.
Engage in a little retail therapy at the shops in Palermo! Palermo is known for its bohemian vibe, street art, green spaces, restaurants, and bars. The shopping is great so be on the look-out for high quality leather products and jewelry.
Not into shopping? Then check out some of the museums in the city:
- Museo Evita – we loved seeing Eva Peron’s clothes and learning more about her life
- Museo Histórico Nacional – this is a great museum to learn more about this history of Argentina
- Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes – Argentinian art museum
- Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo – decorative arts museum
- Museo Moderno – Museum of modern art
You may also be interested in some special tours:
- Private Evita and Peronism Historical Tour
- Buenos Aires City Tour
- City Bike Tour
- Milonga Tour
- Jewish Tour Highlights Tour
- Off the Beaten Path Tour
- Gaucho Day Tour
Day 5 –Spend a Day in Uruguay
Today you should take advantage of your proximity to the beautiful city of Colonia del Sacremento in Uruguay. This UNESCO world heritage site is just across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires. You will love Spending a Day in Uruguay!
After your 1-hour ferry ride, you can take a walking tour of the city, visit a teahouse, or check out a winery. Don’t forget your passport! Uruguay is a whole other country so you will need that passport to enter.
The Food
Due to the city’s diverse population, you can find food from any and every nationality. That said, you should really focus on Latin food and beef. Argentina is known for their beef, so if you love a good steak, you will be right at home. You may also want to try these cool food tours:
- The Argentine Experience
- Sherpa Food Tour
- Fogon Asado: Live Cooking and Meat Tasting
- Private Cooking Lesson and Food Tasting
Where to stay in Buenos Aires
The city has hundreds of wonderful hotels at all price points. We stayed at the Hilton Hotel Buenos Aires in the Puerto Madero district. It was within walking distance to many of the top attractions and offered great service.
Getting Around Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a very walkable city. That said, some neighborhoods are a little too far to go on foot. I found the easiest way to move great distances was by taxi. They have an adequate bus system but it seemed to take several transfers for where I needed to go. I tried Uber. It worked great when leaving the hotel but was terrible when leaving a busy market or tourist site. You may also like to use this Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus.
How do you want to spend your Buenos Aires vacation?
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