Famed for its energy, tango, European architecture, and world-class steak, Argentina’s vibrant capital city, Buenos Aires, is a bucket list travel destination.
This city is full of life – and with charming neighbourhoods, world-class museums, and a thriving food scene to explore, you certainly won’t run out of things to do.
So, if you’re planning a trip to ‘the Paris of South America’, here are 10 things to see and do in Buenos Aires to get you inspired. You can also browse thousands of holiday deals from our travel partners on the travel section of our website.
1. Stroll the streets of La Boca
The lively neighbourhood of La Boca is famous for its decadent street murals, musical flare, and brightly-coloured houses. Located on what used to be the city’s largest port with many of its earliest settlers originating from the Italian city of Genoa, the area retains a strong European feel.
La Boca is hugely popular with tourists and definitely worth visiting for its history, culture, and attractions. This includes the famous El Caminito, which means ‘little walkway’. This traditional alley is both a lively street and a museum, lined with various art stalls and music buskers. Impromptu tango performances are often carried out on El Caminito too.
La Boca is also home to one of South America’s most popular football stadiums, La Bombonera. And the Transporter Bridge and Conventilos (colourful houses that line several streets) create fantastic photo opportunities.
Note: Safety in La Boca depends largely on when and where you go. However, most travel experts advise against walking around La Boca at night.
2. Visit world-class art museums
Buenos Aires has a rich cultural heritage and a collection of world-class museums to match. In particular, the city has long had a reputation for being one of South America’s most significant centres of art.
Among the most popular is The National Fine Arts Museum, which is Argentina’s most visited museum. With over 12,000 pieces of art by the likes of Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Picasso, it’s home to one of the largest collections of Argentine and international art in Latin America.
Buenos Aires Latin American Museum (MALBA) is popular for its permanent collection of works by famed modern and contemporary Latin American artists, including Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Antonio Berni. Alongside its permanent collection, MALBA also hosts exhibitions, film screenings, and cultural events celebrating Latin American art.
Other galleries worth visiting include the National Museum of Decorative Art and the Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art (MAMBA).
3. Fill up on empanadas
No visit to Argentina would be complete without eating empanadas. These hand-sized savoury pies are found all across South America and form an integral part of the culture.
The origins of the empanada – meaning ‘bread-wrapped’ – aren’t entirely clear. However, they were most likely brought to Argentina by the Spanish.
While all empanada recipes follow the same basic culinary guideline (savoury fillings packed into soft pockets of dough), different regions have adapted them according to available produce and local preferences. As a result, there’s actually no single recipe for empanadas, which makes tasting new ones all the more exciting.
In Buenos Aires, empanadas are typically filled with ham and cheese, ground or minced beef, chicken, or swiss chard – but you’ll find plenty of other flavours too if you go to an empanada restaurant. Check out these best spots for empanadas in Buenos Aires from Culture Trip for ideas on where to go.
4. Watch a tango show
Visiting Buenos Aires without experiencing an authentic tango show would mean missing out on a key part of the city’s cultural significance.
The tango was first developed by the urban lower classes in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, Uruguay, in the late 1800s. European immigrants of different backgrounds began experimenting with music that combined different genres they’d encountered in the Western hemisphere. Ever since, the tango has remained an iconic symbol of Argentinian culture and, in 2009, was added to the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The good news is that, from iconic tango houses hosting scheduled events to impromptu performances on the city’s streets, there are plenty of ways to experience the magic of the tango in Buenos Aires.
Many tango house shows in Buenos Aires are truly immersive. More than just shows, some offer the option to complement your evening with a gourmet meal and take a tango lesson yourself.
Each tango house offers something different, but some of the most popular include the historic Cafe de los Angelitos and the intimate Rojo Tango located in the luxurious Hotel Faena. Check out this list of the most famous tango houses in Buenos Aires from Visit Argentina for more ideas on where to go.
If you’re after an impromptu performance, the colourful streets of Caminito and San Telmo, and shopping areas like Calle Floria in front of Galerias Pacifico, are your best bet. In particular, dancers are often seen performing on the streets around San Telmo Market.
5. Explore the parks, plazas, and street art of Palermo
If you’re visiting Buenos Aires, it’s fairly likely that you’ll be staying in or near the neighbourhood of Palermo. And, even if you’re not, Palermo is a fantastic area to add to your itinerary.
As a whole, Palermo is green, walkable, full of character, and generally pretty safe – so it makes for a wonderful introduction to the city. It’s also home to many of Buenos Aires’ best cafes, restaurants, and bars, so there’s plenty to keep you busy.
One of the best ways to explore Palermo is to explore on foot, but there are specific things you might like to book onto too if you prefer having some structure. Take a street art tour, explore Palermo’s parks, or book an Argentinean barbecue at one of the city’s best restaurants, Fogón Asado.
6. Watch a football match
Football isn’t just a game in Buenos Aires, it’s a way of life. The nation’s favourite sport inspires much energy and excitement – clearing the city streets as fans spill around TV screens or brave the bustling stadium crowds. As you walk around the city, you’ll also notice murals of famed player Lionel Messi, who secured Argentina’s win at the World Cup in 2022.
If your trip to Buenos Aires happens to collide with a football match, seeing a game at La Bombonera, the famed stadium of Club Atlético Boca Juniors, is a unique experience – particularly if you manage to catch a match against their rival team River Plate.
While tickets can be tricky to come by (it’s best to use a travel agent), don’t worry – as there are other places to catch a game. Yet, it’s worth noting that the notion of sports bars in Argentina isn’t quite the same as elsewhere. Instead, many Argentinians prefer to gather in their homes to watch games.
That said, there are still several places in the city that are popular for watching football matches. Check out this guide on where to watch football games in Buenos Aires from Buenos Aires Herald.
7. Soak up Buenos Aires’ history and architecture
Simply wandering the streets of Buenos Aires, you’ll soak up an array of impressive history and architecture. However, there are a few specific spots worth beelining for.
Plaza de Mayo is arguably the most important public square in Argentina. It’s also the oldest and contains several key buildings including the Casa Rosada, seat of Argentina’s national government, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, where Pope Francis conducted mass for 20 years. Some of Argentina’s most significant historical events have taken place here, including the second founding of the city in 1580, as well as more recent political demonstrations.
Other key sites include Buenos Aires’ first opera house, the Teatro Colón; and the Palacio Barolo, a building whose architecture was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy and was once the tallest building in South America.
Beyond its rich history, Buenos Aires is a fusion of old and new, and the city boasts many modern architectural gems. This includes the magnificent Floralis Genérica – a large moving flower sculpture made of stainless steel and aluminum, which dominates the green space of the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas. Controlled by hydraulics and photoelectric sensors, the six steel petals open at 8am each morning and close at midnight.
8. Stroll the cobblestone streets of San Telmo
San Telmo is the oldest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires and a must for any visitors to the city.
If you’re able to, visit on a Sunday and you’ll find the San Telmo Fair. The fair was originally centered around Plaza Dorrego but has since extended far beyond that, with vendors and street performers stretching all the way from Plaza de Mayo to Parque Lezama. If you’re after souvenirs, this is the place to come.
In the evening, once the market stalls are taken away, Plaza Dorrego transforms into the stage of a free tango show. Outdoor tables are set up and local tango dancers appear – and there’s no better place to kick back and enjoy a glass of Malbec.
Nevertheless, whether you visit on a Sunday or not, San Telmo is full of charm and its cobblestone streets are a wonder to explore any time of the week. There’s plenty of cafes, bars, street art, beautiful architecture, and the ever-popular indoor market.
9. Take a cooking class
If you’re a foodie, Buenos Aires is the ideal destination – the steaks, the wine, the empanadas, the dulce de leche…the list goes on. And besides tasting your way around the many world-class restaurants that fill the city, booking a cooking class or other food experience can enhance your experience of Argentine cuisine even further.
From empanada-making classes and traditional Argentine food tours to immersive wine tastings and introductions to the art of asado (barbecue), there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Why not Viator’s list of the top Buenos Aires cooking classes to see what stirs your appetite?
10. Visit Recoleta Cemetery
Recoleta Cemetery is one of the world’s most extraordinary graveyards. Located in the neighbourhood of Recoleta, this exclusive cemetery houses the graves of some of the most important figures in Argentina’s history. Eerily beautiful, the collection of over 6,400 coffins resemble everything from Gothic temples and fairytale grottoes to Greek temples.
Among those buried here is Eva Peron, former First Lady of Argentina from 1946 to 1952. Eva was an active campaigner in female suffrage and is especially known for her role in obtaining the right for women to vote in Argentina in 1947.
Recoleta Cemetery is open to the public daily and there are guided tours available too.
Final thoughts…
Buenos Aires is the bustling hub of Argentina and encapsulates many of the things that the country is known and loved for – tango, colour, delicious food, and a thriving arts and culture scene.
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Are you planning a trip to Buenos Aires? Have you got any other recommendations that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.