Buenos Aires, Argentina: A Short Travel Guide
- Ine Vandenwyngaert
- Feb 17, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 18, 2025
Buenos Aires is the vibrant capital of Argentina. It sits on the western bank of the Rio de la Plata, a vast estuary on the eastern coast of South America that was once crucial for trade. Founded in the 16th century as a Spanish colonial outpost, the city grew from a military base to a major commercial center, becoming a melting pot of cultures. Today, Buenos Aires is renowned for its vibrant culture, European-influenced architecture, passionate tango scene, and delicious cuisine. In this travel guide, we share our top things to do in Buenos Aires as well as great places to stay, eat, and drink.
Check out our video about Buenos Aires to see the best things to do through our camera!
Things To Do In Buenos Aires
Explore La Recoleta Cemetery (also possible as a guided tour)
Walk the colorful streets of La Boca (don't miss Caminito Street!)
Go on a day trip to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay (book the ferry in advance!)
Have lunch at Mercado de San Telmo
Enjoy Puerto Madero (stroll along the waterfront promenade)
Spot birds at Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur
Experience the nightlife of Palermo Soho (lots of cool speakeasy bars and clubs around Plaza Serrano)
Watch a tango show (Teatro Piazzolla is a great option!)
Relax at Bosques de Palermo
Discover the historic center (Go on a free walking tour)
Places To Stay In & Around Buenos Aires
Anywhere - Palermo Soho ($$): Amazing apartment complex with a rooftop pool, and accommodation with a balcony, free WiFi, AC, flat-screen TV with streaming services, kitchen, dining area, private bathroom with shower and comfy bed.
The Glu Boutique Hotel - Palermo Soho ($$$): just 3 blocks from Serrano Square and the artisans fair, this hotel is set nearby trendy cafes and pubs. It offers designer style décor. The suites are spacious and bright with private balconies or terraces. Beautiful courtyard as well.
Studio Congreso - Historic Center ($): studio within a short distance of Palacio Barolo and Tortoni Cafe, Studio Congreso offers free WiFi, air conditioning and household amenities such as a stovetop and kettle. It's a good budget option!
Ker San Telmo Hotel - San Telmo ($$): budget-friendly hotel with a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and bar.
Places To Eat And Drink In Buenos Aires
Anasagasti Bar & Restaurant: Ideal for a night of cocktails and sushi with an exclusive touch in a dreamy setting
Backroom Bar: Hidden gem with a book store and jazz shows
Bar 878: Relaxed spot with burgers, cocktails, and happy hour specials
Café Tortoni: Historic cafe with a famous literary past and good coffee
Ciro Puerto Madero: Waterfront restaurant/bar which is great for sunset
Don Julio: Upscale steakhouse with a long wine list
EL Hornero de San Telmo: Traditional Argentine bakery with delicious empanadas (inside the market)
Fuego y Vino Cabernet: Intimate restaurant with European cuisine and a wide selection of wines
Gamboa - Viñas & Bodega: Winery and restaurant with a beautiful view of the vineyards (though outside of the city center)
Il Fiume Ristorantino: Italian restaurant with a romantic atmosphere next to the water
J.W. Bradley: Great cocktails (they have beer as well), great service and a very fun atmosphere
Kraken bar: Trendy bar with a pirate theme and a variety of drinks
La Baita: Cozy Italian restaurant in Palermo with good pastas
MATEAME, DONDE PROBAR EL MATE?: Place to try mate, the traditional Argentine drink
Nicky Harrison: Popular sushi bar with a hip and lively atmosphere (ask to see to the bodega and they will take you inside the speakeasy - great story and cocktails there)
Parrilla la 10: very local and traditional Argentine steakhouse with a wide selection of barbecued meats (and very affordable prices as it's in a local area)
Parrilla La Brigada: A popular steakhouse with a focus on quality meats in San Telmo
PES Gastrobar: Trendy bar with a focus on craft cocktails and tapas
Plaza Serrano: Lively plaza with great bars, restaurants, and shops (sometimes free tango performances outside)
Rapanui: famous Argentinian chocolate shop
The Hole Bar - Alcatraz Speakeasy Hidden Bar: Hidden bar with a speakeasy theme and a unique menu
Victoria Brown Bar: Stylish bar with a great selection of cocktails (a bit pricy though)
Map Buenos Aires
Find all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay in Buenos Aires on Google Maps, follow and save the list, do the following:
Tap on the link to open it (click button below)
Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.
Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.
If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Buenos Aires will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.
Use These Websites To Save Money On Your Trip To Buenos Aires
Booking.com for places to stay
Skyscanner for cheap flights
GetYourGuide for local tours
Rentalcars.com for affordable car rentals
Are you having a hard time planning your trip to Buenos Aires? Get our Interactive Travel Planner to keep it all organized.
Need more travel inspiration? Check out our other destinations and articles about Chile:
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What a fantastic read! This post perfectly captures why Buenos Aires is often called the "Paris of the South." I love that it includes both high-end spots like Don Julio and local gems like Parrilla la 10. The interactive Google Map link is such a thoughtful addition for travelers who are already on the ground trying to navigate the different "barrios."
To keep this guide handy during my flight and train rides where Wi-Fi might be spotty, I used MarkdownFlow Free Online Markdown Tools to convert the content into a well-formatted Word document. It’s so much easier to print out or read on a tablet than a bunch of open browser tabs. Thanks for the inspiration, World Wild Hearts!
I’ve been planning my South American adventure for weeks, and this breakdown of Buenos Aires is by far the most comprehensive one I’ve found. The tip about the ferry to Colonia del Sacramento is a total lifesaver—I almost forgot to book that in advance! I'm especially excited to check out the speakeasy bars in Palermo Soho after reading about Nicky Harrison.
Since I like to keep all my travel itineraries and restaurant lists organized in my personal database, I used MarkdownConverter Pro to turn this entire guide into a clean Markdown file. It stripped away all the web clutter and gave me a perfect, readable document for my offline notes. Highly recommended for fellow planners!