What to Do and See in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Known for sensual tango, mouthwatering steak, raucous nightlife, and its enormous size, Buenos Aires is one of the most popular South American travel destinations and for good reason. It’s difficult to run out of things to do, foods to try, neighborhoods to explore, or bars to close down.

Nicknamed the “Paris of South America” thanks to its cosmopolitan feel with Latin flavor, I’d say it could also give New York a run for its money for the “city that never sleeps” title given that the locals often end up having breakfast before going home after a night out.

Like most major cities, you can find a mixture of everything: cultural influences (heavy on the Italian), grand boulevards, sleepy cobblestone streets, rowdy plazas, and serene sprawling parks.

And every single flavor and nuance, no matter how exotic or seemingly commonplace, gives the city its own original essence. Here are some of the things you must do during your trip to Buenos Aires.

In a word: Flavorful
What to eat: steak, empanadas, Argentine pizza, medialunas
What to drink: Malbec and other red wines, fernet, mate
Where to stay: Palermo, Recoleta, San Telmo
How to get around: Taxis or Cabify, the Subte (subway)
What to buy: leather goods, inca rose jewelry, mate set, dulce de leche

Recoleta Cemetery

I know, I know. It doesn’t exactly sound like where you’d like to go on vacation, but the Recoleta Cemetery feels less like a solemn site more like an outdoor museum of..mausoleums. The cemetery is a maze of graves, new and old, containing the remains of Argentina’s most prominent families and individuals, including Eva Peron, Nobel Prize winners, presidents and military heroes.

The concept is a little grim, but the locations is quite beautiful. I went alone but you can also book a tour if you want to understand what you’re looking at and learn some cool facts about Argentina’s past.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

If you’re an art aficionado, this is the number one museum to put on your list. This gorgeous and FREE art museum has a massive selection of paintings from the greats of history including Goya, Rembrandt, Manet, Renoir, and Van Gogh, to name a few.

I went back multiple times to drool over their selection of Impressionism and they have a dedicated room to Rodin’s statues that’s quite moving. They also have a large selection of modern and contemporary art, but personally, I’m a 19th and 20th century gal.

See the Obelisk and Visit Plaza de Mayo

The obelisk is the heart of the city and a must-see, although it’s essentially just a photo op stop. Plaza de Mayo is Buenos Aires’ most important square, where you’ll find the city’s “white house” which is actually pink and thus, called La Casa Rosada.

This is where Eva Perron gave her famous speech after her cancer diagnosis, standing on the balcony and saying to the people “don’t cry for me, Argentina,” -words that inspired the broadway musical and film “Evita” starring Maddona.

In this square every Thursday, a peaceful resistance group called the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo host a vigil to protest the disappearance of political opponents (originally the sons and grandchildren of the group) who went missing during the Dirty War of 1974.

Pro tip: If you’re interested in learning more about Argentina’s beloved actress-turned-First Lady, you can also visit the small but charming Evita museum in the Palermo area of the city.

Parque El Rosedal & Bosques de Palermo

If you’re craving some greenery and nature, BA is a great spot for you. Among their most notable parks, of which there are many, Parque El Rosedal and the Bosques de Palermo stand out as some of the most picturesque. El Rosedal is a beautiful, French-inspired garden, blooming with roses in a rainbow of hues.

Connected to the rose garden, El Bosque de Palermo is a beautiful park where you can picnic, people watch, or rent a paddle boat and cruise along the canal. There are also food vendors, overconfident geese, and plenty of inspiring angles for photo ops.

See a Tango Show

You can’t come to the tango capital without indulging in the arts just a little bit. There are plenty of venues where you can enjoy a tasty dinner followed by a tango performance, giving you cuisine and culture all in one sitting.

I saw the show at La Ventana in San Telmo and I loved it! Every costume made me “ohh and ahh” and the unlimited wine wasn’t half bad either. This is a great way to enjoy tango without having to dance too close to strangers or apologize for stepping on anyone’s toes. But if you don’t mind that, you should go…

Dance the night away at La Viruta tango

This dance venue is located in the Palermo area of Buenos Aires and is a hot spot on Tuesday and Saturday nights for locals and tourists alike. They have tango classes and salsa classes followed by a social where you can practice the moves you just learned or sit on the sidelines and sip on something from the bar.

I spent several nights at La Viruta and I was super into it. The dance classes are for all levels so you don’t have to worry if you have two left feet. There’s a group for that.

Explore San Telmo and Eat at the Market

San Telmo is the oldest and most historical neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Think cobblestone streets, vintage shops, and charming facades. Make sure you spend a day exploring this area of Buenos Aires and don’t miss the famous San Telmo Market.

Here you can buy pretty much everything from your weekly produce to jewelry to leather jackets to the empanadas you want to eat for lunch. Come to shop or just pop in for lunch. Sunday is the day when the big, extended version of the market takes place so if you’re here on that day make sure to pencil it in.

Spend a day exploring Palermo

The more modern, urban, and funky neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Palermo is a hot spot for bars, cafes, speakeasies as well as vivid explosions of street art. A mega-barrio made up of several subsections (Soho, Hollywood, Chico) You’ll find a lot of the tourists and digital nomads stay in this area because of this.

Palermo is also where some of the coolest parks are to be found so you could squeeze in a few of those in too. Explore the Jardín Botanico (my favorite) and then walk down to Palermo Soho to have a drink in Plaza Serrano, one of the area’s social hubs.

Pro tip: If you’re in the mood for a cool speakeasy-meets-nightclub, check out Uptown. You enter through a very convincing NYC subway entrance and end up in a very underground (pun intended) venue with delicious cocktails, a chaotic-cool energy, and a banging’ playlist.

Read more: The Best Parks in Buenos Aires

Eat Steak Until You Can’t Eat Steak No More

You can’t go to Buenos Aires without sampling its famous meats! Ojo de bife (rib eye steak) and ojo de chorizo (sirloin) are the most classic fare and wash down like a dream with a glass of Malbec.

My favorite asado restaurants were Desnivel in San Telmo, Parilla Peña in Recoleta, and La Cabrera in Palermo. If you’re a major foodie, wait in line at the renowned Don Julio steakhouse in Palermo or book ahead – wayyyy ahead – online.

Visit El Caminito and La Boca

One of the most famous areas and Instagram-friendly areas, La Boca neighborhood is a must-see in BA. Back in the day, the colorful shacks were pieced together with scrap materials by immigrants who were working at the adjacent port.

El Caminito is a pretty touristy spot and is truly just about two streets of colorful buildings, bars, shops, and restaurants, but it’s worth a stroll, a sip, and a gander. The area of La Boca is definitely a more vibrant area to explore but it’s recommended to avoid it at night as it gets a little seedy.

Wander Around Puerto Madero

If you head down towards the water behind La Casa Rosada, you’ll see the skyline of Puerto Madero, one of the city’s trendy and more modern neighborhoods. Here you’ll find the ship-inspired “Puenta de la Mujer” or Women’s Bridge which is aesthetically pleasing, and a number of bars and restaurants along the dock where you can enjoy a drink with a view of BA’s humble skyscrapers.