The tango, the fantastic roasted beef, the soccer passion, the European influence mixed with modern design and Latin flavor… wait… do you know what to do in Buenos Aires?
Buenos Aires is a gorgeous city, located in Argentina on the southernmost part of South America, which means… they’ve got the nice weather now!
In this short series I will be covering what to do in Buenos Aires if you only have a weekend to see it.
So here we go!
What to do in Buenos Aires?
As with everything Latin, Buenos Aires has a mystique of sensuality and an exotic flavor, but combined with a substantial European aesthetic that comes from (mostly) Italian and French immigrants.
Buenos Aires is a fantastic city if you want to get a sense of the old world at a South American price point.
But BAires is so much more than beautiful European architecture. The blend of the old and the new creates a fascinating ambiance that renders itself elegant, yet laid back.
The Water Company Palace (Edificio de Aguas Corrientes). Foto: Wikipedia, HalloweenHJB.
Please copy and paste the following link to go to the original image:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aguas_Corrientes-2011-TM.jpg
Certainly, there’s too much to do in Buenos Aires to cover it all over a weekend, like the incredible restaurants with the best beef you will ever taste!
And walking the city is definitely the best way to see it, there’s something new and interesting to experience in every corner.
From spontaneous tango dancers, to amazing cafés and antique shops. But if a weekend is all you’ve got, I will tell you the highlights.
For now I want to give you an overview of what Buenos Aires is about so that you get acquainted with the ambiance.
And in parts 2 and 3 of the article I will get into each place you should visit!
Buenos Aires
The city has a somewhat rounded shape and it’s divided into 48 barrios (neighborhoods) where most of the main attractions concentrate to the east of the city, near the Río de la Plata.
You can roughly get oriented by locating the giant Obelisk to the east which is kind of the best reference point situated at the intersection of avenues Corrientes and 9 de Julio.
9 de Julio is a huge main avenue that goes from north to south. Some of the most iconic barrios are Palermo, San Telmo, La Boca, Puerto Madero, Retiro and Recoleta.
Where to stay in Buenos Aires?
I highly recommend staying in San Telmo or Palermo. They are both walking distance from metro (Subte) stations.
But especially San Telmo is very well located and you can walk to many of the main attractions.
Plus, they both offer fantastic hotels at a very reasonable price. If you want to splurge, you can stay in Puerto Madero proper or El Centro.
Hop-on, Hop-off bus
I’m not ashamed to say that I enjoy doing something that is such a cliché of traveling: Going on the double decker buses.
And if you’re in Buenos Aires only for a weekend, I believe this is a great option! Buenos Aires Bus is the official company for hoping on and off in the tango capital.
What to do in Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires Bus. Photo: www.tripbuenosaires.net
Transportation
Taxis are a good value if you’re in a hurry and don’t really know where you’re going. Otherwise, buses and the subte (metro/subway, pronounced soob-teh) are great ways to navigate the city.
Milongas
Milongas are the places where tango is danced. There is an extensive list of milongas all throughout town. You are welcome to watch… but learning to do the tango is not a feat to undertake lightly.
Food
Go into any bakery, you won’t regret it. Order “medialunas de grasa” or croissants, they’re amazing!
You can also try the yummy empanadas, meat filled pastries with different flavors. The best place is Pizzeria La Americana over Callao Street.
Empanadas. Photo: Wikipedia, Arcibel.
Please copy and paste the following link to go to the original image:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Docena_de_Empanadas_Caseras_Argentinas.jpg
“Tenedor libre” (free fork) is an all you can eat buffet restaurant. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and whether it’s lunch or dinner.
Gelato is also fantastic in Buenos Aires (perhaps because of the Italian influence??), the best gelaterias are Volta, Persicco and Freddo.
And do order the wine, especially the malbec. It’s really really good.
Here’s a really useful map of Buenos Aires that I’ve borrowed from viagem.decaonline.com It’s in Portuguese, but still a really good guide for the most important spots in the Argentinian capital.
Buenos Aires Map. Source: viagem.decaonline.com/imgs/plano_buenos aires mapa _pt.pdf
After covering these practicalities and general information, meet me here next time to start our weekend tour over the beautiful Buenos Aires!
Have you visited BAires before? What was the atmosphere like?
Were you captivated by the beauty and sensuality of tango?
Or were you drooling over the juicy steaks?
Share your comments in the field below or join us in Facebook!
What to do in Buenos Aires Part 2.
What to do in Buenos Aires Part 3.
My parents spent a month in Buenos Aires and so loved it! I’ve been dying to visit after seeing her photos and hearing their stories but your tips and photos have sealed the deal! Another friend just returned form there as well… lets just say she fell in love! Great post!
Thanks, do come back and let us know what your experience in Buenos Aires was!