There’s a lot out there written about Buenos Aires, but most of it doesn’t live up to the real thing. Buenos Aires is a vibrant, bustling and elegant affair, but behind the passion and glitz there’s a lot more to the city than what you get at face value.
As hosts of the #1 Buenos Aires Food Tour, we’ve had a lot of visitors come through our doors and ask us: Where should I go If I want to see the real thing?
After answering that question many, many times, we came up with our top 10 places to visit in Buenos Aires – some very well-known, others not so much, all of them relevant to our cultural identity one way or the other.
We’ve included a map, extra tips and some noteworthy cafés and restaurants so you can plan your itinerary without issue (you can also check out our 3-day Buenos Aires itinerary).
The Best Places to Visit in Buenos Aires
#1 Plaza de Mayo
If you could only visit one place in Buenos Aires, this would be it. Plaza de Mayo is the beginning and end of the city. Buenos Aires was founded here, and it is here that citizens have chosen to gather to either protest or celebrate ever since, both with equal passion.
Plaza de Mayo Tips:
- The Casa Rosada, Cabildo and Cathedral are right next to Plaza de Mayo. You can visit all locations during the weekend or holidays (The Casa Rosada is closed to the public on weekdays).
- The white handkerchiefs drawn in a circle around the May Pyramid (Pirámide de Mayo) in the Center of the Square are a symbol of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, pioneers of the Human Rights Movement during the tumultuous 70s.
Where to grab a bite?
- Head to the nearby Café Tortoni for hot chocolate and churros, or London City for a cup of coffee with medialunas or cake.
- The La Piedad Bakery is also close by and has incredible miga (crustless white bread) sandwiches, an unsung hero among Argentine fast food cuisine. Their medialunas are also fantastic.
#2 Palacio Barolo
The Palacio Barolo may be just a building – it doesn’t have the same historical relevance as any of the locations in Plaza de Mayo, but this is the place that makes architects go nuts and the lay public go “ohhhh”.
What makes the Barolo Palace so unique? The building itself has a unique eclectic style, developed by its creator, Architect Mario Palanti. It was completed in 1923 and was back then the tallest building in Buenos Aires (it even had a lighthouse at the top!).
The theme of the building is Dante’s Divine Comedy, and the floors are divided into the three sections of Dante’s work – Hell, Purgatory and Heaven.
The more you read about this place, the more it blows your mind.
Palacio Barolo Tip:
- Salón 1923 is a Sky Bar at the top of the Palacio Barolo with the most amazing view of Buenos Aires downtown.
- You have to make a booking in advance for either the merienda (afternoon snack time) or tapeo (finger food selection), as they don’t have a regular menu you can order from. The food is ok, but we like the place because of the unmatched view.
#3 Caminito
Caminito is a must for any visitor, although the place is the definition of a tourist trap.
The colorful facades of La Boca, Tango dancers in the streets, the conventillos (family manors turned tenements for multiple families) turned galleries and an air of nostalgia mark this little area of town that seems to exist in an alternate Buenos Aires.
All this makes Caminito worth a visit, even for us locals.
Caminito Tips:
- Don’t stray from the tourist circuit – pickpockets are known to wander about the less-trodden streets around Caminito, so stick with the crowd and avoid empty streets.
- Take an Uber or cab to and from Caminito – this isn’t the place to be adventurous and walk about.
Where to grab a bite in Caminito?
- There are several options there, but, as we said, the place is sort of a tourist trap.
- An option we do like is the Café at the top of the PROA Foundation – it has a very nice view of the port. It’s great for a cup of coffee or a modest lunch.
#4 Bosques de Palermo
Perhaps the most beautiful area in the city for a stroll, the Bosques de Palermo area includes a series of gorgeous parks along Libertador Avenue and nearby. A great spot if you want to enjoy a bit of nature in the city.
These are our favorites:
- Rosedal: The rose garden, the most beautiful park in town and great for pictures. A big hit with families, runners and skaters.
- Japanese Garden: pretty much what the name states – a Japanese garden, very popular with the local crowd.
- Botanical Garden: a display of both native and exotic species.
- Eco Parque: a totally lovely park, very underrated. It used to be the zoo and it is transitioning to a sustainable park of sorts. You can meet the freely roaming Patagonian maras here!
Where to grab a bite close to the Bosques de Palermo?
- The Croque Madame inside the Eco Park is a great spot for lunch or coffee.
- The Japanese Garden features a -you guessed it – Japanese Restaurant.
#5 Malba Museum
Also in the Palermo area is the Malba Museum, the museum for Latin American art. Very popular with the art crowd and Gen-Z for featuring very interactive temporary exhibitions, besides their more orthodox permanent collection. For More Palermo recommendations, take a look at our Palermo Guide.
Malba tips & food recs:
- The Malba has a pretty cool Gift Shop, so check for possible souvenirs here. It’s on the artisanal & artsy side.
- The Ninina café right next to the Malba is an excellent spot for a cup of coffee.
#6 Recoleta Cemetery
An incredible necropolis right in the middle of the city, Recoleta Cemetery is where Buenos Aires’ elite of centuries past are buried. The Recoleta may sound like an unlikely spot for a stroll, but it’s a very alluring one. Go to the Recoleta for:
- the eclectic architecture of its mausoleums
- strange and spooky stories about certain residents
- weird statues
- elusive stray cats
La Recoleta Tips:
- The Plaza Francia Street Fair takes place right next to the cemetery (Fridays and weekends), and is a great location for handmade souvenirs.
- The Recoleta Cultural Center is also right down the street. Admission is free and they usually have pretty interesting exhibits. The building itself is also quite pretty (they paint the facade with new murals every once in a while, featuring the theme of the latest exhibit).
#7 San Telmo Market (and Plaza Dorrego)
San Telmo is known for three things: tango, food and antiques. You can scratch all three of them of your list by paying a visit to the San Telmo Market and then taking a quick stroll around Plaza Dorrego (or, better yet, by joining our San Telmo Food Tour).
Unless you are on San Telmo on a Sunday, in which case you have the Defensa Street Fair, yout best shot at experiencing the flair of San Telmo is by going the the Market. Here you will find great -albeit tiny – restaurants, fresh produce stalls, antiques and a general air of serendipity.
If you head over to Plaza Dorrego, you are bound to find tango dancers performing for tips. The restaurants there are decent for a cup of coffee, but if you want real food we suggest eating at the market first.
#8 Colón Theater
An incredibly beautiful building right on 9 de Julio Avenue, the Colón Theater is the most important venue in the city for high culture events. The best way to enjoy the theater is, of course, by getting tickets to the Opera or the ballet. The guided tour is a great alternative.
#9 The Obelisco
You are not in Buenos Aires until you find yourself in the intersection of Corrientes and 9 de Julio, perhaps the busiest streets in town. A picture with the Obelisco is a signature Buenos Aires post card. The porteños are known to gather at the Obelisco when celebrating, particularly fútbol wins – after Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, it’s said that a million people gathered at the monument to celebrate.
Obelisco Tips:
Corrientes Avenue is the go-to destination for pizza porteña. Check out our article about Buenos Aires food scene to read about the best pizzerias in the area.
#10 Floralis Generica
Another local monument, the Floralis Generica is a giant metallic flower located in the United Nations Park close to the Recoleta Cemetery. The Fine Arts Museum (Bellas Artes) and the University of Buenos Aires’ Law School are nearby, making the area ideal for a stroll.
The Floralis is not a historic landmark, but a cultural one (it’s only been around since 2002). The sculpture moves like a real flower, opening and closing its petals depending on the time of day. Locals are very fond of the Floralis, which they simply call “la flor” (the flower).
More places to visit in Buenos Aires
If you are staying in town for a while and want a more complete itinerary, check out the following articles: