What places are a must to visit in Buenos Aires?

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Cosmetologist07

Here are some highlights:

1) the Obelisk: symbol of Buenos Aires, located on 9 de Julio Ave. It´s wotrth a look and a picture, but you cant climb it

2) Florida and Lavalle street: these are pedestrian streets. Lavalle was traditionally the cinema street, now many of these old cinemas were taken over by (cheaper) clothing and electronics stores.

Florida street is beautiful to walk and will lead you on the north side to Plaza San Martin, a big park where the monumet for the Malvinas fallen soldiers is. This area is very pretty, some great souvenir shops and leather stores.
Before reaching the Plaza San Martin you´ll pass by a great mall, Galerias Pacifico, on Florida and Cordoba. Totally worth going in, if only for the artwork that is painted on the ceiling of this 19th century railroad building. In the basement there´s a decent food court.

On the south end of Florida you reach Diagonal Norte and Avenida de Mayo. If you go down the latter you reach another must-see: Casa Rosada, the government building, standing at the end of plaza de Mayo (the place where traditionally people politically congregate). On the left there´s also the Cathedral of Buenos Aires, inside is the tomb of general San Martin, the great liberator of South America from Spanish domain.

3) Recoleta neighbourhood and cemetery: this neighbourhood is one of the most traditionals and expensive. It´s very Parisian, and the best shops (vuitton, Hermes and the like) are found here. It´s interesting to see the cemetery, where many great figures of Argentine history are buried. The most visited tomb is probably Evita peron´s. But you´ll only see a black mausoleum. You can tour the cemetery alone (no admission fee) or, if you are interested in history, it´s best to go with a tour. On one side of the cemetery, usually there´s an arts and crafts fair (always on weekends, sometimes weekdays too). Nice knick-knacks at prices that won´t break your budget.
At night some of the restaurants get transformed to bars and it´s quite nice.

4) It´s always nice to see a Tango Dinner and Show at San Telmo, the oldest neighborhood in Buenos Aires. My personal favorite is held in the restaurant "El Querandí", Peru 302, on the internet: querandi.com.ar
Dinner is at 20:30 and show at 22:15. I´ve taken many friends there. It´s rather expensive though.

Also in San Telmo, at the central square every sunday there´s the Antiques fair which is very interesting, as well as impromptu tango dancers on the street.
Caution in San Telmo: dont walk there at night alone. Take a taxi there and when leaving, ask the people at the restaurant to call for a cab for you. The radio-taxis (the one you call) are safer at night than the ones you pcik up at the street.

5) Tigre: for this one, you can go either with a tour group or on your own taking the train Mitre from Retiro Station downtown and ending at the end station, Tigre. Then it´s a little walk to the delta. It´s the delta of the river Tigre, located north of Buenos Aires, about 1 hour from downtown. If you go with a tour, they´ll probably also offer a boat excursion on the tigre river of about 2 hours plus a visit to puerto de frutos, the port where traditionally fruits and vegetablers (oranges specifically were grown on the islands in the delta) where sold, now there´s more crafts than food but it´s very pretty. But to get to the fruit port without a car is too complicated, so if you´re on your won better wait to have an acquaintance that can take you there.

6) If you have a whole day to venture out on the land, you should take a full day tour to an estancia. I like the estancia "La Cina-Cina", it´s on the web and they offer transportation as well: lacinacina.com.ar
They offer an asado, a big argentinean meat BBQ, some traditional dances, and you can watch traditional gaucho horse games.

7) Last, the newly developed Puerto Madero area is well worth a look. The former port of Buenos Aires, it´s particularly good for a stroll but there are only restaurants and the Hilton Hotel, no other kind of shops. Nevertheless it´s great to stroll by the side of the water, watching the boats come and go. There´s also an interesting freestanding pedestrian bridge. A good restaurant (and not too expensive) is "La Caballeriza". At night, there´s a few nice bars and discos here.

Another tip: go have some tea or coffee at the traditional "Richmond", Florida almost Corrientes. It´s over 100 years old and it´s still keeping the same old leather chairs. Also excellent are the cocktails here, my personal favorite: Bariloche, a fruit and cream concoction. Ask also for a "picada" with it, it´s a plate with little nibblings. They also offer lunch in the back. Downstairs is a billiard room, but it was traditionally (and until just a few years ago) reserved for men only, so I´ve never been downstairs.

People in Buenos Aires are not as machistic as anywhere else in South America, however, they are more mach

vagacomoyosola

[sorry for my bad english]

You shouldn't miss visiting the Obelisco; Caminito, (is an open air street-museum that recreates the typical conventillos (housing projects) of the early La Boca neighborhood. Every weekend, tango shows are offered by professional tango dancers and singers. Crossroads of Garibaldi and Olavarría streets); Botanical Garden (Av. Santa. Fe 3951 between Las Heras and Santa Fe avenues and República Arabe Siria street. Free admission.); Plaza Dorrego; Puerto Madero (there are lots of dinner places here), and the Japanese Garden.

If you go anywhere where you can drink a national infusion called "mate", you shouldn't ask if you have to smoke it, just in case, 'cause as I said before it's an infusion! I've never been in BA, but I live in Argentina and from what I hear on the news, it isn't a very safe city, so try not go to the conurban, stick on the centre.

It's summer here, I don't believe public transportation will be as crowded as it is in school period, but when you're here ask for the safest subway to take, because otherwise, an invisible hand will take your purse and you won't notice, people is very skilled here... Remis: They are a sort of limo service that you request by phone to the numerous agencies spread out in the city. These cars are not dentified with a special color.

Costanera Norte and Puerto Madero districts are renowned because of their parrilladas (barbecues). Avenida de Mayo surroundings is the place to taste Spanish food. The most traditional pizzas can be found in Corrientes street. Plaza Cortázar, Palermo Hollywood, Recoleta and Las Cañitas neighborhoods offer gourmet specialties: elaborated, refined and exotic dishes.

Due to monetary issues, one dollar costs like 3,5 pesos. So with one dollar you can take like four buses costing a ticket $0.90, but by the time you're here it may be costing $1.10.

I forgot! If go to La Boca, ask if there's a way to get there without crossing the Riachuelo (is one of the most polluted rivers on the planet, it stinks like hell because of toxic dump)

Jason F

I recently spent a week in BA, and there are a few things to see that are cool. They have a great zoo where some of the animals roam the grounds and come up to you for treats. Recoleta church is very nice, and there is a wonderful open-air market just to the south. Great bargains and crafty stuff. If you aren't a vegetarian, eat as much steak as you can while you are there. A 1 lb filet mignon with the fixins will run you about $7.00 ! BA is very inexpensive but the people are kinda snooty. (Like any big city I imagine) If you have a chance to go to Uruguay, Montevideo was spectacular and even more inexpensive with super-friendly locals !!! Have a great trip

Fennec F

The most visited destinations in the beautiful city include the San Telmo Market, Costanera Sur, La Boca neighborhood, the center of town with the obelisk and the Tigre delta, a few kilometers away from the urban center.

Luke W

I wouldn't miss Recoleta Cemetary. And I think you have to experience the tango culture here so check out a tango bar.

Subway costs 90 pesos which is about 25 cents USD.

You can take a taxi to most parts of the city where tourists go for under 15 pesos ($4.50).

I would suggest taking a look at this tips blog for Buenos Aires:

http://www.BAtips.com

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