Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina is a cosmopolitan city with plenty to see and do. It also makes a great base for exploring further afield. We spent five days based in Buenos Aires; three days exploring the city itself and two on day trips to Tigre and Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. We really enjoyed our time in this vibrant city and picking a Top 10 was quite hard, but here are the eventual winners of my Top 10 Things To Do in Buenos Aires. Note: If you want to visit the iconic Casa Rosada, it is only open on Saturdays, so you will need to plan your itinerary accordingly.
How to get to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires has two airports – we arrived at one and departed from the other. Ezeiza International Airport is the main international airport somewhat further (20 miles) away from the city, which can be reached by bus No 8E. Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery deals with internal and regional flights and is fairly centrally located, just 5 miles from downtown Buenos Aires. It is served by buses No 45A and 33.
Getting Around Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires has a comprehensive metro system. The most convenient way to travel is to purchase a SUBE Card, which can be recharged as necessary. SUBE cards are available at hotels, metro stations and kiosks around town. You need your passport/ID to obtain one and it costs 1500 pesos (around £1.20). The card can be used on the metro, buses and trains within greater Buenos Aires and some other cities.
Where to Stay in Buenos Aires
We stayed at the very pleasant 474 Buenos Aires Hotel. The hotel is situated in the financial district, thus somewhat cheaper than some of the more touristy areas, but still conveniently located. One disadvantage; the area is like a ghost town at weekends and most of the bars and restaurants are closed.
Buenos Aires: Top 10 Things to do
| 1 | Take a tour of the Casa Rosada |
| 2 | Stroll round the Eco Parque |
| 3 | Wander round the Parque 3 de Febrero |
| 4 | Admire the art at MALBA |
| 5 | Visit the Floralis Genérica |
| 6 | Admire the art at Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes |
| 7 | Walk round the Cementerio de la Recoleta |
| 8 | Take a photo in front of the Obelisco |
| 9 | Ascend from hell to heaven at the Palacio Barolo |
| 10 | Visit Puerto Madero and cross the Puente de la Mujer |
No 1 – Take a tour of the Casa Rosada
The Casa Rosada is the Argentinian presidency; the place where Madonna sings Don’t cry for me Argentina from the balcony in the movie Evita. It is possible take a Casa Rosada Guided Tour and visit the aforementioned balcony on Saturdays.
The tour takes around an hour and includes courtyards, state rooms as well as that balcony.
You can only enter the Casa Rosada as part of a guided tour. Tours take place on Saturdays (English language tour at 12.30) and are free. You must show your passport/ID to enter. Note: This a very popular tour, with online booking required, so reserving well in advance in advisable.
Casa Rosada Museum
Afterwards, head next door to the Casa Rosada Museum which is situated behind the Casa. It contains a potted history of Argentina, plus articles relating to the life of the Perons.
Also in the museum is a mural by Mexican artist David Alfaro entitled Plastic Exercise (Ejercicio Plástico). Painted in 1933, it is considered a masterpiece of Latin American art.
The museum is open between Wednesday and Sunday from 10 am until 6 pm and is free to enter.
No 2 – Stroll round the Eco Parque
The Eco Parque is on the site of the former zoo and is a pleasant place for stroll.
In 2016, the Buenos Aires City Government took the decision to close the zoo and release about 2,500 animals (the majority of the zoo’s population) into the wild. When we visited, you could just see ducks, peacocks and a few maras wandering around by the lakes. But the park is now fully open and offers a range of activities aimed at connecting visitors with nature in a fun and educational way, such as immersive trails and animal observation as well as animatronics and VR tours.
The Eco Parque is open between Tuesday and Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm. General entry is free but there are fees for some activities.
No 3 – Wander round the Parque 3 de Febrero
The Parque 3 de Febrero is a huge park, heaving at weekends with walkers, joggers, cyclists, skaters, yoga, aerobics, weightlifting. It all goes on here – we even saw a man playing the bagpipes.
For me the highlights are the Rosedal (Rose Garden) with its 18,000 roses and the Jardín Japonés with its traditional Japanese bridges, koi pond and tea house.
The Jardín Japonés is open daily from 10 am until 7 pm. Entry for foreigners costs 13,500 pesos (around £10.60).
No 4 – Admire the art at MALBA
The Museum of Latin American Art (MALBA), as the name suggests, is a collection of art by Latin American artists. The old man is not a great art lover, but there is some great stuff here. Even he was impressed.
MALBA is open daily except Tuesday from midday (11 am on Wednesdays) until 8 pm. MALBA is open daily except Tuesday from midday (11 am on Wednesdays) until 8 pm. Adult entry costs 8000 pesos (around £6.30) most days. On Wednesdays, entry is 4000 pesos.
No 5 – Visit the Floralis Genérica
The Floralis Genérica is a huge aluminium flower sculpture that opens in the sunlight. It sits in a pool of water and reflects the nearby buildings in its silver petals.
No 6 – Admire the art at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Another art gallery, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes houses some South American and plenty of European art in the main collection.
This gallery is open daily except Monday from 11 am (10 am at weekends) until 8 pm Entry is free, however there may be a cost for temporary exhibitions.
No 7 – Walk round the Cementerio de la Recoleta
The Cementerio de la Recoleta is cemetery of the rich and famous. It’s like a huge city of the dead. The cemetery only has one entrance. Somehow, we managed to walk round all four sides before locating the gate some 350 degrees from where we started!
No 8 – Take a Photo in front of the Obelisco
We stopped to take an obligatory selfie in front of the Obelisk. One of the city’s most iconic monuments, the obelisk stands at 67 metres high in the middle of the Plaza de la República on a traffic island on the Avenida 9 de Julio. It was erected in 1936 and most recently made global news coverage when thousands upon thousands of fans came here to celebrate Argentina’s World Cup victory.
No 9 – Ascend from Hell to Heaven at the Palacio Barolo
The Palacio Barolo is an Art Deco tower block where each floor represents a different verse of Dante’s Divine Comedy.
You start in the foyer (hell) then work your way up through purgatory to heaven. Ironically, you can reach purgatory by lift, but the final eight floors to heaven have to be climbed on foot.
You finish by clambering into the glass domed lighthouse at the top for a stunning, if vertiginous view. The Palacio Barolo is an amazing building with the added bonus of great views across the city to the River Plate.
Day Tours run daily except Tuesdays. Tickets for foreigners cost 38,000 pesos (around £30). There are also evening tours, which cost 55,000 pesos and include wine tasting. Note: This is a popular tour, so best booked in advance.
No 10 – Visit Puerto Madero and cross the Puente de la Mujer
The renovated waterfront area of Puerto Madero has plenty to see and do, with its boats, public art and cobbled streets lined with trendy cafes.
Puente de la Mujer
In the middle of Puerto Madero is the ultra modern Puente de la Mujer swing bridge (which apparently represents a couple dancing the tango).
- Trip taken: January 2019
- Updated: January 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For more top picks from other destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full Top 10 Things To Do list here.
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