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 5 days in Buenos Aires; 3 days exploring the city itself and 2 on day trips further afield.

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.

Getting There

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 45A and 33.

Getting Around

Buenos Aires has a comprehensive metro system. The best way to travel is to purchase a SUBE card, which can be charged with money. SUBE cards are available at hotels and metro stations. You need your passport/ID to obtain one and it costs 126 pesos (around £0.55). The card can be used on the metro, buses and trains within greater Buenos Aires.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the very pleasant Hotel 474 Buenos Aires. The hotel is situated in the financial district, thus somewhat cheaper than more touristy areas but still conveniently situated. One disadvantage; the area is like a ghost town at weekends and most bars and restaurants are closed. We arrived at 9 am and they were very accommodating, letting us check in early.

Activities

1	Casa Rosada (Casa Rosada Museum)
2	Palacio Barolo
3	Parque 3 de Febrero
4	MALBA
5	Cementerio de la Recoleta
6	Floralis Genérica
7	Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
8	Puerto Madero (Puente de la Mujer)
9	Catedral Metropolitana
10	Galerías Pacífico

No 1 – Casa Rosada

We started our visit to Buenos Aires with the Casa Rosada Guided Tour. 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. Note: It’s a very popular tour, with online booking required, so places need to be reserved well in advance.

The tour is supposed to take an hour, but the guide seemed to love the sound of his own voice and went on and on. Tours are 15 minutes apart, so they were soon backing up behind us. It didn’t help that some of the Americans in our group refused to do stairs and we had to wait while a separate staff member escorted them via the elevator.

Finally, we reached the bit I’d been waiting for – the iconic balcony. We patiently waited our turn to go out, but the guard decided our group’s time was up and started herding us towards the exit. It was such an anti-climax. Our tour of a few rooms took two hours and we risked missed the highlight. I made a break for it and managed to grab a balcony photo before being ushered out.

Casa Rosada Museum

Once the tour finally ended, we headed for the Museum which is situated behind the Casa Rosada. 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 Siqueiros. Painted in 1933, it is considered a masterpiece of Latin American art.

You can only enter the Casa Rosada as part of a guided tour. Tours take place on Saturdays (English language tour are at 12.30) and are free. You must show your passport/ID to join the tour. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday and is also free.

No 2 – Palacio Barolo

A must-see on a trip to Buenos Aires is a tour of the Palacio Barolo; an Art Deco tower block where each floor represents a different verse of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Note: This is another popular tour best booked in advance.

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 8 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.

It’s an amazing building with the added bonus of great views across the city to the River Plate. Palacio Barolo Day Tours run on Mondays and Wednesday-Saturdays. Day Tour tickets cost 7,000 pesos (£30.50), and last 90 minutes. The price is a bit steep, but I think it’s worth it. There are also evening tours which cost 8,000 pesos and include musical entertainment.

No 3 – Parque 3 de Febrero

The Parque 3 de Febrero is a huge park and it was heaving on a Sunday morning; walkers, joggers, cyclists, skaters, yoga, aerobics, weightlifting. It was all going on here, there was even a man playing the bagpipes.

There is so much to see and do here, but for me the highlights are the Rosedal (Rose Garden) with its 18,000 roses and the Jardín Japonés (Japanese Garden) with its traditional Japanese bridges, koi pond and tea house. You have to pay to enter the Jardín Japonés, but at 150 pesos per person (£0.65) it isn’t going to break the bank.

No 4 – 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.

As well as the permanent collection, there are temporary exhibitions. When we visited, the temporary exhibition was by Pablo Suarez. His work is clever and a little bit crazy, which is just how I like things.

MALBA is open daily except Tuesday and costs 1100 pesos (£4.79) most days. On Wednesdays, entry is 550 pesos.

No 5 – Cementerio de la Recoleta

The Cementerio de la Recoleta is the 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 6 – 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 7 – Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

In at No 7, another art gallery, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. This has some South American and plenty of European art in the main collection. When we visited, the temporary exhibition is by Turner, on loan from the Tate, so ironically we paid to see something in Argentina that we could have seen in England for free.

This gallery is open daily except Monday and entry is free. There may be a cost for temporary exhibitions. We paid 100 pesos to visit the Turner Collection.

No 8 – Puerto Madero

The renovated waterfront area of Puerto Madero with its boats, public art and cobbled streets lined with trendy cafes is a pleasant place for a stroll.

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).

No 9 – Catedral Metropolitana

The 19th Century Metropolitan Cathedral is the former manor of Pope Francis, who was Arch Bishop of Buenos Aires prior to becoming the Pope.

We missed it first time round, as the exterior looks more like a museum or a bank than a cathedral.

However, inside it looks like most South American churches; very ornate with lots and lots of gold stuff.

No 10 – Galerías Pacífico

The Galerías Pacífico is primarily a shopping mall, however its domed ceiling, completed in 1945, displays the work 5 prominent muralists.

Dinner at Galerías Pacífico

Galerías Pacífico also has a large food court, so the ideal place to visit around lunch/dinner time.