Locations Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is a large, lively and fun city with a lot to offer.  Some say it has a European feel, almost Parisian in parts, with beautiful buildings, leafy streets and a romantic atmosphere.  However, the local people that live there, known as Porteños, ensure that the Latino spirit is always alive and this is apparent wherever you go. 

As most people either arrive or leave from Buenos Aires it is definitely worth spending at least a couple of days in the heart of the city to have a look around.  The best way to get to know the capital is to wander the streets, take in the sights and explore it at your own pace.   We will provide you with maps and guide books to help you on your way, but there are definitely some highlights that should not be missed and if you would like a personal guide to show you around, we can arrange a true local to take you to the best spots and teach you about the city.

One of our favourite places is San Telmo.  This is the most authentic barrio in Buenos Aires with cobbled streets, old colonial buildings, numerous cafes, bars and restaurants and some wonderful antiques markets for those who like to shop. The area exudes an air of culture and history and from the late 19th Century to this day it has been the home of many artists who in turn give San Telmo a bohemian feel.  The Sunday antiques fair in Plaza Dorrego is a hub of activity and both tourists and locals gather there each weekend to buy jewellery and trinkets, have a coffee with a friend or watch tango in the streets.  And if you know a few steps you can also have a go yourself.

La Boca is unlike any other area of Buenos Aires.  It is famous for the brightly coloured houses that line the streets and is a great place to buy a local painting or watch a couple dancing the tango whilst you dine alfresco.  It is also well known for the popular Boca Juniors football team, whom the legendary Maradona played for, and if you are visiting during the football season we can arrange for you to go to one of the highly dynamic matches at the Bombonera stadium.

In contrast to San Telmo and La Boca, the barrio of Recoleta is affluent and stylish, with many fashionable designer shops, chic wine bars and several of the capital’s most important art galleries and museums. It is also home to the mysterious and strangely beautiful old cemetery, where the famous Eva Peron (Evita), who contributed hugely to Argentina’s political history in the 1940s and 50s, is laid to rest.  Here you can walk for hours in silence amongst the rows of stone and marble statues and crypts.

But Buenos Aires is of course not just about sight seeing during the day.  The nights are just as busy and we can give you advice on what to do to keep you entertained, from eating at the best restaurants in Puerto Madero to dancing the night away at the hottest bars and clubs in Palermo Soho.   And let’s not forget that Buenos Aires is the place to see tango.  There are many different places to watch this sultry dance, from low key bars and cafes to spectacular shows at theatre type venues, and we keep up to date with the best ones so you just need to go along and be swept up in the emotion of it all.  We can also arrange for you to take a tango lesson in preparation for visiting one of the city’s milongas, where the locals go in the evenings to dance.

Who should go?

We’ve not yet met anyone who doesn’t like Buenos Aires.  As a capital city it has a bit of everything.  It is cultural yet modern, with some areas that are refined and distinguished and others that are real and rough around the edges.  It is bustling, noisy and alive.  It is for those who like the big city with plenty going on, from art and history to nightlife and shopping.

Accommodation

Hotels in Buenos Aires vary tremendously and at All Points Argentina we are constantly researching new places.  Our favourites are a handful of boutique hotels in the trendy district of Palermo; calm and quiet yet stylish and unique, giving you the chance to have somewhere to escape at the end of each day. Palermo, with its green open spaces and parks, is easily accessible in terms of getting around and some of the best restaurants and bars are literally on your doorstep.  It is also popular for locals to go out in the evenings, so is a great place for people watching and being part of the action.