South America Living

Public Protest at Plaza 25 de Mayo in Buenos Aires

The city of Buenos Aires – or “Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires”
(Autonomous City of Buenos Aires in English) – is home to the world’s only annual Tango Dance Festival as well as over 3 million people. It is the second largest city in South America, after São Paulo, Brazil which is the largest city with a population of over 11 million.

        Best Time to Visit        Where To Eat         Where To Stay      City Map

A Small Selection of this Cosmopolitan City´s Highlights:

• Plaza de Mayo – Argentina’s politic center with Casa Rosada (headquarters of the executive power & where the president lives), the Cabildo, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Nacional Bank building.


Newstand in San Telmo Neighborhood

• 9 de Julio Avenue – world’s widest avenue with the most well-known monument of Argentina; the Obelisco (67 meters high).
• Corrientes Avenue – contains many prestigious theatres and cinemas & representative of construction boom between 1945 and 1980.
• Teatro Colón – Renaissance style theatre and the largest lyric theater in all Latin America.
• Galerías Pacífico – shopping center and one of numerous city landmarks restored since 1990.
• Puerto Madero – developed over former docklands and located on the River Plate (Río de la Plata in Spanish) is now an upscale neighborhood with some of the most expensive restaurants in the city.
• Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho – art galleries, sidewalk cafes, Palermo is one of the 48 barrios (districts or neighborhoods) in Buenos Aires.
• La Boca – another popular bohemian-syle district with Museum and School of Art in the house that belonged to the artist painter Quinquela Martin as well as Caminito; a neighborhood with famous colorfully-painted houses and Tango in the streets.
• San Telmo – oldest neighborhood with houses of Tango, antique stores, museaums, old churches such as San Pedro Telmo and lovely cobblestone streets.


Fruitstand on the Streets of Buenos Aires

• The historic 1887 Palacio de Aguas Corrientes Building – headquarters of Sanitary Works of the Nation & a museum.
• The Chinese Arch – in Chinatown representing the importance of immigration in Argentina.
• Boca Jrs. and River Plate Stadiums – where the sports fans will want to be, homes of the two professional soccer teams of the city by the same names: Boca Juniors & River Plate.
• National Congress – headquarters of the legislative powers and has the largest dome in Argentina.
• Malba Art Museum – modern building with Latin American rotating art exhibits.
• Recoleta – exclusive (and expensive) neighborhood with the infamous Recoleta Cemetery (Evita is buried there).

Want to be hip, happening and ahead of the ‘follow the guidebook’ travel crowd? Spend an evening at one of the closed door retaurants that have popped-up around the city. Casa Saltshaker is one option that is owned and run by American trained chef (previously from New York City) Dan Perlman and his partner. They have an excellent website that tells you in advance what will be on the menu as well as how to make a reservation: www.casasaltshaker.com.

Pampered Pet Being Fed Bread at a Cafe

Need a lower cost way to get your stomach full? Keep your eye out for a ‘Tenedor Libre’ sign on a restaurant window (or try the one listed on the page). These are all-you-can-eat buffets that are usually priced between $7-8 USD per person and have a wide assortment of dishes to stuff yourself with. Tenedor Libre in South America

If in Buenos Aires during the sweltering hot summer months of January and February you may want to do as the Argentinians do… take a bus or train to seaside resort Mar del Plata. Travel Guide to Mar del Plata

If hoardes of people and all-night partying isn’t your thing – or if traveling with children – head to low-key Miramar instead: Travel Guide to Miramar.

Want to live in Buenos Aires for an extended time and need to know how and where to rent an apartment? Read: Renting an Apartment or House in Argentina.   Aparthotels – very common in Argentina – are a good option for an extended stay also.

Best Time to Visit

Buenos Aires is popular year-round and has a moderate climate yet summer and winter variations do apply. During the summer (verano in Spanish) months December through March temperatures can reach up to 37 degrees C (100 F) with unpleasantly high humidity.

During winter (invierno in Spanish) – June through August – it can get a bit chilly with temperatures as low as 7 degrees C (45 F) yet there are less crowds and lower prices.

Spring and Fall are lovely – and popular – with average temperatures hovering around 25 degrees C (78 F). Regardless of your intended dates to visit, it is highly unlikely you will not have an enjoyable time in Buenos Aires.

Where to Stay

Expensive

1. Name: Hotel Madero   Book Now
   Area: Plaza de Mayo & Microcenter
   Address: Rosario Vera Peñalosa 360, Dique 2, Madero Este
   Website: www.hotelmadero.com Enjoy a spa bath in your room, aftewards sipping wine or a cold drink from the minibar on your private balcony or head to the rooftop bar with panoramic views for a more social happy hour!
2. Name: Alvear Palace Hotel   Book Now
   Area: Recoleta
   Address: Avenida Alvear 1891
   Website: www.alvearpalace.com Steps away from the Fine Art Museum with plenty of fine art decorating the walls inside as well. Spa, fitness center, two restaurants as well as a personal shopping assistant at your beck and call.

Midrange

1. Name: Esplendor de Buenos Aires   Book Now
   Area: Plaza de Mayo & Microcenter
   Address: San Martin 780
   Website: www.esplendorbuenosaires.com Be sure to request a jacuzzi tub equipped room, airport transfers, WiFi, cable T.V. and gourmet restaurant but you may want to venture to Puerto Madero and one of its lovely restaurants for your dinner – only three blocks away.
2. Name: 248 Finisterra   Book Now
   Area: Palermo & Belgrano, Las Cañitas area
   Address: Baez 248
   Website: www.248finisterra.com Small, boutique hotel with free afternoon tea in addition to breakfast. Near the Equestrian German Club (can ride horses) and Palermo Lake.

Cheap

1. Name: Ostinatto Hostel   Book Now
   Area: San Telmo
   Address: Chile 680
   Website: www.ostinatto.com Free Tango and Yoga lessons, small rooftop patio with pool. Dorm beds plus private rooms with balconies, apartments available.
2. Name: Puerto Limon Hostal
   Area: San Telmo
   Address: Chacabuco 1080
   Website: www.puertolimonhostel.com/ Relaxed environment, T.V. area, kitchen and buffet breakfast.

Where to Eat

Expensive

1. Name: Oviedo (Spanish cuisine)
   Area: Recoleta
   Address: Antonio Beruti 2602
   Website: www.oviedoresto.com.ar/   Shellfish, meats, fresh fish and large selection of wine served in an intimate setting in Barrio Norte.
2. Name: Sucre (Argentinian cuisine)
   Area: Palermo & Belgrano
   Address: Sucre 676
   Website www.sucrerestaurant.com.ar/sucre/default.htm   Upscale, hip atmosphere

Midrange

1. Name: Comedor Nikkai (Japanese)
   Area: San Telmo
   Address: Avenida Independencia 732, cnr Piedras
   Website: None. Mixed reviews with sushi, yakitori (skewered chicken) and sashimin dishes rated consistently high. Also serves tempura, breaded shrimp, miso and noodle dishes.
2. Name: Gran Bar Danzon
   Area: Recoleta
   Address: Libertad 1161
   Website: www.granbardanzon.com.ar   Wine bar and restaurant in romantic setting.

Cheap

1. Name: Green Bamboo (Vietnamese)
   Area: Palermo & Belgrano
   Address: Costa Rica 5802
   Website: www.green-bamboo.com.ar/   Much more than yummy noodle dishes, try gilled veal marinated in mint & lime or pink salmon with horseradish and spinach; many delicacte delicacies sure to impress the palate.
2. Name: El Cuartito (Pizzeria)
   Area: Recoleta
   Address: Talcahuano 937
   Website: None. If you like gobs of mozarella cheese on thick slices of homemade dough plus maybe some sauce and carmelized onions if you choose… you will love this Argentine-style pizzeria. Empanadas and salads also.

Want to move to Argentina? Get your Free online Living in Argentina Guide

More Articles on Argentina:
Travel Guide to San Carlos de Bariloche
Volunteer in Buenos Aires for Free!
How to Get Free Drinks in Buenos Aires

Photographs by Molly McHugh, all rights reserved.