Things to Visit in Buenos Aires: Tango, Steak, and Barrios
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to Buenos Aires covering San Telmo's Sunday market, Recoleta Cemetery, La Boca's colorful Caminito street, tango milongas, world-class parrillas, the Palermo bar scene, and a day trip to the Tigre Delta.
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San Telmo and the Sunday Market
Walk through the Feria de San Telmo on Sunday
This weekly street market stretches 1 km along Defensa Street from Plaza de Mayo to Plaza Dorrego. It runs every Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM with 270+ vendors selling antiques, leather goods, and vintage items. Arrive by 10:30 AM to browse before the main crowds hit around noon.
Watch the street tango dancers at Plaza Dorrego (tip 200-500 ARS per couple)
Look for vintage soda siphon bottles and fileteado art — both are distinctly porteño
Browse the Mercado de San Telmo indoor market
This 1897 iron-and-glass market hall covers an entire city block on Bolívar and Carlos Calvo streets. It's open daily (not just Sundays). The interior stalls have better prices on spices, olives, cheese, and empanadas than the street market outside.
Try a bondiola sandwich (slow-roasted pork shoulder) for 3,000-5,000 ARS
Visit MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art Buenos Aires)
This small but striking museum on San Juan Avenue focuses on geometric and kinetic art. Entry costs 3,000 ARS ($3 USD) and a visit takes about 45 minutes. The building itself — a glass-and-concrete cube — is part of the experience.
La Boca and Caminito
Walk along Caminito, the colorful open-air street museum
This 150-meter pedestrian street is lined with brightly painted corrugated metal houses that date to the late 1800s. The colors come from leftover ship paint that Italian immigrants used on their houses. Tango dancers perform here for tips (200-500 ARS per photo).
Visit the Quinquela Martín museum at the end of Caminito (free entry)
See La Bombonera stadium from the outside (or take a tour)
Home to Boca Juniors since 1940, the stadium holds 49,000 fans. Stadium tours run daily from 10 AM to 6 PM and cost 8,000 ARS ($8 USD), including the museum. Match-day tickets are difficult to get as a tourist — licensed tour operators sell packages for $80-150 USD.
Eat at a parrilla in La Boca for an affordable steak lunch
Restaurants on the streets just off Caminito (try Brandsen or Olavarría streets) charge 30-50% less than the tourist traps on Caminito itself. A bife de chorizo (sirloin strip) with sides runs 8,000-12,000 ARS ($8-12 USD) at local spots.
Recoleta and Retiro
Walk through Recoleta Cemetery
This 5.5-hectare cemetery has 4,691 above-ground vaults, many with elaborate marble sculptures and stained glass. Entry is free. Eva Perón's tomb is in section 16, plot 28 — follow the signs. A self-guided walk takes 60-90 minutes through the labyrinth of narrow passageways.
Find the tomb of Rufina Cambaceres — the most famous 'buried alive' legend in Argentina
Visit on a weekday before noon when there are fewer tour groups
Visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Argentina's premier fine art museum is free and holds 12,000+ works including pieces by Rodin, Monet, Rembrandt, and Argentine masters like Xul Solar. It's on Avenida del Libertador, a 5-minute walk from the cemetery. Allow 2 hours.
Browse the Recoleta weekend craft fair
This artisan market sets up on weekends and holidays in Plaza Francia, right next to the cemetery. Over 100 stalls sell handmade leather goods, jewelry, mate cups, and artwork. Hours are roughly 11 AM to 7 PM.
See the giant Floralis Genérica steel flower sculpture
This 23-meter-tall aluminum and steel flower in Plaza de las Naciones Unidas was designed to open at sunrise and close at sunset (though the mechanism doesn't always work). It weighs 18 tons and is best photographed with the reflection in the surrounding pool.
Palermo Neighborhoods
Explore Palermo Soho's boutique shopping streets
The grid of cobblestone streets around Plaza Serrano (officially Plaza Cortázar) has the highest concentration of independent Argentine fashion designers. Shops open around 11 AM. The area between Honduras, Thames, Gorriti, and Serrano streets is the core zone.
Check out the street art murals — Palermo has one of the densest concentrations in South America
Drink craft beer in Palermo Hollywood
The area around Plaza Serrano and along Thames Street has 15+ craft breweries and tap rooms within walking distance. A pint of local IPA costs 2,000-4,000 ARS ($2-4 USD). Happy hours typically run from 6-8 PM with 2-for-1 deals.
Walk through the Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Woods)
This 400-hectare park system includes a rose garden (El Rosedal) with 18,000 rose bushes, a Japanese Garden ($5 USD entry), and a planetarium. The Rosedal is free and most photogenic in spring (October-November). Rent bikes at the park entrance for 3,000 ARS per hour.
Visit El Rosedal on a weekday morning when it's nearly empty
Visit the MALBA (Latin American Art Museum)
MALBA on Avenida Figueroa Alcorta houses the best collection of Latin American art in the country. Entry costs 6,000 ARS ($6 USD), with half-price admission on Wednesdays. The permanent collection includes works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Tarsila do Amaral.
Tango, Steak, and Nightlife
Watch a professional tango show
Dinner-and-show venues in San Telmo and the Centro run $50-120 USD per person including a 3-course meal. Show-only tickets at smaller venues cost $20-40 USD. Performances typically start at 8:30 or 10 PM and last 90 minutes.
Book a smaller venue over a large dinner theater for a more intimate experience
Dance at a milonga (social tango event)
Milongas happen nightly across the city with cover charges of 2,000-5,000 ARS ($2-5 USD). La Viruta in Palermo runs Tuesday through Sunday starting at 11:30 PM. No partner needed — the cabeceo (head-nod invitation system) pairs dancers on the floor.
Take a beginner class beforehand — most milongas offer a 1-hour lesson before the social dance starts
Eat an asado dinner at a traditional parrilla
A full parrilla experience includes provoleta (grilled provolone), morcilla (blood sausage), chorizo, and a main cut like ojo de bife (ribeye) or entraña (skirt steak). Budget 15,000-25,000 ARS ($15-25 USD) per person with a bottle of Malbec. Dinner service starts at 8:30 PM — restaurants are nearly empty before 9 PM.
Order the entraña (skirt steak) for the most flavorful, juicy cut at the best price
Try a choripán from a street cart
This grilled chorizo sausage sandwich on crusty bread with chimichurri is the national street food. Carts near parks and soccer stadiums sell them for 2,000-3,000 ARS ($2-3 USD). The Costanera Sur waterfront has a row of choripán vendors popular on weekends.
Drink Malbec at a hidden speakeasy bar
Buenos Aires has a thriving speakeasy scene, especially in Palermo. Cocktails run 4,000-7,000 ARS ($4-7 USD). Most speakeasies open at 8 PM and don't get busy until 11 PM. Look for unmarked doors or ask your hotel — the point is that they're not easy to find.
Day Trips and Landmarks
Take a day trip to the Tigre Delta
The Tren de la Costa or Mitre train line runs from Retiro station to Tigre in 50-60 minutes for under 500 ARS ($0.50 USD). From Tigre, water taxis and lanchas colectivas (water buses) take you into the delta's islands and river channels. A 1-hour boat tour costs 5,000-8,000 ARS ($5-8 USD).
Walk through the Puerto de Frutos market in Tigre for wicker and wood crafts
Eat lunch at a riverside restaurant on one of the delta islands
Visit the Obelisco and walk down Avenida 9 de Julio
The 67-meter Obelisco in the center of the avenue was built in 1936 and marks the spot where the Argentine flag was first flown in the city. Avenida 9 de Julio is 140 meters wide (up to 16 lanes of traffic), making it one of the widest avenues in the world.
Stand in Plaza de Mayo and see the Casa Rosada
The pink presidential palace faces this historic square where Evita gave speeches from the balcony. Free guided tours of the Casa Rosada run on weekends (book online up to 2 weeks in advance). The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo still march every Thursday at 3:30 PM.
Visit the Casa Rosada museum in the basement (free, closed Mondays)
Cross the Puente de la Mujer bridge in Puerto Madero
This rotating white suspension bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava spans 170 meters across the old port docks. Puerto Madero's renovated waterfront has a 2-km walking promenade along both sides of the docks. Evening visits are best when the bridge and buildings are lit up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Buenos Aires?
Three to four full days covers the highlights including san telmo and the sunday market, la boca and caminito, recoleta and retiro at a relaxed pace. Five or more days lets you dig into local neighborhoods and take day trips. Most first-time visitors find four days strikes the right balance between seeing enough and not feeling exhausted.
What is the best time of year to visit Buenos Aires?
Spring and early autumn typically offer the best weather with manageable crowds. Summer brings peak tourism pricing and longer queues at popular spots. Shoulder season travel saves 20-30% on accommodation and gives you shorter lines at top attractions.
How much should I budget per day in Buenos Aires?
A mid-range daily budget of $100-180 per person covers a comfortable hotel, two restaurant meals, and attraction tickets. Street food and local markets cut food costs significantly. Pre-booking tickets for popular sites online often saves 10-15% and lets you skip long queues.
What is the best way to get around Buenos Aires?
Public transit handles most tourist routes efficiently and cheaply. Walking between central attractions is often faster than waiting for buses or trains during peak hours. Multi-day transit passes pay for themselves after 3-4 rides per day and remove the hassle of buying individual tickets.
Do I need to book attractions in advance in Buenos Aires?
Top-tier attractions and museums frequently sell out during peak season so book 2-4 weeks ahead for guaranteed entry. Lesser-known sites and neighborhoods rarely require advance tickets. Morning time slots (before 10:00) are the most popular; afternoon slots after 14:00 often have shorter waits.