Argentina
Overview
Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan capital of grand boulevards, tango salons, and a café culture that borrows from Europe while remaining unmistakably Latin American. Neighborhoods like Palermo, San Telmo, Recoleta, and La Boca each offer distinct flavors—design boutiques, antique markets, elegant parks, and colorful riverfront houses. The city is a cultural feast: theater, bookstores, parrillas (steakhouses), and latenight life that rewards curious walkers.
History & Stay
Quick Facts
Location
Buenos Aires sits on the Río de la Plata estuary on Argentina’s eastern coast; the city’s neighborhoods are spread across a broad, walkable urban fabric.
Budget
Change USD cash via Western Union or a cueva at the dólar blue rate — it roughly doubles your budget vs. card. Currency is the Argentine Peso (ARS).
Things to Do
Buenos Aires wears its European bones proudly. Start in San Telmo on a Sunday for the antique market and the impromptu tango on Plaza Dorrego, then walk north into Monserrat for the Casa Rosada and Plaza de Mayo.
Recoleta Cemetery is a city inside the city, a maze of marble mausoleums where Eva Peron rests. Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood are the neighborhoods for long dinners, natural wine bars, and boutique shopping.
Don't leave without a proper parrilla night. Order bife de chorizo, a bottle of Malbec, and settle in; porteños treat dinner as a sport that lasts until midnight.
Start at Plaza de Mayo to see the Casa Rosada and historic government buildings, then wander into San Telmo for antique markets, tango bars, and colonial charm. San Telmo’s Sunday market is a lively place to find crafts and street performers.
avenues, elegant cafés, and the famous cemetery—where Eva Perón’s tomb sits—are essential for understanding Buenos Aires’ social history and architecture. The neighborhood’s museums and parks make for a cultured afternoon.
Palermo is the city’s creative and culinary hub with boutiques, design stores, and a lively restaurant scene; the Bosques de Palermo are perfect for a relaxed afternoon. At night the neighborhood transforms into a dining and bar destination.
Transit Tips
The Subte (subway) and buses are efficient for many routes; taxis and ride apps are convenient late at night. Buenos Aires is very walkable in many neighborhoods—bring comfortable shoes and be prepared for long, lively evenings.
Both apps work well in Buenos Aires and Mendoza. Argentine peso volatility makes the app rate a huge saving over street taxis.
Buenos Aires' subway is fast and cheap. Buy a SUBE card at any kiosk and top it up with small cash.
Companies like Andesmar and Via Bariloche run cama and semi cama sleeper coaches that beat internal flights on price.