- Part of the charm of Buenos Aires is its barrios, or neighborhoods. They all offer a distinct feel to them, so explore each one and find what they have to offer.
- While there will be crowds, and many of them will be tourists, exploring San Telmo's Sunday Flea Market is an awesome experience, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to meet locals.
- Take a tango class and dance with some of the most talented and sultry dancers in the world.
- Hop on a forum or hook up with someone from Couchsurfing and try get yourself invited to a traditional Argentine asado (barbecue).
- If you're tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, go to Paque 3 de Febrero and enjoy the greenness of a massive park plopped right down in the middle of the city. Bring a picnic lunch (complete with red wine of course) to enjoy.
- Head to a local bar when the Argentine national team or the Boca Juniors are playing a futbol game.
Why you should add to your RTW travel list
- Buenos Aires is one of the world's largest cities
- Party like a rock star, just remember that they don't start the party here until after 2am.
- Eat red meat and drink red wine for a paltry amount of money.
- The friendly, laid back vibe of the locals is contagious.
- Enter Argentina here, and explore this varied country
- Experience a soccer/football game in a country that is truly mad about the sport
- Hike and trek Patagonia
- Access the bottom of the world at Tierra del Fuego
Why you should not add Buenos Aires to your RTW travel list
- It's a massive, crowded city that can get pretty dirty and grimy in areas.
Overview
Buenos Aires might be the nicest European city in the world. The fact that it’s nowhere near Europe makes little difference as it has that classic feel combined with a modern sense of organization that feels far from most of the rest of South America. The citizens are well educated and dress smartly and the food is excellent, particularly if you are a fan of beef. And this isn’t just any beef, it’s arguably the best in the world and it’s so widely consumed there that prices are bizarrely low at the same time. Vegetarians can get by, but they’ll be missing out of one of Argentina’s most talked about attractions.
What to do
One strange thing about Buenos Aires is its distinct lack of postcard-worthy tourist sights. Probably the most recognizable symbol of the city is the 18-lane boulevard that divides one side from the other, but there is actually plenty to see and do. Visiting is mostly about just being there, but there are world-class museums and excellent parks as well as fine classic architecture all over town.
Recoleta is an upscale neighborhood that is centrally located and here you’ll find an amazing cemetery, the most famous resident being Eva Peron AKA Evita. On the other side of downtown you’ll find the historic and bohemian neighborhood of San Telmo, the birthplace of the Tango. Just beyond that you’ll find the colorful working-class neighborhood of La Boca, which is said to be dangerous after dark, but definitely worth a visit during the day if only to see the home of South America’s most famous football club, the Boca Juniors.
Getting There
Unless you are arriving by bus or ferry from Brazil or Uruguay, you’ll likely be booking a flight into Buenos Aires’ suburban Ezeiza International Airport. Being a major city there are sometimes bargains to Buenos Aires during certain seasons. The airport is a long way out of town, but there are shuttle buses available that are cheaper than the long taxi ride. There is also a small regional airport right in Buenos Aires and you might use it for flights to the wine country of Mendoza or the spectacular Iguazu Falls area.
Where To Stay
Since the collapse of the Argentine Dollar in the early 00s everything is strangely cheap in Buenos Aires, although becoming a bit less so every year. There are quite a few hostels in Buenos Aires spread all over town. And of course hotels there are also available in every neighborhood. Recoleta is the most expensive area and a great place for tourists, but there are great bargains in the downtown business district just across the great boulevard and only 5-10 minutes away on foot.
