Argentina
Buenos Aires
Where To Stay
I went to Buenos Aires in 2008 and honestly don’t remember where we stayed (it may have been the financial district Recoleta) which was really close to/next to the Palermo neighborhood. I remember Palermo being super nice & having some really nice shops and restaurants, a bit too bougie for my 19 year old-self at the time! I was in awe of La Boca neighborhood and remember wishing we had stayed there. La Boca is super artsy, colorful & lively. It is known for its colorful buildings, beautiful sidewalk cafes, art & culture. I do think it can get a little seedy at night with tons of pick pocketers however, I am not sure what it’s like now!
Things To Do
Tango Class & Show ♡♡ : We did a tango class, followed by a show & dinner. I believe this package I linked is very similar to what we did and was super reasonably priced. It was fun doing the class before the show and getting to watch the pros do it. I highly recommend it!
Recoleta Cemetary ♡ : This cemetery is the most impressive cemetery you’ll ever go to. Some of the the most famous Argentineans, including Eva Peron (former first lady) and her family are buried here. The mausoleums replicate chapels, pyramids and Greek temples and are extremely elaborate. I know cemeteries are not typically at the top of travel itineraries but this one is very impressive.
La Boca Neighborhood ♡♡: This is the coolest and most beautiful neighborhood to walk around in Buenos Aires. It is known for its colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, art and culture. This is a great area to buy local art, sit and eat in one of their cafes/restaurants and enjoy strolling the neighborhood.
Plaza de Mayo : This is the main plaza and political center of Buenos Aires (where Casa Rosada is off of). The plaza itself is very beautiful and worth walking through to see the Casa Rosada as well.
The Mothers Of The Plaza De Mayo ♡♡ : Every Thursday, you can march with The Mothers of the Plaza De Mayo (Las Madres de la Plaza De Mayo) who have marched every Thursday since 1977. These women march to fight for and find their missing or “disappeared” & stolen daughters and their babies under the Argentine Dictatorship in the 1970s (the “Dirty War”). Many babies were taken from their mothers shortly after birth and were (illegally) adopted by military families. Many people were killed and tortured and never found again. We got to march with them and speak with the mothers/grandmothers after which was pretty surreal and powerful.
Casa Rosada : This is equivalent to their “White House” and is the executive mansion and office for the President of Argentina.
Futbol (Soccer) Game : Boca Juniors games are supposed to be incredibly fun & lively. They are Argentina’s most successful team, wining 69 titles. We got to walk around the stadium & go in the gift shops however, they were not playing intown while we were there. The neighborhood itself (Boca) is super fun so I can imagine the games are awesome too!
San Telemo Market : Great market to shop around in for local art & jewelry. Perfect place to find affordable souvenirs to bring back.
Leather ♡: Argentina has amazing leather products for super affordable prices. Be sure to hit the leather district to buy some leather goods. I had a purse that lasted me 10+ years and was < $100.
Wine ♡ : Argentina has some amazing wines (especially their Malbecs!). I wish we had time to go to the Mendoza Region which is their “wine country” - it is actually much closer to Santiago than it is to Buenos Aires.
Steak : Argentina has the highest cow per capita in the world (or at least did back in 2008 when I visited). They pride themselves on their quality of meat which are all grass fed. I remember going to a fun restaurant called Siga La Vaca “follow the cow” which had an insane deal for dinner. I believe it came out to $18 USD/person which included all you can eat steak, salad, appetizers, dessert and a full bottle of wine each. I went here in college and felt like the most exciting deal ever!
Italian Food : There are surprisingly some incredible Italian restaurants throughout Argentina. Apparently more than 50% of the Argentinian population has some degree of Italian decent as many immigrated to Buenos Aires in the early 20th century. Given the large population of Italians, there is a ton of Italian influence on their food and I remember loving it!
* ♡ = a favorite
♡♡ = a must do