Our trip to Argentina was a long time in the planning. With the pandemic, we had to delay our trip so when we were finally able to go to Buenos Aires you can imagine we were beyond thrilled. We got to spend a lot of time exploring the different neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. This city holds a lot of meaning for me and I love being able to go back and explore. It was fun to bring Larry to Buenos Aires for the first time and enjoy how much he fell in love with this lively city. Each neighborhood has its own unique personality which makes it such a fun city.
My biggest tip would be to do a Hop On Hop Off bus to explore all the major neighborhoods then you can decide where to visit the rest of the trip. There are two major Hop On Hop Off buses. The red one is the one we did. The two buses follow roughly the same route and their prices are fairly similar. Really look through the websites and their routes before selecting which bus ticket to purchase. Buenos Aires is a large city, you won’t be able to see and do everything the city has to offer so definitely prioritize the activities you enjoy the most!
Our favorite things in these popular Buenos Aires neighborhoods!
Recoleta
The most popular thing to do in Recoleta would be to go to the Recoleta Cemetery. It is the most famous cemetery in Argentina housing famous Argentines. It is effectively a maze inside which makes it very easy to get lost inside. There are several tours available to help you get around or you can get a map.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is also located in Recoleta. Plaza Brasil is also located there. It is a lovely park with a giant flower statue as well as a beautiful pedestrian bridge. It gives you wonderful views of the river as well as a great place to have a picnic. Finally, there is an artisanal market every weekend from noon to sunset on Plaza Francia. It is one of the largest outdoor markets in Buenos Aires.
San Telmo
Blessed with cobbled streets, this neighborhood has a unique feel that simply cannot be missed. The most popular place to visit is the Mercado de San Telmo. It is a large market that sells food, local artisanal crafts, and has restaurants. On weekends the Mecardo opens up and goes outside as well. They close down some streets near the market and even more vendors come at this time. You can truly find some unique items in this neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Near the Mercado de San Telmo you’ll also find a lot of Dulce de Leche shops. They have many that allow you to taste test the different types of dulce de leche (like caramel).
There are some other wonderful historic places to visit in San Telmo. The tunnels of El Zanjón de Granados is a centuries-old maze found under buildings in San Telmo. Along with these historic tunnels is a historic museum. Learn about Argentina’s past at Museo Histórico Nacional.
Palermo
Palermo has multiple different quadrants. There’s Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood, and Palermo Chico. Palermo Soho is the most popular area not only for locals but also for visitors. Since it is so popular you have to keep an eye out for pickpockets.
Palermo Soho
This part of Palermo is a shopping paradise! Many of the best boutiques and shops are located here. There are many specialty wine and leather shops. My favorite place for purses and wallets is Prune. Weekends in this area are particularly busy because some of the plazas also have open-air markets. The cool part of the shops here is that they are in old houses or warehouses which makes the shops even cooler and more interesting to visit.
If shopping isn’t the main reason you like to travel, Palermo Soho has many wonderful cafes and restaurants. There are some great tea houses and cafes that are ideal for your typical Argentine Cafe Life. This is one of my favorite things to do in Argentina and definitely a reason worth visiting Buenos Aires.
Palermo Soho is a neighborhood in Buenos Aires that is very well known for its nightlife. Along with Palermo Hollywood, you will find the famous Buenos Aires nightlife in this area. This is a city that likes to party all night and sleep in the morning. We are not big on the nightlife, but my cousins are and they thoroughly enjoy it.
Palermo Hollywood
This area of Palermo is really great for dining, cafe life, and nightlife. If you are not in the general area already or if you’re not into the nightlife I would say you can skip it all together. That being said there are some really good restaurants that might be worth trying. It has its own share of steak houses such as the Gran Bife Las Cabras. For some great desserts, including chocotorta, head over to Decata.
Want to learn more about the traditional foods to try in Argentina? Check out our post here.
La Boca
The birthplace of tango dancing! Head to El Caminito to experience the famous, colorful area this neighborhood has to offer. Here is where you will see the most street tango performers. The whole area is decorated with painted murals. Keep in mind that this area is very touristy so you might want to avoid eating in this area or purchasing any souvenirs as they will be more expensive.
Along with El Caminito, La Boca is home to La Bombonera which is the soccer stadium for the Boca Juniors team. It is a large stadium painted in yellow and blue. If you want to see the love for futbol in Argentina, try going to a game between Boca and River Plate. You can also tour La Bombonera which is such a fun experience. We took the hop on hop off bus to this area, I’d highly recommend doing that rather than trying public transport or walking here. I also would not recommend staying here.
Puerto Madero
Given that Buenos Aires is on the water, there must be a neighborhood on this river. That’s where Puerto Madero comes in. It was a very busy port when it was first founded, now it is a very commercial area. This is a great place to see El Puente de la Mujer and explore a cool ecological reserve. This reserve is between the high rises and the river. Here is where you’ll find the ports to take you to Uruguay if you’re interested in that as a day trip.
Check out our trip to Colonia Del Sacramento to see if it’s worth visiting!
Puerto Madero comes to life at night. Here you will find all the boliches. The two most popular ones are Asia de Cuba and Jet Lounge. Asia de Cuba is most popular for Wednesday nights while Jet Lounge is the place to be on Thursday nights.
El Centro or San Nicolas
This is the center of Buenos Aires or what we would consider “downtown.” This is where you’ll find the widest street in the world Avenida 9 de Julio. There is so much to do in this area as it is downtown. Additionally, for a detailed itinerary of the things to do in Buenos Aires in 48 Hours check out our post. Between El Obelsico and Calle Florida which is a fully pedestrian street there is something for everyone. This area also puts you close to Recoleta and San Telmo.
Calle Florida is a fun place to explore and go shopping. Gallerias del Pacifico is a beautiful shopping mall, but it will be significantly more expensive than other areas. Additionally, El Centro has Teatro Colon, several museums, and the Supreme Court of Buenos Aires. If you’re interested in the theater, definitely go do a tour of Teatro Colon. Much like all the other neighborhoods of Buenos Aires this area is highly walkable.
Belgrano
The largest neighborhood in Buenos Aires is Belgrano. Named after the creator of the Argentina flag, this neighborhood has a lot to offer. While it may not be known for all its tourist sights, there is always something around the corner to see. The plazas can have tango dancers or amazing jewelry vendors at fairs. Additionally, Avenida Cabildo is found here which has many restaurants, shops, and cafes as well. This is one of the more affluent neighborhoods. I would recommend staying here or in Nunez. Especially if you’re traveling with children. This is truly the best place to get a feel for residential life in Buenos Aires.
Check out some of my favorite places to eat in Belgrano here.
In Conclusion About the Neighborhoods in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires has a lot to offer to visitors. Each neighborhood has its own feel and personality which makes the city even more lively and exciting to visit. My family mostly lives in Belgrano so that one has a special place in my heart. El Centro has the most well-known and famous sights of Buenos Aires which is definitely where you’ll spend a lot of time. With so much to do and see in this city, you cannot go wrong with exploring the different neighborhoods.
