Buenos Aires Argentina’s capital is a vibrant city with beautiful European inspired architecture and one of the best food scenes in the world.
Where is Buenos Aires located
Buenos is located in north east Argentina on the La Plata river and the coast of the Atlantic Ocean
How to get to Buenos Aires
There are a number of options to get into Buenos Aires from the Airport including public transport.
Bus: You can use public transport and take bus No.8 that will take you to the city centre, this is the cheapest and slowest option.
Taxi: Taxis are faster and more convenient, but more expensive. Book through the official stands outside of arrivals to avoid being ripped off.
Shuttle Bus: A company called Tienda Leon runs the shuttle buses to and from the airport. You can buy tickets just outside the arrivals area or online at tiendaleon.com
Getting Around
Buenos Aires has an extensive metro and bus network that will get you to pretty much anywhere you would like to go in the city. You will need a Sube card to use the public transport that you can purchase from metro stations or convenient stores with the Sube logo. For us buses and the metro are the best and cheapest way to get around the city. Taxis are also readily available but are more expensive.
TRAVEL TIP: Buenos Aires is a very walkable city and you can save money by walking to the attractions.
When is the best time to visit Buenos Aires
Summer (December–February): The peak tourist season, with longer sunny days and temperatures averaging between 18 °C (64 °F) – 29 °C (84 °F).
Spring and Autumn: Milder weather with temperatures averaging between 11 °C (52 °F) – 26 °C (79 °F).
Winter (May–August): Low season with cooler temperatures averaging between 8 °C (46 °F) – 17 °C (63 °F). There are fewer crowds and lower prices for those on a budget.
Our Verdict: Being a major city you can visit all year round and still enjoy all the activities on offer. If we had to choose Summer or shoulder season would be good options depending on your preference on crowds and accommodation costs.
Where to stay
Where to stay depends really on what you prefer a couple of options are:
Donwtown and Recoletta: If you want to be close to all the action and attractions.
La Boca and San Telmo: If you want a more local experience.
Money Situation and Blue Dollar
Currently Argentina is having issues with inflation and there are 2 exchange rates the official exchange rate set by the government, and the informal rate called the “blue dollar”. The blue dollar rate is higher than the official one and to get the best exchange rate you need to exchange money on the street for the blue dollar. You cant miss them they will be yelling out cambio! cambio! You can also pay with credit card to get a similar exchange rate to the blue dollar rate. We would recommend using a combination of both to avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay whenever you can with credit card and carry a small amount of cash for places that don’t accept card(this will be rare).
Things to do in Buenos Aires
La boca
Exploring the vibrant and lively La Boca neighbourhood is a must when visiting Buenos Aires. El Caminito is the most famous street, which is now one of Buenos Aires most popular tourist attractions. The street is colourful and bustling with activity, you will find tango dancers, street vendors, and restaurants.
Recoleta Cemetary
The Recoleta Cemetery isn’t your typical graveyard it’s like it’s own city with a labyrinth of winding streets lined with ornate tombs. Founded in the 1820s, it covers 14-acres with over 6,400 tombs. You will be given a map that has tombs marked of notable people so you can go seek them out. Even with the map you will soon find yourself lost in this fascinating place.
Floralis Generica
While you’re in the Recoleta neighbourhood head out to Plaza de las Naciones Unidas and visit Floralis Genérica a unique, 18-ton steel flower that blooms and closes daily. Designed by Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano, it unfolds its six petals at sunrise and closes at midnight. This captivating landmark is a tribute to all flowers and symbolizes hope’s daily renewal.
Puerto Modero
Puerto Madero is a waterfront area that’s been totally transformed, the old docks and warehouses have been converted into a chic spot with sleek skyscrapers, upscale restaurants, and fancy apartments.
There is quite a bit to do in the area like the Presidente Sarmiento a historic boat converted into a museum, Puente de la Mujer, a modern suspension bridge with a curvy design and there’s also a place for nature lovers the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve.
TRAVEL TIP All of these places are marked in the handy map above!
Where to Eat & Drink
Buenos Aries has a strong coffee culture with a mix of historic cafes and more modern establishments. Theirs no better way to start your day than a relaxing coffee paired with the Media Luna a crescent shaped pastry! One of the best places to try this is Petit Colón which is a historic cafe with a sophisticated vibe located in the theatre district of Buenos Aires.
Empanadas are a classic Argentine dish that you will see yourself eat over and over again when in the country. El Gauchito makes some of the best empanadas in Buenos Aires and you will find them selling these little pockets of joy from a charming little hole in the wall restaurant on Av. Independencia in the San Telmo neighbourhood.
Another dish you have to try when in Argentina is milanesa. Milanesa is a breaded cutlet usually made from beef, veal, or chicken, and one of the best places to eat milanesa is at Los Orientales in the Almagro neighbourhood. This restaurant is a no frills place that is full of locals so you know it’s going to be good and it is! Bring your appetite as the milanesa comes fully loaded with toppings!
Our Experience
We had an amazing time exploring Buenos Aires, there is so much to do and see in this beautiful city. Being massive foodies we loved that there is so much amazing food to try and it was all really high quality. We would definitely put buenos Aires in our top 5 favourite cities.
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Also check out our Buenos Aires YouTube video!
