There is an endless list of things to do in Buenos Aires, you definitely will not get bored, it is a city that never sleeps-it is said to be the Paris of South America. Buenos Aires is packed with fun filled activities that enables you to emerge yourself into our rich culture and experience life as a true Porteño. Here is a list of fun filled activities you can occupy yourself with.
The markets (las ferias)
With no doubt, depending where you are in Buenos Aires there will be a market in a plaza! But these aren’t just any normal markets, these market stalls take up the hole plaza and streets, are filled with vibrant music, Argentinian food and of course an endless selection of gifts! There are various types of markets, from the typical authentic markets in San Telmo and Recoleta to the Buenos Aires Market (organic food market) to the many cultural markets/festivals held throughout the year, your sundays will constantly be filled up by our ferias!
Wine and Dine
Argentina is known for having the best meat in the world and also for having pretty good wine from our famous Mendoza region. So as you can imagine we have some of the best restaurants that will highly likely be the best meat you ever try in your life. And that’s no understatement there! Meat in Argentina is never far from you, from restaurants to street food-you can’t go wrong! However to make sure you have the best meat experience, it is highly recommended that you go to a restaurant that is recommended by Argentinians and has a great reputation. A tip that will get you far, if you ever see a restaurant with a large line in Buenos Aires, that means it’s really good and cheap! Just to mention a few highly recommendable restaurants, Las Cabras, Don Julio, La Cabrera and the list goes on! If you’re not drooling by now, you definitely will be amongst your arrival!
Tango Shows
This is definitely an unmissable event that you must see when in Buenos Aires! Tango is our cultural staple that both defines and is defined by our beautiful country. The tango shows are a great way to immerse yourself into the Argentinian culture, eat some great meat and of course enjoy our beautiful, traditional and romantic dance. There is an endless list of places you can enjoy Tango shows. A word of advice, before choosing a tango show, have a quick check on google for a tango guide that will reveal the best Tango shows in Buenos Aires.
Gaucho Day
Buenos Aires can get pretty busy being a big city that it is and a gaucho day is the perfect way to soak up the tranquility and beauty of the Argentine country life and also learn about the gaucho culture and history. Gauchos (cowboys) are the most iconic figures in the Argentinian culture that have been around for more than three centuries. Argentina is home to many estancias (ranches) that are just a short drive from Buenos Aires. A trip to our estancias is a must, just like the tango it is part of our culture, this authentic experience will definitely be unforgettable!
Mate in the park
Those lazy sundays usually consist of drinking mate in the park with friends! Drinking mate is a popular everyday social drink in Argentina. ALL (well most) Argentines drink mate, popular places you see Argentinians drinking mate are in the park, at work, the beach, at home whilst listening to music, talking to family and friends, getting some sun, reading a book and the list goes on! At first trying mate may be a strange experience for some but after a couple of mate sessions you will likely fall in love with mate and the social context of drinking mate with friends. Not to mention mate has numerous health benefits, is a natural product and is a caffeine packed beverage-meaning it’s a great source in energizing and waking you up!
Museums
Museums are always are very important aspect of traveling, you get to learn about the culture and art of the country however let’s face at times museums can be a tad boring however this is definitely not the case in Argentina. Argentina has some pretty amazing museums! The museums are full of rich history and thriving arts scenes that showcases the heritage of Argentina, historical figures and the strong love and passion Argentina has for arts. Many of our museums are locally situated, being in Palermo, San Telmo, Puerto Madero and other easily accessible suburbs. Popular museums that are highly recommended and visited are MALBA (history and temporary exhibitions of 20th century, Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo, Evita museum and the list goes on!
Nightlife in Palermo and San telmo
If you are a party animal or just enjoy having a glass of wine in a chilled environment well Bueno Aires is perfect for you! Buenos Aires by far has some of the best bars and nightclubs to offer! They say New York never sleeps, this also applies to Buenos Aires! The nightlife plays an important key role in the lives of porteños, but be mindful nightlife here starts at 2:00am and ends around 7-8am or later, this city was designed for the nights owls! But first you must make sure you have the previa (pre-drinks) at a friends house and then you will be ready for the long, adventurous night ahead! You will find all types of nights clubs, from reggaeton, electronic, dance and many other types of music-you definitely won’t go wrong!
Day in Tigre (Delta del Río Paraná)
This beautiful town only an hour from Buenos Aires is a great place to visit during your stay. Tigre has a lot to offer, it has the river, many activities available you can take advantage of such as kayaking, the tourist boat and bus that goes around the town, great cafes and restaurants. This beautiful tourist attraction sits on an island created by several small streams and rivers and was founded in 1820, hence it is definitely worth a visit as you can learn about the history of Tigre and see its natural beauty. A word of advice, you can take the train from Retiro to Tigre and buy tickets for the bus and boat cruise in Tigre train station.
Free events
Every week without doubt Argentina has free events. From musical orchestras, yoga in the park to free festivals there is a great selection of activities to choose from! If you’re short on money you definitely won’t be deprived of some form of entertainment. Agenda Cultural is a fantastic government organisation that is constantly providing Argentina with free things to do. It is highly recommended that you take advantage of these great activities, practice your spanish speaking while diversing and meeting locals!
Volunteering
There are many opportunities in Argentina in completing volunteer work, not just in the capital but also outside of Buenos Aires, for example Cordoba. Volunteering is a great opportunity in traveling and getting to know parts of Argentina. Volunteering has numerous benefits, to mention a few, it opens up careers opportunities, you learn and develop new skills, immerse yourself into the Argentinian culture and practice your spanish speaking skills, creates a sense of motivation, determination and appreciate for life and opens up doors in meeting people from all walks of life. Being a volunteer is not only a great way in immersing yourself in our culture but also showing respect towards our beautiful country.
Fútbol Match
As you have already been told, Argentinians are fútbol crazy and that is no understatement. Whenever a fútbol match is on, wherever you are in Argentina you will definitely hear the outburst of passionate expressions from an Argentinean, it is highly likely your neighbor will wake you up in the middle of the night barracking for their team. If you love soccer then a fútbol match is a must go to event, the atmosphere is priceless and full of passion and enthusiasm for the teams playing. This will definitely be an unforgettable experience but take into account that tickets are at times hard to get as they sell out very fast like hot cakes!
