What to Do in Buenos Aires: Tango, Art, and Soulful Sophistication
Buenos Aires, Argentina’s magnetic capital, is a city where European elegance flirts with Latin American passion. Known as the "Paris of South America," Buenos Aires seduces travelers with its tree-lined boulevards, Beaux-Arts architecture, and a cultural rhythm defined by tango, steak, and spirited conversation. If you're a culture-loving traveler wondering what to do in Buenos Aires, prepare to fall for a city that never stops moving, yet always invites you to linger just a little longer.
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Top Experiences in Buenos Aires
Book one of the experiences that other customers have liked and recommended:
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Discover nature at Buenos Aires city “The Palermo Woods”
Get to know the biggest green area in Buenos Aires and enjoy an entertaining stroll around Palermo Woods. Learn about our culture and history while you visit the Rose Garden and different lakes designed by the remarkable french designers, Charles Thays.
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Horseback Riding and Polo in Buenos Aires
The only full‐day tour with horse‐riding and polo in Buenos Aires! Start the day tasting argentine mate and hop on a horse for a 2‐hours horse‐riding experience in Las Pampas Argentinas! Taste a typical asado. And then learn how to play polo like a pro!
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Buenos Aires: Recoleta Guided Walking Tour
Join a walking tour through Recoleta, the elegant heart of Buenos Aires. As the city's most aristocratic neighborhood, Recoleta sweeps you off your feet with its French‐style Belle Époque buildings and lavish facades. Every corner whispers a reminder that you're strolling through the 'Paris of South America.' Explore the unique Recoleta Cemetery, unlike any other in the city. Every step is an adventure, creating lasting memories along the way.
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Buenos Aires City Tour with Lunch
Take a capsule tour that lets you see a lot of Buenos Aires in a short amount of time. This comprehensive part walking, part driving tour is designed to show you the colors, sights, and smells of Buenos Aires, as your guide fills you in on its history. See the must‐sees, and eat the must‐eats!
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Private City Tour of Buenos Aires
The tour begins in the northern part of the city. Tour the neighborhoods of Retiro, Palermo and Recoleta, which are full of large green spaces and beautiful French‐style mansions. Here you will make your first five‐minute stop next to the Floralis Generica, a steel and aluminum sculpture. Afterwards you will take a half‐hour tour of Plaza Recoleta where the Recoleta Cemetery and Pilar Church are located. Pass the Teatro Colón and the Obelisk until you reach your third stop, the Plaza de Mayo, where the city was founded in 1580. Admire the Casa Rosada, the Cabildo, and the Metropolitan Cathedral for about 20 minutes. Breathe the air of tango in its birthplace, the San Telmo neighborhood. You will also visit the neighborhoods of La Boca, where one of the most famous stadiums in the world, La Bombonera, is located. In La Boca you can also see the multicolored tenements, where Italian immigrants lived at the end of the 19th century, as well as the picturesque Caminito street for walking.
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Buenos Aires Combo Tour: Tigre Delta, Tango Show, Dinner
Cruise around the serene Tigre Delta and experience the thrill of the tango with this great value Buenos Aires combo tour. First, explore the provincial towns of San Isidro and Tigre on a half‐day tour, including a catamaran cruise around the stilted houses and islands of the Tigre Delta. Then, spend an unforgettable evening at La Ventana Tango and enjoy a spectacular tango show, accompanied by live musicians and a delicious 3‐course dinner.
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La Ventana Tango Show Skip The Line Ticket In Buenos Aires
Enjoy a special night in Buenos Aires watching an authentic Tango Show at La Ventana. Benefit from Skip The Line Tickets and experience a classical Argentinian tango show with professional dancers & musicians in a nice ambience. Located in the traditional San Telmo Neighborhood La Ventana features a pretty place and 2 orchestras, including Juan D'arienzo's typical orchestra. It offers a fabulous Tango Show and a surprising Gaucho Show, and a staging of Evita. ◾ Admire an outstanding artistic display of authentic Argentine music and dance ◾ See professional performers dancing traditional tango ◾ Be moved by a thrilling staging of Evita ◾ Attend a gaucho music performance with surprising skills
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Buenos Aires: Tango Show with Dinner and Private Transfers
Immerse yourself in the sensual and dramatic Argentine tango tradition. Watch some of the city's best dancers in action, accompanied by an exceptional orchestra, at this often sold‐out tango show, which takes place in the heart of Buenos Aires. Enhance your experience by adding on a 3‐course meal and hassle‐free return hotel transfers.
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Buenos Aires: Skip the Line: Tango Show at El Querandi
Experience the rich culture of Buenos Aires with an evening at a tango show in the famed neighborhood of San Telmo. Taking place in the intimate surroundings of the historic mansion of El Querandí, the traditional tango show offers an authentic experience and a night to remember. Your ticket includes skip‐the‐line admission.
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Buenos Aires Super Saver: City Tour, Gauchos, & Tango Dinner
Make the most of your time in Buenos Aires with this super saver package that includes three popular tours. Get to know the city on a sightseeing tour that visits the Recoleta, La Boca, and San Telmo neighborhoods, as well as Plaza de Mayo. Next, enjoy a day trip into the Pampas for a gaucho tour and barbecue lunch at a traditional Estancia (ranch). Finally, attend a spectacular tango dinner show.
What to Do in Buenos Aires: Culture and Elegance
For those exploring what to do in Buenos Aires through a lens of culture and refinement, the journey begins in Recoleta. This upscale neighborhood is home to the Recoleta Cemetery, a must see in Buenos Aires where Argentina’s elite, including famed First Lady Eva Perón, rest beneath intricate marble mausoleums. Just steps away, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes houses works by Goya, Rembrandt, and the great Argentine painter Xul Solar.
What to Do in Buenos Aires by Night
Wondering what to do in Buenos Aires once the sun has gone down? The city’s energy intensifies after sunset. Begin your evening with cocktails in the chic speakeasies of Palermo Hollywood, then dine at a closed-door restaurant (puerta cerrada) where local chefs serve multi-course meals in intimate, secret locations.
Unexpected and Unique Things to Do in Buenos Aires
Looking for unique things to do in Buenos Aires? Step off the tourist track and visit El Zanjón de Granados, a network of restored 18th-century tunnels beneath San Telmo, offering a surreal glimpse into the city’s colonial past. Or, head to Feria de Mataderos on a Sunday for a folkloric festival on the city’s edge where gauchos perform horseback stunts and artisans sell traditional crafts.
For art lovers, the ultimate must see in Buenos Aires might just be hidden in plain sight on the city’s walls. Book a graffiti tour through barrios like Colegiales and Barracas to discover massive murals and political masterpieces by artists such as Martin Ron and Jaz in this street-art Mecca.
What to See and Do in Buenos Aires — Choose Your Neighborhood
When crafting your itinerary, you'll quickly realize that deciding what to see and do in Buenos Aires is really about deciding where to go. In San Telmo, cobblestone streets and antique markets whisper of a bohemian past. In La Boca, the colourful houses of Caminito burst with energy and drama. Palermo, split into Soho and Hollywood, delivers design-forward boutiques, modern galleries, and the city’s best coffee scene.
Don't miss Puerto Madero, where polished skyscrapers meet leafy nature reserves. A stroll along its waterfront boardwalk, especially at the golden hour, is among the best things to do in Buenos Aires.
What to Do in Buenos Aires: One‐Day Itinerary
If you’re tight on time and wondering what to do in Buenos Aires if you have only one day, start in Recoleta with the cemetery and museum, followed by lunch at the iconic El Sanjuanino for empanadas and locro stew. In the afternoon, head south to San Telmo for a market stroll and coffee at Café Rivas. Then cross over to La Boca to admire Caminito’s vibrant facades before capping your evening with a steak dinner at Don Julio, one of the world's top parrillas, or traditional Argentinian grill restaurants.
What to Do in Buenos Aires in Two Days
Planning what to do in Buenos Aires in two days allows an opportunity for deeper immersion. Spend your first day as above, then dedicate day two to Palermo. Explore the Botanical Gardens, Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA), and shop at local designer stores. Linger in Plaza Serrano for cocktails, then end your day with a milonga experience in Villa Crespo or a rooftop wine tasting in Palermo Soho.
Top Things to Do in Buenos Aires for the Culturally Curious
Here’s a curated hit list of the city’s top cultural attractions and activities for those still pondering the top things to do in Buenos Aires:
Final Thoughts: The Romance of Buenos Aires
Figuring out what to do in Buenos Aires is like dancing the tango — there’s structure, yes, but also plenty of room for spontaneity, rhythm, and joy. With every leafy plaza, whispered political debate, or perfectly poured Malbec, the city cannot fail to seduce.