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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Buenos Aires: Discover Mate — Masterclass with Argentine Pastry
First space in Latin America where Mate is the real protagonist! A must do in Argentina, taste this iconic infusion. In MATEA EXPERIENCE you are going to learn how prepare your first Mate. This masterclass will keep your five senses awake.
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Flavors of Latin America FoodTour in Buenos Aires
This tour is designed so that the passengers can have a broad overview of traditional Latin American food with a unique selection of dishes that will surprise them. We will try 7 dishes: Tequeños, Natural Juice, Arepas, Patacon, Vermouth, Ceviche and Ice cream But it's not just about food. We'll walk through the beautiful streets of the Palermo Soho neighborhood, a very lively and eclectic space, with fashion and design stores. There are great works of graffiti and urban art that will surprise you!
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Walking tour: Experience Buenos Aires like a local!
Our service is unique, they will be guided by specialist historians in Buenos Aires and Argentina. It is a semi private tour. It can be organized in groups of up to 5 or 6 people by public transportation. When booking, you will be notified if they will share the group or be alone. Being a small group you can ask all the questions you want! You can get to know our city from another perspective, without myths. And above all, you will not feel like a tourist, our goal is that you know the city as a local. We will give you all the recommendations you need!
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Buenos Aires Cafe De Los Angelitos Tango Show
Experience an unforgettable Buenos Aires tango show at Cafe de Los Angelitos, one of the oldest tango venues in the city. Make your own way to the historic café, settle into your VIP seats with a bottle of wine to share (if option selected), and enjoy a thrilling tango show performed by professional dancers and live musicians.
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Sailing cruise with premium wine in Buenos Aires
Sailing in Buenos Aires is something people usually miss, as there's almost no options available. During the Sunset Cruise, you'll get to sail through the world's widest river and see Buenos Aires and its coastline from the water, an activity that is off the beaten path and new to many. You'll also have a relaxing time, away from the fast‐paced ‐and sometimes overwhelming city, surrounded by nature, while tasting world‐class sparkling wine with delicious local tapas as you watch the sun setting over the city.
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Buenos Aires Madero Tango Show Executive Ticket With Dinner
Secure your ticket to a tango performance at the Madero Tango club in the Puerto Madero neighborhood. One of the more modern tango houses in Buenos Aires, Madero offers guests professional tango classes before performances, usually at least an hour before scheduled start times. This “executive” ticket option includes a 3‐course dinner and side or “diagonal” seat locations.
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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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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 Catulo Tango Show with Dinner Option
Spend a night on the town with dinner and a tango show during this 4‐hour outing at Cátulo Tango. Arrive at the beautifully decorated venue, located in Carlos Gardel's neighborhood of Abasto, for a night of entertainment. Opt for a traditional dinner of Argentinian specialties before the show begins. After a satisfying meal, sit back for the entrancing performance that includes ten dancers and a trio of singers. A live musical sextet accompanies the talented dancers during several acts and costume changes. Round‐trip transportation from Buenos Aires hotels is included.
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2 different Dinner Tango Shows in Buenos Aires
DAY 1: Pick up from 8 pm, from hotel lobby transfer to La Ventana Tango Show Dinner Tango Show with drinks included (also wine) Transfer back to your hotel around midnight DAY 2: Pick up from 8 pm, from hotel lobby transfer to El Querandi Tango Show Dinner Tango Show with drinks included (also wine) Transfer back to your hotel around midnight
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.