Buenos Aires is a very large city! In fact, it is the 2nd most populous city in South America and the 3rd most populous in Latin America. There is a lot to see in this city! I recommend spending a minimum of 3 days in Buenos Aires and this post walks you through how to do that. I really enjoyed my time in Buenos Aires and understand why people love it so much! The architecture, café culture, tango and amazing food really does make this a fun city to explore!
Table of Contents
Tips for Visiting Buenos Aires
I wrote a post on my best tips for Buenos Aires. Don’t go to the city or even plan a trip without reading this post first!
3 Days in Buenos Aires
Day 1
Let’s ease into Buenos Aires on day one of this 3 day itinerary exploring the part of Buenos Aires that really will make you think you are in Paris! You can definitely switch the days around if needed. You will have to use Uber or taxis to get to some of the places listed on this day.
Recoleta Cemetery
It may seem like a weird place to start your 3 days in Buenos Aires but I would say Recoleta cemetery is definitely a must see when in the city. This aristocratic cemetery is the final resting place for some of the rich and famous in Argentina, including Eva Peron. You can buy a ticket at the entrance and if you find a guide or two offering their services, I say take it! All the tombs were beautiful and well maintained. Evita’s tomb is inside a narrow alleyway but it’s not too difficult to find, as you can just follow the crowds.
After your time at the cemetery, you can walk around the Recoleta area. It is generally considered safe. Pasaje Suizo is a small alleyway with cafes and restuarants that you can check out if you decide to walk around!
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
A short distance from the cemetery is the museum of fine arts. This museum is free to enter and holds an impressive collection of art, including works of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Rodin, Manet and Chagall. Give yourself some time here as there is much to see.
The museum is closed on Mondays and open at 11 AM on weekdays and 10 AM on weekends. It is open until 8 PM all days except Monday.
Floralis Generica
Across the road from the museum is this iconic flower structure that is made out of steel and aluminum. It was gifted to the city by a local architect.
Palermo Soho
It’s probably lunch time now, so make your way to Palermo Soho by Uber or taxi. This area is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires that is full of cafés and restuarants. If you want to, you can do this highly rated food tour in the area.
After lunch, walk around the area and shop.
El Ateneo
Once you are done in Palermo Soho, Uber to El Ateneo This theater turned bookshop is one of the famous and iconic bookstores in the world! Entrance is free and is worth to go inside for a look even if you are not going to buy any books.
Palacio Barolo
Go from hell to heaven touring Palacio Barolo, which is inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. I really enjoyed this tour, especially visiting the light house on the top floor with commanding views of the city. Sunset tours are popular and recommended. You even get wine at the end! See here for the various tour options. You may have to book and pay in-person if your credit card does not go through.
Day 2
On day 2 of this 3 days in Buenos Aires itinerary, you will explore 3 famous neighborhoods.
La Boca
La Boca is a colorful neighborhood on the south side of Buenos Aires. Don’t start your day too early this day. La Boca is best explored after 10 AM but before nightfall. Caminito is where all the action is. If you are going anywhere beyond this area, be sure to do it with a guided tour. Honestly, if you want to learn more about the history and culture of La Boca, I would opt in for this highly rated guided tour listed below!
San Telmo
From La Boca make your way to San Telmo via Uber. San Telmo is another famous neighborhood in Buenos Aires, that is popular with both locals and tourists. The main attraction is the Sunday market in the main square. Even if you are not here on a Sunday the main square is still a very interesting place. You may even be able to catch a tango performance if you are lucky.
On the opposite site of the square is Galería Solar de French. This cute little shopping center is super colorful and an ideal place to take some pictures for Instagram!
San Telmo Market
A few steps from the main square is the San Telmo Market. This little indoor market has souvenir shops at the entrance but food and produce stalls at the back. This section at the back reminded me a lot of La Boqueria in Barcelona. If it’s lunch time, check out a steakhouse like La Brigada which is close by.
Puerto Madero
From San Telmo, Uber to Puerto Madero. This waterfront area is full of high-end apartments, hotels and businesses. Walk towards Puente de la Mujer. This bridge is another famous landmark in the city.
Day 3
Most of the places I have listed on the last day of this 3 days in Buenos Aires itinerary are close walking distance away. You can definitely walk this area during the day as you won’t be alone. This area is busy! However, with that busyness also comes opportunity for theft. Please be careful of your belongings, especially your phone.
Cafe Tortoni
Start your day at one of the most iconic cafes in Buenos Aires. Café Tortoni is a Buenos Aires staple and is the oldest café in the city. Lines to get in can be long, so come early. I ordered the churros with a hot chocolate. The churros was stuffed with…no points for guessing….dulce de leche! The café is very charming and definitely has an European flair to it.
From Cafe Tortoni, head over to…
Plaza de Mayo
Plaza de Mayo is the main Square in Buenos Aires. It has been the epi-center of many historical events in Argentina and today, is home to lots of historic buildings like..
La Casa Rosada
Fans of the musical or movie Evita may recognize Casa Rosada as the place that Evita sang the famous song “Don’t cry for me Argentina”. This building is the office of the president of Argentina and a few other government offices. There is a museum that you can visit that walks you through the history of Argentina. It is free to visit and is open Wednesday through Sunday.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires
This building is easy to miss if you are looking for a building that looks like a cathedral as it looks more like a roman building. Once inside however, it is very much like a traditional cathedral. The main highlight here are the relics of San Martin, who was one of the Liberators of South America.
Cabildo Building
A Cabildo is a reminder of Argentina’s colonial rule by the Spanish. They were the seat of government during this era. Today, this building has a free museum that you can visit. If you are not a museum buff, make your way to the 2nd floor of the building for a full view of Plaza de Mayo.
Once you visit this area, make your way towards..
Calle Florida
This very busy street is famous amongst tourists for all the money exchangers and hawkers.
Galería Guemes
The 14th floor of this building provides commanding and 360 views of the entire city. The cost is around 2000 pesos. Check here for opening times. No reservations are needed and you can just walk.
Galerías Pacífico
About 10 minutes up the road from Guemes is a luxury mall with some interesting frescos on the ceiling. This is not a must see but stop by if you have the time.
Teatro Colon
I love going into Opera houses around the world and really enjoyed visiting Teatro Colon. This magnificent theater can be visited on a guided tour. Tickets go out at the beginning of the month and sell fast. There are a few English tours throughout the day. All the places I have listed on day one is a short walk away from each other. So, feel free to shuffle things around based on what time you are able to book the tour.
Obelisco
Once you finish at Teatro Colon, make your way to the big BA sign in front of the Obelisco and the Oblelisco itself.
Avenida Corrientes
This road, with its neon signs and lit up buildings at night is considered the Times Square of Buenos Aires. It’s fun to explore during the day or at night.
Must Do Activities
There are lots of things you must do in Buenos Aires but here are my top pics:
Watch a Tango Show
I highly recommend watching a tango show one evening in Buenos Aires. While there are lots of shows to choose from, this post I wrote may help you narrow down the list of choices.
Eat at a Steakhouse
Did you even visit Buenos Aires if you did not visit a steakhouse or two. I ate at the world famous Don Julio and La Cabrerra and they were both great! Parrilla La Brigada is also another favorite. Make reservations ahead of time, especially for Don Julio. They get full months ahead. That being said, these all take walk-ins. You just have to prepare to wait.
Dine at Fogon Asado
Fogon Asado has two locations in Buenos Aires and was probably my favorite experience in the city! Not only was it my favorite dining experience in all of Argentina, it was probably my favorite dining experience to date! I wrote a post about it that you can check out HERE
Try the Gelato
Thanks to the Italian immigrants who came over to Argentina, its gelato game is very strong! There are some amazing places to have gelato within the city. Perhaps the most famous is Cadore. This gelateria is said to be in the top 10 gelateria’s in the world according to National Geographic.
Visit a Café
Whether it is for breakfast or for a mid-afternoon coffee break, visiting a café or two is a must do when in Buenos Aires. I have included Café Tortoni in the itinerary, however, even if you don’t visit this café, you should visit one of Buenos Aires’ famous cafes and experience the café culture.
Guided Tours
Only have a few hours in Buenos Aires or want to get the lay of the land before you embark on your own? Check out this walking tour!
Where to Stay
Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood and Recoleta and generally considered safe and good neighborhoods to stay at. There are lots of restaurants and cafes in these areas and things to do. I have stayed at both Recoleta and Palermo Soho and loved both areas. Use booking.com to filter for good location scores and overall scores.
With More Time
If you have more than 3 days in Buenos Aires, you can explore Tigre’s river delta or hop over to Colonia in Uruguay. Both are day trips you can take from Buenos Aires.
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