Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina and is the economic, political and entertainment center of the country. This is one of my favourite cities in the world, and an essential stop off on any South America itinerary.
In his poem, The Mythical Founding of Buenos Aires, Argentina’s, the writer Jorge Luis Borges, wrote ‘Hard to believe Buenos Aires had any beginning / I feel it to be as eternal as air and water’.
In 2010 Argentina celebrated its bicentenary year, but it’s hard to amble the streets of its capital Buenos Aires and imagine that, with the exception of La Boca, San Telmo and some of downtown, the entire city was fields 200 years ago.
In two hundred years of independence, porteños, as the city’s residents are called, have acquired some strong characteristics. They are expressive and sociable, occasionally downhearted yet endlessly hospitable. It’s likely that an spur-of-the-moment natter or drink with a chatty resident will stay in your memory long after you’ve relegated your photo of the Casa Rosada to the bottom drawer and forgotten your tango steps.
This multifaceted, energetic, and seductive port city, which stretches south-to-north along the Rio de la Plata, has been the gateway to Argentina for centuries. porteños, as the multinational people of Buenos Aires are known, possess a complex and rich cultural identity. They value their European heritage highly – Italian and German names outnumber Spanish, and the way of life and architecture are noticeably more European than any other in South America.
Buenos Aires’ physical structure is a montage as varied and mixed as its culture. The city has no dominating monument, no natural monolith that serves as its focal point. In its place, Buenos Aires is composed of many small areas and neighbourhoods, intimate details, and tiny events and interactions, each with a slightly different shade, shape, and character. Glass and metal skyscrapers hang over 19th century Victorian houses; tango bars with the sharp tang of cigar smoke face dusty, treasure-filled antique shops across the ‘calle’.
The city’s neighbourhoods are small, yet busy, and highly individualised each with its own characteristic colours and layout. In the San Telmo district, the city’s multinational heritage is personified in a varied and cosmopolitan architecture where Spanish Colonial design couples with Italian detailing and graceful French Classicism. La Boca’s pressed tin houses are painted a rainbow of colours, and artists have transformed the area’s streets into spectacles of colour.
For all its multiplicity, the indescribable character of Argentina as a country is present everywhere in Buenos Aires. The national dance, the tango, is perhaps the best expression of that spirit – performed in dance halls, parks, open plazas, and ballrooms, it is a dance of intimate separation and familiar rhythm, combining both an graceful coolness and an energetic passion.
This is why I adore Buenos Aires, and why I know you will too. Buenos Aires is a backpacker’s dream.
Buenos Aires Facts
Here are some interesting facts about the Argentine capital:
• The world famous dance the Tango was invented in the city in the 1920’s
• Avendida 9 de Julio is the widest street in the world with sixteen lanes
• The metropolitan area has a population of 13,000,000
• 75% of the population is of Spanish or Italian descent
• Clothing is very expensive here, principally because it’s imported and Argentina has high import taxes. But you can buy great shoes for great prices, since they’re mostly made within the country. Electronics and other imported goods are very expensive, compared to the prices in Europe and the USA.
• There is a major shortage of coins in the city, which means that sometimes sellers will either not sell something to you or let you have it for less than the price in order to keep their coins. When you pay with coins, you practically get your backside kissed.
• There is a common kind of liqueur here called “Fernet,” which is extremely bitter and made from herbs. Argentineans mix it with Coke or 7-Up. It’s a dark, dark green colour.
• A “submarino” is a mug of hot milk with a chocolate bar. You unwrap the chocolate, drop it in the mug and stir to make your own hot chocolate.
Weather and Best Time to Visit
The climate of Buenos Aires is of the oceanic temperate type and the annual average temperature is of 18ºC. The winters do not present frosts, with temperatures that vary among the 3º and 8ºC. In summer, the heat is humid with an average of temperature of 28ºC.
Getting to Buenos Aires
Iberia and British Airways both fly direct to Buenos Aires from international destinations. Search cheap flights with Skyscanner. From other locations in Argentina or South America there are lots of ways to get to Buenos Aires including plane, train and bus.
Airports
Buenos Aires Airport
The Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Aires is located 35 km south of the city. There are regular shuttle buses to the city, which takes 40 minutes. Taxis and private hire cars are also available; taxis will cost around 60 argentine pesos (A$) to the city centre.
Aeroparque/Jorge Newbery airport, Buenos Aires
The Aeroparque is located 3 km north of the city and is the gateway to the rest of the country, providing domestic flight connections. There is a coach connection to this airport from the International airport. Taxi or bus will get you to the city centre. The journey will take around 15 minutes and cost A$10 by taxi or A$9 by bus. If there are two or more of you, take a taxi, as it is more economical.
Accommodation
You can hotels and hostels for all budgets. Find the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Getting Around
Buenos Aires counts on a system of transportation with multiple options, comprising the International Airport Ezeiza, the Airport Jorge Newbery, an important network of subways and more than a hundred lines of bus that travel through the entire city and they connect it with the remainder of the localities of the Great Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires Tours
Find sightseeing tours and attraction tickets on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Attractions
Known popularly as the “Reina del Plata”, the city of Buenos Aires is characterized for the multiplicity of artistic expressions that enthrall and surprise the tourists with the most various monuments, murals, galleries and museums of art.
Some of the most visited places of this beautiful capital are found at the Fair of San Telmo, the Recreational Complexes of the North Flank and the nature reserve of the South Flank. The walks and excursions that denote the strong cosmopolitan spirit de Buenos Aires son Caminito, Recoleta, La Boca, la Feria de Mataderos, el Jardín Botánico, el Zoológico, el Jardín Japonés y Tierra Santa, the the first religious theme park of the world.
Other places of notable interest by their high historic value are Cabildo, la Catedral, el Palacio Municipal, el Obelisco, el Teatro Colón, la Manzana de las Luces y el Planetario.
The most imposing building in Buenos Aires is the Palacio Del Congreso Nacional the main political building in the city. It houses the both the upper house of the senate and the lower house of the chamber of deputies.
In front of the building is the Plaza de Congreso (the Congress Square), a popular tourist spot and also a preferred location for protestors. It features the beautiful Monumento a los Dos Congresos (the Monument to the Two Congresses).
For a taste of Argentine culture walk along the Caminito. The narrow street is often thronged with Tango dancers, artisans and tourists.
At night, in “the city that never sleeps” one can go concerts, recitals, theaters, movies, floating casinos, record stores, cafes and pubs. For all these reasons, Buenos Aires possesses an identity of open doors that offers an unlimited variety of possibilities to be entertained.
Top Things to Do in Buenos Aires
Don’t leave without…
Tango Show
If you watch one show it has to be at Homero Manzi corner. it also happens to be one of the cheapest. Homero was a poet and a soldier who wrote many tango songs in the 1940s. The shows offer dancing, singing and excellent musicians. Book in advance and take a taxi.
Recoleta Cemetery
Centrally located it contains the grave of Eva Peron, Evita and other notable people. It has been listed as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. Well worth a visit.
Pub Crawl Tour
Join a crawl leader to take a group round the best bars in the Palermo district. The best way to get to know the night life and meet lots of new people from around the world. You can also join the group if you are on your own. Friday and Saturday nights best. There’s a gay crawl too.
City Sightseeing Bus
Departing every 20 minutes take the hop on hop off bus to learn more about this incredible city. Tickets can be bought for less in advance, on the bus £25.
Nightlife
The nightlife in Buenos Aires is considered to be among the best in the world. It’s the city that never sleeps… BA doesn’t get going till late – don’t head to a bar until 11.30 pm and don’t even think about going to a nightclub until 2 am. Yes, you are going to see the sunrise. But an afternoon siesta the next day should keep you going.
Buenos Aires is one of the most popular cities to travel in South America, and hopefully my essential tips will help you to plan a trip.
Related Destinations
• Rio de Janeiro travel guide
• São Paulo travel guide
• Santiago travel guide