BuenosAires
5
Day Itinerary •
Argentina
Five days in Buenos Aires gives you the full extraordinary depth of the most culturally rich capital in South America, from the historic centre's Plaza de Mayo and the cobblestone tango bars of San Telmo to the extraordinary Tigre Delta day trip, the finest parrilla steakhouses on earth, a full day in the remarkable Palermo neighbourhood's museums and parks, and the extraordinary day trip to the colonial Jesuit estancias of the Buenos Aires pampas. This extended route covers Buenos Aires completely over five days. The historic centre, La Boca and San Telmo on Day 1, the MALBA museum and Palermo on Day 2, Recoleta and Puerto Madero on Day 3, the extraordinary Tigre Delta and Delta de Parana on Day 4, and the remarkable Pampas estancia day trip with asado lunch and gaucho culture on Day 5.
Best Time To Visit
March to May or September to November, spring and autumn
Getting There
Fly into Ministro Pistarini Airport (EZE), Buenos Aires
Getting Around
Subte metro, Uber, taxis and Tren de la Costa to Tigre
Budget Per Day
Approx 60 to 150 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, flat city and flat pampas
DAY 1
HISTORIC CENTRE AND SAN TELMO
MORNING
PLAZA DE MAYO AND HISTORIC CENTRE
The extraordinary Plaza de Mayo, founding square of Buenos Aires, surrounded by the pink Casa Rosada presidential palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the remarkable Cabildo colonial town hall. Every major event in Argentine history has played out here, from independence to the Madres de Plaza de Mayo. The extraordinary Cafe Tortoni on Avenida de Mayo nearby, in operation since 1858, is the finest historic cafe in South America. Free to explore. 20 min taxi
MIDDAY
LA BOCA CAMINITO
The extraordinary La Boca Caminito, where the remarkable corrugated iron houses are painted in vivid primary colours by the Italian immigrant descendants who built the neighbourhood in the 19th century. The extraordinary visual impact of the painted streetscape is unlike anything in Buenos Aires. The remarkable Boca Juniors stadium one block away is the most passionate football venue in Argentina. 20 min taxi
AFTERNOON
SAN TELMO COBBLESTONES AND TANGO
The extraordinary San Telmo neighbourhood with its remarkable colonial architecture, finest antique dealers in Buenos Aires, extraordinary Plaza Dorrego and the best tango milongas in the city. The Sunday Feria de San Telmo fills the entire neighbourhood. The extraordinary milonga at La Catedral or El Beso provides the finest live tango experience in Buenos Aires, with remarkable dancers performing until 3am.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Feria de San Telmo on Sundays is the finest antiques and craft market in Argentina, filling the Plaza Dorrego and surrounding streets with extraordinary vintage leather, remarkable silver mate sets and extraordinary tango memorabilia. Arrive before 11am. The remarkable tango performances in the plaza are entirely free and extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: El Federal, San Telmo The oldest traditional cafe in Buenos Aires since 1864. Extraordinary medialunas and cafe con leche. | Lunch: El Baqueano, San Telmo Outstanding modern Argentine restaurant. Extraordinary indigenous ingredients and game. | Dinner: Don Julio, Palermo The finest parrilla in Buenos Aires. Extraordinary Argentine beef. Book weeks ahead.
DAY 2
PALERMO
MORNING
MALBA, MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART
The most extraordinary art museum in Argentina with over 200 works by the finest 20th-century Latin American artists including Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Xul Solar. The extraordinary Eduardo Constantini Collection is the finest private Latin American art collection assembled in the 20th century. The remarkable MALBA building itself is extraordinary modern architecture. Entry approx 2,000 ARS. 20 min walk
MIDDAY
JARDÍN JAPONÉS AND PALERMO PARKS
The extraordinary Japanese Garden in Palermo, one of the finest outside Japan, with remarkable koi ponds, extraordinary stone lanterns and traditional tea house architecture in a surprisingly peaceful setting. The extraordinary Palermo parks surrounding it are where porteños run, cycle and picnic. Entry approx 900 ARS. 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
PALERMO SOHO DESIGN DISTRICT
The extraordinary Palermo Soho neighbourhood, Buenos Aires' finest design and culture district, where the remarkable independent boutiques, extraordinary concept stores, finest bookshops and best craft beer bars in the city line tree-shaded cobblestone streets. The extraordinary street art of Palermo Hollywood transforms the neighbourhood into an open-air gallery of remarkable large-scale murals.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Biblioteca Nacional on Agüero street in Recoleta is a remarkable 1992 Brutalist concrete structure whose extraordinary reading rooms and remarkable views over the Rio de la Plata are open to the public free. The extraordinary building designed by Clorindo Testa rises on four massive pillars above the remarkable garden where Juan Manuel de Rosas once had his estate.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Tortoni, Centro The most famous cafe in Buenos Aires since 1858. Extraordinary medialunas and hot chocolate. | Lunch: Mishiguene, Palermo Outstanding modern Jewish-Argentine restaurant. Extraordinary Buenos Aires fusion cuisine. | Dinner: Tegui, Palermo The finest tasting menu restaurant in Buenos Aires. Extraordinary modern Argentine cuisine. Book ahead.
DAY 3
RECOLETA AND PUERTO MADERO
MORNING
CEMENTERIO DE LA RECOLETA
The most extraordinary cemetery in South America, where remarkable marble and granite mausoleums of Argentina's most powerful families line cobblestone avenues in a city of the dead. The extraordinary tomb of Eva Peron in the Duarte family mausoleum is the most visited, but the remarkable surrounding Neo-Gothic and Baroque tombs are equally extraordinary. Entry free. Allow at least 1.5 hours to explore the remarkable labyrinth. 10 min walk
MIDDAY
MUSEO NACIONAL DE BELLAS ARTES
The extraordinary National Fine Arts Museum with the finest European and Argentine art collection in the country, including remarkable works by Rembrandt, Goya, Rodin and the extraordinary 19th-century Argentine landscape paintings. Entry free. One of the finest free art museums in South America. 20 min taxi
AFTERNOON
PUERTO MADERO AND COSTANERA SUR
The extraordinary Puerto Madero waterfront redevelopment where remarkable old brick port warehouses have become extraordinary restaurants and galleries. The remarkable Puente de la Mujer by Santiago Calatrava is the finest contemporary architecture in Buenos Aires. Then the extraordinary Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, 350 hectares of remarkable urban wetland with over 300 bird species directly behind Puerto Madero.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve is 350 hectares of remarkable urban wetland created by accident when a 1970s landfill project was abandoned and the Rio de la Plata colonised it. Over 300 bird species recorded, including remarkable herons and capybaras. The extraordinary reserve is directly behind the luxury restaurants of Puerto Madero and almost entirely overlooked by tourists. Free entry.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Florería Atlántico Outstanding Retiro restaurant in an extraordinary flower shop basement. Remarkable Argentine breakfast. | Lunch: El Sanjuanino, Recoleta Outstanding traditional Argentine restaurant. Extraordinary empanadas and locro stew near the cemetery. | Dinner: Faena Hotel, Puerto Madero Outstanding modern Argentine fine dining in the extraordinary Philippe Starck-designed Faena Hotel.
DAY 4
TIGRE DELTA
MORNING
TREN DE LA COSTA TO TIGRE
The extraordinary Tren de la Costa coastal train journey from Olivos north through the remarkable riverside suburbs of Buenos Aires to Tigre, an extraordinary Art Nouveau station-hopping railway along the Rio de la Plata shore, passing the remarkable private yacht clubs, extraordinary colonial residences and the remarkable Parque de la Costa amusement park at the terminus. The train journey itself is one of the finest in the Buenos Aires province. 30 min boat
MIDDAY
TIGRE DELTA BOAT TOUR
The extraordinary Delta del Parana boat tour from Tigre, navigating the extraordinary maze of brown river channels through the largest river delta in the world, where 14,000 islands are inhabited by a remarkable riparian community who travel exclusively by boat, shop at extraordinary floating market boats and send their children to school by water. The extraordinary vegetation, remarkable wildlife and unique way of life of the Delta are unlike anything in Argentina. 1 hour train back
AFTERNOON
PUERTO DE FRUTOS MARKET, TIGRE
The extraordinary Puerto de Frutos market in Tigre, the finest riverside market in the Buenos Aires province, where the remarkable produce from the Delta islands, extraordinary wicker furniture, fine arts and craft stalls and remarkable food vendors selling the finest chipa and empanadas in the region line the banks of the Lujan River. The extraordinary Tigre town itself, with its remarkable Art Nouveau Tigre Hotel, is the finest suburban day trip from Buenos Aires.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Isla Martin Garcia in the Rio de la Plata, 45km from Buenos Aires, is a remarkable nature reserve and former political prison where several Argentine presidents were imprisoned. The extraordinary geological anomaly of granite bedrock rising from the flat river is remarkable. Day tours from Tigre include the extraordinary forest walks and remarkable historic prison buildings. Approx 80 USD.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before train Good breakfast before the Tren de la Costa departure from Olivos or Retiro. | Lunch: Delta restaurant, Tigre Outstanding river fish restaurant on the extraordinary Delta waterfront. Fresh dorado and surubi. | Dinner: Chila, Puerto Madero Outstanding riverside fine dining in Puerto Madero. Extraordinary modern Argentine tasting menu.
DAY 5
PAMPAS GAUCHO ESTANCIA
MORNING
GAUCHO ESTANCIA ON THE PAMPAS
The most extraordinary cultural experience accessible from Buenos Aires, a day trip to a traditional gaucho estancia on the remarkable Buenos Aires pampas, the vast flat grassland that produces the finest beef in the world. The extraordinary Argentine gaucho horseman culture, with its remarkable lasso demonstrations, extraordinary horse breaking displays, fine polo exhibitions and the remarkable traditional skills of the Argentine horseman, is the finest cultural day trip from the city. Several estancias within 60km of Buenos Aires. 1 hour bus back
MIDDAY
TRADITIONAL ASADO LUNCH
The extraordinary traditional asado, the Argentine art of slow grilling over wood coals, which forms the centrepiece of every estancia day trip. The remarkable variety of cuts grilled simultaneously, from the extraordinary short ribs to the remarkable chinchulines offal and extraordinary morcilla blood sausage, accompanied by the finest Malbec from Mendoza and eaten at long tables under the shade of enormous ombu trees in the remarkable pampas landscape. 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO BUENOS AIRES AND FAREWELL
RETURN TO BUENOS AIRES AND FAREWELL Evening The extraordinary return drive across the remarkable Buenos Aires pampas, passing the vast flat grassland dotted with cattle herds, remarkable polo fields and the extraordinary estancia houses that built Argentina's 19th-century wealth. A final extraordinary evening in Buenos Aires for the finest despedida farewell dinner and the last round of Malbec before departure.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Estancia La Porteña near Capilla del Senor, 80km northwest of Buenos Aires, is the finest and most authentic traditional gaucho estancia accessible from the city, dating from 1823 and preserving the extraordinary 19th-century architecture and pampas traditions that shaped Argentina. The remarkable private estancia tour includes the extraordinary family history of the Argentine landed gentry.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the estancia departure. Most tours leave Buenos Aires at 9am. | Lunch: Asado at the estancia The extraordinary traditional asado lunch at the gaucho estancia. Finest Argentine beef on earth. | Dinner: Patagonia Sur, La Boca Outstanding Patagonian ingredients restaurant in La Boca. Extraordinary farewell dinner with Patagonian lamb.
Where To Stay
Palermo, All Nights Casa Lucía or Nuss Buenos Aires. Palermo Soho location. Approx 80 to 200 USD per night. Recoleta Alternative Alvear Palace Hotel or Sofitel Buenos Aires. Fine art and cemetery neighbourhood. Approx 150 to 400 USD. Budget Milhouse Hostel (San Telmo) or Portal del Sur (Centro). Approx 15 to 50 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Buenos Aires nightlife starts late. Dinner at 9pm is normal. Tango milongas peak after midnight.
2. Don Julio parrilla requires booking weeks ahead. Go for lunch to avoid the longest waits.
3. The Tigre Delta boat tour is finest on weekdays. Weekends are busy with day-trippers from the city.
4. San Telmo Sunday market is extraordinary but crowded by noon. Arrive before 10am.
5. The Recoleta Cemetery is free. Hire a local guide for 1 hour to find the best mausoleums.
6. Uber is significantly cheaper than taxis. Use it for all journeys over 2km.
Total Budget
45 to 625 USD/day