Buenos Aires has been called the “Paris of South America” for decades, but to know this city is to endure a decidedly more visceral affair. Beneath the neoclassical architecture, artful pastries, and sprawling green spaces is the bleeding heart of the city—a city where the soccer games are to be wept over, the whip-quick moves of tango never miss a beat, and the sounds of sizzling asado and flowing Malbec carry late into the night.
Plan Your Buenos Aires Trip
Despite how hard the virus has hit the continent, many countries are open to travelers.
By Megan Spurrell
Argentina is one of the most awe-inspiring countries in the world, with dramatic glacial landscapes, legendary tango performances, impressive wine and food scenes, and of course, cities like Buenos Aires. Now, thanks to the recent drop in value of the Argentinian peso—plus the new tax refund foreigners get on hotel stays—there's never been a better time to visit. Here are 15 photos that will inspire you to visit one of South America's most alluring and beautiful countries.
By Caitlin Morton
Featured
Road trips mean untold adventures, wide-screen wilderness, and striking out alone. On a dramatic ride from Argentina to Chile, Stanley Stewart traces the continent's highest peaks, reaching the coast at a smartly unplugged new camp.
By Stanley Stewart
The author reminisces on a 2003 trip to Argentina with his now-husband, photographer David Land.
By Meredith Carey
The world-famous chef invites you to escape to Patagonia.
By Betsy Blumenthal
Where to lay your head down for the night in Buenos Aires.
By Celeste Moure
Editor Hotel Recommendations
- Mio Buenos Aires
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Av Pres. Manuel Quintana 465
All rooms have balconies that overlook some of Buenos Aires' swankiest apartments.
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- Algodon Mansion
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Montevideo 1647
A sophisticated and intimate atmosphere that's worth the price tag.
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- Faena Hotel Buenos Aires
$$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Martha Salotti 445
Faena is pricey but if you want to be right in Puerto Madero and are a fan of Starck's brand of design, this hotel is for you.
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Readers Choice Awards Powered By: Expedia
- Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
$$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Avenida Alvear 1661
This temple of chic overlooking downtown Buenos Aires is bringing sexy back to the neighborhood.
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Readers Choice Awards
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- Jardín Escondido
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Gorriti 4746
For film fans, staying in the house where the iconic filmmaker, Coppola, once lived is priceless.
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- Hub Porteño
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Rodríguez Peña 1967
You don't just book a room at this hotel, but an entire experience that includes a superb concierge team.
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- Fierro Hotel
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Soler 5862
Modern decor, a great staff, an excellent restaurant and great location make this hotel a great choice for an even better price.
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See AlsoBest Things to Do in Buenos Aires15 thrilling things to do in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires Budget Travel Guide (Updated 2024)This Argentinian City Is Called the 'Paris of South America' but It's So Much More — How to Plan the Perfect TripPowered By: Expedia
- Hotel Pulitzer Buenos Aires
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Maipú 907
An affordable and comfortable option if you are traveling solo and don't need tons of space.
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Readers Choice Awards 
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The Best Things to Do in Buenos Aires
- 15 Best Things to Do in Buenos Aires
Just make sure to pack your walking (and dancing) shoes.
By Celeste Moure
- 9 Best Shops in Buenos Aires
You won't be going home empty-handed.
By Allie Lazar
- 10 Best Places for Tango in Buenos Aires
When the sun sets, the dancing starts.
By Allie Lazar
- 3 Best Day Trips from Buenos Aires
Sometimes, it pays to get out of the city.
By Sorrel Moseley-Williams
- 10 Best Tours in Buenos Aires
Here's how to explore different sides of Argentina's cosmopolitan capital.
By Sorrel Moseley-Williams
- 10 Best Museums To Visit in Buenos Aires
This city is a cultural powerhouse. Here's what to see first.
By Allie Lazar
Editor Recommendations
- Museo del Mate
$ | Argentina, Tigre, Lavalle 289
A thorough timeline of Argentina's history of drinking mate.
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- Museo de Arte Tigre
$ | Argentina, Tigre, Saldias 1289
For a close-up of a stunning mansion in a unique waterfront location, come here.
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- Museo Draghi
$ | Argentina, San Antonio de Areco, Lavalle 387
This small private collection shows off silverware dating back to the 19th-century, as well as contemporary work by the Draghi family.
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- Buenos Aires Cultural Concierge, Boating on the Tigre Delta
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires,
For a different and personalized vista of Tigre and the Delta, try this boat trip.
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- BA Free Tour
Argentina, Buenos Aires,
If you just landed in BA, this is a great "free" option to get in on.
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- Shop Hop Buenos Aires
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires,
If you're into supporting small designers and picking up original wares, this tour is for you.
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- Parrilla Tour
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires,
Foodies hungry for a culinary insight into a national pastime—barbecue—will love this. Veggies, stay away.
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- Buenos Aires Cultural Concierge's Art Insider Tour
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires,
Serious art collectors will relish the chance to get close to gallerists and artists, while novices will surely catch the art bug.
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- BA Tours, Barrios Futboleros – Rivalidades Históricas
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires,
Get to the heart of fútbol’s most ferocious rivalries on this five-hour soccer stadium tour.
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- BA Bikes
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, San José 525
A dynamic and fascinating tour that took the mundane out of regular sightseeing.
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- Graffitimundo Street Art Origins Tour
Buenos Aires,
Book ahead for a space on this group street-art tour run by Graffitimundo, a slick operation led by cool and young bilingual guides well versed in the local scene.
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Each Sunday at the Feria de Mataderos, a fair on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, nostalgic locals craving a culture fix can get their fill of traditional asado (barbecue) and folk dancing while cheering on gauchos racing their steeds in the prestigious corrida de sortija. Photographer Anders Overgaard shares some of his outtakes and insights from our March story, "Taking Style Inspiration from Argentina's Gauchos."
By Anders Overgaard
The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Buenos Aires
- 22 Best Restaurants in Buenos Aires
Our list for where to eat when you're in town.
By Allie Lazar
- 15 Best Bars in Buenos Aires
Thirsty? We got you.
By Celeste Moure
- 13 Best Steakhouses in Buenos Aires
Carnivores rejoice.
By Sorrel Moseley-Williams
- 10 Best Places for Tango in Buenos Aires
When the sun sets, the dancing starts.
By Allie Lazar
Editor Restaurant and Bar Recommendations
- Kōnā Corner
Argentina, Buenos Aires, Castañeda 1899
The realization of an acclaimed Argentine chef's lifelong passion for Japanese cuisine and culture.
Hot List - Hache Almacén
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Ángel Justiniano Carranza 1670
A long communal table takes center stage at this bar, so it's a good place to come solo—and make friends with whoever sits next to you—or with a couple of friends.
- Vico Wine Bar
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, 1149, Gurruchaga
Great place if you want to impress someone, whether a date or business colleague.
- Boliche de Bessonart
$ | Argentina, San Antonio de Areco,
This is a gem so even if you don't care for the Fernet, lap up the ambience.
- El Ombú de Areco
$ | Argentina, San Antonio de Areco, Ruta 31, Cuartel VI
A happy-go-lucky lunch that can get a bit boisterous.
- Gran Bar Danzon
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Libertad 1161
A date, a business dinner, a night out with a group of friends: This place is good for whatever kind of night you want. But best make reservations.
- Bar 878
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Thames 878
Come around midnight with a date or maybe a couple of friends and if you score a comfy seat on the sofa, you're set for the night.
- Verne Cocktail Club
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Av. Medrano 1475
This is the perfect spot to bring a date or someone you want to impress. The crowd is mostly locals, fashionably dressed and having a good time.
- Boticario
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Honduras 5207
A cool botanical-themed pharmacy bar in the heart of Palermo is pretty much the perfect place to take a date.
- The Harrison Speakeasy
$$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Malabia 1764
The whole vibe of the place says "date night," particularly since getting in isn't easy. Your date will be impressed.
- Parque Bar Botánico
$ | Argentina, Buenos Aires, Thames 1472
A great place to go on a warm summer's night. The garden in the back has swings and cool little tables.
Hot List Excellent local wine, a booming (and affordable) food scene, history and art on every corner: It’s easy to see why spending just a few days in Buenos Aires, Argentina, can make it so hard to leave.
More from Buenos Aires
Places to Stay
11 Best Airbnbs in Buenos Aires, From Palermo to San TelmoThese properties offer something for everyone, from private spas to pet-friendly patios.
By Harrison Pierce
Food & Drink
Where Chefs Eat on Vacation: Elena Reygadas on Buenos Aires' Best Empanadas, Morcilla, and White WineConsider this your essential restaurant guide to the Argentine city.
By Megan Spurrell
Style & Culture
The Magic of Carnival PorteñoA year of preparation comes to a head each February, when neighborhood song and dance troupes take to the streets of Buenos Aires.
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Women Who Travel
Catching a Glimpse of My Mother’s Past on a Trip to Buenos AiresReunited in the city her mother once called home, Sanaë Lemoine sees another side of the woman who raised her.
By Sanaë Lemoine
Food & Drink
In Buenos Aires, a New Generation of Pastry Chefs Are Celebrating the City’s Sweet ToothAnd pushing the boundaries of the city’s traditional bakeries in the process.
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Food & Drink
This Emerging Food District Is Home to Buenos Aires’s Most Exciting New RestaurantsAnd it offers so much more than asado.
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Destinations
In Argentina, Machines Are the New 'Sommeliers'And the service is excellent.
By Megan Spurrell
News & Advice
Norwegian Air Argentina Is Set to Fly in OctoberThis spin-off of the popular low-cost airline could reshape the way we fly around South America.
By Katherine LaGrave
Plan Now, Go Now
Plan Now, Go Now: Buenos Aires in September, Plus a Last-Minute Spring Break TripMaking the case for a trip out west, and looking ahead to polo season in Argentina.
By CNT Editors
Inspiration
The 15 Best Restaurants in Buenos AiresThe next time you're in Argentina's capital, here's where—and what—to eat.
By Paola Singer
News & Advice
This Weekend in Buenos Aires: The Biggest Art Fair in South AmericaSome 100,000 visitors will be taking part in this art fair in Buenos Aires's exclusive Palermo neighborhood.
By Lilit Marcus
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