Buenos Aires is one of South America’s most vibrant and exciting cities, where you’ll find world-class cuisine and lively Argentinian culture everywhere you go. Our travel guide to the best things to see and do in Buenos Aires covers everything you need to know, including the best barrios (neighbourhoods) to explore, must-see city attractions and unmissable day trip experiences.
Buenos Aires is divided into barrios (or neighbourhoods), each with its own unique personality. A free walking tour is a fun, friendly way for you to learn about each neighbourhood’s rich history and culture, art and architecture.
The largest of the city’s barrios is Palermo, which is divided into smaller enclaves with their own distinct personalities. Palermo Viejo is renowned for its cobbled streets and historic architecture, while Palermo Soho is where you’ll find some of the city’s most chic bars, restaurants, shops and boutique hotels. It’s also the location of the Museo Evita, which is dedicated to the legacy of Argentina’s former First Lady, Evita Perón.
San Telmo is Buenos Aires’ oldest barrio, and its cobblestoned streets are lined with antique stores and art galleries. It’s the perfect place for a morning stroll, especially on Sundays, when you’ll find an eclectic mix of market stalls and street artists. At night, the neighbourhood’s clubs are packed with locals and visitors who share a love of Argentine tango.
La Boca is famous for its colourful architecture, which has made the portside neighbourhood a photographer’s dream – especially the pedestrian-only Caminito. The ever-changing display of street art provides a technicolour backdrop for tango dancers and waterfront market stalls. Take in the electric atmosphere of a live football game at the iconic Boca Juniors Bombonera Stadium, which is a short walk from Caminito.
When you see Recoleta’s grand avenues and graceful architecture, you’ll understand why Buenos Aires is often referred to as the ‘Paris of the South’. Grab yourself a mate (Argentina’s signature caffeinated herbal drink) from a stylish café and explore the neighbourhood’s best-known attraction: the equally elegant Cementerio de la Recoleta. You could easily lose yourself for hours among the rows of marble statues and mausoleums which are the final resting places for many of Argentina’s most illustrious identities.
The neighbourhood is also home to the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes), which contains a world-class collection from Argentine and international artists, including Rembrandt, Monet, Fontana and Maldonado.
The city centre, known as Microcentro, is where you’ll find the heart of Buenos Aires: the Plaza de Mayo. At one end, you can stroll wide, tree-lined avenues lined with neoclassical architecture. The opposite end of the square is dominated by the distinctive pink façade of Argentina’s presidential palace, known as the Casa Rosada, and its balcony where Eva Peron famously stood to address her supporters.
It’s a short walk from the plaza, crossing the distinctive Puente de la Mujer footbridge, to reach the Puerto Madero neighbourhood. Originally a working-class port district, this once-neglected barrio is now where you’ll find one of Buenos Aires’ most modern and luxurious neighbourhoods, filled with high-end hotels and restaurants.
Palermo and the neighbouring barrios of Belgrano and Núñez contain extensive, interconnected waterfront park spaces that range from the manicured rose gardens of Parque Tres de Febrero to the kid-friendly spaces of the Parque de los Niños. Lose yourself in the tranquil setting of the Jardín Japonés de Buenos Aires, which is one of the finest and most extensive Japanese gardens you’ll find anywhere outside Japan.
Take a walk amidst the lush greenery of the Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays, where a glasshouse contains an extensive collection of rare and interesting South American plant species, or head to Puerto Madero’s waterfront nature reserve, the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, for some of the best waterfront views in the city.
To make the most of your stay in Buenos Aires, ensure that you allow yourself time to venture beyond the city’s main sights. A scenic boat or kayak tour from Tigre is a fabulous way to experience the unique ecosystem, lush islands and hidden channels of the Paraná Delta. The town of Tigre is renowned for its Belle-Epoque architecture and its riverside market, Puerto Frutos, where you can shop for everything from antiques to empanadas.
You can channel your inner gaucho (Argentina’s version of the cowboy) during a day at a local estancia (ranch), where you’ll learn about gaucho folklore, witness incredible horsemanship displays and sample Argentina’s most beloved culinary tradition: the smoky, succulent wood-fired barbecue known as asado.
It’s a scenic 75-minute ferry journey across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires to the picturesque town of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. You can spend an idyllic day exploring the seventeenth-century cobbled streets of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic quarter (Barrio Histórico), a highlight of which is the romantically titled, deliciously photogenic Calle de Los Suspiros (Street of Sighs).
Getting to and around Buenos Aires:
A direct flight from Melbourne or Sydney to Santiago, Chile on LATAM Airlines is just under thirteen hours (around fifteen hours on the westbound return journey). From here, you will take a connecting two-hour flight to Buenos Aires. There are two international airports: Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), also known as Ezeiza, and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP). It takes around 40 minutes to get to the Plaza de Mayo (in the city centre) from EZE by taxi or shuttle, or around 1 hour 40 minutes by public transport. From AEP, the journey is around 20 minutes by car or 35 minutes by public transport.
Best time to visit Buenos Aires: Argentina’s seasons are roughly the same as in Australia. The summer months (December to February) are typically hot and humid, with long daylight hours drawing peak crowds to enjoy the city’s festive vibes. The shoulder seasons of March to May and September to November are a fabulous time of year to visit – we particularly love Buenos Aires in spring, when the city is renowned for its vibrant display of blooming jacaranda trees.
Currency: the official currency in Argentina is the Argentine peso ($), and there are 100 centavos in one peso – however, due to inflation, the smallest denomination in circulation is the 100 peso banknote. As of June 2025, one Australian dollar is worth approximately 747 ARS.
Time zone: Argentina Standard Time is thirteen hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time and 11 hours behind Australian Western Standard Time.
Wi-Fi coverage/SIM cards: ask your provider about international roaming availability and pricing in Argentina, or buy a pre-paid travel SIM to use during your stay.
Passport and visa information: if you’re travelling on an Australian passport, you can visit Argentina as a tourist for up to three months without needing to apply for a visa. Be sure to check with your personal travel manager, Smartraveller, the Argentine Consulate for the most current travel advice and safety information. You can also apply for a digital nomad visa, which allows you to live and work in Argentina as a digital nomad for up to 180 days.
Safety: In general, Buenos Aires is a safe and welcoming destination for all travellers, and has a reputation as one of Latin America’s most inclusive cities for the LGBTQIA+ community. However, you do still need to take reasonable precautions, especially in busy, tourist neighbourhoods like La Boca, San Telmo and Palermo.
Language: Spanish is the official language in Buenos Aires, however, English is widely spoken, especially in popular tourist areas. Phonetically, the city’s name is pronounced ‘bweh·nos ai·ruhz’, and the locals are known as Porteño (masculine) or Porteña (feminine).
Whether you’re sipping mate in a leafy plaza, dancing the night away in a crowded tango club, or cheering for your new favourite football team, the boundless energy and charm of Buenos Aires is sure to capture your heart. For more advice and insider tips to help you make the most of your time in Buenos Aires, talk to your Personal Travel Manager.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
