Famed for food, fun and fleet-footed dancers, Argentina’s capital has evolved into one of the most talked-about travel destinations on the planet. What makes Buenos Aires so much fun? It’s partly the energy and lust for life, best experienced in the city’s tango-tastic milongas (dance halls). But it’s also the city’s wealth of experiences, from top-flight decadence to urban, gritty excitement.
For every top-flight art museum, there’s a backstreet painted with flamboyant street art, and for every group of cocktail-sipping trendsetters, there’s a cluster of old-timers gathered around a radio, tapping a toe to the tunes of Carlos Gardel.
The city boasts an incredible number of thing to see and do – and much of it is free (or very budget-friendly), leaving you with more money to spend on lavish steak dinners washed down with glasses of robust Mendoza red. Don’t miss these top Buenos Aires experiences.
Pay your respects at Cementerio de la Recoleta
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Get football fever at La Bombonera stadium
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Explore San Telmo barrio
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Tango at a milonga
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Drink Argentine wines
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Order steaks big enough to share
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Explore Buenos Aires’ street art scene
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Sit back and savor Argentine cafe culture
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Walk in nature at Reserva Ecológica
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Shop at Buenos Aires’ markets
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Learn about the history of Plaza de Mayo
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Admire art at Fundación Proa
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Tune into Buenos Aires’ folk music scene
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Get outdoors in the green city parks
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Cheers to the capital from a rooftop bar
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This article was first published May 29, 2019 and updated Aug 16, 2024.