IO things to do in Buenos Aires
Argentina’s capital is buzzing with food, culture and football
ITake a barrio crawl
Orient yourself with a wander through some of the city’s most vivacious barrios (neighbourhoods). Head to the birthplace of tango, historic San Telmo, to admire dance performances in the streets, peruse antiques, and shop Mercado de San Telmo. In football-mad La Boca, snap the colourful houses and peruse art galleries, and in well-heeled Palermo, come to shop, dine and party.
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Meander mausoleums
Tour dwellings of the dead at Buenos Aires’ famously fascinating Cementerio de la Recoleta. This maze of magnificently adorned mausoleums housesnotable and once wealthy corpses, but perhaps the most visited, by tourists and devoted porteños (people of the port), is Eva Peron’s (aka Evita’s) tomb. Grab a map to stroll this gateway to the afterlife or hook up with a guide.
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Chant with football fans
For many Argentinians, football is life. In Buenos Aires, a city with more football stadiums than anywhere in the world, spirits rise and fall with the trajectory of the ball. Whether you’re a soccer fan or not, watching a game at the famous Alberto José Armando Stadium (aka La Bombonera stadium) is an experience that reverberates with passion long after full-time. Authenticate the experience with a choripan, Argentina’s version of a hotdog.
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Eat steak, drink wine
Devoted carnivores will discover nirvana in Buenos Aires, where exceptional Argentinian beef is grilled to tender perfection. Steakhouses, called parrilla, are strewn across the city and are a meat-lover’s must-visit. Before you go, do your research and know the local lingo for your preferred cut. Of course, your asada (barbecue) should be paired with a wine of equal standing. Argentina has plenty of those, too.
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Tango time
The tango was first danced in the streets of Buenos Aires in the late 19th century and, today, you’ll still find that sultry rhythm steaming up San Telmo, the city’s oldest neighbourhood. Watching or participating in the evocative dance is imperative for any trip, so click-clack your way to a tango club, called a milonga, where you can learn a few steps or simply absorb the sensual display.
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Daytrip to Tigre
Take a daytrip to Tigre, 45 minutes from Buenos Aires. As the launch-point to the Parana Delta, a sprawling estuarine wetland, Tigre is a serene and lushly vegetated oasis. While the town is idyllic and demands exploring, also be sure to glide out on to the water on a kayak or boat tour.
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Jaw drop at Teatro Colon
Embellished with exquisite detail, the remarkable Teatro Colon is lauded as one of the most exceptional opera houses in the world. Its eclectic style was passed through the hands of three different architects, reaching completion in 1908. If you can’t swing time for a performance, take a guided tour of this national gem.
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In the shadow of skyscrapers, the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve sprawls across 350ha in the centre of the city and is a haven for native flora and fauna, including 50 species of birdlife. Hire a bike at the entrance and ride round.
Cycle a sanctuary
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Coffee in a historic cafe
In many ways, Buenos Aires is a Latin Paris. Among the similarities is the superb Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture, and the proliferation of romantic, historic cafes. Café Tortoni, Café Bar Roma, and Bar Sur are wellvisited by tourists, but there are plenty more. IO
Overshadowing the Plaza de Mayo with its rosebud-pink hue, this building is of political and cultural significance. It is the seat of government, but visitors may recognise its balconies as the place from where Eva and Juan Peron delivered speeches in the 1940s and ’50s. Visit the museum behind and take a free tour.