Weekend Guide: Buenos Aires
The Red Jacket Weekend Guides are quick itineraries on how to make the most of your short time in a specific city or region, without breaking the bank. From the best sights and the tastiest restaurants, you can trust RJT Weekend Guides to provide you with the best possible experience.
Buenos Aires
This city has been nicknamed the Paris of South America, and for a good reason. Buenos Aires, or the Ciudad Autonoma Buenos Aires (CABA), has wide, tree-lined avenues, and is bursting at the seams with all its culture. With so much to do, ranging from museums to architecture to nightlife, you certainly won’t be bored here.
Day 1
Start your day at what might be the most iconic sight in all of Argentina, the Casa Rosada, located at the end of the Plaza de Mayo. It was here that Evita Peron, former first lady and spiritual leader of Argentina, addressed the Argentine public on multiple occasions. The specific balcony she stood from was the one directly to the left of the archway in the center, on the second floor.
Next, walk across the Plaza de Mayo, to the building that looks like a courthouse on the far right of the plaza. The Plaza de Mayo has been the center of Argentine political life for centuries and the big statue in the center commemorates the 25 de Mayo revolution, when Argentina declared independence from Spain. The building you see now isn’t a courthouse, but the Catedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires, the main church in this city. This is where Pope Francis was Archbishop of Buenos Aires before becoming the Pope. The cathedral also holds the remains of General Jose de San Martin, the revolutionary who freed Argentina, Chile, and Peru from Spanish rule.
After this, take the Subte Linea D to the Callao station and walk along Avenida Callao to El Ateneo Grand Splendid. This former theater was transformed into one of the world’s largest bookstores and it is consistently considered to be one of the most gorgeous bookstores in the world.
Whenever you’re ready, walk along Avenida Callao until turning left onto Avenida Las Heras and then right onto Avenida Junin until you reach the Centro Cultural Recoleta. There are lots of restaurants in this area and find one that interests you for lunch.
Following lunch, feel free to shop at the outdoor market and head into the Recoleta Cemetery, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world and the prime burial spot for many Argentine elites, including Evita Peron, many Argentine presidents, and Nobel Prize Winners. Take as long as you want to get lost in the amazing sculpture work in this cemetery.
Now, you can either return to your hotel for a break, or go to the pedestrian-only Avenida Florida and find a coffee shop for an alfajor and latte. Later tonight, you’ll find a dinner place on Avenida Florida and finish off a perfect day with a tango show, many of which are located near Avenida Florida as well.
Day 2
Start your day in the traditionally-working-class neighborhood of La Boca, the neighborhood with brightly colored buildings and the futbol-crazy fans of the Boca Juniors, who play at the nearby stadium, La Bombonera. I recommend you tour the incredible stadium when it isn’t gameday, even if you aren’t a soccer fan, as it’s an important part of Argentine culture. La Boca is a pretty little neighborhood with many different shops and places to explore, however, stick to the main streets and don’t go further out than La Bombonera as it can be dangerous and is known for street muggings.
Next, take an Uber to the nearby neighborhood of Puerto Madero, the old shipping port of Buenos Aires and now a nice place to walk around and grab some lunch or some ice cream. It’s also got some nice souvenir shops that you can pop your head into.
Afterwards, take another Uber to El Rosedal, the rose garden of Buenos Aires. It’s a beautiful place to unwind and relax for awhile; you can even rent a boat in the nearby lake. This whole area is home to some of Buenos Aires’s amazing parks and green spaces, so feel free to branch out and explore the Ecoparque, Jardin Japones, and others. Whenever you’re done exploring these parks, stroll down Avenida Saramiento until it bisects Avenida Santa Fe at the Plaza Italia Subte Station on Linea D.
From here, take the Subte to your hotel for a rest, or continue your day at Avenida Corrientes, four blocks south of the Callao Subte stop on Linea D. Here, explore the many bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and theaters on Buenos Aires’s most popular street. Be sure to check out Paseo La Plaza, a hidden park just off Corrientes near Montevideo Street. Half the street becomes pedestrian-only after 6pm, making it perfect for an evening stroll to end your 48 hours in Buenos Aires.
