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Buenos Aires Guide, map and photos. boo.com members recommend hotels, restaurants and attractions in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires guide

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Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is known as the Paris of South America. It is easy to see why when marvelling at the magnificent baroque architecture present throughout the city. Buenos Aires’ European influences, combined with the resurgence of national pride felt after hauling itself out of a 4 year economic recession, has meant there has never been a better time to visit this South American metropolis. There is a plethora of things to do in Buenos Aires. Take a dance lesson in the city where Tango was born, or catch a show in the Teatro Colón, one of the world’s great opera houses. Sample an asado, the Argentinean speciality of grilled meat, usually cooked over an open flame. At night, savour a Quilmes beer with the locals, or paseños, and revel in every second spent in this bustling, cosmopolitan capital.

Latest reviews of Buenos Aires

This place is sneaking into a close second place in terms of favorite cities behind New York. During the day there is loads to see and do as you walk around, and by night, the clubs really know how to finish you off. Right up to 8am! Easy to get around, and people are friendly and relaxed. A...more This place is sneaking into a close second place in terms of favorite cities behind New York. During the day there is loads to see and do as you walk around, and by night, the clubs really know how to finish you off. Right up to 8am! Easy to get around, and people are friendly and relaxed. A little part of europe in the souther hemisphere!close

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by therookiefal – posted on Nov 23, 2007

therookiefal, from Ireland, has 73 reviews 73

Having travelled through alot of South America when i landed in Buenos Aires I felt like I had arrived in Europe. It is a beautiful city and there is lots to see from Evita's statue (and grave if your inclined) to the colourful La boca to stumbling across some tango dancing in a small square! I'm...more Having travelled through alot of South America when i landed in Buenos Aires I felt like I had arrived in Europe. It is a beautiful city and there is lots to see from Evita's statue (and grave if your inclined) to the colourful La boca to stumbling across some tango dancing in a small square! I'm not normally a steak eater but I had to sample the Argentine beef almost for the sake of it and since then I have been converted, I'm a steak eater! A fascinating city and if you get a chance take a trip to the Iguazu Falls, I didn't have time so will have a take a trip back to do so!close

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by aisling – posted on May 2, 2007

aisling, from Ireland, has 71 reviews 71

Buenos Aires is a fantastic city, I would say it has the unique quality of combining European-style elegance with the intangible vibrance of a Latin American city.

The public transportation system is cheap and efficient. Shopping is great. The architecture is lovely, and there are many...more Buenos Aires is a fantastic city, I would say it has the unique quality of combining European-style elegance with the intangible vibrance of a Latin American city.

The public transportation system is cheap and efficient. Shopping is great. The architecture is lovely, and there are many notable historical sites throughout the city.

Food is to die for, the steaks are the best and the wine too, you can eat in great place for a real decent price.

There are lovely restaurant around Puerto Madero. It is really safe, as safe as any European city.Don't miss a Tango session and if you can a football match.

A visit to the cemetery in Recoleta should not be missed, and the San Telmo, Chacarita, and Recoleta fairs hold myriad great values for shoppers.

Of the neighborhoods, don't miss Retiro, Recoleta, Palermo (both Palermo Viejo and Palermo Hollywood), San Telmo (the tango neighborhood with its famous Sunday market), Puerto Madero, and the hotspot of the moment "Las Cañitas" (an area of Palermo sandwiched in by horsetracks and polo fields). This has become since the late 90s THE place to eat, having replaced "Recoleta" as the major gastronomic point.

Night life is fantastic. The city is really a 24 hour metropolis. People eat late, up to 1 AM. No club or dance bar opens before 1 AM in the morning, sometimes 2 AM, but only get going until 3 AM.close

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by Itziar – posted on May 1, 2007

Itziar, from Spain, has 34 reviews 34

Great city. So much to do and see. Shopping is fab with some great markets, we went to one in Recoletta on a Sunday and it was great. Make sure if you do make it to Buenos Aires to have a wander around Recoletta, La Boca where all those multicoloured buildings are down by the port, also go to San...more Great city. So much to do and see. Shopping is fab with some great markets, we went to one in Recoletta on a Sunday and it was great. Make sure if you do make it to Buenos Aires to have a wander around Recoletta, La Boca where all those multicoloured buildings are down by the port, also go to San Telmo which is one of the oldest parts of the city and is a famous tango district. Eating out here is a pleasure also, with all you can eat buffets for a few euro. Its famous for its steaks and they are definitely worth a go!close

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by yvonne – posted on May 1, 2007

yvonne, from Ireland, has 163 reviews 163

Highlight of South America so far. Great nights out .... but be ready to start late and finish late. Lots of things to see and do from buildings to markets, shopping and tango. Definately a must see .... but give yourself a couple of weeks, one for partying and one for sightseeing, you wont be...more Highlight of South America so far. Great nights out .... but be ready to start late and finish late. Lots of things to see and do from buildings to markets, shopping and tango. Definately a must see .... but give yourself a couple of weeks, one for partying and one for sightseeing, you wont be getting up after a big night out!close

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by anawalmsley5595 – posted on Apr 4, 2007

anawalmsley5595, from New Zealand, has 8 reviews 8

Well if ever there was a time to go to Argentina, it is now.. Things are very very affordable, the people are extremely polite and helpful and apparently anyone shopping for bargain basement prices in real-estate will really have some interesting shopping. Shopping in general is a wonderful...more Well if ever there was a time to go to Argentina, it is now.. Things are very very affordable, the people are extremely polite and helpful and apparently anyone shopping for bargain basement prices in real-estate will really have some interesting shopping. Shopping in general is a wonderful expeience in Buenos Aires, there are a lot of open markets buzzing with creative artists, endless choices and excellent prices. Get there fast, this party may end soon and you do not want to miss it!close

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by mermaidme – posted on Mar 27, 2007

mermaidme, from Canada, has 5 reviews 5

Large, large city with lots of things to see and do.Night life is awesome and you can party or go to bar on monday, with no problems. If you like going shopping, this is your place. You have blocks and blocks of shops and huge malls with tons of beautiful clothes, not very cheap (like other...more Large, large city with lots of things to see and do.Night life is awesome and you can party or go to bar on monday, with no problems. If you like going shopping, this is your place. You have blocks and blocks of shops and huge malls with tons of beautiful clothes, not very cheap (like other countries in South America) but definetely awesome.close

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by pamic – posted on Feb 13, 2007

pamic, from Chile, has 2 reviews 2

Buenos Aires is much more than i've expected. The most european city of the south america can mix culture, party and nice people. watch a tango show, have a Freddo ice Cream, meet argentinian girls ( they are hot!!) and enjoy the night of buenos aires: many crazy discos and amazing bars if...more Buenos Aires is much more than i've expected. The most european city of the south america can mix culture, party and nice people. watch a tango show, have a Freddo ice Cream, meet argentinian girls ( they are hot!!) and enjoy the night of buenos aires: many crazy discos and amazing bars if you just wanna have a drink with ur friends. Definetelly i will be back.close

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by felipe4998 – posted on Feb 9, 2007

felipe4998, from Brazil, has 2 reviews 2

Staff were fairly unhelpful and not very friendly. Elevators constantly broke down or were un-useable. Breakfast consists of hard, dry, cold toast, sour juice and crap coffee. That's if you can find a clean cup to put it in. Due to the size of the place the internet access has a long wait...more Staff were fairly unhelpful and not very friendly. Elevators constantly broke down or were un-useable. Breakfast consists of hard, dry, cold toast, sour juice and crap coffee. That's if you can find a clean cup to put it in. Due to the size of the place the internet access has a long wait time during peak hours. The rooms were generally pretty clean but the bathrooms seem to get neglected.close

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by michelleleishman – posted on Jan 18, 2007

michelleleishman, from Australia, has 4 reviews 4

The markets on a Sunday in San Telmo and Recolecta are great to be a part of, theres lots to see and do and a variety on offer. Depending on what you want out of your travels you can find it in B.A, Whether its the night life ( Harbour Bay, a beautiful location, situated on the river), chill out...more The markets on a Sunday in San Telmo and Recolecta are great to be a part of, theres lots to see and do and a variety on offer. Depending on what you want out of your travels you can find it in B.A, Whether its the night life ( Harbour Bay, a beautiful location, situated on the river), chill out time (numerous parks), tango (shows, street performances and dance lessons). You can experience great shows on the cheap. I visited cafe Tortoni as well as a show and dinner located on Avenue de Mayo. I didn´t find much difference in performance but the latter was cheaper, only 10 pesos for the show and you also got dinner at a good rate! Depending on your budget it pays to shop around.close

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by Kellyjanebaker – posted on Jan 6, 2007

Kellyjanebaker, from England, has 20 reviews 20

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Top Rated Buenos Aires Places to Stay

  1. Art Suites 100%      

    All of the reception staff were very helpful and the day staff were multilingual. They really wanted to share their city and give advice. We had days in both the one and two bedroom suites. The two bedroom are particularly comfortable and would be a great bet for a family or two couples. Is like...

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    by Rita22 – posted on May 2008

    Rita22, from USA, has 1 reviews 1

  2. 1551 Palermo 82%      

    Very nice and friendly hostel. One of the best parts about it that it's close to two fantastic Argentinean steak houses.

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    by lukesimmon – posted on Apr 2008

    lukesimmon, from Australia, has 13 reviews 13

    Nice boutique hotel although a bit pricey for what you get. Very well located near shops in Palermo although the rooms at the front of the house are very noisy due to nearby building works and busy roadway. Also the locks on the bathroom door don't work properly which I pointed out to the...

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    by ruthiemu – posted on Apr 2008

    ruthiemu, from Ireland, has 1 reviews 1

  3. Metro I 72%      

    Although it is a simple place, for the price I paid, I thought it was worth it, especially for the location and for Nancy, the lady responsible for the place who was very helpfull.

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    by Tonysi9738 – posted on Nov 2008

    Tonysi9738, from Brazil, has 6 reviews 6

    The shared bathrooms don´t have shower stalls but rather a hand held shower so the room gets wet and a squeegy is provided to scrape the water on the floor into the drain-a bit of a hassle but manageable. Beautiful old building. Street facing rooms can be noisy. Good value tourist hotel.

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    by pgppe – posted on Sep 2008

    pgppe, from USA, has 15 reviews 15

  4. Art Deco Hotel & Suites 71%      

    The computers for the internet could have been a little newer, but a great location to everything more than made up for it.

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    by marcarmstrong4322 – posted on Feb 2008

    marcarmstrong4322, from New Zealand, has 1 reviews 1

  5. Hotel del Prado 71%      

    This hotel promotes that they "have double, triple and quadruple rooms, with these facilities: Minibar Telephone Hair Dryer Cable TV Safety box Fan" We booked a double and got a triple (one single bed, two fold out type single beds). There was no minibar, hair dryer or most...

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    by Sianwild – posted on Aug 2005

    Sianwild, from England, has 4 reviews 4

    This is the sort of place that grows on you. We spent 10 days here whilst we had Spanish lessons and the lady on reception really made us feel at home.

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    by jonathan6380 – posted on Apr 2005

    jonathan6380, from England, has 1 reviews 1

Top Rated Buenos Aires Restaurants

  1. Desnivel100%      

    I was told by four different people of what the best place is in BA for steaks, and of course I forgot, and so mailed them all, and they all came back with this place!! Don't be put off by the spit on the floor look, the steaks are amazing. So good, we gave up trying anywhere else after finding it. Just go.

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    by therookiefal – posted on Nov 2007

    therookiefal, from Ireland, has 73 reviews 73

  2. La Cabrera100%      

    Won't disappoint. Magnificent parilla, great atmosphere. Good service. If only all restaurants could be like it!

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    by killanigia – posted on Apr 2008

    killanigia, from Ireland, has 81 reviews 81

  3. Rodizio100%      

    All the best you can expect from Argentinian meat! You can start with an international buffet or enter and infinite sequence of roasted meat of pork or steer.

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    by pantagruele – posted on Jan 2008

    pantagruele, from Italy, has 2 reviews 2

  4. Brasserie Petanque100%      

    Large, noisy French brasserie in the heart of San Telmo. This place was great. Our waiter was gruff but entertaining and the food was delicious. The menu is very traditional and includes a camembert starter which was lovely and for main: rabbit stew, steak tartare, pork roasted in balsamic vinegar and beef bourgignon. This was one of the best restaurants we...

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    by Erica – posted on Jan 2008

    Erica, from Ireland, has 79 reviews 79

  5. Siga La Vaca100%      

    A great steak house to taste our world-renowned delicious beef and "parrillada". Good value too!

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    by Bairana – posted on May 2007

    Bairana, from Argentina, has 42 reviews 42

Top Rated Buenos Aires Attractions

  1. Cultour100%      

    Hola Mi nombre es Jose de Chile.. el tour me parecio EXCELENTE!!! Muy interesante... lo guias muy buena onda y el tema es apacionante.. Los SUPER RECOMIENDO. Saludos.

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    by jose – posted on Apr 2008

    jose, from Chile, has 1 reviews 1

  2. Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fernandez Blanco100%      

    This is beautiful small museum not to be missed by visitors to Buenos Aires. The museum is housed in a Peruvian-style building that is an oasis of tranquillity, and has a lovely garden, modelled in the Andalucian style. It exhibits an engaging collection of Spanish paintings, colonial silver, baroque furniture and religious artifacts. A window to the...

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    by Bairana – posted on May 2007

    Bairana, from Argentina, has 42 reviews 42

  3. Evita Museum100%      

    The Evita museum is a must for anyone interested in this era of Argentinian history and the Eva Peron story. I loved it, and the museum is so well laid out. I found it all fascinating and I was moved by the whole thing. You can wander from room to room which outline the different stages of Eva's life, the last room being about her death. It's a definite if you...

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    by yvonne – posted on Apr 2007

    yvonne, from Ireland, has 163 reviews 163

  4. River Plate100%      

    No matter who you get to see in BA, whether it is River Plate or Bocas, the are all well worth seeing. To say that the locals are passionate about their football is one of the worlds largest understatements. The tourist recommendation is to make sure you get the posh seats, and that is one of the things that I actually agree with out of the guidebooks. If...

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    by therookiefal – posted on Dec 2007

    therookiefal, from Ireland, has 73 reviews 73

  5. Feria de Mataderos100%      

    A real must for anyone visiting Buenos Aires, this is the ideal place to go on a Sunday and experience traditional Argentinean music, food and dance. The music and dance shows are free and the fair sells good value traditional crafts and souvenirs. Open on Sundays from 11am to 20pm.

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    by Bairana – posted on Apr 2007

    Bairana, from Argentina, has 42 reviews 42

Top Rated Buenos Aires Bars

  1. Gran Bar Danzon100%      

    You would never realise from outside that there was such a cool ,busy bar upstairs. It was packed when we arrived. It's a nice place with intimate lighting and comfortable sofas. I've read a lot of reviews saying that this is a really pretentious bar with miserable staff. I have to say this was not my experience at all. When we arrived there were no tables but...

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    by Erica – posted on Jan 2008

    Erica, from Ireland, has 79 reviews 79

  2. Crobar80%      

    In palermo, this night club was busy all the way til 8am, with people still waiting to get in at 5.30am!! Well worth the trip, although a bit pricey, almost european standards. Good mix of locals and gringos though!!

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    by therookiefal – posted on Nov 2007

    therookiefal, from Ireland, has 73 reviews 73

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In Buenos Aires

Restaurants

Restaurant name price boo rate
Desnivel $$$$$ 100%
La Cabrera $$$$$ 100%
Rodizio $$$$$ 100%
Brasserie Petanque