Discovering Buenos Aires: A Guide for First-Timer's
Description:
Buenos Aires is a city full of passion and charm, and one week is barely enough time to pack in all of the sights and sounds. However, with some smart planning and full pockets, visitors can expect a lively time in beautiful, historical Buenos Aires. A stroll around the Plaza de Mayo, with its Casa Rosada and Cabildo, offers a big dose of political history, while a walk down the grand Avenida de Mayo is a feast for the eyes of architecture buffs. The Teatro Colon and the Museo Evita are at the top of the list for cultural options, while the San Telmo antiques fair and designer boutiques along Avenida Alvear are for indulging the consumer in you. But don't forget to eat - world-class dining options in Buenos Aires include the award-winning La Bourgogne and, at La Brigada, the cuisine for which Argentina is best known - beef.
Author: elizabeth
Day 1 - Buenos Aires
Start with the basics at Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires’ most historical square that continues to the be the backdrop for political demonstrations and protests - hence the need for the heavy-duty riot fencing dividing the plaza in half. Circle around the perimeter for a condensed dose of history, starting at the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s equivalent to Washington’s White House (where, like the White House, visitors have to remain outside). Work your way over to the magnificent Catedral Metropolitana before skipping across the square to the Cabildo, Buenos Aires’ original city hall and the site of a city museum. Be sure to round the building to the back passageway where local artists and craftspersons hawk their best wares. The history continues down Avenida de Mayo - walk along the wide boulevard to Cafe Tortoni, one of the city’s oldest and most grandiose cafes and an excellent spot for a coffee break. Once you’ve got your buzz it’s time to hit the pavement again, working your way down Ave. de Mayo to the Plaza de los dos Congresos and the National Congress building, where, again, visitors are not allowed inside. Keep your eyes peeled for more demonstrations in this plaza - Buenos Aires is renowned for restless union workers fighting for their rights. Zip down to the famous La Brigada in cobblestoned San Telmo for a hearty steak dinner, the first of many on this trip. As the evening winds down, turn in at the Design Suites Hotel in Barrio Norte, a sophisticated, centrally-located style hotel. Try to get a front-facing room over the plaza opposite the hotel for the best view.
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Avenida de Mayo 800
Plaza de Mayo begins at the eastern terminus of Av. de Mayo and is surrounded by calles Yrigoyen, San Martín, Rivadavia, and Balcarce
1084 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Avenida Independencia y Balcarce 1064
1100 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 4307 6689 / 54 11 4307 6919 / 54 11 4307 7388
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Avenida de Mayo 800 - Plaza de Mayo
1084 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4312 2232 (Tourism Information Centre)
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San Martín 27
San Martín, At Rivadavia overlooking Plaza de Mayo
1004 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4331 2845 / +54 11 4345 3369
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Location:
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Bolívar 1
1406 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4323 9400
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Location:
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Avenida de Mayo 825
At Esmeralda
1084 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 4342 4328
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Location:
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near Monument of The Thinker
1033 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Location:
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Estados Unidos 465
At Bolívar
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 4361 4685
11
Location:
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Alvear Marcelo T. De 1683
1060 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
-11 4814 8700
Day 2 - Buenos Aires
Day 2 kicks off with a stroll down Avenida Corrientes, the bustling Broadway of Buenos Aires. Take in a show at one of the classic theaters along the avenue, or drop into a pizza joint for some steamy, cheesy pie. Whether you start at the east or west side of Corrientes, you’ll end up at the 16-lane Avenida 9 de Julio intersection, crowned by one of Buenos Aires’ most recognizable monuments, the Obelisco. Circle around the imposing tower and then walk north a few blocks the the Teatro Colon, South America’s most important opera house. Inexpensive tours will shed light on post-renovation changes and the inner workings of the theater - don’t miss the wig collection in the costume closet. Dinner is just a short walk away at Milion, a restored mansion with an eclectic South American menu and the best frozen mojitos in town. If the weather is agreeable, request a patio or courtyard table. Work off your dinner with some dance lessons at the Academia Nacional de Tango in Montserrat, just to the south of Milion. Taxi back up to the Design Suites when it comes time to call it a night.
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Avenida Corrientes
1125 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4312 2232 (Tourism Information Centre)
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Av. 9 de Julio
San Nicolás
1043 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Cerrito 618
C1010AAN Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 4378 7100 / 54 11 4378 7344
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Parana 1048
Barrio Norte
1018 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 4815 9925
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Ave de Mayo 833
1084 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4345 6968 / +54 11 4345 6967
Day 3 - Buenos Aires
Now it’s time to see Buenos Aires like a local at the Bosques de Palermo, Buenos Aires’ biggest city park. Porteños stream out to the park on weekends throughout the year, rain or shine, to enjoy the bike and jogging paths, the paddle boats, and the rose gardens, or just to bask in the sunshine on the wide lawns. The busiest spot is along Avenida Libertador and La Infanta Isabel, where food and coffee carts stocked with sausage and steak sandwiches roll out around lunchtime in case you get hungry. If you fancy a sit-down lunch, pay your few pesos entrance to the Japanese Gardens at the southern end of the Bosques and head straight for the traditional teahouse, where sushi and noodles are served throughout the day. Once satisfied, you can continue your lazy park- and garden-heavy day at the Botanical Gardens in Plaza Italia, where the cats are the main feature. Stroll around Palermo for awhile, making sure to hit Plaza Serrano’s hectic weekend design market, before grabbing dinner at the gourmet cafe inside the lovely Museo Evita, Finish your night off by putting your tango moves to the test (or just kicking back and watching with a glass of Argentina’s pride, malbec) at the milonga La Viruta, located in the basement of the Armenian Cultural Center of Palermo.
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Avenues Del Libertador, Dorrego y Figueroa Alcorta
Palermo
1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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2966 Casares
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4804 4922
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Santa Fe and J.L. Borges
Av. Las Heras, at Plaza Italia, across from the subway entrance
1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 48314527
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Location:
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Calle Lafinur 2988
At Gutierrez
1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+ 54 11 4809 3168
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Location:
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Armenia 1366
At Cabrera
1414 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 4774 6357 / 54 11 4779 0030
Day 4 - Buenos Aires
Sunday is always San Telmo day in Buenos Aires, as the neighborhood comes alive, as it has for over 20 years, with the sights and sounds of a lively mix of old and new Argentina. The feria runs from sunrise to sundown from Plaza de Mayo along Calle Defensa to the southern edge of the neighborhood (not to mention San Telmo’s sole green patch), Parque Lezama. Stroll around the sleepy park to catch a glimpse of men enjoying their own weekend tradition of sipping mate and playing chess before dropping in to the tiny but worthwhile Museo Historico Nacional. Back on the street, stroll up past the street performers to San Pedro Telmo. The former psychiatric hospital and women’s prison next door opens on Sundays for interesting tours as well, and a new Basque tapas restaurant across the street is an excellent spot for a midday drink or snack. Turn back to befriend the antiques hawkers in Plaza Dorrego, or bypass the commotion and opt for a corner window table at the Plaza’s namesake bar, Bar Dorrego. Prices have skyrocketed in recent years, so skip the food and indulge in a rich coffee or glass of wine to help you soak up the atmosphere. Afterwards, slowly make your way up the street through the tango orchestras, dancers, and puppeteers to the Iglesia de San Ignacio, Buenos Aires’ oldest church. A peek inside gives a glimpse of the ongoing renovations trying to keep the building from crumbling. As night sets in, grab some friends and go for a steak dinner at the iconic El Desnivel, where a few cheap dishes and pinguinos of hearty red wine will feed a crowd. Wrap the day up with a nightcap at classic Bar Seddon, where live bossa nova or tango is performed most weekend evenings.
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Location:
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Defensa 1200
1065 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4312 2232 (Tourist Information)
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Dorrego Square
Defensa and Humberto, 1
Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Calle Defensa and Calle Brasil
1098 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4313 0187(Tourist Information) /+54 11 4315 4265(Tourist Information)
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Calle Defensa 1600
1143 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4307 1182
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Humberto Primo 340
1103 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 43611168
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Defensa and Humberto Primo
Plaza Dorrego, at the intersection of Defensa and Humberto I
1065 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Defensa 1908
1143 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 4361 0141
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Location:
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Bolívar y Alsina
Zona Centro
1066 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 43312845
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Location:
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Defensa 855
At Independencia
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 4300 9081
10
Location:
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Defensa 685
1002 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 43130669
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Honduras 5860
Between Carranza and Ravignani
1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
5411 4778 1008
Day 5 - Buenos Aires
Day 5 takes on a different type of sightseeing that is just as porteño as soccer and steak - shopping along Avenida Alvear, the poshest address in Buenos Aires. Top couture designers have their locales along the leafy boulevard - don’t bypass the Alvear Palace Hotel galeria just off the street, where various jewelers and high-end craftspeople showcase some of the finest Argentine silver and wool products. At the end of the street is Plaza Francia, the heart of Recoleta and a popular meeting place for locals, young and old alike. Do a bit of people-watching outside of La Biela before venturing into the maze that is the Recoleta Cemetery, and then next door to see what’s on at the Centro Cultural. Hop on a bus to zip up Libertador to the Hipodromo for some hedonistic fun in the form of horse races and some slot machine action. As nighttime rolls around, head back to Ave Alvear’s award-winning French eatery, La Bourgogne. If you take to the scene, bear in mind that La Bourgogne serves a well-priced, stuff yourself silly high tea daily. Turn in for the night at Home Hotel, one of Buenos Aires’ most stylishly comfortable lodgings - grab a poolside nightcap if you’re not quite ready to hop into bed.
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Location:
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Avenida Alvear 1300
1014 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+51 11 4312 2232 (Toursim Information Centre)
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Avenida del Libertador, entre Agote y Pueyrredón
1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 (0)11 4372 3612 (Tourist Information)
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Azcuénaga 1901-1999
Recoleta District
1116 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4804 7040
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Location:
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Junín 1930
1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4803 1040
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Avenida del Libertador 4101
1426 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4778 2800
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Av. Alvear 1891
At Ayacucho in the Alvear Palace Hotel
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
11/4805-3857
Day 6 - Buenos Aires
Now’s time for some of the other major tourist sights that you simply can’t leave without seeing - namely, El Caminito in La Boca. Take a morning coffee at Fundacion Proa’s terrace cafe, where patio tables have the best views over the Riachuelo harbor. Grab a cab up to the Boca Juniors Stadium, a national landmark that can be toured if no game is on. The neighborhood’s finest eatery, Patagonia Sur, is the place for lunch, where you can fill up on meat, potatoes, and red wine to your belly’s content. Head over to the Reserva Ecologica for the closest possible encounter with the Rio de la Plata, before crossing over the picturesque, modernist Puente de la Mujer in Puerto Madero, on the way to an upscale Argentine dinner at the expensive but very worthwhile Cabaña las Lilas.
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Caminito entre Magallanes y Lamadrid.
1160 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 (0)11 4545 2073
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Brandsen 805
At Del Valle Iberlucea
C1161AAQ Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4362 2260
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Location:
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Rocha 801
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 4303-5917/18/19
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Location:
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Dock 3
C1107AAP Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Location:
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Avenida Alicia Moreau de Justo 200
1007 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 (0)11 4515 4600
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Location:
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Avenida Alicia Moreau de Justo 516
At Villaflor, in Dique 3
1107 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 43131336
Day 7 - Buenos Aires
Start the morning off right with breakfast at the cozy Home cafe before heading out to take in the works by Argentine masters such as Antonio Berni and Xul Solar in the collection at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. Jump down the road to the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo for a quick coffee break at the delightful outdoor tables of the museum cafe, then continue on to the Constantini collection at MALBA - admission is waived and the galleries stay open until 9 on Wednesdays, so take your time poking around. As nighttime falls take in an essential Buenos Aires dinner time tango spectacle at San Telmo’s corner theater, Bar Sur.
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Location:
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Av. del Libertador 1473
Recoleta
1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4803 0802 / +54 11 4803 4691
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Location:
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Av. del Libertador 1902
At Lucena
1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4802 6606 / +54 11 4801 8248 / +54 11 4806 8306
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Location:
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Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415
C1425CLA Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
+54 11 4808 6500
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Location:
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Estados Unidos 299
1101 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone:
54 11 43626086