What to See - Places of Interest in Buenos Aires

See

If you are a fan of walking in open green spaces and parks in big cities like Buenos Aires, be sure not to miss a promenade in Palermo, a beautiful area in the eastern part of the city. Here you will not only find open spaces to walk in, but a large lake where you can rent paddle boats and an immense flower garden with free entry!

Another great place to walk along and experience Argentine street life in a safe area (during the day only, folks - interesting characters emerge here at night!) is El Puerto de Buenos Aires.

The National Immigration Museum is not open on the weekends like Moon Guidebooks says. Use the Retiro subte.

La Boca has the Caminito pedestrian street with arts and crafts. There is also a river cruise you can take from there. There is a huge metal structure across the river which is picturesque. Tango dancers are in the cobblestone streets. You may try to catch a rowboat to Avellaneda on the other side of the water for 0.50 pesos (0.125 euros), but the rower may not allow you to if you are a tourist, citing it’s dangerous (peligroso). There is no subte to La Boca, but many buses go there. In addition to tango, La Boca is famous for its football, and you may also take a tour of the La Bombonera Stadium. The buildings are painted in bright colors. You can also take pictures with you and a tango dancer for a small price! But if you want a true tango experience that is not put on a sliver platter for a European or American tourist, read below and experience the true Buenos Aires Tango experience.

The prices for most everything in La Boca is 2 to 3 times what it is in the rest of the city. It’s been over tourist-ified, but is enjoyable if you just feel like being a tourist. Don’t even think about coming here at night. It’s safe during daytime in the Caminito neighborhood.

The Cementerio de la Recoleta: This is where all the rich families in Buenos Aires have their final resting places, usually in above the ground tombs. Check out the calico cats who have haunted the cemetary for generations. Be sure to visit the tomb of Eva Perón, the bastard daughter of an aristocrat who, despite having the most visited tomb in the cemetery, is considered by many to be too “low class” for eternal interment in Recoleta.

The Palermo Viejo district: This is a trendy neighborhood with charming cobblestone streets, bookstores, bars and boutiques; definitely better than the touristic San Telmo area for a nightime excursion. The Plaza Italia station is the closest metro stop.

More information is available at the Buenos Aires official tourism website, including suggested itineraries.

Do

Tango A trip to Buenos Aires is not complete without some sort of experience of the Tango, national dance of Argentina. Tango is best experienced not in La Boca and on Calle Florida, but in the Milongas. A milonga is both a place where a Tango dance will take place, as well as a specific type of tango dance.

There is a monthly magazine put out in Buenos Aires called “El Tangauta”. It is the bible of everything Tango going on in Buenos Aires. Every group lesson and milonga is in there.

Milongas Milongas take place either during the day or late at night. “Matinée Milongas” usually start in the early afternoon and go until 8-10pm. Made popular by tourists who may struggle staying up until 5am every night, you will find many locals here as well more than willing to show you how to dance. the night Milongas officially start at around 11, but don’t fill up until around 1:30. They may go on until 5 or 6 in the morning.

• Confiteria Idéal Suipacha 384 (just off of Corrientes, near Calle Florida). A good place for beginners to check out authentic tango, but skip the overpriced confitéria. Shows start around 30 pesos.
• Salon Canning,
• El Beso
• Porteňo y Bailarin

Lessons You can start learning tango through the group lessons offered at many studios. Some popular schools are at the Centro Bourges Culturel, on the very top floor. It can be very hard to find the actual place as there are some stairs you have to go up, and go through a museum. Ask the security people where the “Escuela de Tango” is. It can be very hot in summers in the room. The Centro is within the Galerias Pacifico, the overpriced American-style mall near Calle Florida on san Martin.

The best way to learn even if you do not have a partner is with private lessons. You can find instructors who charge as little as 50 pesos per hour, all the way up to ones that will charge 100 dollars per hour. Many of the more ‘famous’ instructors command a premium price. Be warned if you start taking tango lessons: it will seduce and consume your life and you will make many pilgrimages back to Buenos Aires to dance.

We do not want to fail to mention that Buenos Aires has became, in recent years, the favourite gay destination for international gay travelers, turning the “Paris of the South” in the gay capital of South America. For further info refer to Buenos Aires gay guide and activities.

• BA Free Tour, http://www.buenosairesfreetour.com. A great intoduction to the city! Two free walking tours per day! Price: Free!.

Learn

Attend university. Foreigners have been flocking to Buenos Aires to take advantage of the great deals.

The University of Buenos Aires - School of Agronomy - International Studies Department and The University of Buenos Aires - School of Philosophy and Letters - Spanish Courses at the Language Laboratory offer excellent programs for foreigners who want to learn Spanish.

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