Buenos Aires is one of the great cities of the Americas — a sprawling metropolis and energetic capital where wide boulevards lined with magnificent architecture run down to the bustling River Plate. Known affectionately as the 'Paris of South America', the city carries the cultural DNA of Mediterranean Europe through the lens of the southern cone. Founded in 1580 and shaped over centuries by waves of immigration, it is today the largest city in South America. Also known as the 'city that never sleeps', it is the passionate birthplace of tango, a city of exquisite traditional gourmet cuisine, and the ultimate gateway from which most travellers begin their journey south to Patagonia, west to the Andes, or north to the Puna highlands.
The historic centre
The political and historic heart of Buenos Aires is Plaza de Mayo, dominated on its eastern side by the pink-painted Casa Rosada — the seat of the Argentine presidency and famous as the balcony from which Eva Perón addressed the crowds. The square is flanked by the Metropolitan Cathedral (where Pope Francis served before his election) and the Cabildo, the colonial-era town hall. Avenida de Mayo runs west from the square to the Congreso Nacional, lined with grand café-bars including the legendary Café Tortoni. A short walk north brings you to Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world, with the Obelisco rising 67 metres above the central island.
San Telmo and La Boca
San Telmo is the oldest neighbourhood in the city, a grid of cobbled streets and 19th-century townhouses now filled with antique shops, milongas (tango halls), and a famous Sunday market at Plaza Dorrego. It is the most atmospheric place in Buenos Aires to encounter tango in its original setting. Further south, La Boca is the city's old Italian port district — a working-class barrio where the football club Boca Juniors has its stadium, La Bombonera. The neighbourhood is best known for the brightly painted corrugated-iron houses of Caminito Street, a short pedestrian alley that has become one of the most photographed places in the city.
Recoleta and Palermo
To the north of the centre, Recoleta is the wealthy, French-influenced quarter — boulevards of mansion blocks, designer shops, and the famous Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Perón is buried alongside generations of Argentina's elite. The cemetery itself is one of the most architecturally striking in the world, with hundreds of family mausoleums in marble and granite. Beyond Recoleta, Palermo is the city's largest neighbourhood, divided into Palermo Soho (boutiques, design, restaurants), Palermo Hollywood (bars and television studios), and a chain of vast parks ideal for a walk or a picnic on a sunny afternoon.
Tango, beef, and Buenos Aires nights
Buenos Aires lives at night. A traditional dinner — a parrillada of grilled Argentine beef, paired with a glass of Malbec from Mendoza — rarely starts before nine. Tango shows run in every district, from polished theatre productions in San Telmo to informal milongas where local couples dance with serious intent. The opera house, Teatro Colón, is one of the finest in the world and offers backstage tours during the day. Spending two or three nights in Buenos Aires at the start of an Argentina journey is essential to making sense of the country.
Visiting with Undiscovered Destinations
Buenos Aires is the start (and in most cases the end) of every Undiscovered Destinations Argentina tour, but your guided experience in the city depends on the specific journey you choose. The 16-day Argentina and Chile Glaciers and Peaks of Patagonia tour includes a half-day city tour covering essential highlights like May Square (Government House, Cathedral, Town Hall), San Telmo, the colourful houses of La Boca (Caminito), and the elegant Recoleta district to visit its monumental cemetery.
Meanwhile, the 14-day Argentina and Chile Puna & Atacama Experience and the 28-day Argentina, Chile and Bolivia Explorer use Buenos Aires primarily as a gateway hub. There are no official guided sightseeing tours or tango shows included in the base itineraries for these two tours. However, our team is happy to arrange optional city sightseeing activities or a tango show with dinner for travellers arriving early. Across all itineraries, groups are capped at 12 travellers.
