You'll be enthralled with the top activities in Buenos Aires whether you're into football, cuisine, or tango.
Undoubtedly, Buenos Aires is a tumultuous melting pot. The premier city of Argentina is a riot of color and culture, a place where tango, food, football, history, and culture all collide. No, it isn't a typo; the capital should be mentioned twice for its tango obsession. You don't think we're real? You watch and wait.
This is not a city for the weak. The greatest activities in Buenos Aires offer visitors a taste of the crazy that catches people off guard every day. The local markets are as lively as the word permits, the restaurants are top-notch, and the hotels are breathtaking. This place is passionate about tango, so don't forget your dancing shoes. It is worthy of a third mention, indeed.
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| Rafael Guimarães |
The top 10 activities in Buenos Aires
1. The Cemetery of Chacarita
What's that? Argentina's most revered tango icons are buried in a nineteenth-century necropolis spread across the suburbs of BA, complete with statues and mausoleums.
Why leave? While the vast Cementerio de la Chacarita is less crowded and possibly more interesting, most tourists flock to the Cementerio de la Recoleta to see the tomb of Eva Perón, Argentina's most well-known first lady. Make your way to Carlos Gardel's mausoleum, light a cigarette, give it to him, and pay your respects to one of the tango's pioneers.
2. El Splendid Ateneo Grand
What's that? It was once a grand theater, then a grand movie theater, and it is currently a grand bookshop. Indeed, among the world's grandest stores is the 99-year-old Grand Splendid.
Why leave? A breathtakingly lavish background for the books is created by the preserved frescoed ceiling, ornate theater boxes, and even the striking red draperies, all of which are rich in their historical significance. Enjoy a cup of coffee and enjoy live piano music on the original stage, which offers expansive views of the Grand Splendid in all its... glory.
3. The Caminito
What's that? El Caminito is a street museum and artist-lined alleyway tucked away among the La Boca neighborhood's vibrantly painted streets. Its history is as colorful as its buildings.
Why leave? The "little path" is a cultural melting pot of BA history and served as the model for the well-known tango Caminito. Look for the oddball images of Diego Maradona and Che Guevara waving from the balconies above, browse the wares of the local artists, and take pictures of the vibrant conventillos.
4. The Biela
What's that? The 150-year-old Café La Biela is a landmark in Berkeley and was a favorite hangout for writers such as Casares and Borges. Their life-size statues are still seated at their favorite table, so take a seat close to them and savor treats flavored with dulce de leche.
Why leave? The milky caramel syrup, a citywide favorite for those with sweet tooths and the ideal post-meaty feast treat is infused in everything from cakes to crêpes to coffee. For the ultimate sugar rush, order a dulce de leche crêpe and a café con leche.
5. Santa Tierra
What's that? The Holy Land of Tierra Santa is a contender for the title of a most tacky theme park in the world. It combines religious icons with an abundance of animatronics, neon, and, well, tack.
Why leave? The Last Supper and Adam and Eve playing in Eden are two of history's most remarkable events, but Christ's half-hourly resurrection takes center stage. Really? Watch in puzzled wonder as the eighteen-meter plastic Jesus ascends a plastic Calvary Mountain opens his eyes, and raises his palms to the sky.
6. Junior Boca
What's that? The iconic Bombonera stadium in the La Boca neighborhood serves as home to the premier soccer team of BA, which was formerly the team that produced the renowned Diego Maradona.
Why leave? It would be a crime to visit BA without taking in its soccer culture, much like going to Paris and only eating McDonald's. Put on some blue and yellow, the colors of the Boca Juniors team, watch a game, and, regardless of how interesting it is, marvel at the fervor and mayhem of the world's most devoted supporters.
7. Have lunch at a parrilla
What's that? The traditional Argentine restaurant is called a parrilla, or steakhouse, and it can range from an upscale dining establishment to a street vendor selling food off of a makeshift grill.
Why leave? For the meats—every single one! This implies a variety of dishes, including the traditional Asado barbecue steak and ribs as well as the parrillada mixed grill, which features offal transformed into delectable treats like chorizo, morcilla (black pudding), and chitlins (small intestine). You won't regret it if you trust your taste buds over your eyes—they're delicious but frequently graphic to look at. Try La Cabrera for something elegant, and Parrilla Mi Sueño for something casual.
8. Dance at a nightclub
What's that? Buenos Aires' vitality and spirit. Everything tangos to the beat of feet in the grand halls and on the street corners. You can witness this in action and, if you're daring enough, participate in a milonga.
Why leave? to mingle with the locals and experience the tango's hypnotic effect on the masses. On Sunday nights, head to the historic Plaza Dorrego to dance al fresco with exuberant septuagenarians at La Milonga del Indio. Alternatively, for a more youthful crowd, get ready to work up a sweat at La Viruta.
9. Bar Isabel
What's that? The newest late-night destination in BA is a posh cocktail bar and nightclub with a seventies vibe that attracts sophisticated and insatiably thirsty patrons.
Why leave? You're thinking of South America as Studio 54, which is exactly right. Enjoy delicious martinis and Cosmopolitans, dress to impress (the door staff is finicky), and soak up the glitz from the oyster-shaped booths. To sober up if the cocktails get to you, get some caviar and sushi.
10. Malba
What's that? Leading Latino modern artists are represented in Argentina's top contemporary art museum, the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (now you know why it's just called Malba).
Why leave? These are excellent examples of Latin American art by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and lesser-known local artists.