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Looking for the best things to do in Buenos Aires? You’ve come to the right place!
Buenos Aires is a massive city, full of lively culture, amazing food, and unique activities. We’ve spent a good deal of time here, but I remember being very overwhelmed when I first stepped foot in this bustling city. are too!
That’s why I wanted to put together this list of the absolute can’t-miss Buenos Aires activities. This list makes it easy to plan your schedule, book the top experiences, and skip out on the stress and logistics of navigating this hectic city. I know you’ll end up loving Buenos Aires as much as we do!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE thing we did in Buenos Aires was this Sherpa Food Tour. We tried so many amazing dishes and got to learn about the city. Check out the 2,000+ 5-star reviews and book your tour here!
Tip: This tour is popular, book it in advance and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go.
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
- Things to do in Buenos Aires
- 1. Sherpa Food Tour
- 2. Private City Tour of Buenos Aires
- 3. Gaucho Day Tour Ranch in San Antonio de Areco
- 4. The Argentine Experience
- 5. Tango Dinner Show
- 6. Bike Tour: Half-Day City Highlights of Buenos Aires
- 7. Premium Tigre Delta and San Isidro Tour
- 8. Day trip to Iguazu Falls
- 9. Buenos Aires Small-Group Wine Tasting
- 10. Enjoy a traditional Argentinian BBQ
- Where to Stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Renting a Car in Argentina
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
Things to do in Buenos Aires
1. Sherpa Food Tour
Food is central to Argentinian culture, and when it comes to eating and drinking in Buenos Aires, the Palermo neighborhood is an absolute gem. In fact, there are so many cafes, bars, and restaurants here that it can be hard to know where even to begin – which is exactly where this walking food tour comes in!
On this tour, you’ll visit four different local restaurants to sample their top dishes and wash it all down with some Malbec or even fernet (a must-try in Argentina, even though it’s not necessarily to everyone’s taste!).
What we love about this tour is the insight you get from your local guide. Ours told us all about the social traditions around eating and drinking in Buenos Aires. It’s a great way to get to know the culture better and appreciate why dining out is such a central part of the culture here.
We also found this tour to be a great opportunity to meet new people. Your guide will even give you some recommendations of where you can all go out as a group after the tour has ended.
Since it is a walking and food tour, wear comfortable shoes and perhaps loosen that belt a little! For more tips and our full experience, read our review of the Sherpa Food tour here!
The tour starts at Cacho Rotiseria at 5:30 pm and ends 3.5 hours later at the Plaza de Armenia. So not only will you load up on food, but you’ll also get a nice introduction to the Palermo neighborhood. It costs $85 USD and includes 8 different dishes and plenty of drinks. Honestly, we felt like it was pretty good value for money, especially given the amount of food we ate!
If you’re a foodie at heart, you’ll want to take this tour!
Book this tour with over 2,500 glowing reviews here, before it fills up.
2. Private City Tour of Buenos Aires
If you want to see the highlights of the city, we suggest this private tour of Buenos Aires. You can start the 4-hour tour pretty much any time of day, so it’s easy to fit into your itinerary. You can make up to 12 stops across the city – hitting all the top sights! Plus, it’s shockingly affordable at $135 USD per group of up to 4 people.
If you decide to see all 12 stops on this tour, your itinerary will be fairly jam-packed. However, if you don’t want to rush, you can customize it by spending more time at your favorite attractions. Perhaps you’ll want more time to soak up the atmosphere of La Boca’s colorful cobblestone alleyways or sample yummy food and craft beer at the San Telmo Market. It’s a private tour, so just say the word!
One exciting highlight of this tour is that you can visit the famous Ateneo Grand Splendid, which is a bookstore built inside a very opulent old theater. It’s enormous – in fact, it’s the second-largest bookstore in the entire world. There’s even a bar on the stage where you can sit and read.
We think that this tour is perfect for families, couples, or groups of friends who want to explore together (rather than join a big group tour). And if you’ve got 4 people, the private experience only costs about $33 USD each – talk about a great deal!
Check out the 1,700+ 5-star reviews here and book your private tour!
3. Gaucho Day Tour Ranch in San Antonio de Areco
This full-day tour takes you out of the city to experience the gaucho way of life in the countryside!
A gaucho is an Argentinian cowboy, and you’ll get to meet and hear real-life stories from gauchos when you visit the ranch. But first, you’ll visit the historic Hotel Paradores Draghi to learn all about 19th-century goldsmithing in Argentina and the role of the gaucho in society. We found this super interesting, and it was great to gain some more background knowledge before we arrived at the ranch. We aren’t the only ones who thought this tour was interesting, it has over 800 raving reviews (see them all here!).
We also loved that this tour included a visit to Boliche de Bessonart, a saloon that’s over 200 years old! It looks just like the cowboy bars in movies. You might even see some gauchos here enjoying a glass of fernet and coke, which is basically the unofficial national drink of Argentina.
Once we arrived at the ranch, we got a horseback tour. There was also the option to go in a horse-drawn cart for those who didn’t feel comfortable riding. It’s a working ranch, so you’ll get to see lots of gauchos in action and witness what their lives are really like firsthand. I also really enjoyed hearing some popular gaucho folktales.
After your horseback tour, you go back to base for an asado, which is an Argentinian barbecue (and man, do they know how to barbecue in Argentina!). You get a ton of food, and then during dessert, the gauchos put on a live show where they demonstrate horse whispering and rope tricks, as well as performing traditional songs and poems.
All in all, this was an amazing day out. It was like stepping back in time to experience a slice of Argentine history! There really aren’t that many places in the world where you can have this kind of experience, so we highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity while you’re in Buenos Aires!
The 9-hour gaucho tour includes pickup from your hotel around 8:30 am and it costs $160 USD per person. This includes transport, your barbecue lunch, a horseback tour, and live entertainment. Basically, the only potential extra costs are alcoholic drinks and gratuities, but both of those are at your own discretion, of course.
So if you’re curious about what the gaucho lifestyle is like, add this activity to your itinerary!
Book this tour in advance here and access FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
4. The Argentine Experience
If I had to pick my very favorite tour in Buenos Aires, it would have to be The Argentine Experience. For those who love cooking and trying new cuisines, this is an absolute must!
It’s an immersive dining experience that involves amazing steak, lots of dulce de leche, and free-flowing wine! It’s not a cooking class, but you still get to sport a chef’s hat and try your hand at making both empanadas and alfajores, which are basically dulce de leche sandwiches – you see them absolutely everywhere in Argentina!
As well as eating five courses of amazing food, The Argentine Experience is a great opportunity to meet fellow travelers. You’ll quickly find yourself bonding over food and some good-natured competition – like who can make the best empanada (and all of the wine helps too, of course).
Another thing I loved about the experience was that the staff gave us several short presentations about different aspects of Argentine culture. We learned the common expressions of frustration and the hand gestures that go with them, which we then got to practice around the table.
Honestly, The Argentine Experience was the best meal that I had in Buenos Aires – but it was about more than that. I came away feeling like I’d learned a lot about the culture, and I was really happy to have met such great people along the way. Basically, it’s the ultimate way to spend a night in Buenos Aires!
The 2.5-hour tour costs $98 USD per person and is offered every night at 7:30 pm. All the food, wine, and classes are included – you just need to show up at the meeting point. You can add a cocktail-making class beforehand for an extra $27 USD. But even if you don’t do the mixology session, you’ll still get a welcome cocktail on arrival.
If you’re eager to learn more about Argentine culture, cuisine, and social traditions, I can’t recommend this tour enough. Plus, it makes for a super fun night out!
5. Tango Dinner Show
A tango show in Buenos Aires is a must, but a lot of them don’t start until 10 pm or even midnight! This is fine for Argentinians who are used to staying up late, but if you prefer to go to bed at a reasonable hour, then you can always opt for this early tango show.
We went to see this tango show and absolutely loved it! You can choose to just go and watch the dancing, but we opted for the dinner beforehand, too. We got to enjoy a delicious 3-course meal. There were plenty of options to choose from, but of course, we went for steak. When in Buenos Aires…
Your meal includes a bottle of Malbec, and you can also add a cocktail with your starter course. This isn’t included in the price of the tour. However, drink prices are in line with the local standard, so they’re not exorbitant.
After we finished our main course, the dancing show started. The way the dancers moved was amazing, and the footwork was honestly exceptional. I also loved the way each dance told a story and was very dramatic. It was kind of like watching a soap opera be danced out in front of you.
As well as dancing, the show also featured some drumming. My favorite part of the show was when a dancer swung long beads on swings around and used them to create a rhythm. It was mesmerizing – both visually and audibly!
This tango show costs $118 USD for dinner, the show, and pickup and dropoff from your hotel. You’ll be picked up around 6:30, and the whole experience lasts about 4 hours (so you can go to bed at a reasonable time). We went for this option and were picked up right on time, plus we really enjoyed the meal, so we think it’s worth it.
You can just pay $59 USD to see the 8 pm tango show alone if you prefer. But we felt that having the meal was definitely worth it. Plus, having all of the transport included made it extra easy!
Book your seats in advance here and get FREE cancellation options 24 hours before the show!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
6. Bike Tour: Half-Day City Highlights of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a very cyclist-friendly city, and a great way to see the sights is by bike! This guided tour will have you feeling just like a local as you explore the city’s highlights on two wheels.
The tour begins at Plaza San Martin and then takes you through the revamped Puerto Madero neighborhood. We found this area to be very different from other parts of the city. It’s right by the river and feels a lot more commercial than the rest of Buenos Aires, with upscale restaurants and finance buildings.
Next, you’ll head to the Ecological Park, which once again feels very different! It’s a huge nature reserve that provides quite the contrast with the neighboring Puerto Madero.
Then, you’ll visit La Boca, our favorite part of the city! Here, you’ll see the iconic Boca Jrs stadium, hear tango music drifting through the streets, and learn about the history of this neighborhood. It started out as a slum and gradually transformed into the most interesting and vibrant part of the city. But don’t take our word for it – see it for yourself!
After La Boca, the half-day tour will take you back to Plaza San Martin via San Telmo. This is the oldest neighborhood in the city and has a cool, Bohemian feel.
We always think that cycling tours are a great way to explore a city. You get to be out in the open air while still covering a lot of ground (and in just a few hours!). It’s also a great way to see make the most of your time if you’ve only got one day in Buenos Aires.
At $35 USD, this is also a very affordable way to see Buenos Aires. Plus, this tour showcases multiple sides of this diverse city. And their beach cruiser bikes are super comfortable for long, leisurely rides. They also gave everyone a water bottle and a helmet and provide rain gear in case of light rain. The 4-hour tour is offered daily in the morning or afternoon, making it easy to fit into your schedule.
Check out the 600+ raving reviews and book your bike tour here!
7. Premium Tigre Delta and San Isidro Tour
This half-day tour is a great way to spend a few hours in nature and see how different Argentinian culture is outside of the capital. You’ll probably get a lot of locals telling you that the residents of Buenos Aires are very different from those who live elsewhere. Well, this tour is a great chance to get out into the countryside and experience this cultural contrast for yourself!
You’ll be picked up from your hotel by 9 am and taken to the port. Here, you’ll board a boat that will take you along the River Plate and the channels of the Delta. This was such a beautiful experience, and it was great to get some fresh air first thing in the morning!
You’ll also visit Tigre, a rustic town along the delta known for its crafts and markets. You’ll visit a fruit market, a cathedral, and one of the town’s many rowing clubs for some empanadas.
Nature can feel hard to come by in Buenos Aires, which is why we think that this 5-hour tour is a really nice way to get outside of the city. Not only will you experience nature, but you’ll get to see a more traditional Argentinian town.
We loved our experience, and we think it’s especially great for families and couples, although pretty much anyone could enjoy this! it costs $125 USD including roundtrip transportation, the boat ride, and snacks.
So if you’re looking to cruise the delta and get a taste of Buenos Aires suburbs, this is it!
This tour sells out quickly, secure your spot now and get FREE cancellation options.
8. Day trip to Iguazu Falls
The famous Iguazu Falls is the type of place you need to see to believe. Pictures really don’t do this natural wonder justice! So even if you don’t have long to spend in Buenos Aires, we highly recommend making the journey – especially because we found the Argentinian side of the falls better than the Brazilian!
There are some great Iguazu Falls tours from Buenos Aires to choose from whether you’re after a day trip or can spend a couple nights.
It’s a 2-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls, and with this private day tour, you can fly there and back in a day. All of your transport is taken care of, including a private transfer from your hotel to the airport in Buenos Aires. You’ll also be taken from the Iguazu airport to the falls, so there’s no need to stress over logistics.
Plus, once you arrive at the falls, your group gets its own private tour. Your guide will give you a ton of insight into the myths and legends surrounding the falls. They’ll also help you spot unique flora and fauna – trust us – there’s a lot to see here!
This full-day tour is perfect if you’re short on time and want all of the logistics taken care of. You will have to leave your hotel around 5:30 am. But it’s just one day, so you really maximize your time in the country! And there’s no need to worry about planning. You can sit back and enjoy the sheer beauty of the Iguazu Falls.
The tour costs $890 USD if you have two or more people. It is pricey, but it includes roundtrip flights from Buenos Aires, all of your transport, and a private tour taking you super close to the falls – you can even travel behind the water on a boat!
Reserve your spot on this tour now, and pay later when you book here!
9. Buenos Aires Small-Group Wine Tasting
Argentina is famous for its wine, so wine tasting is a must in Buenos Aires. While there are a ton of wine tours available, we absolutely loved this small-group tour.
You get to spend 2 hours tasting some of the country’s most famous varietals, including Malbec, Chardonnay, and Torrontés. But the best part is you get to do it all inside a subterranean wine cellar, which we think is the ultimate wine-tasting venue!
Plus, this tour is led by an expert sommelier who will teach you all about winemaking in Argentina and how to taste wine properly. Sometimes, these experiences can feel a bit pretentious, but that definitely isn’t the case with this tour – and we genuinely learned a lot. Also, you get to sample some local boutique wines that you probably wouldn’t have come across otherwise.
You’ll be in a small group, so it’s a pretty intimate experience and a great way to meet new people. As such, you’ll be able to ask lots of questions and chat with your guide.
The tour costs $55 USD per person, and you can choose to go at either 11 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, or 6 pm. As well as your tasting session, you get to enjoy a cheese platter and some empanadas. It all takes place in the Miravida Hotel & Wine Bar, which is a beautiful mansion in the heart of Palermo.
Book this top-rated experience here and get free cancellation before you go.
10. Enjoy a traditional Argentinian BBQ
You might think that you’ve had great barbecue before, but trust me, you haven’t had anything until you’ve tried an Argentinian asado. An asado is a traditional barbecue where meat is cooked over an open fire. You’ll probably get to eat a lot of asado while in Buenos Aires, but learning how to make it takes it to the next level!
This Asado Experience in Buenos Aires will teach you all about the world-famous meat. Not only will you learn how to cook it properly, but you’ll learn about the different cuts of meats, get to taste the Chimichurri sauce that perfectly pairs with the asado, and try lots and lots of wine – of course!
This class is fun for anyone, but especially those who love to cook. I think this is a great way to dive into the traditional Argentinian culture and enjoy a feast along the way. By the end, you’ll be a grill master – and really full!
You can reserve your spot on this 3-hour experience for $150 USD per person. It includes all of your food and drinks, as well as instructions and ingredients for cooking. It is a memorable experience and honestly, with the amount of food you’ll consume, well worth the price.
Book this Asado Experience with over 250 glowing reviews here!
Where to Stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Now that you know the best things to do in Buenos Aires, you’ll want to find the right hotel to stay at! You don’t need to break the bank to stay here, but if you are searching for a luxurious getaway, you can find that too. Here are my top picks for various price ranges.
Hilton Buenos Aires – $$$
You can’t beat the location with the riverside Hilton Buenos Aires. You’ll be within walking distance to downtown as well as the Playa Reserva Ecológica Buenos Aires. It’s also where you’ll board the boat on the Tigre Delta Cruise! There’s a rooftop pool to relax in or sit down for a meal or drink at the hotel’s restaurant or bar.
The service is exceptional, and the rooms are spacious. It’s a more expensive place to stay at $250-$350 USD per night, but worth it if you’re looking for a five-star experience. So for the ultimate luxury in Buenos Aires, book your stay at the Hilton online here.
Broadway Hotel & Suites – $$
Located in the heart of Buenos Aires, the Broadway Hotel & Suites offers really spacious rooms at a great price. The swimming pool on the roof has amazing panoramic city views and a sun deck to soak up some rays. The rooms feature large windows, minimalistic art deco-type décor, and bathrooms with marble fittings.
You’ll also have plenty of choices for shopping and restaurants nearby. Plus, a junior suite here can be under $70 USD! To snag this awesome deal, I highly recommend you check availability and book online in advance.
Selina Palermo – $
Stay in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires on a budget! Selina Palermo puts you close to the best bars and nightclubs – giving you a great place to crash after a night on the town. The place feels really modern, and there are nice extras like a rooftop bar, breakfast, and bike rentals available. It’s also within walking distance to the Argentine Experience, Sherpa Food, and Wine Tasting tours on our list!
Shared dorm rooms with bunk beds are around $20 USD per night. If sharing isn’t your style, there are affordable private rooms with nice balconies overlooking the city starting at around $90 USD. You can book your stay on Booking.com or Hostelworld.com to secure your room!
Renting a Car in Argentina
We enjoyed a rental car for our second trip to Argentina when we traveled in Patagonia – and wow, what a way to travel! But the best part was that we only paid $40 USD per day for a 5-person sedan!
But how? Well, if you’re renting a car in Argentina, the cheapest company is Discover Cars. We often get questions from readers asking us if the website is fake because it seems too cheap! It’s a great website and the one we used for our rental.
If you do want to compare prices (and you should), do a quick search on Airport Car Rentals too. They’re another big competitor, and each company often has its own deals to offer!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
Buenos Aires is a huge place with so many things to do. I actually found it a bit intimidating when I first arrived, but after spending more time in the city, it really grew on me. It’s a place where you can dance the night away, eat delicious food, drink fantastic wine or craft beer, see amazing architecture, and lose yourself on the colorful streets.
I hope your Buenos Aires bucket list is full after reading this guide! Make sure to check out our other Argentina blogs before you book your plane ticket. We have lots of ideas for you and places to discover that you may not have heard of.
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