10 BEST Tours in Buenos Aires, Argentina – By a Local!

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Ready to discover Buenos Aires? 

If you’re anything like me, you’ll be looking for authentic tours that really help you get to know the city and its people. We’ve spent a ton of time exploring this beautiful capital city, and after doing what feels like every tour under the sun, I can tell you that they’re not all created equal. 

During my time in the city, the tours I took helped me to learn about Argentine food, culture, and history, so I’ve rounded up my top 10 picks here to help you make the most of your time in this dynamic city. From cowboy ranches to steak, tango, and wine, you’ll definitely find something that speaks to your interests!

Our TOP Three Buenos Aires Tours

Best small-group tour: 

For the perfect introduction to Buenos Aires, you really can’t go wrong with this 3-hour small-group city tour. At just $29 USD per person, it’s great value and I’d recommend it as one of the first things you do in the city! The English-speaking guides are super friendly too with lots of stories – you can book your spot on the tour online here.

Best dining experience:

Hands-down, my favorite cooking tour has to be the Argentine Experience, which is a wonderful combination of a sit-down meal and you have the chance to make empanadas! After five incredible courses, I’m sure you’ll join me in saying that this is the best meal you’ve had in Buenos Aires. Tickets cost $85 USD and can be booked here.

Best cultural tour: 

In my eyes, the most immersive cultural tour on this list is this gaucho full-day tour, where you get the chance to experience what it means to be an Argentinian cowboy, including an awesome barbeque lunch and a horseback ride! This tour is great for both families and individual travelers.

Tickets for this tour cost $159 USD per person and can be booked online here.

Best Tours in Buenos Aires

1. Small-Group City Tour of Buenos Aires

This small group tour is a great introduction to Buenos Aires and the perfect way to get your bearings in this massive city. You can choose to go either in the morning or the afternoon, and it’s a half-day tour, so it’s easy to slot into your Buenos Aires itinerary!

Buenos Aires is one of our favorite cities in South America because there’s just so much to explore. Luckily, this 3-hour tour covers everything from the city’s oldest neighborhood, San Telmo, to Plaza de Mayo.

In this plaza, you’ll see the gorgeous Metropolitan Cathedral and Casa Rosado, which is the seat of the Argentinian president. This is also where Evita famously addressed the nation from the balcony. 

One of my favorite parts of the tour was having free time to explore La Boca, a historically impoverished neighborhood with lots of colorful houses and tango music filling the air. We even saw some dancers giving live demonstrations! Plus, the neighborhood is home to the famous Bombonera Stadium, where Boca Juniors play. You’ll see lots of memorabilia around, and we even saw a really cute pup dressed up in homage to the iconic team.

The last stop on the tour was the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas, which is home to the famous Floralis Generica (aka the moving flower sculpture). Buenos Aires is a bit of a concrete jungle, so it was nice to end the tour in a pretty green space. Sadly, though, the Floralis Generica has been broken for a few years, so it doesn’t actually move anymore, but it’s still worth checking out. 

What really made this small-group tour amazing, though, was the guide, who shared lots of interesting information about the history of the city and also had everyone laughing throughout. The whole experience definitely helped me decide where I should spend more time exploring throughout the rest of my trip. It also really sparked my interest in Argentinian history.

This small group tour costs $29 USD per person, including hotel pick-up and drop-off. If you’re arriving on a cruise, they offer roundtrip transport from the port for an extra $5 USD per person.

You can choose to get dropped off at Recoleta Cemetery at the end (instead of your hotel) if you want to explore. But if you don’t want to go to the cemetery, your guide will still give you some background info about it.

All in all, this is one of the best things to do to Buenos Aires, and it’s suitable for pretty much anyone. Plus, being part of a small group meant I was able to ask all of my burning questions! I also got a ton of recommendations from my guide about things to do and places to eat during the rest of my time in the city.

For a wonderful introduction to Buenos Aires, you can book this half-day tour online here!

Related Read: If it’s your first time exploring Buenos Aires, it’s natural to be concerned about safety – which is why I made this handy guide all about safety in South America. I hope it makes you feel more comfortable as you enjoy this awesome city!

2. 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 that love cooking and trying new cuisines, this is an absolute must! In fact, we wrote an in-depth review of The Argentine Experience because it was THAT good.

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 don 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 $95 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 $25 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!

However, this tour does sell out fast. So check availability and book The Argentine Experience online here!

3. 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 $98 USD for dinner, the show, and pickup and dropoff from your hotel or Airbnb. 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 $45 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!

You really can’t visit Buenos Aires without seeing some tango – so don’t hesitate to book this early show online here!

Related Read: Another tango show option is La Ventana – read our review of that tango show here!

4. 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 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! To learn more, just read our guide to booking a gaucho tour in Buenos Aires.

The 9-hour gaucho tour includes pickup from your Buenos Aires accommodations around 8:30 am. It costs $159 USD per person or $80 USD for kids aged 3-8. 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 what the gaucho lifestyle is like, book this tour to experience it firsthand!

Related Read: To experience another side of Argentine culture, visit the stunning mountain town of Bariloche. You can read all about my top things to do in Bariloche here!

5. Buenos Aires Free Walking Tour

One of the best tours we did in Buenos Aires was actually a free walking tour. Walking tours are an excellent way to get acquainted with a new city – especially one as big as Buenos Aires. You’ll learn all about the city’s history, culture, and architecture while getting some exercise, too. It’s also a very wallet-friendly way to meet fellow travelers.

There are several companies offering free walking tours in Buenos Aires, but the most reputable is Buenos Aires Free Walks, so that’s who we went with. They have two free walking tours on offer: the City Center and Retiro and Recoleta.

The City Center Tour is more focused on the political history of Buenos Aires. You’ll start at the National Congress and make stops at several important landmarks. Your guide will teach you all about Argentina’s fascinating history, from the prosperity of the early 1900s to The Dirty War. As the name suggests, this was one of the darkest periods in the country’s past.

The Retiro and Recoleta Tour is more cultural, focusing on the city’s parks, architecture, and religious landmarks. You’ll meet your group at the Teatro Colon. From here, you’ll walk through some of Buenos Aires’ most beautiful areas while learning about some of the city’s famous figures, from war heroes to eccentric aristocrats.

The City Center Tours run Monday to Saturday at 3 pm and last for 2.5 hours. The Retiro and Recoleta tours are on Monday to Saturday at 10:30 am, lasting 3 hours. This means that you can easily do both (and you may as well since it’s free!).

However, if you only have time for one, we prefer the Retiro and Recoleta Tour. It was more engaging and really showed us the character of the city.

The only downside to free walking tours is that the groups can get pretty big, which can be a bit overwhelming. If you want a more intimate experience, we recommend opting for a paid walking tour instead. 

And of course, remember that free tours are always tip-based – so be generous!

6. 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 or Airbnb 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 $89 USD per person or $44 USD for kids aged 3-8. Roundtrip transportation, the boat ride, and snacks are covered.

Alternatively, you can make your own way to and from the portside meeting point and pay $79 USD. However, we felt paying a little extra was worth avoiding the hassle of taxis and traffic.

So if you’re looking to cruise the delta and get a taste of Buenos Aires suburbs, this is it! But this tour does sell out fast, so check availability and book it online here!

7. 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 for one person, $730 USD per person for 2-4 people, or $720 USD per person for a group of 5 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!

For one of the most beautiful day trips from Buenos Aires, we highly recommend booking this tour online here!

Related Read: If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you absolutely must visit the Patagonia region! To understand why, read about the best things to do in Patagonia here!

8. Sherpa Food Tour

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 to even 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!

We actually thought this was the best food tour in Buenos Aires – you can see all the other options here!

If you’re a foodie at heart, you’ll want to take this tour! So don’t hesitate to book the Sherpa Food Tour online 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 of no more than 8 people, 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 $49 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.

For a memorable wine tasting in Buenos Aires, we highly suggest booking your tour online here!

Related Read: Wine lovers should definitely take a wine tour in Mendoza! It’s one of the most important wine regions in the country and you can read about the best things to do in Mendoza here!

10. 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 sightseeing tour in 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 at 9:30 am or 2 pm, making it easy to fit into your schedule. So head online to pick a date and reserve your spot today!

Other Activities to do While You’re in Buenos Aires

There is so much to see and do in Buenos Aires. You could spend weeks exploring and just skim the surface – which is why tours are a great way to maximize your time. But if you’re looking for even more fun activities, check out some of my favorites below!

• Gran Café Tortoni – Gran Café Tortoni is an iconic Buenos Aires coffeehouse. it’s one of the oldest cafes in the city and has even been named one of the most beautiful cafes in the world! This is the perfect place to grab a late-morning coffee or medialunas (Argentina’s mini croissants). You also buy a ticket for their weeknight tango shows.

• Shop at the San Telmo Market – Located in one of the most historic neighborhoods, the San Telmo Market is a huge indoor market with fresh produce, amazing street food stalls, and antique stores. The market is open daily from roughly 9 am – 8 pm, although some restaurants close around 4 pm, and other stalls and shops are only open on weekends.

• Visit the River Plate Museum – The River Plate Museum is one of the biggest sports museums in the world, so it’s a must for any soccer fan. River Plate is one of the most successful soccer clubs in Argentina, and this museum covers the club’s entire history. It’s located in the Monumental Stadium, and you can get skip-the-line entry with this museum and stadium combo tour.

• Walk through the Botanical Gardens – The Botanical Gardens provide a beautiful natural refuge right in the Palermo neighborhood. Entry is free, and you’ll find an impressive array of flora, fauna, and butterflies. Right across the road, you’ll find the Ecoparque Zoologico, which no longer houses caged animals. Instead, you’ll spot free-range capybaras and peacocks in an open-air environment.

• Party! – Buenos Aires is known for its nightlife, and you can find a wide variety of events any night of the week. Palermo is the epicenter for trendy bars, and one of our favorite places to party is Glam Disco, a chic LGBT nightclub. San Telmo bars have a more relaxed, local vibe. For tango, beginners can head to La Catedral Club and keep the party going at La Viruta Tango Club.

Where to Stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Now that you know how many great tours are available here, you’ll want to find the right hotel to stay at! As you’re narrowing it down, you can take a peek at our guide to the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires.

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!

Planning your Trip to Argentina

Accommodation in Argentina

Booking accommodation is one of the biggest aspects of your trip, and we should know as we stay in a new hotel up to 40 times per year! Funny enough, we make 99% of these bookings on one website and that’s Booking.com – and there are a few reasons why we use this site!

Number one is the website is easy to use and sorts accommodation options. That takes the stress out of planning, which honestly still affects us, and we do it more than not.

Second is the price guarantee. We have literally booked a hotel months before and then 1 week out found it cheaper (we always do a quick search), and they’ll match that price from anyone’s website, including the hotels!

And third is the Genius loyalty program. If you make a certain amount of bookings per year, you get a Genius discount. We are level-two geniuses because we make more than 5 a year. At participating hotels, we get things like free breakfast included, early check-in, and up to 15% off.

You can check out all their accommodation options throughout Argentina!

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!

Thanks for reading!

Buenos Aires is one of our favorite places to visit in South America. This capital has so much to offer, from food and tango to gauchos and beyond. Tours are a fantastic way to get a feel for this culture from a local’s perspective – and we hope our list has helped you find one (or a few!) to enjoy.

Hopefully, you found all this info useful in planning your trip to Buenos Aires! And if you’re traveling throughout the country, check out my other blogs about Argentina. Below, I’ve linked to a few related articles that might come in handy.

21 FUN Things to do in Ushuaia, Argentina

15 Things to KNOW About the Mount Fitz Roy Hike (Laguna de los Tres)

6 BEST Tours in Torres del Paine National Park