Book flights to Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is divided into 48 barrios, or neighbourhoods. Each of these has its own unique flavour and attractions to offer. In the barrio of San Telmo, you can discover some of the country’s history and admire grand colonial-era houses. Cobbled streets, antique shops and the atmospheric café Bar Plaza Dorrego give this old neighbourhood its nostalgic appeal.

The downtown Microcentro barrio is home to many attractions worth visiting when you travel to Buenos Aires, including the Casa Rosada, where the president of Argentina holds office. The Palacio Barolo, commissioned by Italian migrant and entrepreneur Luis Barolo, was built in the late 1800s. One of Argentina’s tallest buildings, it offers a panoramic city view, and its design is said to have been inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. The most famous reference point in Buenos Aires is the Obelisk, a monument made up of Cordoba white stone.

La Boca is another popular barrio, and a definitive representation of the city’s lively attitude towards art. The neighbourhood is known for its brightly painted houses, as well as being the home of Argentina’s famous football club, Boca Juniors. Anyone interested in Argentinean history should visit the Cementerio de la Recoleta. The cemetery is the final resting place of several famous figures, including Eva (Evita) Peron.

Argentina is renowned for its national dance: the tango. In Buenos Aires, there are many opportunities to experience it, whether you want to try it yourself or sit back and watch the best in the business strut their stuff. The Confitero Ideal is a particularly popular place to learn how to tango, and has been featured in a variety of movies.

Football is also feverishly popular in Argentina, and going to a game is a great way to discover the depths of the national obsession. If you want to get a look at the bigger picture during your trip to Buenos Aires, take a helicopter tour, or skydive out of a plane high above the city. For less active experiences, try one of the city’s many golf courses or spas.

If you want to take a leisurely walk, head for the Congressional Plaza on Casa Rosada. Here you’ll find the green-domed Palace of the Argentine National Congress, a national historical landmark designed in the Neoclassical style.

If tango is the dance of Argentina, then asado (a traditional type of barbecue) is its national dish. Buenos Aires is a steak-lover’s dream, and prime cuts of beef can be found throughout the many restaurants of Microcentro, Palermo and Recoleta. Food is very much a part of Porteños’ (as the locals are known) social life and if you want to experience a steak-fuelled day, visit any of the city’s parrilla (steakhouses).

Argentina’s Spanish colonial past, and a substantial influx of Italian immigrants since the 19th century, have made its cuisine rich and diverse. Pizza, pasta and paella are well represented, alongside the many succulent grilled meats on offer.

Travel to Buenos Aires and you will find a range of shopping options available to you. On Florida Street, there are many tourist-oriented shops where you can pick up souvenirs of your Argentinean holiday, from Gaucho-inspired gourds and clothes, to tango shoes and ponchos.

If you're looking for a more authentic shopping experience in Buenos Aires, then check out some of the traditional craft and artisanal markets in Palermo, San Telmo and San Fernando.