Is Buenos Aires Worth Visiting? 21 Reasons to Go
Buenos Aires isn’t often a top travel destination for the average American, so you might find yourself wondering, Is Buenos Aires worth visiting? Often referred to as “the Paris of the Americas,” Buenos Aires is a beautiful city with much to offer.
I spent about 5 weeks in Buenos Aires healing after the unexpected end to my engagement just a few months prior. I had such a special time in the city and this post dives into all the reasons to visit Buenos Aires.
21 Reasons Why It’s Worth Visiting Buenos Aires
I could go on and on about Buenos Aires. It’s an extraordinary city, and I think any traveler who wants to see a variety of places on there adventures should go. Here are 21 reasons why you should visit Buenos Aires that I’ve gathered from my time in the city.
1. You’ll have some of the best steak of your life.
You can arguably find the best steak in the world all over Buenos Aires (and the rest of the Argentina). I’m still dreaming of the steak I had in there and would love to go back just to eat more!
The steak is some of the best in the world for a number of reasons. First off, Argentine beef is extremely high quality. Cattle are typically grass-fed over expansive plains and have good lives, which results in much better beef.
Secondly, cooking meat is practically an art in Argentina and has strong cultural significance. Every Sunday, many Argentine families gather to partake in what’s called asado, where huge amounts of meat are cooked for hours. When I studied abroad in Argentina at 18, my host family did this every Sunday and even had their own special grill built into a screened-in porch area.
The way the meat is typically cooked liked this slowly over a grill results in a tender and juicy steak unlike anything you can find in the U.S.
For great steak in Buenos Aires, you have to visit the 10th best restaurant in the world, Don Julio, which also has a Michelin star.
2. You can see the unique and beautiful Recoleta Cemetery.
As strange as it sounds, it’s worth visiting Buenos Aires just to see Recoleta Cemetery. It’s arguably the most notable tourist attraction in the city. BBC has also named it one of the best cemeteries in the world.
It’s the most beautiful cemetery I’ve ever seen. It contains vaults that are all above ground, which reminded me a bit of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans. However, the vaults and mausoleums in this cemetery are all much more ornate.
Some call Recoleta Cemetery the city of the dead. It’s laid out similar to city blocks with grand promenades lined with trees. It makes for what would be a lovely walk if you didn’t realize it’s a burial site.
Of note, the cemetery houses the remains of many prominent Argentines, including Eva Perón, former presidents, top military generals, and writers.
3. It’s the birthplace of Argentine tango.
If you like Argentine tango, then you must visit Buenos Aires. This passionate and emotional dance and music style originated in the city. In the late 19th Century, the many immigrants from all over the world in the city led to a mixing of music and dance blending various European and African elements that gave birth to Argentine tango.
Buenos Aires is now full of so many places where you can enjoy tango shows or even try out the dancing for yourself.
4. You will likely find Buenos Aires to be quite affordable.
Buenos Aires is one of the most affordable big cities in the world. It’s extremely affordable compared to the U.S., but I’ve found it surprisingly more affordable than some other parts of Latin America as well.
For instance, I rented a one-bedroom Airbnb for a month in Palermo Soho for about $1,000. I had a steak dinner with sides and lots of wine for $25. As an American, it’s very easy to enjoy yourself in the city without worrying too much about money.
I will say, while the affordability makes it nice for visitors from elsewhere, it’s heartbreaking to see the Argentine economy in such a disaster. Inflation is through the roof there, and locals have experienced massive amounts of economic turbulence over the years. Because inflation is so bad, you will likely have to carry huge amounts of cash, may struggle to get enough cash, and will likely find that prices change constantly.
5. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city.
They don’t call Buenos Aires “the Paris of the Americas” for nothing. The many tree-lined streets, beautiful buildings, and cobble stones feel very European, and it’s a joy to wander around aimlessly.
There’s an interesting mix of architecture throughout the city. You’ll find Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and other architectural styles throughout the city. Don’t miss Palacio Barolo, an Art Nouveau style building designed with inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy.
6. You can enjoy world-renowned wines.
Argentina is one of the top wine producers in the world. Many of the country’s vineyards sit near the Andes Mountains at high altitudes, producing unique and complex wines.
Buenos Aires is a great place to enjoy the many wonderful wines the country has to offer. You can grab a glass at just about any restaurant, and there are dozens of wine shops where you can do wine tastings as well.
You can never go wrong with a malbec from Mendoza, but there are many other great wines to try in Argentina as well.
After malbec, Bonarda is the second most grown grape variety in the country and a must try. Cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and tempranillos are the next most common grape varieties grown in the country. For a unique white wine, try the Torrontés, which is typically grown in Salta at a high elevation.
7. Buenos Aires is a great jumping off point for traveling to a number of other places.
If you’re looking to visit a variety of places on your trip, then Buenos Aires is the perfect place to start your trip. From there, you can easily reach the following cities in Argentina by plane:
- Mendoza, the malbec capital of the world and home to the tallest mountain in the Americas
- Iguazú Falls, the largest waterfall system in the world
- Bariloche, known for its chocolates, skiing, and Swiss architecture in Patagonia
- El Calafate, a gateway to one of the country’s most notable glaciers and great hiking in Patagonia
- Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world and home to penguins
- Salta, home to Argentine folklore, salt flats, and great wine
In addition, Buenos Aires sits just across the Rio de la Plata from Uruguay. Many people take the ferry from Buenos Aires over to Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a day trip. The ferry typically takes just over an hour, but customs between the countries can add some time.
8. It’s easy to get around.
For being such a large city, Buenos Aires is quite easy to get around, especially as a tourist. Most tourist areas are fairly close to one another and easy to walk to our reach by car.
Using ride sharing apps like Cabify or Uber is affordable and easy in the city. You may read that Uber is not technically legal, but I never had any issues with it. Cabify is legal though, so I typically used that one more.
There are many taxis throughout the city as well. I didn’t use them much, but I did arrange a taxi to take me back to the airport when I left as I worried about getting an Uber since it was in the middle of a World Cup match. Some taxi companies allow you to arrange a ride in advance over WhatsApp.
I personally always either walked or used a ride sharing app to get somewhere. That said, Buenos Aires also has a good public transit system with subway lines and buses running throughout the city.
9. It’s home to El Ateneo Grand Splendid, one of the best bookstores in the world.
For book lovers, Buenos Aires is worth a visit for this reason alone. El Ateneo Grand Splendid is one of the most spectacular bookstores in the world.
The building originally housed a theater that opened in 1919. There, it hosted ballet, opera, tango, and other shows until turning into a cinema in 1929. As a cinema, it showed some of the first movies with sound in the city.
In 2000, the building turned into a bookstore while preserving the former theater’s beautiful elements, including its painted domed ceiling, theater boxes, and curtained stage area. There’s a coffee shop inside, so you can grab a coffee and take your time enjoying the beautiful store and live piano music that’s often played.
As a newer book lover, I’m heartbroken that I missed this. I wasn’t much of a reader at the time, but now I am and I must go back!
10. Buenos Aires has epic nightlife.
If nightlife is your thing, then you should definitely visit Buenos Aires. Argentines are night owls in general, eating dinner often sometime between 9 p.m. until even after midnight. This late schedule absolutely extends to the nightlife as well.
In Buenos Aires, you don’t even want to get to the discoteca until around 2 a.m. or later. Many don’t even open their doors before then. Once you’re there, you can expect to stay pretty much as long as you want—some stay open until as late as 7 a.m.
I struggle to stay up late enough to go out in the U.S., but going out in Buenos Aires takes a whole other level of energy. I did it a few times though, and it was definitely worth it for the experience.
11. The city has a mix of cultural influences.
Buenos Aires has long been home to immigrants from all over the world, and you can see that influence all throughout the city.
Many Argentines today can still trace some of their ancestry back to Italy, so you’ll find lots of pizza, pasta, and Aperol Spritzes throughout the city. Even the way Spanish is spoken in Argentina today was influenced by Italian immigrants.
I feel like many Americans got hooked on Aperol Spritz after visiting Italy, but not me. I got hooked when I spent 5 weeks in Buenos Aires. 😀
Aside from Italian, you’ll find many other cultural influences in the city and food from all over the world. I tried Venezuelan empanadas, ate lomo saltado at a Peurvean restaurant, and enjoyed Spanish tortilla de patatas.
12. You can eat plenty of empanadas.
You can find varying kinds of empanadas in many countries, but some consider Argentina to be the empanadas capital of the world. As the largest city in Argentina, Buenos Aires is a fantastic spot to try them, and you can easily find empanadas all over the city. My vegetarian friends even found a restaurant serving only vegetarian empanadas.
I personally prefer Argentine empanadas over others I’ve tried as well, but that’s my own preference. I love the flour-based dough, and the meat filling is so good. Writing this now is really making me wish my small North Carolina city had an empanadas spot!
13. You can take in open air markets selling all sorts of things.
Buenos Aires is home to a number of outdoor markets. I visited the San Telmo Market, one of the most popular. The market spans over 10 city blocks and is a great place for checking out local handicrafts and getting souvenirs.
You can find leather goods, art, wine holders, antiques, secondhand clothes, and so much more. Even if you don’t necessarily plan to buy anything, it’s fun to look around and see what folks are selling.
While San Telmo Market is the most popular, many markets pop up all over the city on Saturdays and/or Sundays. When I was staying in Palermo, I also stopped by markets at Plaza Serrano and around Plaza Inmigrantes de Armenia.
14. Buenos Aires has three of the best bars in the world.
Buenos Aires is home to three of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Every time I travel, I check out this list and it has never led me astray. I personally visited two of the three bars and visited one of them multiple times.
Here are the bars:
- Tres Monos, #7 bar in the world
- CoChinChina, #22 bar in the world
- Florería Atlántico, #46 bar in the world
Buenos Aires is full of really cool bars, so while these are some of the best, there are plenty of other cool spots throughout the city as well.
15. The city is full of an incredible love for fútbol (soccer).
With soccer legends like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi hailing from Argentina, you can’t talk about this country without mentioning fútbol!
Fans here are VERY into their teams, and Buenos Aires has two of the most popular teams in the country—Boca and River. Even when I studied abroad 5 hours away, all of my Argentine friends were either Boca or River fans.
It can be difficult to get tickets to games, but it’s quite fun just to take in the fans even if you’re not at a game. One night when I was in Buenos Aires, my Cabify driver had a game playing on his radio and then when Boca won, we saw fans all over the streets cheering and waving flags in celebration.
When Argentina played in the last World Cup, I was able to watch a few games while I was in the city. The first game was at 7 a.m. Argentina time, but that didn’t stop fans from pouring into bars to watch. They lost that game, but when they won later games in the tournament, it was so cool to see everyone pouring into the streets to celebrate.
This city LOVES fútbol, and it’s such an added bonus to see this passion for yourself firsthand and join in.
16. You can try Havanna alfajores, a unique sweet treat.
Buenos Aires, and Argentina overall, has a love for the sweet caramel spread called dulce de leche. Put that between two cookies and cover it in chocolate, and you get what’s called an alfajor.
Ever since I studied abroad in Argentina when I was 18, I’ve dreamed of these, and the company Havanna has arguably the best. Buenos Aires has over a dozen Havanna locations where you can try out this incredible dessert.
17. Buenos Aires has Teatro Colón, one of the best opera houses in the world.
National Geographic named this opera house one of the top ten in the world. It’s over 100 years old and is known for its incredible architecture and acoustics.
You can now visit the theater on a guided tour or by seeing a performance.
18. The city has cool unique neighborhoods.
Buenos Aires has a number of unique and special neighborhoods that are fun to explore. Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood are my favorite with their cobblestoned tree-lined streets and many restaurants, bars, and shops.
You also can’t miss the colorful streets of La Boca, the waterfront walkways in Puerto Madero, or the ritzy Recoleta.
19. You can enjoy the many lovely parks and gardens.
You could stroll around the Parque Tres de Febrero and the surrounding parks and gardens for hours. Don’t miss the Botanical Garden, or Jardín Botánico, with 6,000 species of trees and plants.
There’s also the Ecoparque Buenos Aires with many animals roaming about and the Japanese Garden, or Jardín Japonés.
20. Buenos Aires is fairly safe.
Buenos Aires is fairly safe as a tourist. Sure, pickpocketing and muggings do happen, but if you practice common sense and stick to the main tourist areas, you should be fine.
Overall, I felt safer in Buenos Aires than I do in the U.S. and never felt that I had to worry too much about my safety. I walked around quite a bit alone, even a little bit late at night when I would have to part ways from my friends to my apartment.
The great thing about safety in Buenos Aires is that people stay up so late. It’s not like other cities where the streets will be desolate at midnight. Late at night, in a neighborhood like Palermo Soho at least, there’s always people out, and I felt fine.
I would just say do your research on neighborhoods—some may get sketchier at night but are overall ok. It’s a good idea to keep your belongings close in super crowded areas too as that’s where pickpocketing may be more likely.
21. There are many opportunities to meet people.
Locals tend to be fairly friendly, and the city is also full of expats and tourists. There are meetup events all the time and lots of coworking cafes and spaces.
I went to a language exchange meetup with a mix of folks trying to learn English and Spanish and make new friends. It was absolutely packed with people who were open to connecting.
Where to Stay in Buenos Aires
As one of the largest cities in the world, there’s no shortage of places to stay in Buenos Aires. The city is full of many options with a range of prices and offerings for all kinds of travelers. I love that the city seems to have so many small unique boutique hotels as well.
Here are a few hotels in Buenos Aires that I recommend:
📍Budget Option: Alfonsina Hostel is a newer hostel with the option to book your own private room or a bed in a four-bed mixed dorm. It’s located in Palermo Soho, my favorite Buenos Aires neighborhood. It’s also not far from some of my favorite places: La Cabrera, La Fábrica del Taco, and Sheikob’s Bagels.
This hostel is clean, comfortable, and modern with friendly staff. A light breakfast is included in the booking, and there are plenty of other restaurants within walking distance if you wanted something more.
📍Mid-Range Option: Legado Mítico is a small boutique hotel located right in the heart of Palermo Soho. Tons of restaurants, bars, and shops are all located right around this hotel. It’s just two blocks from the #10 restaurant in the world Don Julio, one block from a Havanna alfajores shop, and a few blocks from some of the top bars in the world.
The hotel staff here are very helpful in helping guests make plans during their stay, and the rooms are very clean. The hotel also has a lovely library area and outdoor courtyard for guests to enjoy.
📍Luxury Option: Palacio Duhau was built in 1934 as a mansion to a wealthy family. It’s now a Park Hyatt hotel, and its ornate design and sprawling garden makes it feel like something out of a movie.
The hotel is in the Recoleta neighborhood, not far from Recoleta Cemetery, El Ateneo Grand Splendid, and one of the top bars in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is enough in Buenos Aires?
I would spend 3 or 4 days in the city. It’s worth giving yourself this time because the city truly has so much to offer and there’s no shortage of activities in Buenos Aires.
What’s so special about Buenos Aires?
Buenos Aires is one of THE iconic big cities of the world. It’s beautiful to explore and rich in culture. The steak and wine are some of the best in the world yet come at an affordable price.
Buenos Aires is also worth visiting as it’s a gateway to exploring one of the most beautiful countries in the world. From the mountains and glaciers of Patagonia, to butterfly-filled jungles and waterfalls of Iguazú, to the massive wine country of Mendoza, and more, Argentina has so much to offer any kind of traveler looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Is Santiago or Buenos Aires better to visit?
Both Santiago and Buenos Aires are spectacular cities worth a visit depending on what you’re looking for. If you have to choose one now, I’d recommend Buenos Aires as it has a more traditional and European feel, rich culture, and is a larger city with more to do as a tourist.
That said, Santiago has much to offer as well, especially when it comes to nature as the city is uniquely situated along both the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean. It’s a more modern and relaxed city with more economic stability. If you’re hoping to visit other sights in Chile, like the Atacama Desert, then it likely makes more sense for you to visit Santiago instead of Buenos Aires.
Is Argentina friendly to tourists?
Argentines tend to be quite friendly and happy to have tourists. I always felt welcome everywhere, even at my coworking space, which was filled with more locals.
As a non-fluent Spanish speaker, I found Argentines to be quite friendly as well. In my experience traveling all over Argentina, the locals were typically quite patient with me and my mediocre Spanish. It took a lot of the pressure off and helped me feel less nervous speaking Spanish.
I’ll add that I had friends who didn’t know Spanish at all, and locals seemed to be friendly and accommodating with them in speaking the English they knew and using Google Translate as needed.
What is the best month to visit Buenos Aires?
It’s best to visit Buenos Aires in April or October/November for ideal weather. Weather in the city gets quite hot in the summer and fairly cool in the winter, so visiting in spring or fall is best.
I personally visited from mid-October through early December. The weather was lovely at the beginning, but I was starting to feel very hot walking around towards the end of my visit.
That said, Buenos Aires is worth visiting whenever you are able to make the trip. Many people will visit in the middle of the summer as they’re also traveling to Patagonia and will have better weather at that time of year there.
If you visit in the summer, you can still have a great time! I would just get a hotel with a pool and take breaks to cool off.
Conclusion: Is Buenos Aires Worth Visiting?
Buenos Aires is absolutely worth visiting if you’re someone who likes to experience other cultures and big cities. This large city has so much to offer for every kind of traveler, whether you’re a backpacker on a budget or more of a luxury traveler looking for high-quality dining and hotel experiences.
If you’re a fútbol lover, Buenos Aires is a must visit city. If you’re into music and dance, this city is for you too. For readers, you have to visit Buenos Aires for one of the best bookstores in the world.
If you’re looking for somewhere to learn Spanish, I will call out that Argentine Spanish is very distinct from what we learn in school in the U.S., and it can be quite hard to understand sometimes. You may be better off going elsewhere if you’re looking to learn, but I still recommend visiting Buenos Aires at some point.
Buenos Aires is one of my favorite cities in the world. I love it so much that if the economy wasn’t such a mess, I’d absolutely consider moving there. I don’t yet know when I’ll be back, but I very much look forward to that day.
I hope you find this post helpful as you ask yourself if Buenos Aires is worth visiting, and I wish you the very best on your travels!
