Sometimes called the “Paris of South America,” Buenos Aires blends European influences with a distinct energy unique to Latin America. This vibrant city offers lots to do and is known as one of the cultural capitals of South America.
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There are 48 barrios or neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires, each one with its own personality, a different look and feel, and a different set of restaurants, bars, cafes, street performers, and local attractions.
Some neighbourhoods are known for eye-catching street art, while others impress with their displays of high art. Shopping can be done along wide avenues with high-end boutiques or at neighbourhoods local or antique shops. There are barrios for fancy dining and partying all throughout the night, and those that give you a taste of authentic street food. From chic Paloma to the vibrant streets of La Boca, there’s no shortage of interesting spots to visit.
Following our expedition to Antarctica, we spent 3 days in Buenos Aires. It was a great place to gather our bearings back on land after 2 weeks in the South.
Though our Buenos Aires visit was short, our intentionally designed itinerary allowed us to experience the best of the city in just 48 hours!
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Read on to find out what our visit had in store for inspiration for your own visit!
How much time do you need in Buenos Aires?
We had two days in Buenos Aires dedicated to sightseeing, exploring, and other cultural delights. Our trip was custom-designed by Adventure Life. Their Trip Planners helped us craft an itinerary that made the most out of our two days in Buenos Aires. They covered everything from cultural tours around the city, down to dinner reservations.
If you’re visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina, here’s an idea of how you can spend 2 days in Buenos Aires and make the most of it!
Day 0: Arrive and settle into your hotel
While in Buenos Aires, we stayed in the neighbourhood of Recoleta, a popular area for first-time visitors to the city. At first glance, you might think you’ve been transported somewhere else. Recoleta looked like Europe and felt like Europe.
We noticed many palatial townhouses here, once owned by wealthy diplomats and socialites who wanted to recreate the opulence of European homes in Buenos Aires.
Recoleta is nice and quite posh, with lots of leafy, green spaces. There’s a good selection of hotels, and it’s also a popular spot for shopping. Of course, there are high-end luxury stores, but there are also indie boutique shops, smaller storefronts with pieces by local artists, and more touristy souvenir stores.
Getting around Buenos Aires was relatively easy, as the city is very walkable. Subways, buses, and taxis can efficiently get you from point A to point B. If you need to get somewhere but are worried about asking for directions or speaking Spanish, Uber is always an option.
Where to Stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Recoleta: Loi Suites
We stayed at Loi Suites Recoleta, surrounded by French villas and palaces. The hotel is mid-range and comfortable, and our room was decorated with French-style furnishings. It had standard inclusions such as air conditioning, satellite TV, and a CD player. The hotel also had an indoor swimming pool, a gym, and offered spa services.
Puerto Madero: Faena Hotel
If you are looking to splurge while in Buenos Aires, consider staying at Faena Hotel in Puerto Madero, right along the Rio de Plata riverbank. By day, the riverfront area is a bustling business and shopping district, and at night it’s a hip spot with upscale restaurants and trendy clubs.
This sleek and modern area has luxury high-rises, corporate offices, and impressive accommodation options. Faena Hotel is a beautiful 5-star hotel with opulent interior design and extravagant décor.
The hotel has an on-site restaurant, a spa that’s complete with a hammam and hydromassage, an outdoor pool with a bar, an elegant ballroom and arts center, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.
Palermo: Mine Hotel
Palermo is a very trendy neighbourhood, and it’s the largest barrio in Buenos Aires. Here, you’ll find cobblestone streets and colonial-style buildings that have been converted into charming cafes, bars, bakeries, shops, and restaurants. They say this is where all the cool kids hang out!
Staying in Palermo puts you right at the heart of so much activity, so you won’t have to look too far to find something to do every night. It’s a good place to start if you’re not planning on staying too long or spending only two days in Buenos Aires.
We recommend checking in at Mine Hotel, an award-winning hotel with a pool, a garden, and a courtyard. It’s 3 blocks away from Plaza Serrano, a cool bohemian area with lots of bars, restaurants, and a stylish open-air market.
The rooms, like the rest of the neighbourhood, are well-designed. They have colour-themed decors, large windows, and concrete floors. All of the rooms have cable TV, wifi, minibars, and DVD players. The hotel also has a sleek lobby bar, and a TV lounge with a library.
Day 1: Exploring Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo
AM – Cultural Walking Tour around Buenos Aires
We started our Buenos Aires adventure with a private Buenos Aires City Tour that allowed us to get an overview of the city’s iconic landmarks. This half-day tour starts at USD $74 and includes a private guide and transport – a steal for the price! A small group city tour is another option.
We visited Plaza de Mayo, the centre point of Buenos Aires and the scene of many defining events in Argentina’s history. Along the plaza, we passed by Casa Rosada (or the Pink House) and the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Our guided tour also took us to other iconic landmarks like Colon Theatre, the Obelisk, and the famous Recoleta Cemetery
Recoleta Cemetery was a stop we never would’ve made on our own, and it ended up being one of the highlights for us. It’s the first public cemetery in Buenos Aires and is full of history and stories.
There are almost 5,000 extravagant above-ground mausoleums at Recoleta Cemetery, all built in different styles ranging from Art Deco to Neo-Gothic to Art Nouveau. It’s the final resting place of the city’s most famous and respected dignitaries, including Argentina’s beloved former first lady, Eva Peron, whose mausoleum makes the cemetery one of the city’s most popular attractions.
Our morning tour lasted only 4 hours but gave us plenty of little tidbits of Buenos Aires’ history.
Lunch at San Telmo Market
For lunch, we made our way to San Telmo Market. Built in 1897, it is one of the biggest antique markets around. Apart from furniture, there are also delicious ready-to-eat meals, excellent coffee, fresh produce, handmade goods, and more.
It was a great spot to grab some delicious empanadas and sandwiches and try some local craft beer.
After a bite to eat at the market, we wandered around the streets of San Telmo area, the oldest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, dating back to the 17th century.
This area used to be the centre of city life for blue-collar workers. Today, it’s known as the “Old Town” not only because of its age but also because of it’s colonial charm.
PM – Cooking at The Argentine Experience
That evening, we joined a fun cooking class at The Argentine Experience! Our evening started with a fun empanada-making class and a creative empanada competition (which Max, of course, won)
Dinner itself consisted of a few different courses, highlighting the most popular menu items in Argentina, including some fantastic meats and side dishes paired with a glass of Argentinian Malbec. At the end of the night, we were served mate tea, a traditional Argentinian green tea, and taught the proper steps of brewing the tea and drinking it out of the traditional mate cups. It was a great night to end a busy day in Buenos Aires.
Day 2: Palermo and a Tango Show
AM – Explore Palermo
We started Day 2 in Palermo, a neighbourhood so big that it’s divided into even smaller areas.
Two of the popular ones are Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood. Palermo Soho, similar to the neighbourhood in NYC, is full of independent designer stores, urban street art, and art galleries with local and international artists. We spent a few hours wandering the streets here and checking out cute shops and restaurants.
We went during the day, but it’s also a popular spot to visit at night. The lively nightlife scene can’t be missed, as the barrio is filled with theatres, nightclubs, and live music that keep the party going ‘til late.
Lunch at Palermo
There are plenty of restaurants to check out in Palermo. Here are just a few that we recommended to us.
Don Julio
Don Julio is considered one of the world’s best parrillas. It’s Michelin-starred, so reservations are required in advance. The steakhouse is something of a family legacy, and they’ve perfected their Argentinian steak over the years.
Lo de Jesús
This is another fine dining spot that serves traditional Argentine cuisine. Lo de Jesus is cozy and intimate, conveniently located in Palermo. They serve a variety of beef cuts, like bife de chorizo and ojo de bife. Crowd favourites include ribeye and tenderloin paired with pasta, potatoes, or fresh salad. They also have an extensive wine list to accompany the meal.
El Preferido de Palermo
This iconic pink house used to be one of the area’s first restaurants in 1952. Today, El Preferido de Palermo is one of the best restaurants in the world and is rated #16 in Latin America. It’s owned by the team behind Don Julio, though the vibe is quite different. This one has a more relaxed neighbourhood feel, but the food is just as delicious. Try the famous sirloin milanesa, choose from their selection of artisanal charcuterie, and be sure to taste their local wine.
PM: Dinner and a Tango Show in San Telmo
What’s a trip to Buenos Aires without witnessing an authentic tango show? For dinner, we headed to La Ventana Tango House, a fully renovated historic structure in San Telmo.
We enjoyed a traditional Argentinian meal (steak with wine, of course) and enjoyed the famous Tango & Folklore Show. The tango performance was particularly impressive and was a great way to cap our second day.
Day 3: Departure
Our short but sweet two-day stay in Buenos Aires came to an end quicker than we would have wanted. It was brief, but also a good amount of time to get an overview of the city and appreciate its rich history, culture, and culinary delights.
If you have more time to spend in Buenos Aires, we would definitely recommend it. There are plenty of other barrios to explore and many day trips to be had.
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The Bottom Line
Buenos Aires is a lively city with so much culture, art and history. Immersing yourself in different barrios is a great way to experience the city. And it seems like not matter where you go, you’re never too far from a delicious steakhouse, wonderful art, or even tango show.
Our 2-day stay in Buenos Aires was a great introduction to the city, and we definitely recommend a visit here no matter how short your itinerary is!
Disclaimer: Our 2 days in Buenos Aires were made provided courtesy of Adventure Life. But as always, all opinions expressed in this article are our own, no matter who is footing the bill.
