Being a tourist has its pros and cons, I did all the pros while I was on exchange and I definitly recommend them to you ! Follow this list, you'll see by yourself. You can do everything on your own, but you also have BA TOURS, an association that propose a bunch of FREE activities almost everyday. Among them you have sports, concerts, museums, visits, pretty much everything !
I just love being a tourist sometimes
#1 Casa Rosada and Plaza de Mayo
Make your way to the famous Plaza de Mayo, symbol or the Argentine Revolution. At the end of that place stand la Casa Rosada, house and workplace of the President himself. You have free guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays and I do think it is 100% worth to do it. You have to resgister online and choose among the different schedule available. You can book for two people directly on the government's web site :
https://visitas.casarosada.gob.ar
The visit last a bit more than 1 hour but is well done. You get to see the President's office which is pretty cool. He works there during the week and sometimes even during the week end, so you might actually see him !
#2 Catedral Metropolitana
This beautiful Cathedral also stand on Plaza de Mayo. You can admire its arquitecture from the inside out. If you like Gospel o classical music, they do hold some concerts. Just watch the program and enjoy the music !
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#3 Palacio de Agua
This beautiful building is now the Museum of Historical Heritage of the city. It is opened for visits from Tuesday till Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. If you don't feel like visiting the inside and the museum part, you should at least walk by. Each time I came back from Palermo we would pass it and it truly is something !
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#4 Jardin botanico
Need a time out ? Wanna find a little peace and quiet in a secret garden ? In the heart of the city, find the botanic gardens that will host you for a couple of minutes or even a couple of hours ! Usually opened from 8am till 6:45pm (Tuesday-Saturday) you can definitly make your way there at the end of a long day full of visits to sit down in the middle of more than 100 species of plants, flowers and trees. Bring a book.
#5 Obelisco, BA sign
You can't say you've been to Buenos Aires if you haven't stopped there. The Obelisco, located in the middle of Independence Square, it's El Mayor Emblema de la Ciudad. Inaugurated in 1936 for the fourth centenary of the city, it became Buenos Aires' Eiffel Tower or Statue of Liberty. Right in front of it, you'll find the BA sign. Huge letters that stand for Buenos Aires and that are made out of plants. It's picture time !
#6 Puente de la Mujer
The most famous bridge in Buenos Aires located in Puerto Madero. His arquitecture is what made it famous and its name comes from all the streets around the area that were named after important women. It is really nice to cross the bridge. You can also have a drink or coffee in the area which usually is bathed by sun.
#7 Recoleta Cemetery
If you think about it, yes it is a bit creepy to visit the grave of a dead stranger... But it is actually very common in big cities to do so. A lot of famous people are buried in this cemetery. You have free guided tours as well. The tour itself last more than 2 hours and to be honest, I did not stay with the group for that long. After a while I left to visit on my own and discover the place. It is an actual city inside the city.
#8 Floralis Generica
This big metallic flower is located 5-10 min away from the Cemetery and is worth the detour. In fact, if you are interested about the History of the city and the country, you could read all about it once you will be there.
#9 Bosques de Palermo, Jardin Japones & Planetarium
In the middle of Buenos Aires, in the great area of Palermo, you will find the biggest park of the city : los Bosques de Palermo. Meeting point of all joggers, dog walkers and families after school's over. This park is divided into 3 parts and each one has its pros.
-Japaneese Gardens opened everyday from 10am to 6pm (even Sundays and Holidays). 4$US and they have special events over the year
-Paseo el Rosedal opened everyday from 8am to 6pm. Free entrance. Take the little path in the middle of the garden to admire and smell the delicious perfume of all the different roses.
-Planetarium, opened from Monday till Friday (9:30am-5pm) and on weekends from 11am to 7pm is closed from now on. Free entrance.
#10 San Telmo and La Boca
As I already mentionned in a previous article, La Boca is a great area to visit and walk in. The colours, the atmosphere, the music, the tango, ... you must also go there if you like football and check the Bombonera (the stadium for Boca Junior players ). I had the chance to see one of the biggest games of the year and it was incredible ! Argentine people are completly loco about football !
San Telmo is another sector of the city. You can actually make your way back to the center from La Boca., which is 2.5km away. In San Telmo district you'll find the famous figure, Mafalda, this little cartoon caractere you probably studied with in your Spanish classes. On Sundays, there is a market in the Calle Defensa, all the way till Plaza de Mayo, which brings us to our departure point.
