Location: El Centro (Downtown)
Top Things to do in El Centro (Downtown)
Top 10 Things to do in El Centro (Downtown), Capital Federal District
The birthplace of the tango is, like the dance itself, captivating, seductive and bustling with excited energy. Atmospheric old neighborhoods are rife with romantic restaurants and thumping nightlife, and Buenos Aires' European heritage is evident in its architecture, boulevards and parks. Cafe Tortoni, the city's oldest bar, will transport you back to 1858, and the spectacular Teatro Colon impresses just as it did in 1908. Latin America's shopping capital offers the promise of premium retail therapy along its grand, wide boulevards.
Restaurants in Buenos Aires
1. Teatro Colon
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24,085 reviews
The Teatro Colon, in the City of Buenos Aires, is considered one of the best theaters in the world. Acknowledged for its acoustics and the artistic value of its construction, it turned 100 years in 2008.
Reviewed By CanadaPipa1 - Montreal, Canada
I walked into the Teatro Colón box office one morning and was able to book an English speaking guided tour within the hour. It cost $1000 pesos which was well worth the visit. Luckily, the group of this tour was relatively small, which made the visit a more intimate experience. The informative tour gradually led to the exquisite Concert Hall where we were seated in one of the main balconies which overlooked the stage and impressive auditorium. You could only imagine what it would be like to attend a concert, opera or ballet here. Given the time & opportunity, I would have gladly done this.
2. Catedral Primada
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,255 reviews
This 1827 cathedral, a mixture of several architectural styles, houses the remains of Argentine Liberator General Jose de San Martin in a marble mausoleum.
Reviewed By 251wesleyc - Tucson, United States
AKA Catedral Metropolitano in some guidebooks. 8th Catholic Church to be built on this site -- consecrated in 1836. Greco-Roman style with 12 columns for the 12 apostles. The interior is much more impressive than the exterior (which looks more like a courthouse). Gorgeous main altar and multiple beautiful side chapels. Beautiful mosaic tile floors. Be sure to look for the masoleum holding the remains of General Jose de San Martin, the hero of Argentina's war for independence from Spain. A "must see" attraction located on the Plaza de Mayo near the Casa Rosada.
3. Calle Defensa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14,536 reviews
Architectural landmarks in the city’s oldest neighborhood have been restored, and this revitalized area is distinctly artistic, with cafes, antique shops, cobblestone streets and lots of artists and dancers.
Reviewed By pnc87
Loved staying in this historic part of Buenos Aires. The Sunday flea market is amazing, the restaurants, wine bars, tango displays, pop-up music events, gorgeous 19th century architecture, cobblestone streets, art galleries, unique local designer shops, this place has it all. And it even had a few restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day which was a nice surprise.
4. Avenida de Mayo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,472 reviews
This elegant thoroughfare is one of the streets bordering the historic and cosmopolitan city center.
Reviewed By WorldTravelers34 - Chicago, United States
Avenida de Mayo is one of the grandest and most important in Buenos Aires, leading from Plaza de Mayo with the pink government palace Casa Rosada at one end, to Argentina’s National Congress building at the other. It was named in honor of the May Revolution of 1810 which lead to Argentina's independence from Spain. It is difficult not to compare this grand thoroughfare to other great boulevards around such world, such as those in Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona. This avenue is home to many famous buildings and architecture and home to many important historical events in Argentina's history, and continues to be the primary venue for protests, demonstrations, and celebrations. The avenue, officially inaugurated in 1894, is just under a mile long and it’s worth walking the entire length to take the city’s history. We spend lots of time walking around this area during our one-week stay in Buenos Aires.
5. Centro Cultural Kirchner
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,011 reviews
The communications office of Buenos Aires, a scintillating example of the city's gorgeous architecture.
Reviewed By LaOsa_life - Munich, Germany
I visited this center several times for free concerts. They all have been high level quality and they were from classic to tango music! Never in my life I found a place like this anywhere.
6. Centro Cultural Borges
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 833 reviews
Reviewed By louisa756 - Dallas, United States
This Argentine tango show is held inside the Borges Cultural Center (BCC) located inside the beautiful Galerias Pacifico shopping center in Buenos Aires. Theater type seats are basic, cushioned, and comfortable. Different performances of tango are scheduled for different days during the week. Three of us went to see Pasion de Tango show on a Tuesday evening. One of the few early tango shows in Buenos Aires central area so you can plan other activities such as wining and dining at other places. One purchases open-seating tickets at least one-hour before the show at their manned kiosk inside the BCC. Cost in Feb 2020 was only $900 Argentine Pesos. Cash only, no credit cards. Theatre is air-conditioned and kept at a comfortable temperature. Lighting is good. Sound is good. No photography or video recording of any kind is allowed during the performance. They sell DVDs after the show however, we never found them. The performance included a small live band which played quite well. The dancers performed historic Argentine tangos covering several periods and costume changes. A solo male singer serenaded the audience between dances. The entire show started early at 8 pm and ended at just over an hour. This allows finding dinner later at a dedicated restaurant. In summary, a great introduction to historic Argentine tangos with no frills (no drinks or food service to gouge patrons).
7. Palacio Barolo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,855 reviews
The PALACIO illustrates and pays tribute to THE DIVINE COMEDY written by DANTE ALIGHIERI. This building shows a unique architectural style, mingling the neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic appearance followed by the dome, with its original hindu design, which belongs to the region of Bhubaneshwar. It represents the tantric union between Dante and Beatrice, both protagonists of The Divine Comedy.
Reviewed By myom624 - Coquitlam, Canada
It was a great time had during the tour (of about an hour & a half from about 11 15 am to 12 45 pm) of this 1920's building inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy in which I ascended from Hell through Purgatory to Heaven (as the floors of the Building are grouped in such way) while along the way was also like a metaphorical or symbolic "purifying of your soul", and yes it's from Heaven meaning the level with small balconies just before the Lighthouse (on the very top of the Building) then the Lighthouse itself that you get "pretty phenomenal" 360-degree views of the city especially to the west (where actually at just a very short distance from this building is the "spacious rectangular" Plaza Congreso & the green-domed building of Congreso Nacional past the plaza) and to the east (where the view is all the way to the "super tall" high-rises of the Puerto Madero waterfront and where you'll also see a little to the southeast one side of the two-sided Eva Peron's mural on Avenida 9 de Julio). As for the "structural part" of the Building: it was a "nice variety" of taking the old "original elevator" (likely the same one from the 1920's), the wide spiral stairways & also the "quite narrow" spiral stairway to the Lighthouse; sitting inside the Lighthouse with its big round-shaped light so close by was something I'd never done before (although I got inside two more of them later on in Uruguay); the fairly-big deck on the back side with the big "green facade" of like an Indian-styled architecture was quite awesome to look at (on our way down from the Lighthouse); and finally it was pretty great to get to sit behind the owner's desk in his office where there's also a copy of the "original Divine Comedy" (the last stop of the tour before going back down). So, the only thing somewhat on the downside about this site is the cost of the tour (which was 700 or so argentina pesos or about 20 US$ as of last January when I visited) was like more than twice of what I paid later at Palacio Salvo in Montevideo (which is like the "sister site" of this site) although yes what justifies the cost here I would say is its great views from above (as mentioned above) which you won't get at Palacio Salvo (with no top-floor balconies to go out for a view there & just kind of a "limited view" from its very top); and yes also my "great thanks" are to our tour guide Lucy for her "wonderful friendliness" and for her great knowledge of the Building (& the Divine Comedy too) who really just kept us all informed of all we needed to know throughout the tour. If coming by metro, Saenz Pena Station (Line A) is where to get off which is just conveniently right in front of this building on Avenida de Mayo. And apart from Plaza Congreso & the Congreso Nacional building (as mentioned above where it just takes about 5 minutes by turning left after coming out of here and going through the Plaza to the front gate of Congress), it's actually also not too far to the east end of that avenue (about a 15-minute walk to the right after coming out of here with also Avenida 9 de Julio to cross along the way) where there's Plaza de Mayo with Casa Rosada Presidential Palace & Metropolitan Cathedral (with the tomb of the libertador General San Martin).
8. El Zanjon de Granados
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 630 reviews
Reviewed By 703sushmitah - Sydney, Australia
Marianna was a great guide with good English and excellent knowledge of history. She spent an hour with us and the tunnels are amazing. What a project Don Jorge had taken on since 1985. Well worth a visit and admission was 300 pesos per person. The history of the city of Buenos Aires is well encapsulated by this tour.
9. Basilica Nuestra Senora de la Merced
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 175 reviews
Reviewed By 311queenj - California, United States
This church is about a 5 minute walk from the Catedral Metropolitana in the Plaza de Mayo. While not as large as the Metropolitan Cathedral, Merced has more history and ornate artwork. We had to come back two different days because it was not open the first or second time we passed by. The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy) is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Spain. The original monastery was built in 1603 by the Mercedarian Friars of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, and was one of the oldest in Buenos Aires. The church contains the oldest historic archive of the city, dating back earlier than 1884. In 1733, construction of the Merced Basilica began on the old monastery grounds. In 1894, the church exterior was renovated in the neo-Renaissance style, and in 1905, the facade carving was added, depicting General Belgrano's 1812 victory against the Spanish in Tucuman during the war for independence. The church was declared a basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1917, and the building was declared a National Historical Monument in 1942. The building features both Baroque and Rococo styles. The baroque golden grand altar and the frescoes are impressive, to say the least. Though many of the church artifacts were destroyed during the anti church riots of 1955, the church still contains many of the original furnishings, and decorative items, such as the wooden Cristo de la Humildad y Paciencia, that was carved from a single tree. The basilica has beautiful stained glass windows, incredible painted arched ceilings, and an impressive collection of sculptures and artwork. Gold-leaf paint and gilding gleam from the walls, ceiling, altars, arches, pillars, etc. The detail here is almost overwhelming. Be sure to stop in and check it out!
10. Museo Casa Rosada
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,023 reviews
Reviewed By tangojohnDallas - Dallas, United States
I spent over an hour here enjoying a collection mostly related to former presidents. The 1955 Cadillac is in mint condition. Some reviewers have mistakenly stated the car was purchased for Eva Peron by Juan but she died in 1952 and this is a 1955 model. Clean restrooms. Children may not find anything of interest.
