What to do and see in Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do

November 29, 2021 Hana Mouser

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

Calle Cerrito 628, Buenos Aires C1012 Argentina +54 11 4378-7100 [email protected] http://www.teatrocolon.org.ar/
Excellent
82%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 24,085 reviews

Teatro Colon

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. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

Avenida Del Libertador 1473, Buenos Aires C1425AAA Argentina +54 52889900 [email protected] http://www.bellasartes.gob.ar/
Excellent
64%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6,839 reviews

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

There’s no fee to enter this fine museum housing significant works of the European masters from pre-Renaissance days to the present and a vast collection of 19th- and 20th-century Argentine sculptures and paintings.

Reviewed By westy54 - Sydney, Australia

This two storey classic building is full of treasures. On the ground floor there was room after room (24 in all) of Old Masters and Impressionists including Tintoretto, Titian, Pisano, Rembrandt, Reubens (x 2), Velazquez, Zurbaran, El Greco, Goya, Giordano, Sisley, Monet (x2), Manet, Renoir, Van Gough, Gauguin, Toulouse-Latrec, Degas (several of these) plus a good number of Rodin sculptures. Then there were the rooms of Argentinian painters whose names were, unfortunately, not previously known to me but the works by Pueyrredon, de Carcova, Lopez and others appealed. We did though encounter one act of total stupidity. They briefly closed off the room where there were a number of Degas paintings to hang from the ceiling a nondescript piece of modern art that covered a large part of the view of one of Degas’ paintings of dancers. Not sure who’s idea this was but it was certainly dumb. Of less appeal, however, were the modern art displays in the rooms on the first floor, mainly it appeared by Argentinian and other South American painters/artists. There was a special display in a large gallery at the back of the building of approximately 50 works by Jean Miro that were on loan from Madrid’s Reina Sofia. This was very good. Disappointingly there was no cafe, where you could have a coffee and take a break, or for that matter a shop. The latter is probably a wasted opportunity to recoup some costs.

3. Cemiterio de Recoleta

Junin 1760, Buenos Aires C1113 Argentina https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/es/barrio-recoleta
Excellent
49%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 26,659 reviews

Cemiterio de Recoleta

The most celebrated Argentineans, including Eva Peron and her family, are buried at this elaborate cemetery, where mausoleums replicate chapels, pyramids and Greek temples.

Reviewed By susanlJ3439QM

Likely best to do this with a local tour guide ( We used Class Adventure Travel who provided us with a guide named Santiago who was superb.). A private guide can customize according to your interests, can tell you about the various tombs....there are many very specific historical stories about those who are buried here and a local guide will be able to elaborate which makes it even more interesting. Early morning is better before the big tour buses arrive.

4. Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo

Avenida Del Libertador 1902, Buenos Aires C1425AAS Argentina +54 11 4802-8248 [email protected] http://www.mnad.org/
Excellent
62%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,016 reviews

Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo

This grand mansion, a neoclassical masterpiece, has a fascinating collection of period furnishings, silver, sculptures, paintings and Zubov miniatures from Russia.

Reviewed By WImom - Fond du Lac, United States

This museum is free of charge and open from 12:30-19:00. Closed on Mondays. There is an English tour at 1:30 PM which we briefly took part in. This is a residence of a wealthy family, the Alvears, in Argentina. There are many beautiful antiques and paintings in a multi-story museum. Spent about an hour here.

5. Calle Defensa

Calle Defensa Bairro San Telmo, Buenos Aires Argentina
Excellent
49%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 14,536 reviews

Calle Defensa

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.

6. Recoleta

Junin y Guido, Buenos Aires Argentina
Excellent
60%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 21,652 reviews

Recoleta

This fashionable, upscale neighborhood is lined with cafes, boutiques and galleries and morphs into a street fair on weekends.

Reviewed By 58flavial - Buenos Aires, Argentina

This is a lovely place for walking on week days (on weekends is full of people) and visit the Recoleta's church, the Recoleta's cementery, the Fine Arts museum, have a "café" in La biela "Remarkable bar", go shopping in the elegant Alvear Avenue or Recoleta Mall or eating in a lot of restaurants.

7. Puerto Madero

Rosario Vera Penaloza, Buenos Aires Argentina
Excellent
57%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 41,553 reviews

Puerto Madero

By day, this riverfront area is a booming business and shopping district and by night, a hip neighborhood with pricey restaurants and fashionable clubs.

Reviewed By Getaway756019

A place by the river where Nature meets the city, the Woman's Bridge, and a cute passage by the river to go for a stroll during the Summer, and get the breeze. Nice restaurants, ice cream places and gourmet stores around too. Don't miss it.

8. Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires

Avenida Pte Figueroa Alcorta 3415, Buenos Aires C1425CLA Argentina +54 11 4808-6500 [email protected] http://www.malba.org.ar
Excellent
60%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 8,910 reviews

Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires

This not-for-profit art museum and cultural center first opened its doors in 2001 with the mission to promote contemporary Latin American artists.

Reviewed By lynnmD6309XP - Houston, United States

We saw the Arte Latinoamericano 1900-1970 exhibit. Colecion Malta. Very much enjoyed it. My husband and our two friends enjoyed the earlier pieces (chronological) of art more, whereas I enjoyed the art most from the middle to the end (1970). The later art was very contemporary and I love contemporary. Some of the artists I enjoyed the most were Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueoros, Antonio Berni, Claudio Tazzi, Romulo Maccio, Jorge de la Vega, Rogelio Polesello, Augusta Luis de Campos, Gregorio Vardanega, Yente, Roberto Matta, and Frida Khali (one piece). Many of these names were new to me, so I took note so I can study their works further on my own. The museum was busy, but pleasantly busy. Not so many people as to feel crowded, and most people were very respectful of your space when viewing a piece you wanted to spend more time with.

9. Jardin Japones

Av. Casares 2966, Buenos Aires 1425 Argentina +54 11 4804-4922 [email protected] http://www.jardinjapones.org.ar/
Excellent
53%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 13,669 reviews

Jardin Japones

A tranquil Zen garden complete with fish ponds and an arched bridge even offers a traditional tea house.

Reviewed By OntarioAna

beautiful gardens, well manicured it felt like an oasis in the middle of buenos aires such a nice walk through the little bridges and waterfall loved the koi fish in the pond, and the pergola

10. Centro Cultural Kirchner

Calle Sarmiento 511 Alem Avenue between Sarmiento and Corrientes Avenue, Buenos Aires C1041AAK Argentina +54 11 4349-5000 http://www.cck.gob.ar
Excellent
61%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,011 reviews

Centro Cultural Kirchner

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.

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