Delve into Argentine history in the Plaza de Mayo

Surrounded by the Cabildo (museum), Casa Rosada (Government building) and the city’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza de Mayo’s high concentration of iconic landmarks and its tendency to attract both supporters and protesters of successive governments make it a microcosm of the vibrant past and present of Argentina. Aside from being a political, financial and administrative center, the square has been – and continues to be – a symbol for hope. At its center stands the Piramide de Mayo, a snow-white obelisk erected in 1811 to celebrate Argentina’s independence from Spain. The famous square has also been bombed by the military and crowded by the Madres de los Desaparecidos every Thursday at 3.30pm since 1977. The headscarves painted on the ground around the obelisk mirror those worn by the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo, who forever protest against the injustice of their lost children, who disappeared under the military dictatorship (1976-1983). The Casa Rosada home to the balcony that Evita often used to address huge crowds of Argentineans in Plaza de Mayo below was also the iconic setting for “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” the signature song of the musical ‘Evita’. Although the famous Plaza de Mayo square may occasionally attract some small-scale protests, including an eternal group of Malvinas/Falkland veterans demanding compensation, it is mostly occupied by scurrying tourists snapping pictures or friendly vendors selling candied peanuts. Whether you are in Buenos Aires for a long or short stay, Plaza de Mayo is a must! Its strong historical essence and meaning will send chills through your body. See more of our favorite experiences in Buenos Aires…

Plaza de Mayo is the oldest public square in Buenos aires, and was the scene of many of the most important events in the city’s history.

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Visit the Cementerio de la Recoleta

This exclusive cemetery in Buenos Aires is one of the world’s most remarkable burial grounds. A bewildering display of Argentinean architecture and history, these grounds have presidents, military heroes, influential politicians and celebrities buried beneath them. The immense vaults align to form a haunting necropolis, a city within a city. The towering tombstones resemble the rooftops of a utopian town from above and the haunting atmosphere is livened by yews and cypress trees that line the ‘streets’ of the cemetery. Cementerio de la Recoleta contains many elaborate marble mausoleums decorated with statues in a wide variety of architectural styles such as Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Baroque and Neo-Gothic. As well as providing a time-traveling experience with different styles from different eras, the Recoleta Cemetery transports you to a different continent as many of the stones between 1880 and 1930 were imported from Paris and Milan. Free tours are offered in Spanish at 11 am from Tuesday to Friday and the entrance is free. See more of our favorite experiences in Buenos Aires…

Admire the towering tombstones in the Recoleta Cemetery

Feast your eyes and ears at the Teatro Colon

A prime example of European architectural influence in Buenos Aires, the splendid Teatro Colon is considered to be among the five best concert venues in the world and was ranked the third best opera house in the world by National Geographic. Having undergone an extensive refurbishment, the grandiose opera house boasts a stunning interior with painted ceilings and dazzling gold balconies. The auditorium is horse-shoe shaped and seats 2,500 people. The astonishing opera house is particularly famous for its perfect acoustics, so good that they make the performance delightful no matter where you are sitting. The impressive seven-story building holds shows for ballet, opera and classical music and has become one of Buenos Aires’ most prominent landmarks. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket office. The theater also organizes a free concert one Sunday every month at 11am, for which you can buy tickets the Saturday before. Make sure you wake up early to queue for the best seats! If you are unable to see a concert, catch one of the frequent 50 minute backstage tours to gaze at the astounding interior. Tours in English are available. See more of our favorite experiences in Buenos Aires…

Witness a concert in the famous Teatro Colon

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Join the hustle and bustle of the San Telmo Market 

San Telmo’s main road closes on Sundays to accommodate the Feria de San Telmo, a large antiques market held in the neighborhood’s central square. A flood of tourists and locals pour in to browse craft stalls, queue for some delicious Choripan (a must of Argentinean street food!) and to enjoy some live tango street performances. With its crumbling facades and cobbled streets, San Telmo acts as a bohemian hub that defends Buenos Aires’ historical traditions. The neighborhood stays true to its authentic and humble beginnings and feels somewhat timeless with its character enhancing the atmosphere found in Buenos Aires. When San Telmo’s grand mansions were abandoned by their owners after a yellow fever epidemic in 1871, they were converted into tenements and a wave of European immigrants settled there. In the mid-20th century, San Telmo began attracting artists that brought with them a bohemian vibe while also established the neighborhood as a tango hotspot. Nowadays, San Telmo is a fascinating hybrid of a shabby chic inner-city suburb, a bohemian alcove and a tango center, making it an intriguing place to visit and must-do on your list when visiting Buenos Aires! See more of our favorite experiences in Buenos Aires…

San Telmo Market has everything you need (and don’t!)

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Stroll down La Boca’s El Caminito

As a hotspot, a trip to Buenos Aires is never complete without a stroll down El Caminito in La Boca. This transformed shantytown consists mainly of shacks made from ship debris such as planks, sheet metal and corrugated iron that were boldly painted with leftover paint that Genoese port workers got from ships. El Caminito was named after a 1926 tango song, which inspired Benito Quinquela Martin to metamorphosize the neighborhood in 1955. Today, La Boca remains a working-class neighborhood, despite the hordes of tourists that flood in on weekends, so if you’re going to explore it on your own be careful of your belongings and take a taxi from your hotel to the entrance of El Caminito. The neighborhood’s open air museum displays puppet like figures of Juan and Eva Peron, Che Guevara and football legend Diego Maradona, who wave down from the colorful balconies. A stroll down El Caminito will lead you past many stalls selling Argentinean crafts as well as countless restaurants attempting to lure you in with a sensual spectacle of tango dancing. Just off the main El Caminito street and at the mouth (La Boca) of the Riachuelo, you can get a spectacular view of the old port and the Puente Transbordador which is one of nine known surviving, historic transporter bridges in the world. La Boca also houses La Bombonera Stadium, the home of the world-famous soccer team, Boca Juniors. So whether you’re a football fan or simply keen on snapping some pictures with the iconic colorful houses, make your way down to La Boca! See more of our favorite experiences in Buenos Aires…

Explore the colorful, working-class neighborhood of La Boca

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Buenos Aires: Summertime Christmas Experience

With average temperatures reaching 80.6°F during the Holiday Season in Buenos Aires you’ll be sure to see Santa Claus in more casual attire such as red sandals, shorts and t-shirt. Spending Christmas with the warm sun beating down on you while having a refreshing ice-cream at one of the many ice-cream parlors will soon seem like second-nature. Christmas in Buenos Aires therefore has a summertime, joyous atmosphere and as most of the local residents are away on their summer holidays, you’ll be able to enjoy a less chaotic Buenos Aires. Many families celebrate Christmas Eve with their families either at home or at the thousands of restaurants throughout the city. Buenos Aires has mastered the art of ambiance when it comes to restaurants and their fixed Christmas menus often accompanied by live music and excellent wine pairings never fail to impress. As the clock strikes twelve at night, the skies come alight with fireworks giving Christmas Eve celebrations the feeling of New Year’s Eve. A helpful tip, make sure to have a secure and strategic place to watch them in order to admire the twinkling cityscape at night with the different colors of the fireworks exploding overhead. See more of the best places to spend Christmas & New Year in South America…

Admire Buenos Aires’ night sky as it gets lit up with fireworks on Christmas Eve / Source

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