Historic places in Buenos Aires

23 historic buildings, sites and memorials in Buenos Aires.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

SeePalermo and Recoleta
Alvear Palace Hotel
One of the most traditional and luxurious hotels in Buenos Aires, it has been home to notable guests such as Sofia Loren, and Nelson Mandela. Its restaurants (La Bourgogne and L'Orangerie) are among the top ones in Buenos Aires for eating. You can also go for tea time.
SeePalermo and Recoleta
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
Iglesia del Pilar
A beautiful church, built in 1732 in Baroque style, as part of a Franciscan monastery which closed in 1821.
SeeCentro
Casa de la Cultura
Buenos Aires House of Culture
This is the Government Cultural House of Buenos Aires. Check out the "Salon Dorado", which design is inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Also, the Salon Dorado hosts music performers every Friday 19:00.
SeeCentro
Catedral Metropolitana
A neoclassical cathedral containing the tomb of José de San Martín. The tomb is protected by a ceremonial armed guard. A most unusual sight to see inside a church and leads one to wonder about the relationship of the church and the state in Argentina. The exterior of the church has papal symbols affixed as a reference to the Argentinian Pope Francis (who criticised the relationship of the church and state).
SeeCentro
Confitería del Molino
This art nouveau coffeehouse (now closed) used to be the meeting point for many cultural and political figures. The coffeehouse was built in 1917 and closed in 1997, year in which was declared National Historic Monument.
SeeCentro
Edificio Kavanagh
It is considered as the first skyscraper built in Buenos Aires. The story behind the construction of the building is interesting: Corina Kavanagh had a fight with another lady, Mercedes de Anchorena, both from Buenos Aires high society. Corina's daughter was about to get married with Mercedes son, but because of Corina's opposition to the wedding, it never happened. As a revenge, Corina spent all her inheritance in building what would become the tallest South American building of that period. The reason: Block the sunrise and the view to the Sacramento Church from the Anchorena's home. It was declared as national historic monument in 1999.
SeeCentro
El Zanjon de Granados
The most important architectural building in San Telmo and one of the most important in the city. It has 200 years of history. You only visit by guided tour which takes about an hour. The above ground part of the magnificent old building together with its watchtower is great but it is the subterranean part of the tour which is of most interest. The original owners plainly would have been counted amongst the wealthiest families in Argentina but the immense amount of money spent by the current owners in restoring the building suggests that they are in the same company.
AR$33,000
SeeOutskirts
Estadio José Amalfitani
El Fortín, Vélez Sarsfield Stadium
This football temple in Liniers, opened in 1951, is home to another of the city's prominent sides in Vélez Sarsfield. Much like River Plate's ground, it bears the name of a longtime president of its associated club. El Fortín ("The Little Fort") is equally prominent as a rugby union stadium—it's home to the Jaguares, the country's entry in the southern hemisphere Super Rugby competition, and is also a frequent home venue for Los Pumas, the country's national team.
SeeCentro
French Embassy Palace
One of the most beautiful buildings in Buenos Aires. During the year, some times there are "open doors" events so you can visit the building inside. Ask for guided tours.
EatPalermo and Recoleta
La Biela
Very nice cafe just outside of the cemetery, shaded by an enormous rubber tree. In very ancient times, it was a saying: If you are not greeted at La Biela, you do not exist. When the bill comes, remember that the largest part of the cost was not the meal, but the right to show yourself there.
EatPalermo and Recoleta
La Biela Cafe
A great place to settle in for a few hours outside, under the huge ancient tree. "Biela" translates as "piston rod", and racers used to gather here a long time ago. It was a favourite dining place of the Argentinian writers Jorge Luis Borges and Adolfo Bioy Cesares, and there are statues of them at the front.
SeeCentro
Museo Histórico Nacional
History of Argentina, but all captions are in Spanish and neither comprehensive nor well-organised. Entry by donation.
Tue-Sun 12:00–18:00
SeeOutskirts
Museo Histórico Sarmiento
Sarmiento historic museum
Museum dedicated to Argentine history, and in particular to the Generation of '80 and the life of President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, a writer and political figure who was President of Argentina between 1868 and 1874.
Mon-Fri 13:00-18:00; Sat,Sun 14:00-19:00
SeePalermo and Recoleta
National Fine Arts Museum
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
A top-notch museum - some well-known impressionists are represented, including some wonderful Degas ballerinas. The museum brings home to you the fact that BA was a rich part of the European mainstream for much of its history. It has offices in the City of Buenos Aires and in the city of Neuquén. This museum was founded in December 1896, it has approximately 12000 pictures and it is a public museum. The works of El Greco, Goya, Rodin, Rembrandt, Rubens, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Chagall and Picasso are among the international art heritage of the museum. Among the most important Argentine paintings, it has works by Cándido López, Lino Enea Spilimbergo, Prilidiano Pueyrredón, Fernando Fader, Benito Quinquela Martín, Xul Solar, Antonio Berni, Carlos Alonso and Antonio Seguí. The museum has a photography room, an art and a pre-Columbian art room, two terraces of sculptures and a library with 150,000 copies.
Tue-Fri 11:30-19:30, Sat Sun 09:30-19:30Free entrance
SeeCentro
Palacio Paz
Paz Palace
Built between 1904 and 1912, it is the main site for the Military Circle in Buenos Aires. It used to be the residence of Jose C. Paz, who died two years before the palace was finished. Highly recommended to take the guided tour inside the palace. Check the website for more details.
SeeCentro
Palacio de Justicia
Palace of Justice of the Argentine Nation
Designed by French arquitect Norbert Maillart. Built 1905-1910, it is where the Supreme Court resides.
EatCentro
Pirilo
You can feel so much history and love for food in this place. Tiny place with an old atmosphere. One of the most stubbornly traditional pizzerias left in the city. While you can order whole pizzas, the main draw is the pizza sold by the slice at the counter.
DrinkCentro Not mapped
Bar Britanico
Historical, pleasant bar notable -- a great place for a drink. Serves a great breakfast too.
DrinkCentro Not mapped
Bar Iberia
After cafe Tortoni, Bar Iberia is the second oldest bar in Buenos Aires. It represents an historical significance for the city, since It used to be the meeting point for the Spanish immigrants representing the 'republicans' during the civil war in Spain. In the corner in front of it, it is located Cafe Español, the meeting point for the opposite group of the republicans: those representing the Francoism. Today, Bar Iberia has been restored in a way to maintain most of its original façade.
EatCentro Not mapped
Bistro 1745
This cafe is inside the grounds of an old monastery in the CBD. The large garden courtyard is surrounded by high white walls and is a marvellous spot to sit and relax. The cafe serves empanadas and other light meals
DrinkPalermo and Recoleta Not mapped
La Biela
Luxurious. You can sit outside underneath a huge ancient ficus tree for a little extra cost.
SeeCentro Not mapped
Plaza de Mayo
This is the main plaza in Buenos Aires. It was here in 1977 that the group "The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo" was formed seeking justice for the disappeared. It was this group that was instrumental in causing the collapse of the military dictatorship and inspired similar groups in South and Central America. Today it has returned to being a much more peaceful place, where many people sit and relax surrounded by the Casa Rosado, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Cabildo, the Head Quarters of the National Bank of Argentina and other well known Buenos Aires buildings.
Drink Not mapped
Confiteria Ideal
Ancient, authentic and full of character.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Buenos Aires (CC BY-SA 4.0).