Sights and landmarks in Buenos Aires

Sights and landmarks in Buenos Aires

1. 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.

2. SeeOutskirts

   Association of Friends of the Tramway

   Asociación Amigos del Tranvía

   The museum has a collection of old trams and subway (subte) cars stored at the subway system workshop Taller Polvorin. Trams operate for a limited time on weekends and holidays, and run through nearby streets on a 2 km loop. Check Horarios in the link for operating days and times.

3. SeeOutskirts

   Barrio Chino

   Chinatown

   A largely commercial section about five blocks long in the barrio of Belgrano. Despite the designation as a Chinese ethnic enclave, the area is populated by different Asian communities, with a predominance of Taiwanese people and, to a lesser extent, Japanese and Thais.

4. 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.

5. SeeOutskirts

   Basílica Santuario de Santa Rosa de Lima

   Romanic-Bizantine style church from the 20th century. The main altar has a replica of Michelangelo's Pietá.

6. SeePalermo and Recoleta

   Buenos Aires Botanical Garden

   Jardín Botánico

   The trees and other plants, organized by part of the world, fill the park densely enough that you may almost forget you're in the middle of a city. The quintessential "cat" garden is also filled with many flowers and a 19th-century glass house.

7. SeePalermo and Recoleta

   Buenos Aires Japanese Gardens

   Jardín Japonés

   A public space administered by the non-profit Japanese Argentine Cultural Foundation. One of the largest Japanese gardens of its type in the world outside Japan.

8. SeeCentro

   Cabildo of Buenos Aires

   During colonial times, this building served as the government house of Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Today, the building, now a museum, is much smaller than it once was, due to the construction of 2 avenues but remains an attractive building. The classic white facade dates from the 18th century. The balcony on the second storey provides a good view of the Plaza.

   Wed-Sun 10:30-18:00·Free

9. SeeLa Boca and Barracas

   Calle Lanín

   A street where all houses are decorated with colorful tile mosaics.

10. SeeLa Boca and Barracas

    Caminito

    Pedestrian street with arts and crafts. Tango dancers are in the cobblestone streets. The buildings are painted in bright colors.

11. SeeCentro

    Casa Rosada

    Casa Rosada is owned by the government of Argentina and houses the Presidential offices, it is the President's workplace. It looks out from the eastern side of the Plaza de Mayo to the River Plata. The salmon coloured building is one of Argentina's iconic sights.

12. SeeCentro

    Casa de Esteban de Luca

    Once inhabited by the Argentine poet, soldier, Esteban de Luca.

13. 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.

14. SeeOutskirts

    Casa de los Pavos Reales

    In Avenida Rivadavia this modernist building by architect Colombo is an iconic piece of Buenos Aires original early 20-century architecture. There is a bed & breakfast in the building and you can arrange visits too.

15. 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).

16. SeeCentro

    Confiteria Ideal

    A famous tango venue featured in many films. The building has beautiful architecture, and there are tango lessons and Milongas (dance parties) offered there daily.

17. 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.

18. SeeOutskirts

    ESMA Museum and Site of Memory

    During the military rule in Argentina (1976-83), the Navy School of Mechanics (Escuela Superior de Mecánica de la Armada, abbreviated as ESMA) was turned into a prison and torture center for people opposing the regime. Today the complex is a memorial to the cruelties that took place there, and since 2023 it's listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

19. 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.

20. SeePalermo and Recoleta

    El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookstore

    If you like books (or even if you don't), don't miss this beautiful bookstore. Back in the old days used to be a theater; now it is considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. It has several floors of books of several different genres, including a section of English-language books.

21. 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

22. SeeCentro

    English Tower

    The English Tower (Torre Monumental) is 75-meter clock tower in Retiro, gifted by the British community in 1916 to mark Argentina’s centenary.

23. 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.

24. SeeOutskirts

    Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti

    River Plate Stadium

    This football temple was opened on 25 May 1938 and named after former club president Antonio Vespucio Liberti. It is the largest stadium in Argentina with a capacity of 62.000 and also home of the Argentina national football team. In 2009 a museum was opened. The entrance fee to Museo River including a stadium tour costs ARS210. The River Plate stadium is located in Belgrano.

25. SeePalermo and Recoleta

    Floralis Generica

    A giant mechanical sculpture of a metallic flower, which closes at sundown.

26. 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.

27. SeeOutskirts

    Gran Templo de Paso

    Founded in 1930 is one of the oldest synagogues in the country and a traditional cultural centre for the Jewish community.

28. SeeLa Boca and Barracas

    La Bombonera

    The 49,000 capacity home of Boca Juniors - the most famous football club in Argentina and club of its most famous son - Diego Maradona. The large crowd is loud and passionate - watching a match is not for the faint hearted. Besides regular football matches, La Bombonera can be visited. You will be guided through the changing rooms, the viewers areas and you will also spend some moments on the very playing field.

29. SeeCentro

    La Botica del Angel

    Church/Old House that offers guided tours and where many cultural events take place. It is considered one of the places where "cafe concert" started.

30. SeeCentro

    Manzana de las Luces

    Illuminated Block

    This block, surrounded by the streets Alsina, Moreno, Peru and Bolivar, is home to many of the most important and traditional educational, religious and cultural institutions of Buenos Aires, dating back to the 17th and 18th century. The name of this block comes from the number of intellectual institutions that were present in the old days. One of the most interesting attractions is a mysterious subterranean network of tunnels that communicates each building.

31. SeeCentro

    Mercado San Telmo

    San Telmo Market

    Daily market housed in a huge wrought-iron hall. Everything from fresh basil to antique shoes and coins is on display in this permanent marketplace. There are many food vendors in the cafeteria section at the rear of the building. Come during the week to see the local produce and meat market.

32. SeePalermo and Recoleta

    Museo Evita

    Evita Museum

    The museum provides a good overview of the life of Evita Perón. Many of her personal belongings are displayed.

    Tue-Sun 11:00-19:00

33. 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

34. 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

35. SeeOutskirts

    Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta

    A museum of Spanish art, which resulted from the purchase by the city of the Buenos Aires home of Enrique Larreta, perhaps the most prominent Argentine exponent of Hispanic modernism in literature. Only the gardens are accessible while the museum is undergoing renovation.

    10ARS

36. 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 09:30-19:30·Free entrance

37. SeeCentro

    Obelisco

    From its base is a good vantage point for Avenida 9 de Julio, which at 22 total lanes is the widest street in the Americas.

38. SeeCentro

    Palacio Barolo

    Don't miss this architectural gem in Buenos Aires, designed in accordance with the cosmology of the Divine Comedy. Reserve a guided tour in advance (night or day) and enjoy one of the best views of Buenos Aires. If you do not book a tour, they will not let you into the lower floor. However, try to sneak in with another tour or head in, asking for a tour. The tour counter is on the other side of the lower floor, so enough time to see the lower floor and take pictures. Palacio Barolo has just about priced itself out of the market.

    AR$48,000 for day visit and more at night

39. SeePalermo and Recoleta

    Palacio Duhau

    Park Hyatt

    Inspired in the Chateau du Marais in Paris, it is one of the finest properties in Buenos Aires. Its interior is amazing, with the garden designed by Carlos Thays, who has also designed many parks in the city, such as El Rosedal, in Palermo.

40. 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.

Browse all 171 places in Buenos Aires

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