Buenos Aires—the “Paris of South America”—was founded in 1536, shaped by waves of Italian and Spanish immigration, and burnished by Belle Époque grandeur. You’ll find neoclassical facades beside exuberant street art, and cafés where time lingers over a cortado and two buttery medialunas.

The city runs on late dinners, fútbol loyalties, and tango’s bittersweet pulse born in the working-class ports of La Boca and San Telmo. Eat your way through parrillas and bodegones, sip Malbec from Mendoza, and hunt artisan leather in Palermo Soho’s boutiques.

Practical notes: October–November and March–May are ideal. Get a SUBE card for subway and buses; taxis and ride-hailing apps are plentiful. Carry small bills for cafés; tip ~10% at sit-down restaurants. Stick to well-trodden areas in La Boca (Caminito) by day only; keep valuables secure in busy plazas.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a mosaic of distinct barrios: elegant Recoleta, bohemian San Telmo, fashion-forward Palermo, and waterfront Puerto Madero. Highlights include Teatro Colón (acoustics among the world’s best), Recoleta Cemetery’s marble mausoleums, and the color-splashed Caminito in La Boca.

• Don’t-miss sights: Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Metropolitan Cathedral, Recoleta Cemetery, Palermo’s Rosedal rose garden, MALBA, San Telmo Market, Caminito.
• Food and drink: Parrillas for asado (steak), empanadas, fugazzeta pizza, helado (gelato), and standout cocktails at Florería Atlántico or Presidente Bar.
• Local rhythm: Porteños dine at 9–11 pm; brunch culture thrives in Palermo; Sundays are for the San Telmo antiques fair and river breezes in Tigre.

How to get there: Fly into Ezeiza International (EZE) or Aeroparque (AEP). Search and compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. If you’re flying from Europe, also check Omio flights. EZE to Recoleta/Palermo takes ~45–70 minutes by taxi (about US$20–40); the Tienda León bus to downtown is ~45–60 minutes (about US$10–15), then a quick cab.

Where to stay: Browse apartments and stays on VRBO Buenos Aires or compare hotels on Hotels.com Buenos Aires.

• Alvear Palace Hotel (Recoleta): Old-world elegance, white-glove service, rooftop views. Book Alvear Palace Hotel.
• Palo Santo Hotel (Palermo Hollywood): Stylish eco-boutique with vertical gardens, easy to bars and cafés. Book Palo Santo Hotel.
• Circus Hostel & Hotel (San Telmo): Friendly spot with a pool and lively common areas near the market. Book Circus Hostel & Hotel.
• Milhouse Hostel Avenue (Microcentro): Social, central, great for meeting travelers. Book Milhouse Hostel Avenue.

Day 1: San Telmo, Plaza de Mayo, and a Tango Night

Morning: Travel day. Aim for an early arrival into EZE/AEP. Compare flight times and prices on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. On landing, change a small amount of cash for tips and taxis; most midrange and upscale spots accept cards.

Afternoon: Check in, then shake off jet lag with a classic merienda at Café Tortoni: order a cortado and churros or a dulce de leche cake in Argentina’s oldest café. Walk to Plaza de Mayo to see the Casa Rosada, Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Cabildo. Continue along Defensa Street into San Telmo—peek into San Telmo Market’s food stalls (notable: choripán grills, Coffee Town for specialty beans) and browse antiques and local crafts.

Evening: Book an early parrilla dinner before your show. Options: Don Julio (iconic—plan ahead), El Preferido de Palermo (try the milanesa napolitana), or Parrilla Peña (beloved local spot with provoleta and papas fritas). Then settle into a moody San Telmo tanguería:

La Ventana Tango Show in Buenos Aires

Expect virtuosic dancers, a live orquesta típica, gaucho boleadoras, and soaring operatic interludes. With dinner included, budget from ~US$80–150 per person; show-only options cost less and finish around 11 pm.

Day 2: City Icons, Recoleta, and Palermo Flavors

Morning: Fuel up in Palermo at Lattente (specialty cappuccinos), LAB Tostadores (V60s and inventive toasts), or Salvaje Bakery (cardamom rolls, breakfast sandwiches). Then cover major landmarks with context (and breeze past distances) on two wheels:

Bike Tour: Half-Day City Highlights of Buenos Aires

This half-day route typically touches Puerto Madero’s docks, Plaza de Mayo, La Boca’s Caminito (daytime only), and the parks of Palermo, with stops for photos and stories behind the monuments. Budget ~US$35–60.

Afternoon: Head to Recoleta. Lunch around the leafy plazas: La Rambla (porteño classics like tortilla española), Roux (elegant, Mediterranean-Argentine), or El Sanjuanino for piping-hot empanadas salteñas. Then wander Recoleta Cemetery’s labyrinth of mausoleums—seek out Eva Perón’s resting place, the “Gates of Heaven” vaults, and angels of gray Carrara marble. Pop into the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (free) or MALBA for Latin American modernism. Pause at La Biela for an espresso under the ancient gomero tree.

Evening: Explore Palermo Soho’s cobbled lanes for leather goods and indie designers (Gorriti, Gurruchaga, Armenia streets). Tonight, taste the city with a local guide:

Local Foodie Adventure in Buenos Aires with Sherpa Food Tours

Expect a progressive feast: empanadas, classic bodegón plates, and modern takes paired with Argentine wines—leave room for helado. Prefer a private grill feast? Consider this intimate barbecue with pairings:

Authentic Rooftop Asado Experience with Argentine Wine Pairing

After dinner, sip a nightcap at Florería Atlántico (speakeasy behind a flower shop) or Presidente Bar (refined classics). Most bars hum past midnight.

Day 3: Tigre Delta Escape and Farewell Bites

Morning: Grab breakfast-to-go—Ninina (granola bowls, pastries), Malvón (brioche French toast), or Café Registrado (light roasts). Trade the city for nature with a half-day navigation through the Paraná Delta:

Tigre Delta Small-Group Tour from Buenos Aires

Glide past stilted homes, lush canals, and weekend houses locals call “quintas.” Many tours include San Isidro’s historic center and a riverboat ride; plan ~5 hours door-to-door and ~US$50–90.

Afternoon: Return to the city for a quick farewell lunch. In Retiro, El Cuartito serves old-school fugazzeta and mozzarella-heavy slices; in Microcentro, El Palacio de la Papa Frita is famous for “soufflé” fries. Pick up last-minute alfajores at Havanna or artisanal bars at Rapanui. Head to the airport—allow 3 hours pre-international flight from EZE (plus 45–70 minutes transfer). Compare late-day options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you’ve got a red-eye and extra time, fit in a guided Teatro Colón tour or a golden-hour stroll in Puerto Madero’s Reserva Ecológica. Note: If visiting La Boca’s Caminito today, go by day only and stick to the main pedestrian streets.

Getting around: Use the SUBE card for subway (Subte) and buses; the D and H lines are handy for Palermo/Recoleta. Taxis are metered; ride-hailing apps work well at night. Traffic peaks 8–10 am and 5–7 pm; pad transfers accordingly.

More great eats to bookmark: Mishiguene (modern Jewish-Argentine), Chori (gourmet choripán), La Carnicería (smoke-kissed cuts), El Preferido’s pink corner bar for picadas, and Cadore for classic gelato. Coffee lovers should also try Cuervo Café and LAB’s Palermo Hollywood branch.

Three days in Buenos Aires gives you tango’s heartbeat, patinated plazas, and Palermo’s inventive kitchens—plus a breath of fresh air on the Tigre Delta. Expect to return: the city always has another milonga, another steak, another sunlit plaza up its sleeve.