Buenos Aires is a heady mix of European elegance and Latin energy—nicknamed the “Paris of South America” for its grand boulevards, Belle Époque palaces, and café culture. Founded in the 16th century and reshaped by waves of Italian and Spanish immigration, it’s where tango took its first dramatic steps in the bars and patios of La Boca and San Telmo.

Today’s city swings between high culture and neighborhood ritual: a maté shared in the park, a late parrilla dinner, a Sunday antique hunt around Plaza Dorrego. Iconic sights—Recoleta Cemetery, Plaza de Mayo, Teatro Colón, MALBA—pair perfectly with local traditions like merienda (late-afternoon coffee and pastries) and the weekend riverside escape to Tigre.

Practical notes: dinner often starts after 9 pm; many restaurants require reservations. Card payments are widely accepted, but carrying some pesos is useful. Keep valuables secure in crowded areas. Rideshares and licensed radio taxis are plentiful; the Subte (metro) and buses run on a reloadable SUBE card.

Buenos Aires

Welcome to a city of neighborhoods, each with a rhythm of its own: stately Recoleta; bohemian San Telmo; technicolor La Boca; verdant Palermo with its parks, museums, and buzzy dining scene. It’s a place to wander, linger, and then stay out late.

• Top sights: Recoleta Cemetery, Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada, MALBA, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Teatro Colón, Puerto Madero boardwalk, Bosques de Palermo (Rosedal), Japanese Garden.
• Signature experiences: a tango dinner show; a parrilla tasting (bife de chorizo, provoleta, mollejas); Sunday San Telmo market; day on the Tigre Delta; gaucho estancia barbecue on the pampas.
• Coffee & food culture: third-wave coffee is excellent; bakeries turn out medialunas and facturas; bodegones (old-school eateries) serve abundant classics; heladerías rival Italy’s gelato.

Where to stay (curated picks + booking links):

• Classic luxury (Recoleta): Alvear Palace Hotel — white-glove service, a rooftop with city views, and a storied tea salon. Book on Hotels.com.
• Boutique eco (Palermo Hollywood): Palo Santo Hotel — leafy terraces, serene rooms, easy to restaurants. Book on Hotels.com.
• Design on a budget (San Telmo): Circus Hostel & Hotel — pool, social vibe, great for walkable history. Book on Hotels.com.
• Social stay (Microcentro/San Telmo edge): Milhouse Hostel Avenue — lively, central, ideal for first-timers. Book on Hotels.com.
• Search more stays: Browse apartments on VRBO or hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting there: Fly into Ezeiza International (EZE). Typical nonstop times: Miami ~9h, NYC ~10–11h, São Paulo ~3h, Santiago ~2h, Madrid ~12–13h. Round-trip fares often range from ~$600–$1,300 from North America (season-dependent). Compare prices on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Airport to Palermo/Recoleta is ~45–70 minutes by taxi depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Recoleta Stroll & Your First Parrilla

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off the flight with a gentle walk through Recoleta’s leafy streets and Plaza Francia. Stop for merienda at La Biela (historic café facing centenarian gomero trees) or grab excellent pastries at Salvaje Bakery (try the dulce de leche rol).

Evening: Ease into Argentine beef at Parrilla Peña (old-school, generous portions, terrific fries) or El Preferido de Palermo (pink façade, house-made charcuterie, milanesa napolitana). Vegetarians do well at Hierbabuena in San Telmo (seasonal plates, juices). Finish with Patagonian chocolate and helado at Rapa Nui or classic dulce de leche at Cadore.

Day 2: Iconic Buenos Aires + Tango Night in San Telmo

Morning: Get oriented with a guided overview that strings together Plaza de Mayo, La Boca, San Telmo, Puerto Madero, and Recoleta highlights. Book the Buenos Aires City Private Tour with Local Guide (typical 4–5 hours; private vehicle and bilingual guide; pricing varies by group size—check live rates).

Afternoon: Linger in San Telmo. Browse antiques around Plaza Dorrego and contemporary crafts at the San Telmo Market (empanada stands and Coffee Town for a flat white). Lunch at La Brigada (parrilla famous for knife-tender cuts) or casual El Banco Rojo (choripán, smash burgers, craft beer).

Evening: Dress for tango. La Ventana Tango Show delivers powerful dance, live orquesta típica, and gaucho boleadoras in an atmospheric San Telmo tanguería (show-only or dinner packages; plan 2.5–3 hours).

Day 3: La Boca Color, Barracas Murals & Puerto Madero Waterfront

Morning: Visit Caminito in La Boca early to enjoy the tin houses and street artists without the crowds. Pop into Fundación Proa for contemporary art if exhibits appeal, then a quick photo stop by La Bombonera stadium. Coffee at Pichetto Café (good espresso) or grab medialunas from a nearby panadería.

Afternoon: Head north to Puerto Madero. Stroll the boardwalks and cross Calatrava’s Puente de la Mujer. If weather’s nice, walk or rent a bike in the Reserva Ecológica for skyline views and birdlife. Lunch at Siga la Vaca (all-you-can-eat parrilla with river views) or seafood-focused Sottovoce (pasta classics).

Evening: Palermo for cutting-edge dining. Consider Don Julio (world-acclaimed parrilla—book weeks ahead), Casa Cavia (garden setting, seasonal Argentine pantry), or Niño Gordo (Asian-Argentine grill, excellent for sharing). Cocktails at Florería Atlántico (speakeasy behind a florist, maritime-inspired menu) or Victoria Brown (industrial-chic, well-executed classics).

Day 4: Day on the Water — Tigre Delta

Trade asphalt for waterways on a small-group outing to the Paraná Delta. The Tigre Delta Small-Group Tour from Buenos Aires typically runs ~5–6 hours including transfers through elegant San Isidro and a boat navigation among stilted homes and lush channels. It’s a favorite for nature lovers and photographers; expect a relaxed pace and breezy river air.

Back in the city, keep dinner easy: classic porteño pizza on Avenida Corrientes at Güerrin (fugazzeta is a must) or El Cuartito (thin, foldable slices—historic vibe). Gelato nightcap at Cadore.

Day 5: Recoleta’s Art, Icons, and Cafés

Morning: Begin at Recoleta Cemetery—wander its marble lanes to find Eva Perón’s modest family vault amid mausoleum grandeur. Coffee and medialunas at La Biela or a more modern cup at Negro Cueva de Café (silky flat whites).

Afternoon: Explore the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (free; strong European and Argentine collections). Then browse El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a sumptuous theater-turned-bookstore—order a cortado on the former stage and take it all in. Lunch at Farinelli (salads, tartines, daily specials) or Fervor (grilled meats and seafood, polished service).

Evening: Treat yourself to a tasting menu at Aramburu (inventive Argentine terroir cuisine; reserve well ahead) or choose a relaxed neighborhood favorite like Las Pizarras Bistró (seasonal blackboard menu). For a post-dinner drink, try Bar Los Galgos (restored 1930s bar notable; vermouths and tapas).

Day 6: Gaucho Culture & Asado on the Pampas

Spend a full day in San Antonio de Areco, heartland of gaucho tradition. The Gaucho Day Tour Ranch at an Estancia from Buenos Aires includes round-trip transport, a stroll through the historic town, horseback riding or carriage options, folkloric music, and a generous asado lunch (expect chorizo, morcilla, short ribs, salads, malbec). Plan ~9–10 hours door-to-door.

Back in BA, if you still have room: grab late small plates at Oporto Almacén (wine bar with tapas) or go fun and casual at Chori (creative choripanes) in Palermo.

Day 7: Palermo Parks, Brunch & Departure

Morning: Unwind among Palermo’s green lungs. Stroll the Bosques de Palermo and the rose garden (Rosedal), then slip into the Japanese Garden when it opens. Brunch at Birkin (eggs, pancakes, good filter coffee), LAB Tostadores (aeropress and toasts), or Lattente (espresso stalwart).

Afternoon: If time allows, quick stop at MALBA for 20th–21st century Latin American art (Frida, Berni, León Ferrari). Pick up alfajores from Cachafaz or a bottle of malbec for home. Transfer to EZE—budget 2.5–3 hours pre-flight in traffic.

Evening: Departure.

Optional swaps and timing tips: Sunday is perfect for the San Telmo street market; if that’s in your dates, swap Day 3 afternoon. On rainy days, lean into museums (MALBA, Bellas Artes) and cafés. Dinner starts late—book prime restaurants for 9–10 pm to eat alongside locals.

Local dining cheat sheet: Bodegón staples (milanesa, tortilla, matambre) at El Antojo and Los Galenos; modern parrilla at La Cabrera; Jewish-Argentine flavors at Mishiguene (book in advance); specialty coffee at Cuervo, Full City Coffee House, and Coffee Town in San Telmo Market; desserts at Rapa Nui, Cadore, and Heladería Gruta.

Another great evening option (alternative to Day 2 or 3): If dance is your priority and you want a classic dinner-show format with private transfers available, consider the Early Tango Dinner Show with Optional Traditional Bus Transfer. It’s a polished way to dive into the music and poetry of tango, especially if you prefer an earlier curtain.

In one week, you’ll have traced Buenos Aires from river to pampas: tango’s drama, parrilla smoke, museum quiet, and delta breeze. Keep this itinerary handy; it balances headline sights with neighborhood nuance—so your days feel full, but never rushed.