Buenos Aires—Argentina’s magnetic capital—mixes European elegance with Latin American soul. Born in 1536 and rebuilt as a cosmopolitan port city, it gave the world tango, café culture, and the habit of dining well past sunset. From Belle Époque palaces to color-splashed street art, every barrio wears its history on the sleeve.

Iconic sights anchor the city: Plaza de Mayo, the Obelisk on Avenida 9 de Julio, the dreamy Recoleta Cemetery, and La Boca’s Caminito. Food is a sport here—steak at parrillas, handmade empanadas, wood-fired fugazzeta, and gelato that rivals Italy’s. Coffee shops rank among South America’s best, and cocktail bars like Tres Monos and Presidente set regional standards.

Practical notes: seasons are opposite the Northern Hemisphere. Expect late dinners (9–11pm), 10% tips at sit-down restaurants, and wide card acceptance. Use a SUBE card for buses/Subte and trusted rideshares/taxis at night. Carry pesos for markets; keep phones/wallets secure in busy areas.

Buenos Aires

BA is a “city of neighborhoods.” San Telmo charms with cobblestones and antiques; La Boca bursts with color and fútbol lore; Recoleta glows with Parisian facades; Palermo rolls out leafy parks, designer boutiques, and the city’s hottest restaurants and bars.

Don’t miss: the Recoleta Cemetery’s sculpted mausoleums, MALBA’s Latin American art, the riverside boardwalks of Puerto Madero, and El Ateneo Grand Splendid—perhaps the world’s most beautiful bookstore. Between sights, hit third-wave cafés, sample choripán from a street grill, and watch locals sip mate in the parks.

Where to stay (family-friendly picks):

• Palo Santo Hotel (Palermo): Sustainable boutique with a leafy patio, walkable to cafés and nightlife.
• Circus Hostel & Hotel (San Telmo): Private rooms, pool, and a social vibe—good value near the market.
• Alvear Palace Hotel (Recoleta): Historic grande dame for a splurge night.
• Milhouse Hostel Avenue (Centro): High-energy base popular with 18–20-somethings; opt for private rooms.
• Browse apartments and townhouses: VRBO Buenos Aires or more hotels via Hotels.com Buenos Aires.

Getting there: Fly into Ezeiza (EZE, intercontinental) or Aeroparque (AEP, regional). From the US East Coast: ~10–11 hours nonstop; West Coast: ~13–14 hours (one stop); from São Paulo: ~3 hours. Typical roundtrips range ~$650–$1,100 from North America and $150–$350 from within South America. Search fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.

Airport to city: 45–70 minutes by licensed taxi/remis (roughly $22–$35 to Palermo or Recoleta depending on traffic). Public buses are cheap but slow; rideshare works well. Intra-city trains aren’t key for visitors; use Subte, buses, or rideshares.

Day 1: Arrival, Palermo Stroll, and First Steak

Afternoon: Land and settle into your hotel/apartment. Shake off the flight with a lazy wander through Palermo Soho’s cobbled lanes. Grab an espresso at Lattente (Colombian baristas, spot-on cortados) or LAB Tostadores (precise pour-overs) and window-shop independent boutiques around Plaza Serrano.

Evening: Welcome dinner at El Preferido de Palermo (1917 bodegón revived—order the milanesa and the “morcilla” with sweet onions) or try for a reservation at Don Julio (benchmark ribeye/bife de chorizo; house chimichurri is addictive). Nightcap at Tres Monos (tiny, award-winning cocktail den—ask for their seasonal highball). Gelato? Pistachio at Cadore or dulce de leche at Lucciano’s.

Day 2: City Highlights and a Tango Night in San Telmo

Morning: Get oriented with a small-group overview that hits Plaza de Mayo, La Boca, Recoleta, and more. It’s efficient and great for first-timers.

Buenos Aires Small-Group City Tour

Afternoon: Linger in San Telmo. Have lunch inside the Mercado de San Telmo—try choripán at a grill stall, fresh pasta at a trattoria kiosk, and cappuccinos at Coffee Town. Hunt antiques on Defensa Street and step into the cobbled Pasaje de la Defensa house-museum for a 19th-century snapshot.

Evening: Book a classic tango show in a historic tanguería. Arrive early to stroll Balcarce Street’s lamplit facades.

La Ventana Tango Show in Buenos Aires

If you skip the show dinner, eat afterward at La Brigada (they famously cut steak with a spoon) or at El Banco Rojo for excellent burgers and baos with a street-food vibe.

Day 3: Recoleta, MALBA, and Palermo Bars

Morning: Classic breakfast at La Biela (historic café facing the gomero tree), then tour Recoleta Cemetery—seek out Evita’s resting place and Art Nouveau angels. Pop into the Basilica del Pilar and stroll the weekend Recoleta artisans’ market if it’s Saturday/Sunday. Bookstore stop: El Ateneo Grand Splendid’s stage-backed reading nooks are unforgettable.

Afternoon: Head to MALBA for Frida, Berni, and Latin American modernism. Late coffee at Birkin Recoleta or LAB Palermo. If you prefer fashion, walk Avenida Alvear’s ateliers or hit Palermo’s designer cluster (Honduras/Armenia streets).

Evening: Casual parrilla at Parrilla Peña (locals’ favorite; provoleta to share, papas fritas a caballo) or La Cabrera’s early-bird deal if offered. Cocktails at Presidente (the Library Room is a stunner) or vermouth-forward sips at La Fuerza in Chacarita. Your 18-year-old can enter; many spots are 18+ in Argentina.

Day 4: Tigre Delta by Boat + Puerto Madero Night

Swap city streets for island waterways on a guided Tigre Delta day out—colorful stilt houses, rowing clubs, and weekend life on the river.

Tigre Delta Small-Group Tour from Buenos Aires

Optional evening: Back in BA, walk Puerto Madero’s docks and the Puente de la Mujer at sunset. Dinner picks: Siga la Vaca for all-you-can-eat grill on a budget, or Cabaña Las Lilas for a premium cut. Finish with alfajores ice cream at Freddo or a skyline view at Trade Sky Bar.

Day 5: La Boca Colors, Street Art, and Corrientes Pizza

Morning: Go early to Caminito in La Boca for photos before crowds. Visit Fundación Proa for contemporary art and terrace views. Safety note: stay within the tourist area and use taxis/rideshares to hop between sights.

Afternoon: Explore Barracas’ Pasaje Lanín—an open-air mosaic project by artist Marino Santa María—and see fileteado-style murals. Coffee at Negro Cueva de Café (Centro) en route to the Obelisk. Bookstore/record stop along Avenida Corrientes if you love vinyl and theater history.

Evening: Classic Buenos Aires pizza on Corrientes: Pizzería Güerrin for slices standing at the bar—try mozzarella and fugazzeta. Dessert at Heladería Cadore (since 1957, pistachio and tramontana shine). If you’re up for live music, check schedules at Torquato Tasso in San Telmo.

Day 6: Gaucho Day in the Pampas

Spend a full day in San Antonio de Areco—gaucho heritage, horseback riding, folklore music, and an epic asado lunch. It’s a cultural counterpoint to big-city BA and a hit with families.

Gaucho Small-Group Full Day at a Farm in Buenos Aires

Optional evening: Easy bites back in the city—try Chori (creative choripanes) or El Cuartito for thin-crust porteña pies. For tango up close, drop into a milonga like La Viruta to watch locals dance (casual vibe; late hours).

Day 7: Coffee Crawl, Shopping Palermo, and Farewell Feast

Morning: Coffee crawl in Palermo: start at Lattente (espresso flight), slide to Quantico or Café Registrado for experimental brews, and finish at Salvaje Bakery for laminated pastries. If it’s Sunday, browse San Telmo’s open-air market; Saturdays often bring artisans to Recoleta.

Afternoon: Shop Palermo Soho: Facon for modern Argentine crafts and textiles, Humawaca for leather, Arandu for classic boots and belts. Nature break on the rose gardens in Bosques de Palermo or a longer walk in the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve.

Evening: Farewell dinner: El Pobre Luis (Uruguayan parrilla—mollejas and pamplona) or Sarkis (beloved Armenian—order hummus, su borek, and lamb kebabs). Toast the week with one last cocktail at Cochinchina (sour-driven menu) or a low-ABV vermouth at La Fuerza.

Foodie Extras Aligned to Your Interests

Deep-dive into local flavors with a Palermo tasting walk—empanadas, bodegón classics, and pizza done the Argentine way.

Local Foodie Adventure in Buenos Aires with Sherpa Food Tours

Coffee and sweet stops to note: LAB Tostadores (precision brews), Lattente (top-tier espresso), Café Tortoni (historic setting, churros with chocolate), Rapanui (Patagonian chocolate + gelato), and Nucha (cakes). For budget-friendly lunches, try a menú del día at neighborhood bodegones.

Safety and logistics quick hits: Use SUBE on Subte/buses; keep valuables zipped on transit and in markets. At night, prefer taxis/rideshares door-to-door, especially around La Boca. Many venues accept cards; carry some pesos for tips and small purchases.

Book your travel and stays: Find flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, and lock in lodging at Hotels.com Buenos Aires or VRBO Buenos Aires.

In seven days, you’ll taste Argentina’s culinary hallmarks, trace the city’s history from colonial plazas to modern art, and balance lively nights with serene river escapes. Buenos Aires rewards curiosity—every corner café, neighborhood market, and late-night tango leaves you wanting one more stroll.