10 Things You Wont Want to Miss While in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires has been one of my favorite city to visit. As they say it's the Paris of Latin America, and there is a lot of truth in this. It's very European looking, only you need to speak Spanish and people are a lot more relaxed. Argentina's economy is not doing well, they've been facing an economic crisis for years (but I won't get into that), making things very affordable for foreigners.

1. Botanical Garden

Take a stroll in the Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays, it's free of entry and its quite nice to get away from the pollution of the city and enjoy the nice purple colors of the garden and lay on the grass.

2. Spend an afternoon in San Telmo

San Telmo is the oldest neighborhood in BA, it's not the safest however, so it's best to go during the day and stay careful, but it's worth a visit. You can stop by the San Telmo Market for some food and shopping, and then go around the streets and plaza. You have to stop by the Casa Ezeiza to admire the architecture, it was the house of the Ezeiza family and built in the 1880s.

3. Visit the Recoleta Cemetery

It's always a bit odd to recommend visiting cemetery, but this one is worth a detour. The Cementatio de la Recoleta is similar to the one in New Orleans because of its mausoleums and unique architectures. It has notable personalities buried there including Eva Perón. Around it there is a very lively street with bars and a shopping mall.

4. Go see a Tango show

Argentina is the birth place of Tango so you can't miss going to a live performance of dancing and singing. There are a few options, most of them are in San Telmo. I went to Gala Tango where you have a 3 course dinner and can watch the performance, it was quite nice!

5. Go on a day trip to Uruguay

Uruguay is just a few hours away by Ferry, so it's worth a quick detour for a day. They have nice beaches, as it's known as a vacations destination for Argentinians. Just make sure to bring your passport!

6. Check out the street art in Palermo

Palermo is the more artsy and young neighborhood, they have a lot of street art, bobochic shops and cafes. This is also a good place at night, if you want to go bar hopping, as it's quite lively. There is also a market going on in the morning on the Plaza Serrano.

7. Walk around Caminito in La Boca

Caminito (the little street in Spanish) is a famous street located in La Boca. It's renowned for its colorful buildings and Tango dancers. There are shops and markets, from which you can buy souvenirs and gifts. If you are into football, it's located just next to a notable stadium, La Bombonera, which you can visit its museum for a fee.

8. Go to the museum

There are many museums in Buenos Aires, with different permanent and temporary collections. Here is a short list (but there are many more):

• Museo de Arte Latinoamericano

• Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

• Museo Nacional del Cabildo de Buenos Aires y de la Revolución de Mayo

• Museo Evita

9. Go for happy hour under the train tracks

Go for a walk at the park Tres de Febrero and spend happy hour under the train tracks at the Paso bajo puente. There are a lot of nice options, Avant Garten is a good one for happy hour. You have to try Fernet and Cynar Julep, which are popular drinks in Argentina, that came from Italy.

10. Learn more about the city's landmarks

There are a few landmarks you should stop by, you'll find a lot of history and diversity in architecture. You can also book a guided tour (Viator is a good option) to make sure you get all the historical details to understand this city better.

• Plaza de Mayo

• Casa Rosada

• Obelisco

• Cartel BA Verde

• Jardín Japonés

• Puerto Madero

Other things I liked or found useful...

• Check out my guide on BA's restaurants and bars! Don't miss out on Argentinian food specialties, from empanadas to asados, they offer a nice variety of food, with a lot of Italian influenced dishes. And If that's your thing, BA has a very good night life, with nightclubs, dancing bars, and speakeasy.