Official Language:
Spanish
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Currency:
Argentine Peso
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Population:
Approximately more than 3 million people call Buenos Aires home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Buenos Aires: Best time to go is late spring (November-December) or fall (April-May). Seasons in Buenos Aires are exactly opposite of those in North America: Summer in B.A. is December-February, and winter is June-August. The climate seems increasingly to be melding into one long warm-to-hot season and one shorter cool-to-cold season, though. Buenos Aires summers are hot (averaging 82°F/28°C) and suffocatingly humid, though once in a while there might be a cool evening. The winters are mild (averaging 40°F/5°C), but there can be at least a couple of very cold and wet weeks. Rain can hit any time of the year.
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Buenos Aires, the ninth-largest city in the world, is a sprawling metropolis rising from the Río de la Plata and stretching more than 200 square km (75 square mi) to the surrounding pampas, the fertile Argentine plains. More European than South American in flavour, Buenos Aires' heart boasts bustling streets, grand avenues, old-time cafes and stylish restaurants. The locals are renowned for their flair and cockiness, even in times of adversity. It's a city of tragedy and elation; a vibrant, cosmopolitan capital. With more than one-third of the country's 39 million inhabitants living in or around Buenos Aires, the city is the political, economic, and cultural center of Argentina and the gateway to the rest of the country. Buenos Aires's identity lies in its 48 barrios (neighborhoods) each with its own character and history. Many residents have lived in the same barrio for generations and feel more of an affinity to their neighborhood than to the city as a whole. Unlike most other Latin American cities, where the architecture reveals a strong Spanish colonial influence, Buenos Aires has a mix of styles. Modern high-rises sit side by side with ornate buildings from days long gone. At every turn you'll be reminded of the city's European heritage: with boulevards lined with palatial mansions and spacious parks, the neighborhoods of El Centro, La Recoleta, and Belgrano evoke Rome, Madrid, Paris, and Budapest. The plazas of Palermo and Belgrano mirror those in Paris; Rome's Pantheon inspired the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora; the Avenida de Mayo has been compared to both Madrid and Budapest; and the Vatican Embassy on Avenida Alvear replicates the Jacquemart-André Museum in Paris. San Telmo and La Boca have a distinctly working-class Italian feel, in contrast to the stately aplomb of Plaza de Mayo and Avenida de Mayo. Buenos Aires locals refer to themselves as Porteños because many of them originally arrived by boat from Europe and settled in the port area. Known as thinkers, Porteños delve into philosophical discussions and psychoanalysis (as proven by the large number of psychoanalysts per capita in fact, the most of any city in the world). With 85% of the Argentine population of European origin, there is a blurred sense of national identity in Buenos Aires, South American or European? and residents are often concerned with how outsiders perceive them.
The city as a whole is a must see. Buenos Aires is more than just fabulous architecture, great people and spectacular cuisine. It is dancing the tango in the middle of the night, strolling through a gorgeous park, sinking your teeth into a savory steak, or walking through the city and admiring the architecture and culture. Buenos Aires is simply dazzling. A rich congeries of cultures and influences, it can sometimes be hard to get a fix on the real Buenos Aires. Don't try too hard, for the wonders of the place may elude you. In reality, the essence of Buenos Aires resides in singular encounters with its intense Latin spirit a flirtatious glance here, a heartfelt chat there. Whatever may be your experience here, it is likely to be rewarding enough to bring you back time and again.
Most cruise ships dock at the Port of Buenos Aires (tel. 11/4342-6826), located at Ing. Huergo 431. From the port, .The pier is about a half-mile from the center of town, you can reach downtown Buenos Aires either on foot or via taxis or buses. Cabs are reasonably priced and the best way to get there. Local Transportation in Buenos Aires The public buses of Buenos Aires, known as the Collectivos, can transport you all around the city at very economical prices. Or, you can opt to rent a car during your stay, but keep in mind that the drivers in this city are known for their aggressiveness. Contact Annie Millet (tel. 11/4816-8001) or Budget (tel. 11/4311-9870) for more information. Buenos Aires has a small subway system as well, with all lines radiating from El Centro. Finally, you can take a taxi service to your destination. Call City Taxi (tel. 11/4585-5544) for rates and pick-up information.
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Attractions |
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Most tourist magnets around Buenos Aires are either within walking distance from one another or within a short distance of public transport. Taxis are reasonably priced for shorter cross-city journeys.Buenos Aires' rail network services the suburbs surrounding the city area, Hailing street cabs is not recommended. To avoid problems, always use radio-taxis that are called in advance by hotels, shops or restaurants. Like most major cities, Buenos Aires has its share of pickpockets, but with reasonable care, the main tourist sections are quite safe. Older neighborhoods such as La Boca and San Telmo, while fine by day, are best avoided on your own at night. While the Subte (Underground) is South America's oldest subway and is still a quick, efficient and easy way to get around. Buses also ply the streets of Buenos Aires but the system is huge and complex and takes a while to get to grips with, so its not great for short-stayers.
Puerto Madero:
An enormous project to revive this area, the city's old port, has resulted in one of Buenos Aires' most dynamic and modern neighborhoods. Enjoy a walk along the riverfront boardwalk and an evening at one of its many fine restaurants.
The Museo Historico Nacional:
It is located at Defensa 1600 (11/4307-1182) and is the best place to get a true sense of Argentina's history from the 16th century to the early 20th century. This National Historical Museum is actually one of the must see locations in Argentina, because the heritage and culture are so incredibly rich and fascinating. In 1810, Argentina fought valiantly against Spain in the War of Independence. This brutal war is chronicled through a series of exhibits, all of which are quite interesting and give you a sense of what was occurring in 19th-century Argentina. The Paraguayan War was fought between Paraguay and the nations of Argentina and Brazil in the 1870?s, and the room dedicated to this struggle is remarkable. A series of outstanding paintings showcases terrifying battle scenes. The painter of these marvelous works was a man by the name of Candido Lopez. A native Argentinean, Lopez fought in the Paraguayan War and lost his right arm while fighting. Upon leaving the militia, he taught himself to paint with his left hand and willed himself to be an extraordinary painter, even though he was naturally right-handed.
Plaza de Mayo:
This is the major hub of Buenos Aires surrounded by the city's most important historic buildings such as at the east end of the Plaza de Mayo is the unmistakable pink façade of the Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace). From the heights of its lofty balcony, Juan and Eva Perón, General Leopoldo Galtieri, Rául Alfonsín and other politicians have addressed the throngs below. Little wonder then that the Plaza de Mayo is a magnet for political activities and demonstrations. Other major buildings around the plaza include the Museo del Cabildo, the intriguing old town council building that represents all that's left of the recova (colonial arches) that once surrounded the plaza, and the Catedral Metropolitana, a religious landmark and major historical site. Inside is the tomb of Argentina's repatriated and revered hero, General José de San Martin, who chose exile in France in the chaos following the country's independence.
Plaza Dorrego:
As both birthplace of the tango and a bohemian artist's quarter, San Telmo barrio, in the Microcentro of Buenos Aires, is still the city's prime store of cultural riches. The Plaza Dorrego's amazing antiques market Feria de San Telmo buzzes with excitable vendors, street performers and tango dancers. Nearby is the Museo Histórico Nacional, which details the whole Argentine experience in paint and portrays the country's key independence and republican figures. Other museums in the area include the Museo Penitenciario Nacional, originally a Jesuit convent and later a women's prison, and the Museo de Arte Moderno, housed in a recycled tobacco warehouse. During the week the Dorrego Square:
is a great place to observe the culture of the city, and if you hang around here for more than a few minutes on Sundays, you had better be prepared to dance the tango! It's fascinating to wander around and explore this extensive mini-city of lofty statues, detailed marble facades and earthy-smelling sarcophagi, all the while reading family names of those with enough social points to make it in here. Follow the crowds and you'll find Evita's grave.
The Tango::
No one should leave Buenos Aires without taking in a tango show. The Argentines have perfected this dance to its most seductive and romantic. Small, intimate tango bars can be found throughout the San Telmo and La Boca districts, but the larger shows frequented by tourists at places such as La Ventana, Casa Blanca, Senor Tango or El Viejo Amacen, are also wonderful spectacles. If you are smitten and want to learn the dance, spots such as Club Almagro and La Estrella offer lessons, guaranteed to be a fun experience.
Teatro Colón:
Opened in 1908, the Teatro Colón is truly a world-class theatre and the jewel in Argentina's arts crown. Guided visits around the theatre's basement workshops, rehearsal rooms, stage and seating areas highlight the majesty and mechanics behind the spectacular performances. Catch one if you can. The only facility of its kind in the country, the seven-storey Colón is used for opera, ballet and classical music, with seating for 2500 spectators and standing room for another thousand culture-craving Buenos Aires porteños.
Colonia:
From either Tigre or Buenos Aires, a relaxing day excursion over the Río de la Plata to Uruguay's historical gem Colonia is truly worthwhile, and most foreigners will only need their passport to cross the border. Colonia is a gently paced, friendly place, its sycamore shaded colonial streets made even more pleasant by sumptuous sunsets and cool breezes coming in off the Río de la Plata. This remarkable town is also of great historical importance. The World Heritage-listed site of the Barrio Histórico contains treasures including the superb 17th-century Portuguese contraband port, La Colonia Portuguesa, and the fortress of Colonia. Popular with Argentines, Colonia is something of an unappreciated gem along the foreign tourist route but it is gaining an ever-greater audience. Colonia is less than an hour from Buenos Aires across the Rio de la Plata by hydrofoil.Any place where the motorists stop for pedestrians must have something to recommend it. But Colonia has much more to it than simply being a friendly place. It is a remarkable town full of historical significance. Its colonial streets, shaded by sycamores from the summer heat, contain treasures such as the superb 17th-century Portuguese contraband port, La Colonia Portuguesa, and fortress of Colonia. Popular with Argentines, it is something of an unappreciated gem along the foreign tourism route but is gaining an ever-greater audience. Close enough to Buenos Aires across the Rio de la Plata to almost smell it (less than an hour by hydrofoil) and an easy day trip from Montevideo, Colonia is an absolute must-see.
San Antonio de Areco:
On the south bank of the Río Areco, 113km (70mi) west of Buenos Aires, is a slice of the old frontier life, where many of the friendly locals still wear gaucho berets, the post office always closes for lunch and nobody ever locks their bikes. Only two hours from the capital by bus, the serene village of San Antonio de Areco seems years away from the big smoke. The town is a throw back to the country's vestigial gaucho culture and has become a hugely popular weekend getaway for city slickers. In November it hosts Argentina's hugest gaucho celebration, Día de la Tradicíon (Tradition Day). San Antonio de Areco's old-time kiosks serve up delightful treats, such as alfajor, a type of biscuit, and the traditional handicrafts sold at its weekly market make excellent mementos. The surrounding estancias (ranches) often provide accommodation, meals, horse riding tours and traditional entertainment. There are also more than enough museums, cultural centres, churches and monuments in the town to keep tourists amused for a few days.
Tigre & The Delta Del Paraná:
Only an hour north of Buenos Aires by train (slightly longer by bus) is the tranquil suburb of Tigre, a good base for discovering life on the canals of the Delta del Paraná and making trips across to Uruguay. Buenos Aires' porteños come here to retreat and it can get busy on weekends.Also popular are trips to Isla Martín García, only 2km (1.2mi) off the Uruguayan coast and a short ferry trip from Tigre. The park-like island is an all-in-one historical monument, nature reserve and recreational retreat. With the densely forested delta nearby, the island was used as a prison camp (hosting four ex-presidents) and a strategic observation point to guard against smugglers and protect the approaches to Río Uruguay and Río Paraná.
Recoleta:
The city's swankest neighborhood is lined with handsome apartment buildings, and is home to fine shops, art galleries and restaurants. It grew up around the Recoleta Cemetery, where the ancestors of the city's aristocracy are buried. Begun in 1822, this amazing cemetery is a virtual crypt city of tall and elaborate tombs and mausoleums covering four square blocks and is one of the city's most visited attractions. The monument most people seek out is the simple dark marble crypt belonging to Eva Peron, the wife of the late dictator Juan Peron and the heroine of the city's working class because she was one of their own before her rise to power. Ironically, she rests surrounded by the very families who once despised her lower-class origins. On weekends, don't miss the colorful crafts and souvenir market that takes place around the plaza Intendente Alvear, just below the cemetery, an event livened by many street performers. Afterwards, you can stroll past the many designer boutiques on elegant Av. Alvear, or pay a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina's largest museum.
La Boca:
Many of the city's first Italian immigrants settled this neighborhood, building corrugated iron houses along its cobbled streets. The tango is said to have been born here. Now it is home to many artists, who have painted the metal houses in bright reds, yellows, blues and greens. Lively Caminito, a multi-hued pedestrian walkway, is a marketplace for artists and craftsmen and a block where you are likely to see couples doing the tango to the tune of a guitar or the traditional accordion known as the bandoneon.
Museums:
It would take days to visit all of the museums of Buenos Aires. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes - Buenos Aires' only major art museum, the National Museum of Fine Arts, is housed in a building that was once the city's waterworks. The collection includes several major Impressionist paintings and an overview of 19th- and 20th-century Argentine art Free admission between Tues.-Sun. 12:30-7:30, Sat. 9-7:30.
At the top of the list are the Museum of Fine Arts, featuring both Argentine and European artists including Toulouse-Lautrec, Rodin and Van Gogh, and Malba, a stunning modern building showing contemporary Latin American Art. The National Museum of Decorative Arts, housed in a French-inspired villa, offers European paintings, tapestries and furniture, Chinese art and miniatures from the Russian empire. The National History Museum is housed in an expansive Italian-style former family mansion.
Plaza San Martin:
This shady square at the beginning of the Florida pedestrian street is a focal point from where to start a shopping spree. The Marriott Plaza Hotel fronts the square.
Church of San Ignacio de Loyola:
Recognized by its two lofty towers, this church was built in 1710 and is the oldest colonial building in Buenos Aires.
Santo Domingo Church:
Founded in 1756, the church served as refuge to British soldiers during an attack of the British on Buenos Aires in 1806. When the British capitulated, their regimental colors were preserved in the church.
Parks and Gardens:
Over 8,000 species of plants from throughout South American can be found at the botanical garden in Palermo. It adjoins the Buenos Aires zoo, known for its white tigers. Also adjacent is the Tres de Febrero Park, 1,000 strollable acres with rose and Japanese gardens, lakes and meandering streams.
Soccer:
Buenos Aires goes gaga over soccer, and attending a match is a gala experience, with street parties in full swing on the day of the game. The Boca Juniors, the city's most popular club, plays at their stadium in La Boca.
Golf:
Buenos Aires Golf Club The Buenos Aires Country Club is a 27 hole course with a limited number of private residential homesites looking onto the course. The club hosted the Argentina Open, and South American Amateur, two of the most prestigious events in South America,in successive weeks, in December 1994, one year after opening. As the lead architect, in charge of design and constructionobservation, Kelly Blake Moran designed a system of inter-connected wetlands and lakes, including some that were adjacent to elevated fairways. The fairways were sloped and drained to the lakes and wetlands.
Shopping:
Buenos Aires is a shopping mecca. Leather articles, clothing, gems, knitwear and wines may be of interest. Rodocrosita, or Rose of he Inca, is a semi-precious stone native only to Argentina. In some stores, low-key bargaining may get you a better price on big-ticket items. Calle Florida is a stroller's paradise, 12 blocks of non-stop shopping temptations. Be sure to stop into the Galerias Pacifica, an arcade of some 180 shops with a magnificent domed ceiling and frescoes painted by local artists. Alvear Avenue in Recoleta is the place for those in search of designer boutiques.
The pedestrian street Florida features a wide choice of shops, including the modern shopping mall Galerias Pacifico; San Telmo is a good place to look for antiques. Store hours are generally from 10am to 5pm. There is limited shopping on Sundays. This weekly event, held in Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo, brings out over 250 vendors with a wide range of wares along with musicians, singers and dancers. Argentina is known for its leather goods and Look for wallets, shoes, belts, jackets and coats. Silver and woolen sweaters are also good buys. Uniquely local souvenirs are the hollowed gourds and other handcrafted cups used for drinking mate, a favorite local herbal beverage. Shops specializing in indigenous tribal arts and crafts include Pueblo Indio in San Telmo and Arte Etnico Argentino in Palermo Viejo. And don't overlook Argentine wines, which are gaining increasing notice among aficionados.
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Buenos Aires:
Buenos Aires Travel Information
http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/
Tourist Offices:
The Municipal office in the Municipalidad de Buenos Aires, Sarmiento 1551 (00 54 11 43741251) free booklet about the city centre and maps
There are also helpful Casas de Turismo for most provinces. Try the one at Av, Callao 237 (00 54 11 4371 7045/7).
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