From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. Buenos Aires is a big city, so give the first evening to rest and choose a barrio to sleep in.Details
Which airport
Most long flights land at Ezeiza, well out of the city. Aeroparque, beside the river, is much closer to the center and handles many shorter flights. Ask your airline which one you use, and plan the ride in accordingly.
The ride in
From Ezeiza, use the official taxi counter in the arrivals hall, a pre-booked transfer or an app ride, rather than a stranger who offers a lift. At night, do the same for every ride across town.
Getting around
The subway, called the Subte, and the buses use a rechargeable card. Walking is the pleasure of most barrios. Keep your phone out of sight on busy streets and hold it in a pocket rather than in your hand.
First evening
Dinner is late here, and many places fill after nine. Eat something small early, walk a few blocks near your hotel and sleep. Day 1 starts at the big square, so you will not need to rush.
Day 1. La Boca and Puerto Madero and the river
4 stops · 4.8 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth a short walk
Caminito
A short pedestrian street of bright houses, painted metal and tango dancers, the picture most people have of La Boca. It is a small place, so one slow walk is enough.
Go whenMorning, before the tour groups arrive.
Local tip Keep your phone in a pocket on the busy lane, and plan an official taxi or an app ride to and from the barrio.
Fugazzeta is a thick pizza stuffed with cheese and topped with sweet onion, an old Italian-immigrant dish of the port barrios. A slice is a full lunch.
Local tip It is rich, so share one between two and add a green salad.
The old square of San Telmo, where antiques are sold and street musicians play at weekends. A good place to sit with a coffee and watch the lane fill up.
Go whenMidday, with a coffee, then stay as long as you like.
Local tip The Sunday antiques fair around the square is the famous event of the barrio. Go early if you want to walk through without elbows.
A wide green reserve of marsh, reeds and paths beside the river, a short walk from the downtown towers. Walk as far as the water and turn back when you like.
Go whenAfternoon, when the light is soft.
Local tip Bring water and a hat, because there is little shade. Check ahead that the reserve is open on your day.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 2. Plaza de Mayo and the old center and Puerto Madero and the river
4 stops · 1.9 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth the time
Plaza de Mayo
The great square of the city, with a pyramid in the middle and the main buildings of the country around it. Start here and walk slowly around the edge.
Go whenMorning, when the light falls on the pink house and the square is calm.
Local tip Look for the white head scarves painted on the paving around the pyramid. They mark a long-running weekly gathering of mothers in the square.
The old cafes along the avenue have marble tables, dark wood and waiters in long aprons. Sit down for a sandwich or a plate of the day and stay for the afternoon.
Local tip There is no rush. Order one more coffee and a glass of water, and watch the street.
About 6 min walk0.5 km
3
MorningWorth a short look
Puente de la Mujer
A white footbridge shaped like a pair of dancers, over the old dock. Cross it once, then follow the water.
Go whenMorning, or at dusk when the lights come on.
Local tip Walk to the middle of the bridge for a view along the old dock, then cross and look back.
The old street that runs through San Telmo, lined with antique shops, old houses and doorways with tiles on the floor. Walk it slowly and look into the open passages.
Go whenMorning, before the street fills with people.
Local tip Look for the narrow passages between the houses. Some open onto courtyards with small shops and a bit of shade.
Dinner
A parrilla steakhouse grill
The parrilla is the traditional grill of the country, with beef cooked slowly over coals. Share a mixed grill, a salad and a bottle of red wine.
Local tip Say "a punto" for medium, or "jugoso" for more rare, and share a plate of provoleta, grilled cheese, to start.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 3. Plaza de Mayo and the old center and The theatres and the avenues
4 stops · 2.0 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth a short visit
Metropolitan Cathedral
The city’s cathedral on the north side of the square, with a stately front and a quiet, dim interior. Step in and sit for a minute.
Go whenMid-morning, before the day gets busy.
Local tip Go in through the side door if the front is crowded. Inside, look for the side chapel of the general who freed much of South America.
If it rains. Teatro Colón, Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar and A bookshop in an old theatre are covered, so keep them. Move Recoleta Cemetery to a dry day if you can.
Day 5. Palermo and Recoleta
4 stops · 2.6 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningPick your floor
MALBA
A modern museum of Latin American art in a plain, bright building. Choose one floor and leave when you are ready.
Go whenMorning, when the rooms are quiet.
Local tip Choose one floor and give it time. Take a break between rooms rather than trying to see it all.
A neighborhood of low houses, bars and restaurants, quieter in the afternoon than at night. A good place to walk without a plan.
Go whenLate afternoon, before the evening crowd.
Local tip This barrio fills up at night. If you plan to come back for dinner, go by app ride or official taxi and keep your phone out of sight on the street.
Dinner
Pizza and fainá
In the city, a slice of mozzarella pizza is often paired with a slice of fainá, a flat bread made of chickpea flour, and eaten together standing at a counter.
Local tip Put the fainá on top of the pizza, the way locals do.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. Pick the airport and the ride the night before, because the roads can be slow.Details
The way out
Traffic on the highways to Ezeiza can be heavy at the start and the end of the working day. Leave early, and book an official taxi or an app ride rather than waiting on the street.
Souvenirs
Alfajores, the filled cookies, and a bag of yerba mate for the gourd are easy to pack. Buy them on your last afternoon, and check the rules for food in your own country before you pack.
Spare hours
If your flight is late, spend the morning in a cafe with marble tables, and take a last walk through a quiet barrio. Leave the big sights for the days you have already had.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Buenos Aires?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, February to May and August to December are the most comfortable months for walking around Buenos Aires. This plan is built for late October, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 6 days in Buenos Aires, planned for late October. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 1.9 to 4.8 kilometers between its stops, and 19.0 kilometers in all across 6 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.