BUENOS AIRES

Called the “Paris of South America” for its beautiful architecture and rich European heritage, Buenos Aires is the gateway to all things Argentine. Home to more than 13 million porteños, this port city located along the Río de la Plata is made up of 48 uniquely different barrios (neighborhoods). Explore the city’s history in San Telmo; stroll along Calle Florida, the city’s premier shopping street in Microcentro; take a tango lesson in Boedo; and enjoy Recoleta’s world-class restaurants and chic cafés.

GETTING THERE

Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), also known as Ezeiza International Airport, is located approximately 20 miles south of downtown Buenos Aires. The safest way to get to and from the airport is to take a private car, which costs about $47, plus additional costs for tolls. Visitors can also take a shuttle bus with companies such as Manuel Tienda León, which transports passengers via air-conditioned buses at least every hour from the airport to their station, Terminal Madero, for about $15.

GETTING AROUND

Due to its heavy traffic, walking is one of the easiest ways to get around this bustling metropolis. The city’s subway network Subte, tren subterráneo, is fast and convenient, with stops at several tourist attractions; however, it gets crowded during rush hour. Subte runs 5 a.m.–10 p.m. (service starts at 8 a.m. Sunday), and one trip costs about 47 cents.

TOP ATTRACTIONS

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
The National Museum of Fine Arts houses an impressive collection of international and Argentine art, offering guests a rich history lesson on the country’s European roots and road to independence. Free admission.

Recoleta Cemetery
Spend an hour or two meandering Recoleta Cemetery, the resting place of Argentina’s most important political and cultural figures. Called the “City of the Dead,” the cemetery is laid out like a mini village of mausoleums, from intricately detailed tombs to crumbling crypts. Open daily 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; entry is free.

Teatro Colón
The grand opera house of Buenos Aires and one of the most impressive in the world, Teatro Colón offers a feast of visual and aural splendors with marble and gold leaf and impressive acoustics. The theater recently underwent a $100 million renovation and reopened during its bicentennial celebrations in 2010.

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

ArteBA
Acquaint yourself with contemporary Latin American and Argentinian art at ArteBA, a five-day art fair in May. One of Latin America’s largest contemporary art fairs, the event showcases the works of hundreds of local and international artists and attracts more than 120,000 art enthusiasts from around the world.

Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
The Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema is an 11-day event held each year in April showing hundreds of independent films, most with English subtitles. Tickets cost a little less than $4 per film, but there are also a number of free events and outdoor screenings.

Buenos Aires Tango Festival
Plan a visit in mid-August and tango across the cobbled streets of Buenos Aires at an open-air milonga (dance event) during the Buenos Aires Tango Festival, the world’s biggest tango extravaganza. Lasting 18 days, the festival starts with La Festival, nine days of tango shows and classes, followed by the Tango World Championship.

RESOURCES

For more information, visit turismo.gov.ar