It would be repetitive to say that Feira de San Telmo is one of the most traditional tourist attractions in Buenos Aires. Every Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm, it brings together the best picturesque things the city has to offer. And it’s not just about the objects sold – there’s even a stallholder specializing in antique buttons. It’s also the characters, like the old tango dancers and the street orchestras that perform there.
But how did this story start? In 1970, a group of people interested in celebrating the inhabitants’ love for their city created an antiques fair in one of the most traditional neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. The fair, in Praça Dorrego, in San Telmo, would be supervised by the City Museum and the proposal was to only sell objects over 70 years old.
It started with just three exhibitors, but it was such a success that in three months there were already 270. Today there are 257, organized to the smallest detail around the square alongside shows, independent artists and the entire atmosphere that transforms the San Telmo Fair into one of the best Buenos Aires programs on Sundays.
Read too:
• What to do in Buenos Aires
It is worth mentioning that the San Pedro Telmo Fair is just what is in Praça Dorrego, at Defensa Y Humberto 1. The rest of the stalls, which stretch along Defensa Street to Plaza de Mayo, are theoretically not part of the “Feira of San Telmo”. The 257 stalls in the square have practically been owned by the same owners since 1970.
They only lose their position if they die, abandon their place of sale or fail to comply with the regulations, which have rules such as “the stand owner himself is the one who has to sell the products” and “during the fair he cannot stay out for more than two hours ”. This is supervised by the City Museum staff. La Nácion says that there are people who wait years and years to get a place.
The real San Telmo Fair
San Telmo Fair x Hippie Continuation of the San Telmo Fair
Perhaps because of this difficulty, combined with the absolute success of sales and attendance at the fair, new traders were setting up shop along Defensa Street and filling the streets up to Plaza de Mayo. We don’t know if these stalls that later joined the group also have a different name to call their own, which would be completely useless, since most people treat every stall installed in the region as a San Telmo fair, and they already They are as much a part of daily life in Buenos Aires as the original fair.
But this hippie continuation of the San Telmo fair – a definition that I believe is more appropriate – has no rules. Everything is sold there, from antiques, as in the original fair, to jewelry, clothes, leather goods, decorative objects and refrigerator magnets. In other words, it’s also worth taking a walk there, after all it may not be the original fair, but it is interesting. Also because, along the way there are also street artists, typical music bands and several antique stores of all types – which make the neighborhood famous for this. There are also bars, restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops.
Attractions near the San Telmo Fair
If that wasn’t enough to convince you to move on, I’ll leave the task to Quino. Or rather, for his work. On the corner of Defensa and Chile there is a statue in honor of Mafalda. There, sitting on a park bench, the cartoonist’s character is close to the house where she was raised. And what’s the fun of going to Buenos Aires and not taking this photo?
It is worth remembering that this is not the best day to take a photo with the statue. During the week, with Calle Defensa emptier, you are less likely to have to wait in a very long line. But as, depending on your planning, it may not be possible to return there another day, here’s a reminder to pay attention to that special corner with Calle Chile.
The San Telmo Market still preserves the feel of a neighborhood market, but is increasingly arousing the interest of tourists. Next to stalls selling everything from antiques to fruit, vegetables, vinyl records and trinkets, cafes and restaurants are starting to ask for space. Coffe Town is one of the main stops there, considered one of the best cafes in the city. The center’s metal structure and large dome have been there since its inauguration in 1897. It is on the corner of Defensa and Calvo.
-
Torquato Tasso Cultural Center
One of the main music clubs in Buenos Aires, Torquato Tasso began as a tango stronghold, but soon expanded to other rhythms. On Sundays, during the fair, there are dance and music performances. In general, you only pay for what you consume and how much you want to contribute when they drop the hat. See the schedule on the official website. (Calle Defensa, 1575)
Useful information for the visit
Day and hour: Sundays, from 10am to 5pm (arrive early, here’s a tip)
San Telmo Fair (the original, antiques): Plaza Dorrego, Defensa Y Humberto 1
Hippie continuation of the San Telmo Fair (my definition): Rua Defensa, from Plaza Dorrego to Plaza de Mayo.
Mafalda Statue: Defensa Y Chile
Travel insurance for Argentina
Taking out travel insurance is essential, even for countries as close as Argentina and Uruguay. No matter how close it is to home, it is best to travel protected so as not to suffer from unforeseen events.
The good news is that it is possible to take out good travel insurance for around 10 reais per day. To do this, we recommend using a search engine like Seguros Promo, which compares the main insurance companies and ensures that you find the best value for money, according to your needs.
Furthermore, blog readers are entitled to an exclusive discount coupon: 360MERIDIANOS05. See some of the offers below and choose yours:
Where to stay in Buenos Aires
The main neighborhoods to stay in Buenos Aires are:
- center
- San Telmo
- Recoleta
- Palermo
The first two are for those who want to save money, stay close to everything and don’t mind clutter. Recoleta and Palermo have more expensive accommodation, but they are more upscale and beautiful neighborhoods. You can find out more about the regions in our post Where to stay in Buenos Aires.
Recommended accommodations in Buenos Aires:
Find hotels in Buenos Aires
Sign up for our newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date with exclusive news
that can transform your routine!
