Weekend in Buenos Aires: two-day itinerary

Thinking about enjoying a weekend in Buenos Aires? You don’t need to be afraid of the rush. The capital of Argentina has options for tours, restaurants, cafes, parks and squares that please everyone and the frequency of flights leaving from different capitals in Brazil make it the perfect international destination for a quick getaway, especially if you can manage to squeeze in a Friday -fair.

We’ve put together some tips for those who are going to spend a weekend in Buenos Aires and concentrated the city’s main attractions in a two and a half day itinerary. Let’s go?

Travel insurance for Argentina

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How to get around Buenos Aires without wasting time

Buenos Aires is a flat city and many attractions are relatively close, so you can walk a lot around the city. Furthermore, there is a good public transport system, which includes the subway and urban buses with very cheap tickets – and taxis and Ubers are not expensive either.

To get around the city, I recommend using public transport and leaving taxis until the early hours of the morning. If you take a taxi on the street, be careful when handing money to the driver, as they have a reputation for trying to outsmart passengers, especially Brazilian tourists. Count the bills in front of him and, if possible, hand over the exchanged amount. If you choose your accommodation well, you shouldn’t have any problems with getting around, as most of the attractions are close to each other and the city’s public transport system is quite efficient.

Find out more in the post on how to get around Buenos Aires.

Where to stay for a weekend in Buenos Aires

The two times I stayed in Buenos Aires, I stayed in the center. Despite not having a thriving nightlife and not being the most suitable place to go out at night, the good thing about the center is its proximity to practically all tourist attractions and the ease of getting around.

Accommodations in the center:

On a short visit, this could be an interesting option, as you won’t waste as much time on subways and buses. A nicer neighborhood, but still centrally located, is San Telmo, perhaps the best option for this type of trip. But be careful because the region also has a reputation for being dangerous. If you choose to stay there, choose places on Calle Defensa and its surroundings, the hipster and busiest part of the neighborhood.

Accommodations in San Telmo:

If you already know the city’s main tourist attractions, a good idea is to stay in Recoleta, because it is undoubtedly the most charming neighborhood and where you can enjoy your weekend in Buenos Aires with more peace of mind, but the region has options more restricted public transport.

Accommodations in Recoleta:

Another tourist favorite is Palermo, which has a more “trendy chic” feel. The problem with staying there is the distance from the rest of the city. I would recommend this region to those who have more time and already know Buenos Aires from other carnivals. For more details, see our post on where to stay in Buenos Aires.

Accommodation in Palermo:

Find hotels in Buenos Aires

Itinerary for a weekend in Buenos Aires

The itinerary we have prepared below can be done easily on your own. But if you’re one of those people who like to prepare in advance, Get Your Guide allows you to book all your tours and tickets in one place, on a secure and internationally recognized platform.

Below we have selected some tour suggestions, but you can find many other options by clicking here. By making your reservation through these links, 360meridianos earns a commission and you help the blog remain a free and independent vehicle!

Want more? Read our complete guide on what to do in Buenos Aires

Friday

Start your weekend in Buenos Aires by exploring the city center. The starting point is the obelisk of the 9th of July, at the intersection with Corrientes, one of the main postcards and ground zero of the capital. On the same avenue is the Teatro Colón, a beautiful building opened in 1908, which hosts ballet, opera, concerts and plays. It’s worth checking the schedule on the website to see if there’s anything cool during your visit. In addition, the administration offers a guided tour behind the scenes of the theater.

Go to the intersection of 9 de Julio and Avenida de Mayo and turn right towards the National Congress, a beautiful building located in front of three very pleasant squares. The seat of Argentina’s legislative power has free guided tours throughout the week, but even if you don’t want to go inside, it’s worth checking out the architecture of this and other surrounding buildings, such as the Palacio Barolo, which was inspired by the Divine Comedy of Dante and which is on Avenida de Mayo, nearby.

Read too: A visit to the Argentine National Congress

From there, go up Corrientes until Calle Florida, a street closed to car traffic, but which has heavy pedestrian traffic. Try to avoid people selling overpriced tango tours and shows. On this street is the famous Pacific Galleriesa shopping mall that operates inside a beautiful building and has very chic stores.

Weekend in Buenos Aires: Visit Galerias Pacifico

Are you hungry? Then run to the Tortoni Coffee, at Avenida de Mayo, 825, near Plaza de Mayo. The place has a beautiful hall and more than 150 years of history, making it the most traditional café in a city that has a strong café culture. Take the opportunity to try the delicious Argentine desserts, preferably with lots of dulce de leche.

Climb up to Plaza de Mayo, stage of the Revolution (guess what?) of Mayo, and also of the declaration of Argentine Independence. During the dictatorship, mothers of young people who disappeared under the regime gathered there to protest. Even today, as they are elderly, their fight for the right to know what happened to their children is not over and they continue to protest, every Thursday without rest. Their determination made them known as the mothers of Praça de Mayo.

This square is the political center of the city. There is the Pink House, seat of the Argentine government. You can visit Casa Rosada for free on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 10am to 6pm. Visits take place every 10 minutes, last 60 minutes and there are guides in Portuguese, English and Spanish, but you must book a time in advance on the website Visitas.casarosada.gob.ar. Also in the square are the Metropolitan Cathedral and the City Hall of Buenos Aires.

You know that famous photo with the statue of Mafalda and friends? To find it, go down Calle Defensa, which starts at the square. The tribute to Quino’s famous comic book character is in front of number 698. You’ll be back here on Sunday, the day to see the San Telmo Fair, but if you want a good photo, you’d better make sure now that the street isn’t full of vendors and tourists. This is also a great region to find a good place to eat, as there are many nice restaurants there, especially on Calle Chile and Peru, which cross Defensa. On the corner of Calle Chile, close to Mafalda, the tip is Mexican Here I fall.

In San Telmo, on Calle Peru, there is also Manzana de las Luces, a historic block built by Jesuits in 1608. There is a network of tunnels underground in Manzana, built in case an escape was necessary in the middle of the night. The tunnels were only discovered in 1912 and are open to the public.

Continue the tour towards Puerto Madero. There you will see another face of Buenos Aires, with luxurious and modern skyscrapers. Grab a dessert at Fredo’s Ice Cream and sit facing the Rio da Prata to rest. In Puerto Madero there are Women’s Bridgeanother postcard of the city, and the Maritime Museumwhich operates inside a boat and is an interesting attraction for those going with children.

Read too:
• Buenos Aires on foot: downtown attractions
• Where to eat well and cheaply in Buenos Aires

At night, the tip is to have dinner at Sarkis, an Armenian restaurant considered one of the best in the city. Arrive early, at 8am, to guarantee a table, as the place is busy. The lamb kafta with piaf rice is highly recommended. If you still have the energy, end the night with a tango show.

Saturday

Saturday morning is the day to visit the famous Recoleta Cemetery. Some may turn their noses up at this tour, but believe me, it’s well worth the visit. It is a very beautiful and well-kept place, with very elaborate tombstones of rich families. The most visited, without a doubt, is Evita Perón. The cemetery is open every day and entry is free.

Once the tour is over, explore the surroundings of the cemetery. Recoleta is the most charming neighborhood in Buenos Aires, with beautiful streets, buildings with interesting architecture, cute cafes on the corners – it has that European feel that Argentines boast so much about. Right in front of the Cemetery, there is a very pretty square with several restaurants and bars that are full of people on the weekend. Find a place there to have lunch or just have a coffee. Then get lost in the neighborhood. There are the National Museum of Fine ArtsThe Argentine National Library and some parks and squares.

After getting lost in the streets, head to Avenida Santa Fé, nº 1860. There is the El Ateneo bookstore, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. The building is an old theater that they turned into a book store and cafe. It is a beautiful building and well worth a visit, especially for those who enjoy literature.

In the afternoon, head to the Palermo Woods, a beautiful and huge park where Argentines usually gather on weekends to play games, practice sports or just spend time with friends. Consider taking a mate and spending a few hours there chatting away.

Sunday

On Sunday morning there is only one program in Buenos Aires: the San Telmo Fair. In addition to being a huge and very interesting flea market, where you can find everything, the fair also features artistic performances in the various cultural centers and bars scattered along Calle Defensa. Walk around for a while and buy whatever souvenirs you want. If you prefer, you can wait until you’re hungry to try another of San Telmo’s restaurants.

Then, get away from the crowd a little and take a taxi to the La Bombonera, the stadium of the Boca Juniors football team, there, close by, has the La Pasion Boquense Museum. If you enjoy football, it’s worth taking a guided tour of the stadium, which includes admission to the museum.

Read too: Guided tour of La Bombonera stadium

Once the visit is over, take another taxi and get off at Caminito, the charming street of colorful houses famous for its outdoor tango attractions. There are those who don’t like it at all: the little houses were painted with the intention of attracting tourists, the restaurants are very expensive and, like the Boca Museum, which it neighbors, it is in an area that is not the safest. But the truth is that Caminito is beautiful, makes for good photos and has an interesting history: the old immigrant neighborhood was one of the poorest in Buenos Aires and the wooden houses there were considered a sign of misery and shame for the residents, but With creativity and a bit of paint, they turned the game around. If you are in doubt, read our text Is Caminito worth visiting?

Did you like our suggestions for what to do on a weekend in Buenos Aires? Be sure to read all our texts about the city.

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