3 days in Buenos Aires

Day by day

1. Day 1: Recoleta Cemetery and Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

   Recoleta Cemetery, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and El Ateneo Grand Splendid, then Teatro Colón in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Recoleta Cemetery

      Opened in 1822, this walled city of the dead holds more than 4,600 vaults along tree-lined alleys, from marble temples to Art Nouveau chapels.

   2. Late morning

      Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

      Visit straight after Recoleta Cemetery; entry is free, so it is easy to drop in for an hour.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Asado and bife de chorizo

      Parrillas in every barrio, from neighbourhood grills to celebrated Palermo restaurants such as Don Julio; families grill their own asado on Sundays.

   4. Afternoon

      El Ateneo Grand Splendid

      A 1919 theatre on Avenida Santa Fe that became a bookshop in 2000, El Ateneo keeps its painted dome, balconies and red stage curtains, with books lining the former stalls and boxes.

   5. Evening

      Teatro Colón

      If your dates allow, see a performance rather than only touring; upper-tier seats still give the full experience of the hall.

2. Day 2: Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada and Palacio Barolo

   Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada, Palacio Barolo and Café Tortoni, then Obelisco and Avenida 9 de Julio in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada

      Start here and walk west along Avenida de Mayo past Café Tortoni and Palacio Barolo to the Congress building.

   2. Late morning

      Palacio Barolo

      Completed in 1923 on Avenida de Mayo, this 100-metre office building was designed by Mario Palanti around Dante's Divine Comedy, rising from hell at street level to heaven in the lighthouse at the top.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Empanadas

      Empanada shops and pizzerias everywhere, sold by the unit or the dozen for takeaway.

   4. Afternoon

      Café Tortoni

      Order chocolate con churros and expect a short queue at the door; it moves quickly outside lunchtime.

   5. Evening

      Obelisco and Avenida 9 de Julio

      Photograph it from the central reservation of 9 de Julio, then walk along Corrientes for pizza at one of the old pizzerias.

3. Day 3: Caminito, La Boca and La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors museum

   Caminito, La Boca, La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors museum and San Telmo Sunday fair, then Floralis Genérica in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Caminito, La Boca

      This short pedestrian lane of corrugated-iron houses painted in bright colours recalls the tenements where Italian immigrants settled by the Riachuelo port.

   2. Late morning

      La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors museum

      Match tickets are largely reserved for club members, so a reputable tour operator is the realistic way to see a game.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Choripán

      Street carts along the Costanera Sur promenade near Puerto Madero, and as a starter at any parrilla.

   4. Afternoon

      San Telmo Sunday fair

      Every Sunday, stalls stretch along Calle Defensa from Plaza de Mayo to Plaza Dorrego, selling antiques, soda siphons, leather, crafts and street food, with tango dancers and bands on the corners.

   5. Evening

      Floralis Genérica

      Walk here from Recoleta Cemetery and continue along the avenue to MALBA.

Before you go

• Teatro Colón: Tours often sell out at busy times; book a slot online a few days ahead.
• Palacio Barolo: Visits are by guided tour only; reserve online, especially for sunset and evening slots.

If it rains

• Swap in MALBA (Palermo): Combine it with the Palermo parks and Floralis Genérica, a short walk along Figueroa Alcorta.
• Swap in Museo Evita (Palermo): Pair it with Recoleta Cemetery, where she is buried, for the fullest picture of her life.
• Swap in Galileo Galilei Planetarium (Palermo): Check the show schedule online; many sessions are in Spanish, but the dome visuals work in any language.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Palermo Soho keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Recoleta ($$$$) suits first-timers, couples, luxury, culture and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–18 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in June to 14.5 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Buenos Aires
• 2 days in Buenos Aires
• 4 days in Buenos Aires
• 5 days in Buenos Aires
• 7 days in Buenos Aires

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