Itinerary · Buenos Aires · Argentina
7 days in Buenos Aires
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Buenos Aires, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roberto Fiadone is the author of this work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
7 days is enough to see Buenos Aires's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. Day 1: Recoleta Cemetery and Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. Day 2: El Ateneo Grand Splendid and Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada. Day 3: Palacio Barolo and Café Tortoni. Base yourself in Palermo Soho.
Key facts
- Days
- 7
- Sights covered
- 15
- Day trips
- 2
- Best base
- Palermo Soho
- Book ahead
- Teatro Colón and Palacio Barolo
Day by day
Day 1: Recoleta Cemetery and Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Recoleta Cemetery and Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, then Floralis Genérica in the evening.
Morning
Recoleta Cemetery
Recoleta · 1.5–2 hours · low cost.
Late morning
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Recoleta · 1.5 hours · free.
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.
Evening
Floralis Genérica
Walk here from Recoleta Cemetery and continue along the avenue to MALBA.
Day 2: El Ateneo Grand Splendid and Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada
El Ateneo Grand Splendid and Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada, then Teatro Colón in the evening.
Morning
El Ateneo Grand Splendid
Recoleta · 45 minutes · free.
Late morning
Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada
Monserrat · 1–2 hours · free.
Lunch
Lunch: Empanadas
Empanada shops and pizzerias everywhere, sold by the unit or the dozen for takeaway.
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.
Day 3: Palacio Barolo and Café Tortoni
Palacio Barolo and Café Tortoni, then Obelisco and Avenida 9 de Julio in the evening.
Morning
Palacio Barolo
Monserrat · 1–1.5 hours · mid-priced. Visits are by guided tour only; reserve online, especially for sunset and evening slots.
Late morning
Café Tortoni
Monserrat · 45 minutes · low cost.
Lunch
Lunch: Choripán
Street carts along the Costanera Sur promenade near Puerto Madero, and as a starter at any parrilla.
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.
Day 4: Day trip to Tigre and the Paraná Delta
About 1 hour by train each way. Getting there: Mitre line train from Retiro.
Morning
Travel to Tigre and the Paraná Delta
About 1 hour by train (Mitre line train from Retiro); about 30 km.
Day
Tigre and the Paraná Delta
Wooden river launches serve stilt houses and riverside restaurants among the islands, and the Puerto de Frutos market sells wicker, furniture and crafts by the water.
Evening
Back in Buenos Aires
Dinner: try Provoleta.
Day 5: Caminito, La Boca and La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors museum
Caminito, La Boca and La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors museum, then Puerto Madero and Puente de la Mujer in the evening.
Morning
Caminito, La Boca
La Boca · 1–2 hours · free.
Late morning
La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors museum
La Boca · 1.5 hours · mid-priced.
Lunch
Lunch: Provoleta
Parrillas across the city, ordered to share before the meat.
Evening
Puerto Madero and Puente de la Mujer
Walk the docks at dusk, then cross to the Costanera Sur promenade for a choripán from a street cart.
Day 6: Day trip to Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay)
About 1–1.5 hours by fast ferry each way. Getting there: Ferry from Puerto Madero; an international crossing, so carry your passport.
Morning
Travel to Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay)
About 1–1.5 hours by fast ferry (Ferry from Puerto Madero; an international crossing, so carry your passport); about 50 km.
Day
Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay)
It is small enough to see in a day and much quieter than Buenos Aires.
Evening
Back in Buenos Aires
Dinner: try Milanesa a la napolitana.
Day 7: San Telmo Sunday fair and MALBA
San Telmo Sunday fair and MALBA, then An evening at a milonga in the evening.
Morning
San Telmo Sunday fair
San Telmo · Half a day · free.
Late morning
MALBA
Palermo · 2 hours · mid-priced.
Lunch
Lunch: Milanesa a la napolitana
Traditional bodegones and corner restaurants; portions are often big enough for two.
Evening
An evening at a milonga
Take the beginners' class before the dance, and learn the cabeceo: invitations are made with eye contact and a nod, not by walking up to people.
Before you go
Reserve timed tickets for Teatro Colón and Palacio Barolo before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.
Where to stay for this itinerary
With 7 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 19–25 hours of visiting over 7 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
Questions travellers ask
+Is 7 days enough in Buenos Aires?
7 days is enough to see Buenos Aires's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. How many days Buenos Aires needs.
+What should I book before visiting Buenos Aires?
Teatro Colón and Palacio Barolo.