This travel duo finally made it to one of our dream spots – Argentina – and it was everything we hoped for. From the vibrant culture, friendly people, delicious food, to the stunning variety of landscapes, it was all amazing. We explored two regions of Argentina – the bustling capital, Buenos Aires, and the breathtaking Patagonia in the south.
In this post, I shared our six-day itinerary for Buenos Aires, which included four days at the beginning of our trip and two days at the end, with a five-day Patagonia visit in between.
Day 1 – Arrive and Acclimate
After about a 10-hour overnight flight from the Northeast, we touched down at EZE, the main international airport in Buenos Aires. With only an hour time difference, our body clock seemed to adjust pretty well. We had arranged a taxi to our hotel, Blank Hotel Recoleta, before we departed home, and after picking up our luggage, we were whisked there in about an hour.
After checking in and freshening up a bit, we went out for lunch. Empanadas at El Sanjuanino, a well-known, traditional tavern-style place famous for serving some of the best, most authentic, and budget-friendly empanadas in the city, hit the spot.
A formal walking tour was scheduled for the following day, but that didn’t stop us from exploring the Recoleta area and checking out some cool sites.
A lovely park surrounds the Floralis Genérica in the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas. The area around the Recoleta Cultural Centre and Plaza Francia remains lively at night, with visitors enjoying the atmosphere and nearby cafes.
Buenos Aires saw a wave of both Spanish and Italian immigrants, and you can definitely see their influence in the local food and culture. For dinner, we picked Pelligrino Pizza & Focaccia.
Our evening led us to the El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a stunning theater-turned-bookstore, followed by a walk down Alvear Avenue, known for its posh, Parisian-style townhouses and fine dining, making it a perfect spot for an upscale evening stroll.
Day 2 – A Walking Tour and A Food Tour
After our hotel’s delicious buffet breakfast, we set out to join our 10:30 am walking tour of Retiro, Recoleta & Downtown. Walking tours are a fantastic way to get oriented, and I also think they give me a glimpse into what I might want to see again later.
Three hours later, since an evening food tour in the Palermo neighborhood was on our itinerary, we opted for a light acai lunch. It was time to explore another BA neighborhood, Palermo Soho. A short and extremely cheap subway ride later, we arrived in Palermo.
Not far from where the subway dropped us off was the Eco Parque, on the site of the old City Zoo, which opened in 1888. In June 2016, the city decided to address the zoo’s inhumane practices. They opted to shut down the 140-year-old zoo and move most of the animals to nature reserves. The goals of the institution are to conserve species, conduct research, and educate the public.
This was such a wonderful discovery. You can stroll through 44 acres of land where capybaras, peacocks, and more wander freely.
At 5:30 pm, it was time for our food tour. I definitely recommend going on one. We hit up four different restaurants, sampling Argentinian pizza, steak, appetizers, wines, dessert, and more. We also checked out the vibrant murals near Pasaje San Lorenzo and Russell, as well as the backstreets around Defensa and Chile Streets.
After nearly four hours of eating and drinking, it was time to call it a night. After all, there was more food waiting for us the next day!
Day 3 – A Steak Lunch to Die For, More of Palermo and Puerto Madero
One of the most renowned parillas, or steakhouses, in the world is Don Julios in Buenos Aires. Getting a reservation can be a challenge, but I managed to snag a lunch spot. Honestly, this place truly lives up to its hype. Everything, from the food to the service, was flawless and worth every peso.
While we waited to be seated, we were welcomed with champagne and little empanadas.
Then our feast began.
We enjoyed a cheese platter, a bottle of Malbec, some veggies, fries, and a perfectly cooked shared steak.
After more than two hours of eating and drinking, I was ready for a nap, but we pressed on. We strolled through Palermo SoHo, checking out Plaza Armenia and the nearby streets filled with street art, fashion, and coffee.
Our evening led us over the cobblestone streets of the San Telmo neighborhood, past Plaza Mayor, where the presidential “Pink House” and Cathedral are located.
Next, we made our way to Puerto Madero, the most modern part of the city with its skyscrapers, and walked along the water and across Puente de la Mujer (Woman’s Bridge), a unique, modern footbridge.
Around 9 PM, we finally started feeling some hunger pangs, and Blest Brewery was the perfect spot to wrap up our day.
Day 4 – La Boca, A Tour of Recoleta Cemetery, and an Italian Goodbye Dinner
On Saturday morning, we took an Uber to the La Boca neighborhood. Known for its vibrant buildings, it has changed from a slum into perhaps the liveliest area of the city.
Here, you can spot the famous Boca Jrs stadium, enjoy tango music echoing through the streets, and discover the neighborhood’s history. Our timing was perfect as there was a soccer game happening, and fans in their jerseys filled the streets, making the atmosphere electric. We strolled through the shops and streets, taking in the colorful architecture, and picked up some souvenirs. We wrapped up our visit with lunch, enjoying empanadas alongside the locals.
One important note: it’s not a safe area to explore at night, and there aren’t any nearby public transport options, so Uber is definitely the way to go.
Upon return to our hotel to freshen up, a tour of the Recoleta Cemetery was next on our itinerary. It is here, where some of Argentina’s most famous figures, including Eva Peron and her family, are laid to rest.
We ended our day with a tasty Italian dinner at Amanos.
This was the end of our first leg of our Argentinian journey. The next morning, we boarded an early morning flight to Patagonia, where we spent five memorable days. (Stay tuned for this post to come.)
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After our time in Patagonia, we returned for two additional days in Buenos Aires before heading home.
Day 5 – Downtown Buenos Aires and Milanesa
Our flight back to BA arrived midafternoon, so we just enjoyed our hotel, The Savoy, for a bit, had a drink before heading out to walk around and explore the Congreso neighborhood.
We were famished, and a traditional Milanese dinner hit the spot. An evening stroll took us to Plaza de Congresso, where the Pink House (Argentina’s White House) is, the cathedral, and residents putting on a tango.
Day 6 – Mate Museum, BA Broadway, Obelisque, and An Adios
It was the final day in Argentina, and we made sure to make the most of it.
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we checked out. Since our flight wasn’t until late at night, we checked our luggage at the hotel and prepared to make the day to the fullest.
Our first visit was to the Mate Museum, which did not disappoint. Mate is the national beverage of Argentina. It is drunk daily as a deeply rooted social ritual and symbol of national identity. Consisting of dried yerba mate leaves, it is steeped in hot water, served in a gourd, and sipped through a metal straw called a bombilla.
Some delicious Napoli Pizza and a walk around their Broadway area, a view of their obelisk, and some last-minute shopping before we headed to the airport for our flight home.
