Buenos Aires - Highlights
Buenos Aires' best attraction is the city itself. The most interesting neighbourhoods – all with a distinct character – are clustered in walking distance of the centre. All have green spaces and atmospheric cafés for people-watching and catching the buzz.
The heart of the city is the Capital Federal, home to 3m porteños ('port people'). Meander through Baron Haussmann-inspired grand avenues (he developed the modern Paris) and landscaped parks, cobbled streets and neo-classical squares. Buenos Aires' barrios (neighbourhoods) include the gritty port district of La Boca, where you can see Diego Maradona's home team Boca Juniors play at Boca Stadium. San Telmo, the birthplace of tango, is famed for Sunday's San Telmo Market. Downtown is home to the presidential palace of Casa Rosada, and the grand opera house Teatro Colón. Find Recoleta and Palermo filled with history and art museums, most notably the contemporary art showpiece, MALBA.
When planning your schedule, bear in mind that most museums close on a Monday, football matches are on a Wednesday and Sunday, and markets usually operate on Sunday too. A great place to start a walking tour is the Plaza de Mayo (May Square – scene of Evita's 1945 rally to free the imprisoned Perón), from where you can head west along Avenida de Mayo to the Congress, or south along Defensa to San Telmo. Both routes take you past a wealth of interesting sites.
