Districts · Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires by district
A first visit works out of two or three barrios: Recoleta and Palermo for sleeping and evenings, Plaza de Mayo/Microcentro and San Telmo for history and mornings. La Boca is a half-day visit, not a base. The city is flat and laid out on a grid, so walking inside a barrio is easy; moving between barrios is a taxi, ride-hail or subte ride.
About these names
Barrio boundaries are informal and overlap in daily use (Palermo alone is commonly split into Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood, Palermo Chico and Las Cañitas); this table uses the names locals and drivers use.
- RecoletasleepseeSuits: First visit, quiet nights, museums and cafésGrand apartment buildings, the cemetery, wide avenues; a 15-20 minute taxi from the historic centre.2 sights · 2 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Palermo (Soho / Hollywood / Chico)sleepeatseeSuits: Restaurants, nightlife, parks, longer staysThe city's biggest barrio by far; Soho and Hollywood are the restaurant-and-bar sub-areas, Chico is quieter and leafier, the parks (Bosques de Palermo) are further north-west.1 sights · 1 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Plaza de Mayo / MicrocentroseeSuits: A morning of history, banks, the theatre districtCasa Rosada, the cathedral, Avenida de Mayo's old cafés; busy on weekdays and empty at night, and the usual site of political marches.3 sights · 2 eatsDistrict guide →
- San TelmoseeeatSuits: Antiques, tango bars, the Sunday street fairCobbled colonial streets; lively and crowded on Sundays, quieter and cheaper the rest of the week.2 sightsDistrict guide →
- La BocaseeSuits: A two-to-three-hour visit for Caminito and football historyStick to the few blocks around Caminito and the stadium area: the barrio beyond the tourist strip has a reputation for street crime, day and night. Go by taxi or organised tour, not a long walk from San Telmo.2 sightsDistrict guide →
- Puerto MaderoseeeatSuits: An evening walk, a smart dinnerThe newest barrio, converted docklands with glass towers and the Puente de la Mujer footbridge; safe and well-lit but expensive and short on things to do beyond the walk and a meal.3 sights · 2 eatsDistrict guide →
- CongresoseeSuits: The Congress building and Avenida de Mayo's western endPalacio del Congreso, the Barolo Palace and budget hotels; walkable from Plaza de Mayo along Avenida de Mayo.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- BelgranoeatSuits: A quieter, more residential afternoon; the city's small Chinatown (Barrio Chino)20-30 minutes north of the centre by taxi or train; not a first-visit priority.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Off the map: Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) (25–45 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Congreso, Belgrano. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Recoleta: Grand apartment buildings, the cemetery, wide avenues; a 15-20 minute taxi from the historic centre. Suits: First visit, quiet nights, museums and cafés. Price band $$$.
- Palermo (Soho / Hollywood / Chico): The city's biggest barrio by far; Soho and Hollywood are the restaurant-and-bar sub-areas, Chico is quieter and leafier, the parks (Bosques de Palermo) are further north-west. Suits: Restaurants, nightlife, parks, longer stays. Price band $$.
- Plaza de Mayo / Microcentro: Casa Rosada, the cathedral, Avenida de Mayo's old cafés; busy on weekdays and empty at night, and the usual site of political marches. Suits: A morning of history, banks, the theatre district.
- San Telmo: Cobbled colonial streets; lively and crowded on Sundays, quieter and cheaper the rest of the week. Suits: Antiques, tango bars, the Sunday street fair.
- La Boca: Stick to the few blocks around Caminito and the stadium area: the barrio beyond the tourist strip has a reputation for street crime, day and night. Go by taxi or organised tour, not a long walk from San Telmo. Suits: A two-to-three-hour visit for Caminito and football history.
- Puerto Madero: The newest barrio, converted docklands with glass towers and the Puente de la Mujer footbridge; safe and well-lit but expensive and short on things to do beyond the walk and a meal. Suits: An evening walk, a smart dinner.
- Congreso: Palacio del Congreso, the Barolo Palace and budget hotels; walkable from Plaza de Mayo along Avenida de Mayo. Suits: The Congress building and Avenida de Mayo's western end.
- Belgrano: 20-30 minutes north of the centre by taxi or train; not a first-visit priority. Suits: A quieter, more residential afternoon; the city's small Chinatown (Barrio Chino).
- Sleep area Palermo Soho: suits Restaurants, nightlife, parks, longer stays, price band $$.
- Sleep area Recoleta: suits First visit, quiet nights, museums and cafés, price band $$$.
- Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), 25–45 min by the usual route.
- Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE, Ezeiza), about 28 km17 mi from the centre, 55–90 min by the usual route.