The Globe Getter

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8 Things First-Time Visitors Should Do in Buenos Aires

I’ve been on a South America roll on this blog lately, so I decided to keep it going. 

A few months ago, after an amazing time exploring Chile (during what would be the first of two trips to this country), I traveled to Buenos Aires to spend a few days by myself in this cosmopolitan city. 

Though I didn’t spend too much time in Buenos Aires, the time I was there was well spent (five-course steak dinner anyone?). I also had perfect spring weather in the three days I spent wandering around the city, so it’s safe to say I saw Buenos Aires at its best, or close to it.

Here’s some proof:

My jam-packed time in BA also gave me a good sense of what to do as a first-time visitor. Here are my top eight recommendations, in no particular order:

Tour the main attractions of Buenos Aires
Casa Rosada, La Recoleta Cemetery, Plaza de Mayo and Colón Theater. Those are just a few attractions every visitor should see their first time in Buenos Aires. I did a half-day tour through Viator, but you can easily do this on your own time. 

Visit San Telmo Market on a Sunday
The famous San Telmo market is jam-packed with knick-knacks and is worth a few Sunday hours of your time.

Eat all the empanadas
The Argentines do it best — it being empanadas. My favorites came from La Cocina. Get the pikachu, which is like a cheese and sweet onion empanada, and the spicy beef. So, so worth it.

Join the hip crowd in Palermo Soho
You know when you go somewhere, and you don’t need anyone to tell you this place is hip, you just know? That’s Palermo Soho, where all the cool kids, the cool restaurants, the cool bars and the cool shops reside.

Steak, steak and more steak
The famous place for steak is La Cabrera, though sadly I haven’t been. Instead, I went to a five-course secret asado steak dinner where I got meat sweats. It was great. 

Appreciate the art of tango
Tango is everywhere, both on the streets of Buenos Aires (literally) and in venues scattered around the city. Just pick one and enjoy what is truly art in motion.

Enjoy a day at a museum
Just like many other cities, Buenos Aires is home to several beautiful and high-quality museums, including MALBA, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and the National Museum of Decorative Arts.

Capture the colors of La Boca
If you’re looking for the most instagrammable neighborhood, La Boca might just be it. The colors are captivating and make for the perfect backdrop for whatever pose you're striking. Just be aware of your surroundings while you're there (safety can sometimes be a concern). 

Stay sassy and classy, Buenos Aires!