Every Country

There are 1001 things that can occupy your time in Buenos Aires, but here are some must do’s: 

1. Exchange Money
   The first thing to do when you get to Buenos Aires (or Argentina in general) is to exchange US dollars for Argentinian Pesos. Due to the Argentinian economy being so up and down, it’s pretty much impossible to exchange Pesos anywhere in the world. Even locals in their own country need to jump through hoops to get authorisation for a legal exchange. Therefore, this makes it very difficult for the Argentines to leave the country and travel (which we noticed they love to do). Unlike surrounding countries where you can get both the local currency and US dollars from the ATMs, in Argentina you can only get their Pesos, so make sure you bring as many US dollars as you need for your time there. In BA, there is a street called Calle Florida, where every metre there is someone yelling out “CAMBIO, CAMBIO”- these are the guys you exchange from. Ask a couple of them to see who will give you the best rate, which is increased by exchanging large amounts and having higher note denominations ($100 instead of $20). Once you have found the chosen one, they won’t change money on the street but take you into their clothes/shoes/sunglasses shop to seal the deal. If you are not in BA and struggling to find a money changer, find the nearest legal money exchange house and they will usually intercept you on the way. To get an idea of the rate you should be getting, check out www.dolarblue.net and negotiate from there.
2. La Cabrera
   If you love meat, especially those on a tight budget, this restaurant in Palermo is an absolute MUST. If you arrive and eat dinner between 7-8pm, you get 40% off your meal! There are two La Cabrera restaurants next to each other, one is on the corner and looks very fine dining and then another smaller one just next door, that you don’t notice at first. If you are going for the ‘Steak Happy Hour’ go to the smaller, not as noticeable one. This place isn’t a secret, so get there at 6:15 – 6:30pm to ensure you get to eat one of the biggest, juiciest most succulent steaks in the city.

   

3. Tango lessons and show
   Tango, the dance of love is a partner dance that originated in Argentina and Uruguay in the 1890s and is a prominent part of cultural life in BA. Tango classes are fun to try out and then you should go to a professional show to see how it is suppose to be done. Millhouse Hostel puts on a great night out, which starts with a group class, followed by a three course meal with free wine all night and a professional dance show to finish off.
4. Plaza de Mayo
   As is this case with most Spanish colonised cities, the streets and most important buildings (cathedral, parliament house, presidential palace) surround a main square, usually referred to as Plaza de Armas which is the central hub for the town’s people where markets are set up, political protests are common and throughout history in South America revolutions and executions have take place. In fact the name is derived from the revolution that started here in May 1810 that led to the independence of Argentina from Spain. Today the Plaza is a great place to people watch, buy things from local street vendors and take in the magnificent buildings that currently surround it such as; the Cabildo (the city council building from the colonial times ), the Casa Rosada (the mansion and offices of the Argentinian President, although he doesn’t actually live there), the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires, the May Pyramid (a monument to mark the first anniversary of the May revolution) and the current city hall.
5. La Bomba de Tiempo
   Looking for something to do on a Monday night, the answer is La Bomba de Tiempo! Housed in an old cooking oil factory, the Konex Cultural Centre receives around 1,500 visitors every Monday night who come to listen and get lost in the rhythmic, African-style drumming of the 17 piece drum percussion group named ‘The Time Bomb’ in English. Doors open from 7pm, where you can buy tickets at the door and it’s first come, first served. Buy beers from the venue bar and then try and get as close to the stage as possible, in the hot and sweaty mosh pit.
6. Uruguay for a day
   A good way to escape the bustling and frantic city life that can sometimes be Buenos Aires and to get another stamp in your passport, a day trip to Uruguay makes for a pleasant change of pace. The closest city is Colonia del Sacramento just on the other of the Rio de la Plata, which can be accessed by a one hour ferry ride. A day is enough to explore this old, picturesque, colonial town. It is possible to get to the country’s capital, Montevideo, by ferry or ferry/bus combo however the trip takes 3-4 hours so makes for a very long day! 
7. La Boca
   Is a neighbourhood in the south-east of BA and is home to the football stadium of the famous football team Boca Juniors. Construction of the stadium commenced in 1938 and the age of it is evident from its exterior. It is possible to get a tour of the stadium and the attached museum for all those avid Boca fans. Aside from the stadium, the other main attractions of La Boca are the brightly coloured houses and Caminit, a pedestrian street lined with tango clubs, cafes, restaurants and shops. La Boca is quite a poor neighborhood and there is a stark difference when walking there from San Telmo. Be careful of robbers and pickpocketers at night and away from the main tourist streets.

   

8. La Recoleta Cemetery
   Located in one of the richest neighbourhoods in BA, La Recoleta Cemetery has been awarded one of the best and most beautiful cemeteries in the world by the BBC and CNN respectively. The cemetery is designed like a small town with blocks separated by wide tree-lined streets and sidewalks. The houses of the dead are giant marble mausoleums in which a variety of different architectural styles can be seen throughout the cemetery. Just as impressive as their resting places, is the A-list of celebrities buried there. Notable people include Eva Perón, Argentinian Presidents, Noble Prize Winners, high-ranking military officials, actors and Napoleon’s granddaughter. While it is pleasant enough to walk around the cemetery on your own, they do run tours in English and Spanish to make things a bit more interesting.

   

9. El Zanjón
   An important archeological site located in the San Telmo neighbourhood that gives insight into the original city of Buenos Aires. A residential mansion built in the 19th century, but sadly by the late 20th century had become abandoned and filled with debris. Upon its restoration, underground tunnels, ruins of original foundations, old walls, floors, wells and sewage pits were unearthed, which had been built and destroyed between 1730 and 1865. Tours in Spanish and English are given daily by a lovely, charismatic lady who clearly has a passion for the building and the secrets it holds. For ticket prices and tour times see here.

   

10. San Telmo
    Is the oldest neighbourhood in BA and has been preserved so well that a visit here is like walking back in a time. One minute you are in the modern city and the next you are stepping on cobbled streets, with colonial architecture to match, looking at old churches and guessing prices for old, original furniture in all the antique shops. It was the first industrial area in BA and originally home to mostly brickmakers and dock workers.