Buenos Aires holidays
Buenos Aires holidays at a glance
Journey Latin America describes Buenos Aires as South America’s most European city, combining continental elegance with unmistakable Latin American energy. Its historic neighbourhoods reveal colonial plazas, shady boulevards, world-famous theatres, street art, antique markets and lively cafés.
The city is centred around the historic Plaza de Mayo, overlooked by the Casa Rosada and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Elsewhere, stylish Recoleta, colourful La Boca, artistic San Telmo and fashionable Palermo each provide a different perspective on the Argentine capital.
Buenos Aires is also Argentina’s cultural heart. From tango halls and football stadiums to exceptional restaurants and nightlife, the city offers a wealth of experiences for visitors looking to immerse themselves in local life.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Buenos Aires
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Dynamic, stylish and nostalgic, Buenos Aires is one of South America’s most elegant cities.
When to visit Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a year-round destination, with each season offering a different atmosphere and experience. While the city can be visited at any time, spring and autumn are often particularly pleasant for sightseeing and outdoor exploration.
This is summertime in the capital, with buzzing crowds of visitors and busy hotels. Expect a muggy, hot climate and tropical showers. In December you may wish to attend the open polo tournaments in the 16,000 seater stadium in Palermo.
With milder temperatures, rich autumn foliage, and thin crowds, this is an ideal time to visit the city. The opera season begins in March, so you may wish to take in a concert at the elegant Teatro Colón.
Rainy days, cold temperatures and very few tourists characterise winter in Buenos Aires. In August there is a delightful tango festival with nine days of open-air concerts, free classes and festivities.
Spring is a good time to visit Buenos Aires as the temperatures are mild and there are fewer visitors. The open polo tournaments of Palermo begin in mid November, and are the year’s main attraction for passionate Argentinean fans.
Top Things to do in Buenos Aires
From tango and gastronomy to architecture and football, Buenos Aires offers something for every traveller.
Tuck into pasties, cheese and succulent beef at an Argentine grill (asado), a feast for the taste buds, in a sociable Buenos Aires eaterie.
Jump in the saddle for a new perspective on downtown Buenos Aires.
Travel by boat from Buenos Aires to explore the port Colonia, one of Uruguay’s most charming and evocative historic towns.
Ride along the cycle paths of historic Buenos Aires and cross the River Plate to explore peaceful little Colonia, Uruguay.
Explore the Feria de Mataderos, an authentic traditional gaucho market on the fringe of Buenos Aires.
Don’t miss the chance to see the passionate tango performed live in Buenos Aires’ most atmospheric quarter.
Experience the amazing atmosphere at a top flight football match in Buenos Aires.
Accommodation in Buenos Aires
Journey Latin America highlights a wide range of accommodation options across the city, including boutique hotels, luxury properties and stylish urban retreats. Popular areas to stay include Recoleta, Palermo and the city centre, providing easy access to Buenos Aires’ main attractions, restaurants and nightlife.
The Alvear Art Hotel, the Alvear Palace’s little sister, complements the older property’s classic style with an innovative, contemporary and (as its name implies) arty style.
This Buenos Aires institution is a sumptuous luxury hotel with a prestigious history and glitzy guest list.
Anselmo Buenos Aires is a congenial contemporary hotel with historical references on arty San Telmo’s main square.
Ideally located, stylishly eclectic décor and very attentive, personalised service.
Small and atmospheric boutique hotel encapsulating some of the most iconic elements of Argentine history and culture within a stylish and contemporary design.
A well-located hotel with delightful atrium, contemporary interior design and impressive views of the famous Recoleta Cemetery.
Stay at Mine Boutique, a small, avant garde boutique hotel in Buenos Aires’ chic and trendy Soho Palermo district. Book with Journey Latin America.
Ideally located in Buenos Aires’ classy Recoleta district, this hotel combines contemporary interior design with classical architectural elegance.
Palladio Buenos Aires is a slick first class hotel well located for exploring the city’s different neighbourhoods.
A modern hotel in an excellent location for sight-seeing, this good-value property has set itself high standards of service and comfort in a no-nonsense, contemporary ambiance.
A first class property in the fashionable Recoleta district with excellent facilities, classically designed rooms and spacious, elegant public areas.
This former ranch offers a glimpse of gaucho life in the Argentine Pampas.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Buenos Aires
Explore our fantastic range of holidays to Argentina’s vibrant and cosmopolitan capital, Buenos Aires. Book now with Journey Latin America.
Group Buenos Aires Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Charito: Pure Patagonia
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Buenos Aires
12 days from £3,685
Gaucho: Vintage Argentina
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Mendoza and the vineyards · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires
12 days from £3,791
Hummingbird: Ocean to ocean
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · Sucre and Potosi · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
21 days from £5,861
Jabiru: Wildlife, wine and Jesuit Missions
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Colonia and Carmelo · Montevideo · Asuncion and the heartland · The Jesuit Missions of the south · Ibera wetlands
14 days from £5,249
Lapwing: Patagonian Odyssey
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Tierra del Fuego · Buenos Aires
14 days from £6,673
Magellanic: Southern Voyage
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Valdes Peninsula and Atlantic Patagonia
12 days from £5,197
Nandu: Peaks and plains of Patagonia
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (north) · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif · Tierra del Fuego · Buenos Aires
20 days from £5,526
Pato Andino: Panorama of the Andes
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Atacama Desert · Uyuni salt flats · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
20 days from £5,222
Sandpiper: Atlantic to Pacific in style
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park · Santiago and the vineyards
19 days from £7,062
Tangara: Blue lakes and emerald coasts
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (south) · Argentinian lake district · Buenos Aires · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro · Buzios, Paraty and Costa Verde
15 days from £3,892
Toucanet: Cities and Cascades
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Buenos Aires
9 days from £3,048
Tailor-Made Buenos Aires Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Active Argentina: Walking in Patagonia
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif · Tierra del Fuego
15 days from £4,800
Active Patagonia: Classic treks in Argentina and Chile
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif · Buenos Aires
14 days from £5,030
Argentina Wildlife: Tropical wetlands and Patagonia
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Ibera wetlands · Valdes Peninsula and Atlantic Patagonia
12 days from £7,600
Basecamp Antarctica Expedition Cruise
Places visited: Tierra del Fuego · Buenos Aires
16 days from £11,750
Discover Bolivia and northwest Argentina
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Uyuni salt flats · Sucre and Potosi · La Paz and the altiplano
14 days from £4,800
Food and wine: Vineyards of Argentina and Chile
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Mendoza and the vineyards · Salta · Santiago and the vineyards
13 days from £7,300
Luxury Argentina: Vineyards, glaciers and gauchos
Places visited: Buenos Aires · The Pampas · Mendoza and the vineyards · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park
13 days from £11,600
Luxury Chile and Argentina: Simply Patagonia
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Torres del Paine National Park · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Argentinian lake district · Buenos Aires
13 days from £12,800
Luxury Rio, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires and the pampas
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · The Pampas
11 days from £7,990
Off the beaten track Argentina: Remote Puna adventure
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta
13 days from £5,700
Patagonia cruise: Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Islands and fjords of southern Patagonia · Valdes Peninsula and Atlantic Patagonia · Buenos Aires
13 days from £6,250
Self-drive Argentina: Highlights of the hidden northwest
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
14 days from £3,650
Self-drive Argentina: Patagonia, lake district and Perito Moreno
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park
16 days from £4,500
Self-drive Uruguay: Classic highlights
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Colonia and Carmelo · Montevideo · Punta del Este beaches and coastline
13 days from £3,175
Signature Argentina: Patagonia, lake district and Iguazú Falls
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
13 days from £4,950
Signature Brazil, Argentina and Chile: Coast to coast
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Buenos Aires · Mendoza and the vineyards · Santiago and the vineyards
15 days from £5,650
Signature Northern Chile and Argentina: Atacama Desert to Iguazu Falls
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Atacama Desert · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires
15 days from £5,600
Signature Patagonia: Glaciers of Chile and Argentina
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Tierra del Fuego · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Torres del Paine National Park · Argentinian lake district · Chilean Lake District (south)
17 days from £8,250
Signature Uruguay: Land of vintage charm
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Colonia and Carmelo · Montevideo · Punta del Este beaches and coastline
14 days from £4,100
Value Argentina: Explore Patagonia
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif
13 days from £3,250
Value Iguazu Falls: Buenos Aires to Rio
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro
10 days from £1,900
FAQs about visiting Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit Buenos Aires?
Buenos Aires is at its hottest Jan-Mar (very humid with tropical showers, occasionally over 40C during the day). It can be cold and cloudy Jul-Aug, so weather conditions are best for a visit in spring and autumn. Dec-Feb and Jul are local holiday times: Porteños head for the beach.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What language is spoken in Buenos Aires?
The main language spoken in Buenos Aires is Spanish.
- What currency do I need in Buenos Aires?
The Argentine Peso is the main currency used in Buenos Aires. Argentina is more cash-orientated than the UK and some other Latin American countries. In Buenos Aires and main tourist centres, cards are widely accepted.
Although ATMs are available some clients have difficulties withdrawing cash so it’s best not to rely on them. Local ATM fees can be high and the amount you can take out is usually much lower than in the UK. - What is the time difference between Buenos Aires and the UK?
The time difference between Buenos Aires and the UK is GMT -3 hours. Sometimes daylight saving is observed in the summer, but this is announced ad hoc on a year-on-year basis.
- What places combine well with Buenos Aires?
Beach time in Mar del Plata (392 km by road, 5hrs); Colonia or Montevideo in Uruguay across the River Plate: travel by ferry, bus or plane; a stay on a working estancia in the pampa south and west of the city; Iguazú Falls (2hrs approx by air).
- How long is the flight to Buenos Aires from the UK?
Average flight time is 14hrs 20mins on a direct flight from London. There are also flights requiring a change of plane in Europe or the USA.
- What are the festivals, cultural and sporting events in Buenos Aires?
Tango Festival: Aug. The world’s – top tango festival, nine days of concerts, shows, free classes, exhibitions, open-air milongas (Avenida Corrientes is closed for a massive display) and other tango-related festivities.
Opera season: Mar-Dec. Take in a concert or opera at the refurbished Teatro Colón which attracts internationally esteemed artists.
Argentine Polo Open: Mid Nov-mid Dec. Polo is a passion for many Argentines. This is the year’s main attraction, taking place in Palermo’s 16,000 seater stadium.
- What is Buenos Aires famous for?
Buenos Aires is famous for tango, elegant architecture, football, historic neighbourhoods and world-class food.
- Which neighbourhoods should I visit?
Journey Latin America highlights San Telmo, Palermo, Recoleta, La Boca and Retiro.
- Where can I see tango in Buenos Aires?
Visitors can attend traditional tango shows, join lessons or experience authentic local milongas throughout the city.
- What are the city's main attractions?
Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Teatro Colón, Recoleta Cemetery and La Boca are among the most iconic attractions.
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