Bao - Buenos Aires Travel Guide

Welcome to
Buenos Aires

Sexy, alive and supremely confident, this beautiful city gets under your skin. Like Europe with a melancholic twist, Buenos Aires is unforgettable.

Argentinas famous dance is possibly the countrys greatest contribution to the outside world, a steamy strut thats been described as making love in the vertical position. Folklore says it began in the bordellos of long-ago Buenos Aires, when men waiting for their ladies passed time by dancing amongst themselves. Today, glamorized tango shows are supremely entertaining with their grand feats of athleticism. Youll also find endless venues for perfecting your moves, from salons to milongas (dance events) to cafes. Just realize that some people become addicted and can spend a lifetime perfecting this sensual dance.

Fancy some Indian, French, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Thai, Scandinavian, Mexican, Brazilian, Peruvian, Armenian or American cuisine during your stay in BA? No problem. But for many travelers, its the citys carnivorous pleasures that shine. Satisfying a craving for juicy steak isnt hard to do in the land that has perfected grilling those wonderfully flavorful sides of beef. Parrillas (steakhouses) sit on practically every corner and will offer up myriad cuts, from bife de chorizo (sirloin) to vacio (flank steak) to ojo de bife (rib eye). Vegetarians, youve been warned!

Take a cat nap, down your coffee and be prepared to stay up all night this is a city that never sleeps! Restaurants open at 9pm, bars at midnight and clubs at 2am at the very earliest. If youre cool, of course, youll show up after 4am and dance till dawn. International DJs are the rage, spinning electronica and house to legions of hip, trendy and well-dressed crowds. But you can also enjoy live music such as rock, blues, jazz and even folk just remember that youll be doing it all very late!

Its no joke: Buenos Aires is a shoppers paradise. The city is laced with shopping streets lined with heaps of clothing and shoe stores, leather shops and nearly everything else you can think of. Large shopping malls are modern and family-friendly, offering designer goods, food courts and even childrens play areas. But perhaps the citys best shopping is in Palermo Viejo, home to countless upscale boutiques; these offer avant-garde clothing, unique housewares and fun souvenirs. And lets not forget San Telmo, where antiques aficionados flock; the Sunday fair here is famous and entertaining, and will easily fill up a long afternoon.

Galeras Pacfico (), Microcentro
DAN HERRICK / GETTY IMAGES

Why I Love Buenos Aires

By Sandra Bao, Author

BA is an amazing city, and Im proud to call it my birthplace. Its an astonishing metropolis that looks a bit like Europe, but with an edgy Latin American twist. Porteos (the citys residents) are passionate, opinionated and once you get past their hard-city facade very friendly. I love walking among them along the busy avenues, taking in the street life and often the craziness that goes along with it. This is a very special place, beautiful in its own unique way, resilient and creative. Its the kind of city travelers fall in love with, dream about and then move to!

See for much more.

Buenos Aires Top 10

TRAVEL IMAGES/UIG / GETTY IMAGES

Meander through the maze of narrow lanes lined with elaborate mausoleums in what must be the worlds most ostentatious necro polis. This city of the dead was BAs first pub lic cemetery, though it quickly became exclusive; Argentinas most illustrious historical figures are buried here, including Ev a Pern (Evita). Myriad styles decorate the crumbling tombs, from art nouveau and art deco to neoclassical and neo-Gothic. There are also wonderfully flamboyant statues to discover, so pay your respects to Evita before getting lost among the marble angels.

Recoleta & Barrio Norte

Buenos Aires Top 10

JUPITERIMAGES / GETTY IMAGES

Nothing captures the essence of Buenos Aires like the sensual and melancholy tango, and no visit to the city is complete without experiencing tango in some form. Watch it in a San Telmo or La Boca street fair, see a slick show at a theater or join a milonga (dance event) at dozens of venues. Tango classes are often held before milongas, so take part or just watch, but dont look too long at that handsome stranger across the room; a stare is an invitation to dance, and you could be breaking some hearts.