Buenos Aires, considered the Paris of South America, is the largest city in Argentina and a city that never sleeps! There are a million and one things to do in this awesome city, though one day in Buenos Aires is just enough time to explore the top highlights that this city has to offer.

WHERE IS BUENOS AIRES & HOW TO GET THERE

Buenos Aires is located on the east coast of Argentina and bordering with Uruguay. It is the country’s capital city with an estimated population of 2.9 million people.

ONE DAY BUENOS AIRES ITINERARY

Below is a list of Buenos Aires attractions that I explored in one day in this exact order:

La Boca Colorful Neighbourhood

Recoleta Cemetery

El Ateneo Book Store

Free Walking Tour Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires Walking Street

#1 THE COLORFUL NEIGHBOURHOOD OF LA BOCA

In my opinion, La Boca should be at the top of everyone’s list of places to visit in Buenos Aires. The bohemian barrio of La Boca is a vibrantly painted neighborhood that was created by the locals who used leftover paint from the shipyards to paint their homes and buildings in all colors of the rainbow. How freaking creative is that?!

La Boca’s Caminito Street features the works of local artists, tango dancing in the street, market stalls, cafes, restaurants and makeshift bars. If you’re feeling hungry, I recommend checking out Gran Paraiso restaurant for a traditional Argentinian BBQ.

La Boca

So colorful!

Argentinian BBQ

#2 RECOLETA CEMETERY

The Recoleta Cemetery, also known as Cementerio de la Recoleta, is not your every day cemetery. It is a place of rest for Argentina’s most rich and famous people to have lived and left behind a legacy. When you step foot in the gate, you’ll feel you just entered another city. A maze of towering stone mausoleums and monuments line the streets inside La Recoleta and the most famous tomb is that of Eva Perón, Argentina’s iconic First Lady, that you’ll find is always covered in flowers.

The entrance to Recoleta Cemetery is FREE though I recommend letting a friendly local guide take you on a one-hour tour of the cemetery and offer them a generous tip at the end.

Recoleta Cemetery

Exposed coffins... Creepy!

Such a beautiful cemetery though!

#3 EL ATENEO GRAND SPLENDID BOOKSTORE

The El Ateneo book store is rated as the world’s most beautiful bookstore by National Geographic. Even if you are not that into books, this place is a must-see on your one day in Buenos Aires itinerary.

El Ateneo first opened as a theater called Teatro Gran Splendid in 1919 and it could hold over 1000 people in its time. It was used for a variety of different things including tango performances, a broadcasting radio station and even screened some of the first-ever films with sound.

When you visit El Ateneo bookstore you can simply marvel at the eclecticist architecture, take the stairs to the top level for a birds-eye perspective or pick up a book and sit down in one of the comfy lounges for a short rest.

Coolest bookstore ever!

Would you read a book here?!

#4 FREE WALKING TOUR BUENOS AIRES

There are several free walking tours in Buenos Aires which are one of the best things to do in Argentina’s capital. These walking tours around Buenos Aries are not only fun and exciting but also rich with information on the history of Buenos Aires.

I personally joined the afternoon ‘City Centre Tour’ and can highly recommend it. The tour started at the National Congress and ended around 2.5-hours later at the Pink Government House. The tour was very informative and I learned a lot about the architecture in Buenos Aires as well as the history, dictatorship, economics and politics of Argentina. The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and answered all the questions from the group. If you are looking to dive deeper into the Argentinian culture, I highly recommend you to attend a free walking tour Buenos Aries.

Street scene in BA

#5 FLORIDA WALKING STREET IN BUENOS AIRES

Florida Street, also known as Calle Florida, is the longest walking street in downtown Buenos Aires. A 1km stretch lined with retail stores, shopping malls, restaurants, bars, cafes, street buskers, blanket sellers and much more!

Experiencing the hustle and bustle in Calle Florida is an exciting way to end your Buenos Aires city tour and if you’ve still got the energy to do some last-minute shopping, this is the spot to do it!

Florida walking street

I hope you enjoy Buenos Aires as much as I did!