11 Iconic Things to do in Buenos Aires

There are truly an endless amount of things to do in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires is the vibrant, steak-crazed, soccer-obsessed and gorgeous capital city of Argentina. We were originally going to spend a week in Buenos Aires, but ended up extending and staying for 18 days because of how much we loved it.

In this guide I’ll share both classic must-do experiences in Buenos Aires and some of my own personal favorites that we discovered while there. I’m so excited to share these recommendations for one of my favorite cities in the world!

This post is all about the best things to do in Buenos Aires!

1. Dine at don julio

Don Julio is one of the most special restaurants that I’ve ever visited. As of 2026 it was rated the 10th best restaurant in the world according to the World’s 50 Best list.

We loved the entire experience so much that we ended up going 4 times in the span of 18 days. The quality of the meats, the service, the wine and the entire experience is top-notch.

To read my post specific to Don Julio, click here! Here you’ll find out how to snag a reservation, what to order, and all about its history!

2. Attend a soccer game

Is it soccer or is it fútbol? No matter what you call it it’s a religion here in Argentina. The National team won the World Cup in 2022 and were the runner-up in 2026; largely due to the help of their local hero, Lionel Messi. The Argentine Primera División or Liga Profesional de Fútbol (LPF) is home to 30 different club teams across Argentina. The two most famous teams are River Plate and Boca Juniors.

The Súperclasico is one of the most iconic showdowns in sports and it occurs when the two teams play against each other. Historically, the fans get very violent, so away team fans have been banned from attending games for the last 13 years.

We were lucky enough to be able to get tickets online to see River Plate play while we were there and the experience was amazing. I highly recommend splurging on this experience. The fans sing and celebrate during the entire game and their joy is completely infectious.

3. Learn how to grill asado

In such a food obsessed city, attending a cooking class is a fantastic way to learn more the culture and bring the flavors back home with you!

One of the best things to do in Buenos Aires is take a class to learn how to grill like a true Argentine. The Argentine Experience is a company that does a tremendous job at hands-on teaching, paying attention to details and making the entire experience amazing. Upon leaving you’ll be given a book of all of the recipes you just made. I’ve made multiple recipes from this class since returning back home.

If you’d like to read more about this cooking class you can click here: this Exploren Lauren article is all about learning to grill asado in Buenos Aires!

To book this incredible class you can click here to book with them!

4. visit la boca

La Boca is a neighborhood in Buenos Aires located on the water making it a vibrant port town. The tenement housing is painted gorgeous bright colors with leftover paint from the ports. There are many bars with tango dangers, lots of different parrillas with asado and of course the Bombonera stadium home of the Boca Juniors. (See #10).

Disclaimer: If you’re traveling with a family or solo it’s advised to avoid this neighborhood after dark as it can become a bit more dangerous.

5. discover beautiful street art

Street art in Buenos Aires is some of the best in the world. While you’ll find beautiful murals of plants and animals, you’ll also find plenty of murals paying homage to Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

If you want to make sure to see and understand as many of these murals as possible you can book a walking tour with a local guide here!

6. eat at parrilla La Brigada

If you’re a soccer fan who loves great food and amazing ambiance then Parrilla la Brigada is a must! Hugo Echevarrieta, (pictured in the second photo above), opened this restaurant in 1992. The entire restaurant is oozing with memorabilia, signed jerseys, signed posters, and various soccer balls.

Diego Maradonna was a frequent diner at the restaurant giving many signed pieces of memorabilia to the owner, Hugo. Lionel Messi is also known to dine at this amazing Parrilla. The steak is of such high quality that the server will make a slice through the meat with a regular spoon to show just how tender it is.

7. stroll around the san telmo market

If you’re looking for a place to beat the heat, find vintage items and eat the iconic choripan then the San Telmo Market is for you!

Make your way over to La Choripanería to try the delicious Argentine delicacy. Chorpian is a sandwich made with grilled chorizo and chimichurri served on a crispy baguette. (Here’s a delicious recipe from Buenos Aires for chimichurri). The vinegar and herb forward sauce pairs perfectly with the salty and meaty sausage!

If you’re visiting the market on a Sunday then you should make sure to visit the fería or street fair that’s located outside the San Telmo market! (See #11 on this list!).

8. indulge in cadore gelato

Cadore is one of the best gelato shops that I’ve ever visited. The major influx of Italian immigrants brought their food traditions including rich and creamy gelato. After stuffing yourself with pizza at Güerrín (see below), walk three blocks down calle Uruguay to Cadore for your sweet treat! I personally loved the Chocolate Cointreau which was a chocolate and orange flavored concoction.

9. stuff yourself with pizza at güerrín

Pizzeria Güerrín is an institution in Buenos Aires and an absolute must-do in Buenos Aires. Italian immigrants came to Buenos Aires in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Two immigrants Franco and Guido opened this pizzeria in 1932 and it’s been popular ever since.

What sets Argentinian pizza apart from other famous pizzas around the world is the stuffed cheese crust. Just one slice of this pizza will send you into a food coma. The pizza slice pictured above is called fugazetta. The crust is thick and stuffed with overflowing melted provolone. It’s then topped with thinly sliced white onions and oregano.

10. Tour the boca junior museum

If you’re spending the day visiting the colorful city, La Boca, or just a lover of soccer then this is the activity for you! Head over to the world famous Estadio Alberto J Armando (La Bombonera) home of the Boca Junior soccer/fútbol team. You can buy tickets here for a tour of the stadium and the museum.

The most famous player to play for the Boca Juniors club is the legend, Diego Maradona. The museum has Maradona’s game worn jerseys and cleats, which are pretty special to see in person.

11. shop at the feria de san telmo (sunday street fair)

A perfect activity to do while in Buenos Aires – visit the Sunday street fair in San Telmo. It’s full of new wares, food, antiques and vintage items, tango dancers and more. The area is beautiful, it’s fun to be in a lively part of town and there are plenty of things to see and do beyond just visiting the street fair.

The street fair is every sunday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. I would definitely recommend going on the earlier end of that time frame to see the most vendors and beat the late afternoon heat!

We stumbled upon this stall with beautiful watercolor works by Federico Arcángeli. I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I loved the black and white image of the Tango dancers, so I bought it! If you are exploring the fería I highly recommend you check out his artwork. His instagram is tagged here!