Choose from 191 Fun Things to Do in Argentina
ShowingFilter 101-120 of 191 listings.
Martial Glacier
The Martial Glacier sits high above Ushuaia, but it's still only a few kilometers away. It’s open year-round, too, but the different seasons do bring about a striking change of scenery.
In the summer, the chairlift that runs from the end of Martial Glacier Road to the glacier itself is little more than a sightseer’s ticket to the alpine environment, where several hiking trails lead either across the glacier ice or into the nearby mountains. The black gorge trail offers stunning views of the Beagle Channel, while it’s also possible to skip the chairlift ride down and slowly descend with panorama-views of Ushuaia.
Throughout the winter, there is a little-used ski center that access terrific off-piste terrain for experienced backcountry skiers. There is also a Club Andino Ushuaia refugio, which often becomes a basecamp for skiers looking to truly explore the surrounding areas, including the Andorra Valley and Vinciguerra Glacier.
Practical Info
The Martial Glacier is located just above Ushuaia, along a road bearing the same name. It is open year round and the chairlift ride affords some of the best views of both Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel.
Address: Ushuaia, Argentina
Hours: Year-round
From $ 84
Portillo Ski Center
Portillo is one of Chile’s most famous ski resorts, and is set into a picturesque piece of the Andes, above a turquoise lake, and under some of the most sought-after peaks in South America. It is about a two-hour drive from Santiago, towards the Argentine border, and though it would be a good day trip, most people who ski here come for a week. The conditions here are generally some of the best in Chile, and the resort has 80% sunny days and an average seasonal snowfall of about 25 feet. The terrain maxes out at about 11,000 feet and has a vertical drop of 2500 feet.
International teams have been training here during the northern summer for decades, but the resort is mostly filled with Chilean families, especially during the July summer holidays when children have a week off from school. The high season runs until late September, but there can easily be good ski conditions through October, depending on the year.
Even if you don’t ski, a visit to the resort is beautiful at any time of year, and there is a gourmet restaurant on site, with a view over the Laguna del Inca, as well as a few walking trails you might want to try. Or head a little closer to Argentina an check out Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America at 22,841 feet.
Practical Info
Consider Portillo as a daytrip for the fantastic Andean scenery on the way up and down, and tasty gourmet lunch on site, but do plan to come for the full week if you really want to see the best of Portillo.
Address: Chile
Admission: Varies
From $ 42
Mascardi Lake
Mascardi Lake is a glacial lake in the province of Rio Negro south of Bariloche, Argentina. It was named for a Jesuit priest named Nicolas Mascardi who did missionary work in the area during the 17th century. The lake is within Nahuel Huapi National Park, which is the oldest national park in Argentina and covers an area of almost 2 million acres. Mascardi Lake is divided into two sections by a peninsula. From the lake, you can admire several peaks of the Andes Mountain range. There are several good beaches along the shores of the lake, and swimming is a popular activity here. Other activities include boating, kayaking, fishing and hiking around the lake.
Many animals can be found near Mascardi Lake and in Nahuel Huapi National Park. These include river otters, deer, foxes, cougars, and guanacos. There are also several species of birds, such as ducks, geese, swans, Austral Parakeets, cormorants, and Andean condors. Some sections of the park are covered by temperate rain forests, and most of the trees you will see in the area are the lengas, coihue and the ñires.
Practical Info
Mascardi Lake is about an hour south of Bariloche along route 40. To get there, take a bus from Bariloche or join one of the many tours of the lake.
Address: Mascardi Lake, Río Negro Province, Argentina
From $ 74
Mirador del Traful
In Patagonia, north of Bariloche, Argentina, lies a glacial lake called Lago Traful. It is a popular place for hiking as well as other typical water activities. Along the hiking trail is a lookout point called Mirador del Traful which offers spectacular views of the lake and the surrounding area. The view point is on a cliff that marks where glaciers pierced the basin thousands of years ago and strong winds continue to erode the rocks. The cliffs form a natural wall where the winds collide, resulting in a strange boomerang effect.
Mirador del Traful can be reached by a wooden walkway which has two balconies where you can stop, admire the view, and take photos. On the balconies there are signs pointing out different landmarks and providing information about the lake, the landscape, and the geographical characteristics of the area.
Practical Info
Mirador del Traful is located 3 miles from Villa Traful. The town is about 61 miles north of Bariloche.
Address: Lake Traful, Villa Traful, Argentina
From $ 32
Plaza de Mayo
Home to the Casa Rosada—where Eva Peron famously stood on the balcony—and the Metropolitan Cathedral, Pope Francis’ former church, Plaza de Mayo is the historic and political heart of Buenos Aires. Named for the May 1810 revolution, the square’s centerpiece is the Pirámide de Mayo, an obelisk commemorating Argentina’s independence.
The Basics
The best way to explore Plaza de Mayo is on foot, strolling around the leafy central plaza and stopping to admire the grand 19th-century buildings. Though the most popular photo stops are the Casa Rosada and Metropolitan Cathedral, there are other notable buildings, such as the imposing Banco de la Nación (National Bank) and the Cabildo (Old City Hall).
Most Buenos Aires sightseeing tours include a stop at Plaza de Mayo, including walking, bike, and bus tours. From the plaza, it’s an easy walk south to the markets and tango venues of San Telmo, east to the parks and bars of Puerto Madero, or north along the main shopping street, Florida Avenue.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Free tours of the Casa Rosada are available on weekends.
- There are a number of bars, restaurants, and street food vendors located on and around Plaza de Mayo.
- Free public Wi-Fi is available at Plaza de Mayo.
- The main sights are all wheelchair-accessible.
How to Get There
Plaza de Mayo is located between downtown Buenos Aires and San Telmo, and can be reached on foot from many of the central sights. The closest subway (subte) stations are Plaza de Mayo (Line A), Bolivar (Line E), and Catedral (Line D), and numerous bus lines stop around the square.
When to Get There
It’s impossible to avoid the crowds at Plaza de Mayo, so it’s best just to join them and embrace the atmosphere. The most exciting time to visit is during national celebrations. Live music, parades, and festivities mark Revolution Day (May 25) and Independence Day (July 9), while the Pride Parade in November is very colorful.
Politics of Plaza de Mayo
Plaza de Mayo has long been the site of political protests and public gatherings. On Oct. 17, 1945 (now known as Loyalty Day), a public demonstration demanded the liberation of Juan Domingo Perón. Protests and marches still happen regularly, including the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a group of women whose children went missing during the military Junta regime. The group marches around the square each Thursday at 3:30pm, as they have since 1977.
Address: Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires 01114, Argentina
Admission: Free
From $ 12
Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio
Argentinian Patagonia is a massive chunk of land, extending from wind-whipped southern shorelines to snowy Andean peaks. Animals have walked and hunted this landscape for hundreds of millions of years—and much of it is documented right here in this museum of paleontology. When visiting Egidio Feruglio, stare in wonder at a dinosaur skeleton that’s 150 million years old, or the fossilized bones of an ancient turtle that lived 60 million years ago. You’ll also find the history of peoples who settled Patagonia, enduring the harsh, challenging landscape and finding a way to survive. While exhibits date back all the way to microorganisms, it’s the dinosaur fossils from the Mesozoic Era that make the museum stand out. Whenever fossils are found in Patagonia they often end up in these halls, where teams of some of the world’s best paleontologists will study them and put them together. In total, over 1,700 fossils are found inside the museum walls, from marine life and plants to early mammals and fearsome, furious dinosaurs. Add in some fun-filled children’s exhibits and a stream of new discoveries, and the Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio is a fascinating stop in Trelew.
Practical Info
In addition to exhibits found in the museum, there are also occasional trips to Bryn Gwyn, a paleontological geopark. Ask about the 3-hour tours of the park, where visitors seem to hike back in time to a period of 40 million years ago. The museum itself has a café onsite, as well as a well-stocked “Dino Shop” for picking up dino-themed gifts.
Address: Avenida Fontana 140, Trelew, Argentina
Hours: 9am-7pm daily (September-March), 9am-6pm Monday-Friday, and 10am-7pm on weekends (March-September)
Admission: $7 for adults and $5 for children
From $ 85
Rio de la Plata
Composing part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay, this 180-mile-long estuary is formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River. Though used for centuries by native tribes, the river wasn’t explored by Europeans until the 16th-century Spanish navigator Juan Díaz de Solís went in search of a passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. He originally named this enclosed coastal body, about one mile across at its widest point, the Mar Dulce, or freshwater sea; after multiple explorations by various other Spanish navigators, the waterway came to be known as the Rio de la Plata, or River of Silver, for the promise of riches thought to lie upstream.
Address: Argentina
From $ 137
Retiro
Meaning retreat in Spanish, the Retiro neighborhood was named after a Spanish governor’s country retreat built in the area during the late 17th century. Located in northeastern Buenos Aires, Retiro is a study in contrasts. The barrio got its start as one of the capital’s wealthiest neighborhoods, evidenced by the belle epoque embassies, five star hotels and high end retailers scattered throughout the neighborhood. On the other hand, Retiro is one of Argentina’s busiest transportation hubs with throngs of people always passing through, and is also home to the overcrowded and under-serviced neighborhood known as Villa 31.
A highlight of the neighborhood (and of the entire city of Buenos Aires) is Plaza San Martin. This park located opposite the Retiro train terminal is surrounded by some of the city’s most impressive architecture. Shoppers flock to Avenida Florida, a pedestrian street that runs from Plaza San Martin in Retiro to San Nicolas.
Practical Info
Both Retiro and General San Martin metro stations are located within the Retiro neighborhood.
Address: Buenos Aires, Argentina
From $ 16
Plaza de la Republica
One of Buenos Aires’s most famous landmarks, the Obelisco (Obelisk), is located in the center of Plaza de la Republica. Erected in 1936 to commemorate the first (and ultimately unsuccessful) founding of Buenos Aires by Pedro de Mendoza on its 400th anniversary, the monument stands in the center of Avenida 9 de Julio where it intersects Corrientes.
The obelisk, designed by Argentine architect Alberto Prebisch, is famously visible from Plaza de Mayo. When Porteños have something to celebrate, particularly a significant soccer victory, flag-waving fans flood the plaza surrounding the monument.
Before the obelisk went up, Plaza de la Republica was the site of the Church of Saint Nicholas, built on the spot where the flag of Argentina was first flown in 1812 after gaining independence from Spain.
Practical Info
Metro stations Carlos Pellegrini, 9 de Julio and Diagonal Norte connect beneath Plaza de la Republica, making it easy to get to from almost anywhere in the city.
Address: Av Corrientes 1066, Buenos Aires 1066, Argentina
From $ 16
Plaza Dorrego
The cultural heart of the historic San Telmo barrio, Plaza Dorrego is the second-oldest square in Buenos Aires and famous for its a vibrant weekly market. Named after the soldier and two-times Governor of Buenos Aires, Manuel Dorrego, the Plaza was once the center of the city’s 19th-century residential district, until clusters of tango venues and bars sprung up around the square in the 1930s.
Today the colonial square remains a lively hub of bars and cafés, with many historic venues holding tango shows and live music. Sunday is the most popular day to visit Plaza Dorrego when the square hosts the world famous San Telmo antiques market, accompanied by live musicians and tango dancers performing sultry numbers on the sidewalk. Sprawling along the adjourning Defensa Avenue, the Feria de San Pedro Telmo (San Telmo Market) offers up a colorful array of stalls selling antiques and curios alongside handicrafts, souvenirs, leatherworks, silver, tango memorabilia and local artworks. Browsing the peculiar medley of goods is a favorite pastime of both locals and tourists and post-shopping, the plaza’s many cafés are bursting with punters sipping coffee and soaking up the street entertainment.
Today the colonial square remains a lively hub of bars and cafés, with many historic venues holding tango shows and live music. Sunday is the most popular day to visit Plaza Dorrego when the square hosts the world famous San Telmo antiques market, accompanied by live musicians and tango dancers performing sultry numbers on the sidewalk. Sprawling along the adjourning Defensa Avenue, the Feria de San Pedro Telmo (San Telmo Market) offers up a colorful array of stalls selling antiques and curios alongside handicrafts, souvenirs, leatherworks, silver, tango memorabilia and local artworks. Browsing the peculiar medley of goods is a favorite pastime of both locals and tourists and post-shopping, the plaza’s many cafés are bursting with punters sipping coffee and soaking up the street entertainment.
Address: Humberto 1 and Defensa, Buenos Aires, San Telmo, Argentina
From $ 16
Plaza Italia
Plaza Italia, a small perk located in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, was originally built in 1898 and named Plaza de los Portones, or Plaza of the Big Gates. In 1909, the city of Buenos Aires renamed it Plaza Italia after a statue of Italian general and politician Giuseppe Garibaldi was erected in the center of the plaza in 1904.
A small tile located on the northeast side of the park along Avenida Santa Fe commemorates another important moment in the history of Buenos Aires. In 1894, the city’s first electric tram departed from Plaza Italia, and the area remains a significant public transportation hub to this day.
Practical Info
To reach Plaza Italia, take Metro Line D to Plaza Italia station.
Address: Avenida Santa Fe 4000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
From $ 16
Parque Lezama
While everyone else is walking around the antiques fair in San Telmo and picking up items that are too big to take home, head to Parque Lezama, a public park in the same district. The city of Buenos Aires was first founded here by Pedro de Mendoza (see his statue in the park) in 1536. In 1857 it was sold to Gregorio Lezama whose widow ultimately gave it to the municipality of Buenos Aires in 1894.
The park borders a part of what used to be the Rio de La Plata, before its course was redirected and the neighborhood of Puerto Madero was created. And while Buenos Aires is almost completely flat, this park, along with the Plaza Francia and Barrancas del Begrano are on a rise that sets them higher than the rest of the city. There are rustic paths for walking and biking and a few lookout points over where the river used to be.
Also in the park is the National Historical Museum of Argentina, established in 1897. It holds a collection of some 50,000 pieces, some of them dating back to when Argentina was a viceroyalty in the late 1700s and continuing until 1950.
Practical Info
This public park is located in the San Telmo district. If you want to see the construction that changed the course of the river, and at the same time, see a part of Buenos Aires that, quite frankly, doesn’t feel like Buenos Aires at all, check out Puerto Madero, the ultra modern strip with brand new buildings, for a nice post-walk lunch or dinner.
Address: Paseo Colon, Buenos Aires 21330, Argentina
From $ 15
Recoleta
An elegant residential district just north of downtown, Recoleta is Buenos Aires at its most polished—think luxury apartments, upscale boutiques, and perfectly manicured parks. The grand centerpiece is Recoleta Cemetery, a mini city of marble mausoleums and ornate crypts, where Eva “Evita” Perón was laid to rest.
The Basics
Strategically located en route from Palermo to Plaza de Mayo, Recoleta is a popular inclusion on Buenos Aires city tours, alongside neighborhoods such as La Boca, Puerto Madero, and San Telmo. The wide avenues and lively plazas of Recoleta are ideal for a walking tour, while bike tours will take you on a scenic detour through the parks and residential streets.
Most visitors make a beeline for the famous Recoleta Cemetery, but other top attractions in the area include the Palais de Glace (once a renowned tango hall), the striking Floralis Genérica sculpture, and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, home to the world's largest collection of Argentine art.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Recoleta has some excellent restaurants serving traditional Argentine cuisine, most of which are located along Avenida Alvear and Rodriguez Pena.
- Although attractions, such as Recoleta Cemetery, are open daily, most museums are closed on Mondays.
- Hotels, bars, and restaurants are generally a little pricier in Recoleta than in downtown Buenos Aires.
How to Get There
The Recoleta neighborhood is just northwest of central Buenos Aires and a short taxi ride from Palermo to the west and Retiro Station to the east. From Plaza Francia, the Museo de Belles Artes, and Recoleta Cemetery, the closest subway (subte) stations are Las Heras (Line H) and Facultad de Derecho (Line H).
When to Get There
While weekday mornings are the quietest time to take in the sights and visit the museums, the most atmospheric time to explore is on the weekend. Plaza Francia hosts a lively art and handicrafts market each weekend, and the surrounding streets are full of bars, cafés, and restaurants for a post-shopping lunch or dinner. In the evening hours, bars around Rodriguez Pena are filled with well-heeled locals.
Recoleta Cemetery
Recoleta Cemetery, with more than 6,400 tombs, each more elaborate than the next, makes for an impressive walking tour. Stop by Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, just north of the entrance, before passing through the grand cemetery gates to stroll along the tree-lined avenues. Look out for graves of notable Argentine politicians, military heroes, artists, and businessmen. Most famous, of course, is the tomb of former first lady Evita, which often draws a crowd.
Address: Junin Street, Buenos Aires 1060, Argentina
Admission: Free
From $ 15
Nahuel Huapi Lake
Nahuel Huapi Lake is the main lake within Nahuel Huapi National Park. It is a glacial lake with many islands, and it is located in the lake region of northern Patagonia between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén near Bariloche. It has a surface area of about 210 square miles and a depth of 1,394 feet, making it the largest and deepest clear water lake in Argentina; it extends 62 miles across the border into Chile. In 1670, Nahuel Huapi Lake was discovered by Nicolas Mascardi, a Jesuit priest who was doing missionary work in the area.
Bariloche is the biggest city in the area and sits on the southern banks of the lake. The town was founded in 1902, but tourism grew after the 1930s when the national park was established. Bariloche and the surrounding areas are known as the honeymoon capital of Argentina. The area is also well known for chocolate manufacturing. Many people use Bariloche as a base for skiing, mountaineering, hiking and enjoying Nahuel Huapi Lake as well as other lakes in the area. Hotels and restaurants line the southern shores of the Nahuel Huapi Lake to accommodate the tourists who come to explore the region.
Practical Info
Nahuel Huapi Lake is best reached from Bariloche. To get to Bariloche, there are many flights from other parts of Argentina, as well as bus and train connections.
Address: Nahuel Huapi Lake, Bariloche, Argentina
From $ 20
Jewish Museum of Buenos Aires
In 1967 Dr. Salvador Kibrick, a prominent member of the Argentine Israeli Congregation, donated his personal collection of Torahs, paintings, coins, siddur, ceremonial items and religious art to start the Jewish Museum of Buenos Aires. This museum, known locally as the Museo Kibrick in honor of its founder, is housed beside Argentina’s largest and oldest synagogue.
Since its founding, many other works have been added to the collection, including manuscripts by Albert Gerchunoff and Samuel Eichelbaum and letters of Albert Einstein and Martin Buber. Special exhibits recount the history of Judaism in Argentina, including the role of Jewish agricultural colonies in the rural parts of the country.
Practical Info
You’ll need your passport or some form of ID to gain entry into the museum and neighboring temple.
Address: Libertad 769, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hours: Open Tues-Thurs 11am-6pm; Fri 11am-5pm
Admission: By Donation
From $ 53
Nahuel Huapi National Park
Nahuel Huapi National Park, which surrounds the lake of the same name, and within which San Carlos de Bariloche is located, is an expansive park of nearly 1.8 million acres, and Argentina’s oldest national park.
The park actually contains another park, Parque nacional Los Arrayanes, which is where the much-visited Quetrihué peninsula is. This peninsula is home to a large tract of 300-650 year old red-to-light-brown-barked Arrayan trees.
The larger park covers a large range of altitude, from 700 to 3400 meters, and contains four distinct ecosystems, from high Andean peaks (above 1600 meters), including the imposing Cerro Tronador, Andean forests, Valdivian rainforests and (mostly treeless) windblown Patagonian steppe.
With four different ecosystems, there is a great variety of different types of vegetation, including several types of Patagonian beech. Small mammals, from the monito del monte (a lemur-faced marsupial, whose name means “little mountain monkey"), foxes and two tiny species of deer are seen near the arrayanes, while slim-necked guanacos (relatives to the llama) graze on the steppe. Five hundred kilometers (300 miles) of trails crisscross the park, which range from the easy 3-hour hike to the Castaño Overo Valley to multi-day hikes, from different access points within the park
The park actually contains another park, Parque nacional Los Arrayanes, which is where the much-visited Quetrihué peninsula is. This peninsula is home to a large tract of 300-650 year old red-to-light-brown-barked Arrayan trees.
The larger park covers a large range of altitude, from 700 to 3400 meters, and contains four distinct ecosystems, from high Andean peaks (above 1600 meters), including the imposing Cerro Tronador, Andean forests, Valdivian rainforests and (mostly treeless) windblown Patagonian steppe.
With four different ecosystems, there is a great variety of different types of vegetation, including several types of Patagonian beech. Small mammals, from the monito del monte (a lemur-faced marsupial, whose name means “little mountain monkey"), foxes and two tiny species of deer are seen near the arrayanes, while slim-necked guanacos (relatives to the llama) graze on the steppe. Five hundred kilometers (300 miles) of trails crisscross the park, which range from the easy 3-hour hike to the Castaño Overo Valley to multi-day hikes, from different access points within the park
Practical Info:
The park is visited from San Carlos de Bariloche or Villa La Angostura, with easy car access and tours available from both of these locales. Public busses circulate on a sparse schedule in the summer to some of the trailheads. The park is also part of the Seven Lakes/Siete Lagos circuit, which goes from Villa La Angostura to San Martín de Los Andes. The park is most visited in summer (January and February) for hiking, and winter (June through September) for skiing.
Address: Argentina
From $ 51
Navarro Correa Winery
The Navarro Correa Winery in Mendoza dates back to the year 1798, when the first grapes were planted at the foot of the Andes by Don Juan de Dios, who would later become an important political figure in the area.
Nowadays, visitors come from all over the world for guided tours and tastings of the reds, whites and sparkling wines for which Navarro Correa is known, which are drawn from different plantations of grapes in the Tunuyan, Tupungato, Maipu, Ugarteche, Pedriel and Agrelo regions near Mendoza. The gleaming, minimalist architecture of the tasting area and installations built in recent years have also won the vineyard attention from architecture aficionados. The visitors’ center, which is nearly 8,000 square feet, houses a wine bar, two tasting rooms, the reception area, and space for art exhibitions. Navarro Correa’s dedication to art is also seen in their wine bottle labels, which have been designed by renowned Argentine artists. The vineyard is ecologically conscious, with systems in place for recycling of water, minimal waste production and minimizing the amount of energy used in wine production.
Practical Info
The unusual sparkling rosé made from Malbec grapes is one of the Navarro Correa Winery’s standout wines.
Address: San Francisco del Monte, Godoy Cruz, Mendoza, Argentina
From $ 150
Potrerillos
Potrerillos is an artificial lake surrounded by snow-dotted mountains and cypress forests on Mendoza’s doorstep. A dammed waterway on the Mendoza River, the lake measures 12 km long, 3 km wide (7.5 miles long, 2 miles wide). Popular as a day-trip and weekend destination from Mendoza, it’s the outdoor venue for rafting, paragliding and lakeside hiking.
The region has developed into a popular resort area, and a cluster of hotels, resort villas, clubs and sports facilities have sprung up to cater to day-trippers and visitors looking for outdoor activities. Choose from kayaking, guided treks, horseback riding, mountain biking and fly-fishing for trout.
The region has developed into a popular resort area, and a cluster of hotels, resort villas, clubs and sports facilities have sprung up to cater to day-trippers and visitors looking for outdoor activities. Choose from kayaking, guided treks, horseback riding, mountain biking and fly-fishing for trout.
Practical Info
Potrerillos is in the Lujan de Cuyo Department of Mendoza Province, 63km (39 miles) southwest of Mendoza. Provincial route 82 runs here from Mendoza.
Address: Argentina
From $ 40
Plaza Espana
The artistic hub of Mendoza and a popular meeting place for locals, Plaza Espana offers a tranquil retreat, just a short stroll from the central Plaza Independencia. The striking centerpiece of Plaza Espana is a beautifully tiled fountain, overlooked by a series of mosaics depicting scenes from Argentina’s Spanish colonization.
Stroll around the grassy lawns, settle on one of the mosaic-tiled benches for a picnic lunch or visit on the weekends, when a lively artisan’s fair takes place and local musicians provide impromptu entertainment.
Practical Info
Plaza Espana is located close to Plaza Independencia in central Mendoza.
Address: San Lorenzo con Avenida Espana, Mendoza, Argentina
From $ 16
Recoleta Cemetery
While it may seem odd that one of Buenos Aires’ principal tourist attractions is a cemetery, the Recoleta Cemetery is no ordinary graveyard. Encircled by a towering perimeter wall and entered via a striking columned portico, Recoleta Cemetery is one of the world’s most exquisite necropolises; a glorious ‘City of the Dead’ that houses some of the country’s most prominent political, military and artistic icons.
Over 6,400 tombs are found in the Cemetery, laid out in formal tree-lined avenues and punctuated with beautifully sculpted monuments, poignant marble statutes and grand, bronze-cast mausoleums. Notable burial plots include the vivid white stone tomb of newspaper founder José C. Paz, flanked by a pair of dazzling Rubenesque angels; the ostentatious tomb of former Argentine president Carlos Pellegrini, featuring an elaborate statue of the controversial leader atop the coffin; and the evocative statues of crying widows kneeling beside the tomb of Colonel Falcon, the Chief of Police famously assassinated by rebels in 1909. One of the most visited tombs is that of the city’s beloved Eva Perón, or Evita, whose family vault blooms year-round with bunches of fresh flowers and is inscribed with the promise: ‘I will return and be millions!’
With a list of residents that reads like a who’s who of Buenos Aires’ high society, the cemetery serves not only as a resting place for the dead but as a testament to the golden age of Buenos Aires and the equally turbulent and triumphant history of Argentina. One thing’s for sure – the ornate miniature city with its breathtaking sculptures and fine works of art is a fitting tribute to everyone buried there.
Over 6,400 tombs are found in the Cemetery, laid out in formal tree-lined avenues and punctuated with beautifully sculpted monuments, poignant marble statutes and grand, bronze-cast mausoleums. Notable burial plots include the vivid white stone tomb of newspaper founder José C. Paz, flanked by a pair of dazzling Rubenesque angels; the ostentatious tomb of former Argentine president Carlos Pellegrini, featuring an elaborate statue of the controversial leader atop the coffin; and the evocative statues of crying widows kneeling beside the tomb of Colonel Falcon, the Chief of Police famously assassinated by rebels in 1909. One of the most visited tombs is that of the city’s beloved Eva Perón, or Evita, whose family vault blooms year-round with bunches of fresh flowers and is inscribed with the promise: ‘I will return and be millions!’
With a list of residents that reads like a who’s who of Buenos Aires’ high society, the cemetery serves not only as a resting place for the dead but as a testament to the golden age of Buenos Aires and the equally turbulent and triumphant history of Argentina. One thing’s for sure – the ornate miniature city with its breathtaking sculptures and fine works of art is a fitting tribute to everyone buried there.
Address: Azcuénaga, Buenos Aires, Recoleta, Argentina
From $ 15