17 Reasons to Visit Buenos Aires, the Paris of the South 1 WARM WEATHER! The average temperature in Buenos Aires is 60 degrees Fahrenheit year round. We will be there in November which is their Springtime. The historic average temperatures are highs around 72 degrees and lows around 62 degrees! Translation: No heavy coats needed! 2 BIRTHPLACE OF THE TANGO Buenos Aires is a place that attracts tango dancers from all over, and the dance is still very much alive - danced by the young and young-at-heart well into the early hours every night of the week. Although it is often seen as one of the hardest dances to learn, our Travel Haus women will be well on their way after our included 1-hour tango lesson! We will also enjoy an authentic Tango Dinner Show. 3 WIDEST BOULEVARD IN THE WORLD Avenida 9 de Julio is one of the most remarkable sites in Buenos Aires. The avenue has 7 lanes in each direction, runs south to north through the city and is 460 feet wide. It's name translates to July 9th and was given to commemorate the day when Argentina won its independence from Spain in 1816. Here you will find the Obelisk, a prominent landmark in Buenos Aires. 4 LA RECOLETA CEMETERY The La Recoleta Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in all of Latin America. It opened in 1822 and spans four city blocks. perhaps most well-known as the final resting place of Eva Peron, "Evita". It is the perfect setting for a stroll admiring the ornate mausoleums given to many famous Argentinians. 5 THE STEAKS! Can you imagine eating over 220lbs of steak in a year??? That is the average beef consumption per capita in Argentina making it the 2nd highest in the world! Why do they consume so much beef you may ask...many of the cattle farmers still use the older methods of pasture and their cattle are still grass-fed which makes their beef much tastier! Be sure to try one while you are there! 6 JARDIN JAPONESE
Completed in 1967 and inaugurated by then-Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko of Japan, this is the largest Japanese garden located outside of Japan. It is located in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The garden offers tranquility and serenity as you stroll through ornate landscaping and traditional red bridges, Japenese flora and a Japanese lighthouse. 7 NO NEED FOR CURRENCY EXCHANGE! The US Dollar is widely accepted in Buenos Aires! There is no need to exchange currency or second guess how much you will likely need. Just a note - Argentina does not recognize the penny. The smallest coin they will take is the nickel. So except most prices to be rounded up to match this distinction. The national currency is the Argentine Peso so you may receive the local currency as change. 8 A BOOK-LOVERS PARADISE The beautiful picture shown to the left is the El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a theater that was converted into a bookstore. Buenos Aires has the most bookshops per capita in the world, according to a World Cities Cultural Forum in 2015. You will find most of these lining the streets of Corrientes and Santa Fe, two of the most famous streets in Buenos Aires. So if you love to read - Buenos Aires is the city for you! 9 INCREDIBLE WINES! Argentina is the 6th largest wine-producing country in the world by volume. Perhaps most well know for its full-bodied Malbec wine from the Mendoza region. Also popular is the Cabernet Sauvignon from the North. What a treat to enjoy a glass of wine where you know the grapes were grown in the same city. 10 TIGER DELTA The city of Tigre is located on the Parana River Delta and is known as the spot where locals and tourists alike go to escape the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires. This area is made up of hundreds of small islands and boasts a relaxing atmosphere where you can enjoy quaint towns and a possible boat ride along one of the many canals. 11 QUAINT METRO SYSTEM Buenos Aires has the oldest underground metro system in Latin America. It is the 4th oldest in the Americas only behind New York, Boston and Philadelphia! Built in 1913, many of the stations have a history of displaying different forms of artwork. Even to this day you will be pleasantly surprised to see vintage advertisements, stained glass murals, sculptures, as well as musical performances. To celebrate the Metro's 100th anniversary, riders were actually treated to a full symphony orchestra! 12 CULTURE INCLUDING THE TEATRO COLON Long seen as Latin America's capital of culture, Buenos Aires has almost 300 theatres, 380 bookstores and 160 museums, and some of them will take your breath away. The Teatro Colón is one of the world's best opera houses, with outstanding acoustics and beautiful interiors. It is ranked the third best opera house in the world by National Geographic,[1] and is acoustically considered to be amongst the five best concert venues in the world. Since opening in 1908, it has hosted some of the most important conductors, singers and dancers of the 20th century, including Igor Stravinsky, Herbert von Karajan, Daniel Barenboim, Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Rudolf Nureyev, Julio Bocca and Maximiliano Guerra. The acoustics are so good here that Luciano Pavarotti was once quoted as saying, " the only design flaw is the structure's ability to reveal a singer’s every mistake." We will get to see this on our 1/2 day tour of Buenos Aires 13 BUENOS AIRES HAS AN (UN) OFFICIAL TEA TIME The British had a strong influence in Argentina, and one legacy they left is the traditional Afternoon Tea, known in Buenos Aires as simply “té” or “merienda.” The local take on this British tradition includes tea, coffee or yerba mate (a local variety of tea) and is traditionally accompanied by an alfajor – a small cake filled with dulce de leche – or medialunas- the local version of a croissant. This is a great way to keep going until Buenos Aires’ traditionally late dinnertime, which is never before 9pm, and may often be as late as 11pm. The emblematic Alvear Palace Hotel has one of the most elegant afternoon teas in the city, as does the traditional Café Tortoni on Avenida de Mayo. Buenos Aires has long had a thriving café culture and its many historic cafes were the meeting places for illustrious literary, musical and political figures, including Argentina’s most famous writer, Jorge Luis Borges and tango icon Carlos Gardel. Today the city has over 70 listed historic cafes known as bares notables, which are officially recognised for their importance to the city’s culture. 14 HORSES AND GAUCHOS Ponies have been a part of Argentine culture since gauchos (Argentine cowboys) roamed the expansive fields across the country. Whether they are watching polo, going for a gallop, or betting on these majestic animals, Argentines find great joy in all things equine. As a visitor, you can enjoy these same activities by enrolling in polo lessons, visiting the Hippodrome to watch races, or taking a day trip for a ride through the country. 15 SHOPPING IN PALERMO SOHO AND SAN TELMO ANTIQUE MARKET Beautiful boutique shops line the streets of Palermo Soho, a hub of the relentlessly creative design district in Buenos Aires. Be prepared for long strolls interrupted by halting stops to gawk at window designs. The shops have everything from high-end shoes and belts, chic skirts and dresses to glittery custom jewelry and stylish jeans. There also seems to be a custom shoe store around every corner in Palermo Soho, all filled with unique designs. Palermo also has dozens of cafes, bars, and restaurants catering to nearly every palate. You won’t go hungry in this part of Argentina. There are also tons of weekend flea markets for bargain and antiques shoppers. The weekly Feria de San Telmo is one of the best. 16 GELATO, EMPANADAS AND CROISSANTS When asked to mention a must-try Argentine cuisine specialty, most people might answer Steak and Wine, but let us tell you something most people ignore: Argentine Gelato is one of the best in the world. Thanks to the massive Italian immigration that arrived in the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, locals have become compulsive consumers of gelato. Gelato in Argentina follows the secrets of the great Italian Gelato, but with a local twist, the gelato is more creamy and sweeter because of the type of milk, cream and water employed in its making. It is more delicious than Italian gelato. Try the dulce de leche at Un' Altra Volta — you won't regret it. No matter how long you spend in the beautiful metropolitan city of Buenos Aires, Argentina there is always time to enjoy warm, fresh, and locally made empanadas. You can find a tasty, homemade empanada on almost any street corner. In the suburb of Recoleta, home to one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world, Antigua Carpinacci caters for the local empanada demand six days a week. It’s a far cry from the tourist hotspots on Calle Florida and a notable walk from the Cementerio de la Recoleta. This is the place to go to experience high-quality empanadas in a truly authentic Argentinian atmosphere. Ham and cheese, chicken, vegetarian, traditional beef, and seasonal empanadas can all be found at Antigua Carpinacci. When looking to experience the real Buenos Aires, this is an excellent spot in which to relax and practice Spanish with the locals. On nearly every block in Buenos Aires, you’ll find a panaderia, or bakery. You should drink a cup of freshly roasted coffee with a crispy medialuna (Argentinian croissant) which is a smaller, sweeter version of the French classic. A splendid place to bite into one is the Café Tortoni, the city's most traditional café. Founded in 1858, it has doubled as both a bohemian and literary joint over the years. The best part is that it hasn't lost any charm, despite the throngs of tourists that hover around. Here you can truly absorb the rich history and culture of Buenos Aires while sipping on some of the freshest brewed coffee, and watching the daily jazz and tango performances. 17 THE NIGHTLIFE You may have heard tell of Buenos Aires’ legendary nightlife, but it has to be seen to be believed. The nightlife scene of Buenos Aires is popular for being vibrant and diverse in terms of clubs, bars, discos and casinos. Locals don’t hit the dancefloors until about 2am, but before then the bars are bustling, a precursor to the night ahead. Hit the Costanera Norte for the city’s superclubs like Pacha and Terrazas del Este, San Telmo for some bohemian offerings and Palermo for the trendy hangouts. Make sure you’ve had a siesta, because the nights start late and end even later! Would you like to read more? The following articles are full of more information and some of the above facts were taken from these sources:
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