6 Best Buenos Aires Tours

Buenos Aires has an undeniable charm: from the bustling streets of Palermo to the charming cafés of San Telmo, there is something for everyone in Argentina's vibrant capital. But, with so much to see and do, it's hard to decide on the best things to do so it's best to get help to make the most of your trip.

That's why guided tours are the perfect solution and, in this article, you'll find the best tours of Buenos Aires with prices, pros and cons so you can decide which one suits your tastes. Let's get started!

Booking a tour of Recoleta Cemetery is a must. This activity starts with a meeting with your guide in front of the Recoleta Cemetery, where you will receive a brief explanation of the area and its history.

During the 2-hour tour of the cemetery, you will visit the tombs of some of the most important personalities of the aristocracy of Buenos Aires and discover the secrets that each one of them holds.

One of the highlights of the tour is the visit to the ornate crypt where the former first lady Eva Perón is buried, as well as other renowned figures or learn about the mysteries and legends such as the legend of the sailor, or the legend of the Lady in White.

Details of interest

• Price: from 10 € per person.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Timetable: morning and afternoon.
• What the tour may include: expert guide service in your language. Tour of the cemetery.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Pros: it is a practical and historical tour of one of the country's landmarks with certified experts.
• Cons: It is quick. No transfer to the cemetery is included. Entrance to the cemetery is not included.

Booking a tour of the River Plate and Boca Juniors museums is a must for those who love football and want to know more about the history and passion behind the two most important clubs in Argentina: Boca Juniors and River Plate, or better known as the Gallinas and the Bosteros. The tour starts at a central point in Buenos Aires where a driver together with an expert guide will be waiting for you in an air-conditioned minivan to take you to the stadiums and museums.

The first stop is the Bombonera, the Boca Juniors stadium located in the La Boca neighbourhood. Outside the stadium, you will hear about the exploits of their most emblematic players, the history of the tribute to Alberto J. Armando... Then, you will visit the Museo de la Pasión Boquense, where you will witness the evolution of the shirt, the changes and milestones of the players and the most important trophies the club has won. After the visit to the museum, you will have free time to browse the stadium shop and enjoy lunch in the surrounding area.

The tour continues in the Belgrano neighbourhood, where the new River Plate stadium Mâs Monumental is located. The expert guide will share information about the history of the club, its stars and the titles it has won. Next, you will visit the River Plate Museum, the most modern museum in Argentina, where you will learn more about the history of the club since its foundation in 1901 and its great stars.

Interesting details

• Price: from 92 € per person.
• Duration: 3 - 5 hours.
• Timetable: morning.
• What the tour may include: guide service in your language. Round trip transport service from a central point in Buenos Aires to the stadiums. Entrance to Boca Juniors and River Plate stadiums and museums.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned minivan.
• Pros: you avoid the queues at the stadiums. You save time in the transfer. It is usually a tour for small groups. You get to know the history of the Argentinean fans, one of the most popular in Latin America, in the voice of their own people, a porteño guide.
• Cons: Only some tours include lunch and drinks. Often the transfer to and from the accommodation is not included or has an additional supplement.

The routes vary considerably according to your choice of tour. Here is a typical itinerary for a day's cycling in Buenos Aires. Start in the very old neighbourhood of San Telmo. Stop to admire La Casa Mínima and continue cycling to Plaza de Mayo, considered the birthplace of the city and surrounded by the cathedral, the Casa Rosada and the City Hall.

The tour continues to the famous football stadium La Bombonera, before reaching the colourful Caminito, located in the heart of the old port of La Boca. After a short break, the tour continues to Puerto Madero, the second and most modern port area of Buenos Aires, with sleek, modern buildings.

The tour then makes its way through the Palermo Ecological Reserve and then continues north to the transport hub of Retiro, where you will find Plaza San Martin, one of the city's finest parks and the former headquarters of the Liberator Army. Then you continue to Recoleta, the high society area, where you can visit the famous Recoleta Cemetery, one of the best things to do in Recoleta. You will also stroll through the Plaza del Congreso and at the end of the tour you will return to your point of origin.

Details of interest

• Price: from 29 € per person.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Timetable: morning, afternoon and evening.
• What the tour may include: rental of the bike, it can be manual, electric or bamboo. Guide service in your language. Lunch.
• Means of transport: bicycle.
• Pros: this type of tour has an option for all tastes. The types of bikes vary, as do the routes, you can choose between north, centre or south of the city in the 4 hour tours, while if you choose the full day tour you cycle around the main landmarks in every corner.
• Cons: You have to travel to the bike rental location. Lunch often costs extra.

Booking a graffiti tour in Buenos Aires is a great way to explore the Palermo neighbourhood and its rich history, while immersing yourself in the vibrant street art culture. Guided by a local expert, the walking tour will take you through the colourful and lively streets, where you'll see thought-provoking graffiti and murals that are expressions of Argentina's history and social struggles.

By participating in this tour, you will discover the history of the neighbourhood from another perspective, behind the scenes, stories from every corner, from the magnificent Exabrupto de colour, a work signed by the artist Alfredo Segatori that decorates the entrance of the Casa Walsh gallery, to the fusion of works that are located in the Plazoleta Luna de Enfrente. The tour will give you the opportunity to hear fascinating stories about the evolution of urban art and its impact on Argentine culture and society.

Be dazzled by how graffiti has been used as a socio-cultural and transgressive symbol in Argentine culture. Among the main works you will see are: The girls hugging each other by Juli Casas and Mar Bou, the Cabernet Mural by Josefina Di Nucci, Raíz de barrio by Gonzalo Prieto, La chopería de Palermo by Tano Verón and a dozen other murals to which new talents are added annually. You will also learn about the arrival of spray paint in 1969 and the influence it had on the urban movements of the seventies.

Details of interest

• Price: from 10 € per person.
• Duration: 2 - 4 hours.
• Timetable: morning and afternoon.
• What the tour may include: local guide service, expert in urban art. Bicycle rental.
• Means of transport: on foot or by bike.
• Pros: This tour is flexible in time and style because it can be done on foot and you can also opt for one of the best bike tours to follow the route and add more iconic murals.
• Cons: No shuttle service is included. No food or drinks are included.

Booking a guided tour of Buenos Aires is exciting and best of all, it fits in with your time. It includes the picturesque neighbourhood of La Boca, one of the areas that earned Buenos Aires a place among the 50 most beautiful cities in the world according to Traveler's experts. This neighbourhood includes:

• The famous Caminito street where you will learn about the history of tango, who knows, maybe you will take a tango lesson afterwards.
• Boca Juniors stadium.
• Dorrego Square.
• The home of the San Telmo Antiques Fair, which every Sunday becomes the Buenos Aires meeting place par excellence.

You will also pass through the modern neighbourhood of Puerto Madero, where the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava built the Puente de la Mujer (Women's Bridge). Other points of interest in the area are the historic Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada, the Cathedral and the City Hall from the outside.

You can also include a visit to the Retiro neighbourhood, where many of the best buildings in Buenos Aires are located. Here you will also have the opportunity to stroll around the Plaza San Martin as well as the Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament, and other monuments and palaces. Other highlights of the tour are the Colón Theatre of Buenos Aires, the famous bookstore El Ateneo and the Rosedal de Palermo.

Interesting details

• Price: from 27 € per person.
• Duration: 3 hours.
• Schedule: morning.
• What the tour may include: guided tour, guide accompaniment, pick up and return to the hotel.
• Means of transport: The activity includes transport to and from hotels in the centre of Buenos Aires.
• Pros: It is the most practical and quickest way to get a general overview of Buenos Aires.
• Cons: This tour can include large groups.

Described by many as the land of tango, football and wine, it's no wonder it creates new culinary trends and its best food tours are a blast to enjoy. Options? There's at least one for every style. There are the traditional tapas and wine tastings which usually include 3 - 5 tapas including the typical Argentinean empanadas, a cheese board, an ice cream and 2 - 4 types of wine at one of the best Bodegas in the capital.

Another alternative are the tapas and beer tastings, in this case including 8 - 10 craft beers such as those offered by the Quilmes brewery, or at the headquarters of the Baum brewery, both favourite brands of the porteños who accompany the tasting with asado and other tapas including an ice-cream. Often the Palermo neighbourhood is the place for these tours.

Another alternative are the street food and beer tours or the combination with wine, the visits to vineyards outside the capital, the seasonal fair tours and finally, the combination of wine tasting, tapas and workshops, my favourites because you participate in some of the best cooking classes in Buenos Aires. In addition, you can choose to book a private tour in Buenos Aires to express your preferences.

Interesting details

• Price: from 50 € per person.
• Duration: 2 - 4 hours.
• Schedule: afternoon and evening.
• What the tour may include: English speaking guide service. Transfer service to and from your hotel. Tapas tasting. Wine or beer tasting.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned bus or minivan.
• Pros: there is a range of alternatives. Groups are usually small and costs are affordable.
• Cons: Compared to the variety of typical Spanish tapas, in this case the variety is reduced, although delicious and with the added value offered by the Argentinean asado.

A tour is one of the best things to do in Buenos Aires.

• Do your research before you travel: before arriving in Buenos Aires, do some research on the places you want to visit and the tours you would like to take. This way, you will be able to plan your itinerary and make the most of your time in the city.
• Use public transport: public transport in Buenos Aires is cheap and efficient, so don't hesitate to use it during your stay in the city. The metro, buses and trains are excellent options to move from one place to another.
• Don't miss out on the local food: the food in Buenos Aires is delicious and varied, from the famous empanadas to the Argentinean asado. Be sure to sample the local cuisine during your stay.
• Find Mafalda in Buenos Aires: this witty little girl was created by Quino who described her as a reflection of the Argentine middle class, however, when reading her comics there is much of the general Hispanic culture as she became a Latin idol. Follow her route, you can meet her on a free walk or keep an eye out during your tour to take pictures with her and her friends.