City trip Buenos Aires

At a glance

When is the best time to visit?

Buenos Aires has a pleasant climate for most of the year. Spring (September to November) is the highlight: temperatures of 18 to 24 degrees Celsius, jacaranda trees painting the city purple and the Milonga festival in October.

Autumn (April to June) is equally pleasant, quieter and slightly cheaper. Summer (December to February) is hot and humid with temperatures reaching 32 degrees; winter (June to August) is mild but overcast with occasionally chilly days of 8 to 16 degrees.

Best neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires

• Palermo The buzzing heart of modern Buenos Aires: endless restaurants, boutiques, parks (Bosques de Palermo) and a lively bar scene. Ideal base for travellers who want to see everything.
• Recoleta The elegant neighbourhood with belle epoque architecture, upscale shops and the famous Recoleta Cemetery where Eva Peron is buried. The city's most expensive district but impressively beautiful.
• San Telmo The oldest neighbourhood with cobblestone streets, antique markets on Sundays (Feria de San Telmo), tango dancing on Plaza Dorrego and authentic cafes. Slightly rougher, but unmissable.
• La Boca The colourful working-class neighbourhood with the iconic Caminito street full of mosaic art. Visit during the day; less safe at night. Boca Juniors football culture dominates.
• Puerto Madero Renovated harbour warehouses along the Rio de la Plata, now full of upscale restaurants and modern architecture. Quiet and safe, perfect for an evening stroll.

Top 5 sights in Buenos Aires

• Teatro Colon One of the world's finest opera houses, built in 1908 as a neo-Baroque showpiece. Guided tours (every 15 minutes) cost approximately USD 42 to 47 per person for non-Argentine visitors. Performances from approximately USD 40 in the balcony. Online booking strongly recommended.
• Recoleta Cemetery The most elegant cemetery in South America, with mausoleums of Argentina's wealthiest families. Entry for foreigners: approximately ARS 24,030 (approximately USD 16); card payment only. Free for Argentines with DNI. Eva Peron is in the Duarte family vault.
• MALBA - Latin American Art Museum The Museum of Latin American Art in Palermo shows works by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Argentine masters. Entry approximately ARS 12,000 (approximately USD 8); discounts on Wednesdays. Check current prices at malba.org.ar before your visit.
• Caminito in La Boca Argentina's most famous pedestrian street: colourful facades, mosaic art and tango. Completely free and the most photographed street in Buenos Aires. Visit during daylight hours; avoid at night.
• Palacio Barolo An Art Deco skyscraper (1923) designed around the cosmology of Dante's Divine Comedy. Guided tours cost approximately ARS 20,000 to 30,000; book directly at pbarolo.com.ar for the best price. The lift to the lighthouse dome offers a panorama over Avenida de Mayo.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands to Buenos Aires

KLM flies daily non-stop from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) in about 13 hours 45 minutes (flight KL701, departing around 21:14). Aerolineas Argentinas also flies this route direct.

Return tickets start around EUR 1,316 non-stop or approximately EUR 977 with a stopover (via New York, Madrid or Frankfurt). September is the cheapest month; December and January are the most expensive.

From Ezeiza Airport to the city centre (35 km, 45 to 75 minutes): book the official taxi at the Taxi Ezeiza desk in arrivals for approximately USD 45. Cheaper alternative: the Tienda Leon bus (USD 8 to 9) runs directly to Puerto Madero terminal.

Uber and other apps also work but are less reliable on arrival. The metro (Subte) runs with a SUBE card (purchase once for approximately ARS 1,000 at kiosks or machines) for approximately ARS 1,684 per trip (approximately USD 1.10).

What does a trip to Buenos Aires cost?

Buenos Aires is affordable for a world capital. A hostel costs approximately USD 15 to 25 per night; a mid-range hotel USD 60 to 120. Food is good value: a local set lunch (menu del dia including soup and main course) costs USD 12 to 18, and street food or empanadas cost USD 5 to 8. A steak at a good parrilla costs USD 12 to 28. Cocktails at trendy bars are approximately USD 3 to 6. Budget for a week (excl. flights): approximately EUR 700 to 1,000 for comfortable travel.

Insider tip: the speakeasy behind the flower shop

La Floreria Atlantico in the Retiro district looks like an ordinary flower shop from the outside. But behind the refrigerator door, stairs lead down to one of South America's best cocktail bars. No tourist sign, no neon lights. Open from approximately 18:00, address Arroyo 872. An authentic Buenos Aires moment that most travel blogs skip.