What to Do on Your First Day in Buenos Aires

Landing in Buenos Aires can feel like a lot: a huge city, a new language, and no idea where to start. After 30 years living and guiding here, I've seen how the first day sets the tone for the whole trip. This is how I'd spend it.

Start oriented, not rushed

Begin at the historic Café de los 36 Billares, which dates back to 1894, with a coffee and a map in your hands. My rule for day one: leave the café knowing where things are, with the city's best recommendations right on your phone.

Ride the Subte on day one

Take Line A, the oldest subway in South America. Don't just look at it, use it. Many travelers leave the tour getting around the city with total confidence, subway included.

Walk Avenida de Mayo and look up

Walk down Avenida de Mayo and stop at Palacio Barolo, a building designed as an architectural metaphor for Dante's Divine Comedy. Every floor tells a piece of it. Then keep going to the Catedral Metropolitana and Plaza de Mayo.

Eat a choripán at Mercado de San Telmo

Of the hundreds of tips I share, this one is hands down the one travelers thank me for the most.

If it's Sunday, go to San Telmo

Every Sunday, Defensa Street turns into a river of people, color and culture, with crafts, antiques and art. Then visit the Buenos Aires Museum (BAM) and head up to its terrace for a view of the whole fair from above.

Or do it with a local

That is exactly what my Buenos Aires Welcome Tour is. I hand you a personalized paper map with my favorite spots marked, and a digital recommendations guide for your phone, and then we put it into practice on foot and on the Subte. People keep recommending it on Airbnb, with over 200 five-star reviews.

🌈 Danny Boy
🔍 Discovering BA like a local!
www.locolocal.com.ar