Buenos Aires, Argentina Hotels and City Guide

Colourful, vibrant, noisy Buenos Aires, capital and largest city of Argentina, is situated on the southern shore of the Rio de la Plata estuary on the south eastern coast of South America. With a population of 3 million in the metropolitan area and another 10 million in sprawling Greater Buenos Aires, it is the third largest conurbation in Latin America and one of the world’s ten most populated cities.

The original settlement of Buenos Aires was briefly established in 1536 by Pedro de Mendoza, Spanish conquistador, before the indigenous Querandi Indians drove the Spaniards out. Half a century later the Spanish returned when Juan de Garay founded the second settlement in 1580 and by the end of the 18th century, Buenos Aires was the capital of the Viceroyalty of the River Plate comprising Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Buenos Aires was twice briefly occupied by English troops in 1806 and 1807, both times being expelled by the popular militia.

Today Buenos Aires has a cosmopolitan air, the legacy of a successful immigration policy in the 19th century. Italians, Spanish, French, German, British, and other nationalities flocked to Argentina. One result was that Buenos Aires has the largest number of Jews in Latin America, known as los Rusos (the Russians), as these early Jewish settlers emigrated from Czarist Russia. All immigrants brought with them a wealth of cultural diversity resulting in the rich tapestry of splendid European architecture – Italian, French and Spanish Colonial buildings abound. Beautiful domes adorn many buildings so be sure to look upwards. The French influence is also seen in formal parks.

Argentina is a secular state and Roman Catholicism is the official state religion.

Of the 47 neighbourhoods (barrios), seven are of interest to visitors, each distinctive. The city is laid out on a rectangular grid with square blocks, the streets running from east-west and north-south. Tree-lined boulevards like Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world, jacaranda-lined streets and plazas are characteristic of Buenos Aires. Hail one of the city’s 39,000 taxis for an affordable and efficient way of seeing the city.

Stroll down the cobbled streets in old San Telmo where faded colonial buildings whisper of bygone grandeur; rejoice in the brightly-coloured corrugated-iron houses in Caminito and admire the murals and graffiti, art and crafts on the pavements. Explore the museums, monuments, churches and historical buildings, Evita Perón’s mausoleum, and take time to relax in parks and gardens. For the dedicated shopper, visit Recoleta with its exclusive designer shops and pedestrianised Florida Street. Gleaming skyscrapers rub shoulders with old redbrick dock warehouses, now home to elegant restaurants, shops and offices on the riverside at Puerto Madero.

Fútbol, polo and the tango are Argentina’s passions. Join tango dancers on sidewalks and streets, sip coffee in atmospheric historical cafés as you watch the world and his dog go by (dog-walkers being a feature of the city), or

This cosmopolitan city offers the visitor culture, art, music, dance, sport, pavement cafés, a boisterous nightlife continuing until dawn, fabulous shopping, antique and craft fairs, fascinating flea markets, and a myriad eateries serving international cuisines.

And if you have two days to spare, fly to the spectacular Iguazu Falls on the Argentina/Brazil border, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The Brazilian side offers the most panoramic view. (Brazilian visa required. Check what inoculations are needed.)

Buenos Aires City Facts

Buenos Aires Population: 13,349,000 (Source: UN Population Estimate Revision 2003)
Argentina Population: 39,311,000 (Source: UN Population Estimate Revision 2003)
Currency: Argentine Peso (ARS)
Time Zone: GMT minus three hours
Language: Spanish

Hotels in Buenos Aires, Argentina