Things to do in French

Plaza 9 de Julio

The plaza has fresh air and wide sidewalks, and is surrounded by a variety of shops, making it a great place to walk and sample food.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Argentina

Teatro Colón

Teatro Colón is located next to the wide Av. 9 de Julio and is an eclectic-style opera house, with architecture that blends Italian and French elements. The theater opened in 1908, with Verdi's opera "Aida" as its inaugural performance, and has since hosted numerous singers and conductors. Acoustics expert Leo Beranek once surveyed international opera and orchestra conductors, and the results showed that its main auditorium's opera acoustics rank among the best in the world. The horseshoe-shaped main auditorium features a color palette of scarlet and gold, with a bronze chandelier weighing over a ton hanging in the center, and the dome is painted with a mural created by Argentine painter Raúl Soldi. The Golden Hall was inspired by the grand foyer of the Palais Garnier, with its golden finishes, mirrors, and lighting fixtures reflecting each other. It is now used for chamber music concerts and receptions. The stained-glass dome refracts brilliant colors when light shines through it. The theater also houses costume rooms, scenery workshops, and rehearsal spaces underground, allowing the entire production system to be completed in-house, which is rare among opera houses. After a major renovation in 2010, the theater restored its former glory.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Argentina

Tango Porteno

Tango Porteno is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a performance arts venue dedicated to showcasing tango culture. As an ideal destination for tango enthusiasts, it not only offers high-quality tango performances but also provides visitors with an in-depth understanding of this passionate and historic dance form. The theater's atmosphere is filled with nostalgia and romance, transporting audiences back to the golden age of tango. Every evening, the theater presents spectacular performances by professional dancers and musicians, showcasing the diverse styles and emotional depth of tango. You can admire the dancers' exquisite skills and the musicians' moving melodies, experiencing the charm and vitality of tango. Additionally, the theater offers tango dance classes for visitors who wish to personally experience the joy of dancing. Tango Porteno is not just a place to watch performances but also a platform for cultural exchange. Through interactions with local artists, you can gain a deeper understanding of tango's significance in Argentine culture. Whether you're a dance lover or a cultural explorer, this venue offers every visitor a rich experience and unforgettable memories.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Argentina

La Boca

La Boca is an old neighborhood by the port of Buenos Aires. In the late 19th century, large numbers of Italian and Spanish immigrants settled here, making a living from port labor and shipbuilding. They used leftover ship paint to paint their tin shacks, unintentionally creating the colorful streetscape seen today. The heart of the neighborhood is a pedestrian street called Caminito, which has been turned into an open-air museum. The highly saturated, colorful houses on both sides are stacked on top of each other, and the walls are covered with murals and reliefs by local artists. Tango dancers often perform impromptu shows on the street. This place is considered one of the important birthplaces of tango, and the name Caminito itself is taken from a tango song of the same name. The neighborhood also carries a strong football culture. The home stadium ofArgentine football club Boca Juniors, Estadio Alberto J Armando, is nearby, where Maradona once played in the blue and gold jersey. Next to the stadium is the team museum, which displays collections such as trophies and jerseys from over the years.

Parque Gral. San Martin, 9 De Julio, Buenos Aires

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Argentina

The obelisk

The obelisk stands in Republic Square and is one of the city's iconic landmarks. In 1936, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires, Argentine modernist architect Alberto Prebisch designed this monument, adopting the geometric shape of a traditional obelisk. The monument is approximately 67.5 m high, built with a reinforced concrete structure, features simple geometric lines throughout, and was completed in just about 1 month. Its location has a special historical background—the Church of St. Nicholas once stood here. There is a window on each of the four sides at the top of the monument, offering a panoramic view of the city. Each of the four sides of the monument is also engraved with inscriptions, each recording important events related to the city's history.

Plaza de la Republica

Plaza de la Republica centers on a stark white obelisk. Its simple, geometric lines rise sharply, creating an unmistakable silhouette against the city skyline. The plaza's location holds a piece of the city's history: it was once the site of the Church of St. Nicholas of Bari. While the church no longer stands, the plaza has become a vibrant stage for civic life and public activity. By day, crowds and traffic flow ceaselessly around the obelisk. After dark, the nearby theater district lights up, and cafes, bars, and restaurants keep the neighborhood buzzing. For visitors, the plaza is an open space where you can feel the city's pulse. Many people take photos with the obelisk as a backdrop or pause on the surrounding lawns and benches to watch the traffic and pedestrians on the wide avenues. The plaza is flat and accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, though shade is limited, so be sure to bring sun protection during daytime visits. Other city landmarks, such as the Teatro Colón and the Casa Rosada, are within walking distance and can be visited together.

Plaza Italia, 9 De Julio, Buenos Aires

2026 Americas 50 - Best Things to Do

Plaza de Mayo

Plaza de Mayo is the main square of Buenos Aires, with a history dating back to the city's founding by the Spanish in 1580. The square was formerly the colonial-era Plaza de la Victoria and Plaza del Fuerte. In 1884, the colonnade separating the two squares was demolished, and they were merged and officially named after the May Revolution of 1810—a revolution that took place on May 25 and marked the beginning of Argentina's path to independence from Spanish colonial rule. In the center of the square stands the Pirámide de Mayo, built in 1811 to commemorate the first anniversary of the May Revolution. It is surrounded by several iconic buildings: the pink Casa Rosada at the east end, and the colonial-era Cabildo at the west end, which is now a museum displaying historical artifacts from the May Revolution; to the north is theBuenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral. These buildings, with their diverse yet harmonious architectural styles, make the square feel like an open-air history museum.

No. 2 of Night Attractions in Argentina

Puerto Madero

Puerto Madero is a very modern waterfront neighborhood in Buenos Aires, converted from an old port dating back to the late 19th century. This area was once one of the earlier ports built in Buenos Aires, but it fell into decline after the port's functions were relocated, until large-scale urban renewal began in the 1990s. The former red-brick warehouses and granaries have been converted into loft apartments, offices, hotels, and restaurants. They stand side-by-side with brand-new glass curtain wall high-rises, and this blend of old and new has become the neighborhood's signature cityscape. A prominent landmark in the port area is the Puente de la Mujer, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, with a shape inspired by a pair of tango dancers. Strolling along the dockside promenade, you can board the ARA Sarmiento frigate moored at the pier to visit and learn about the history of the Argentine Navy. The east side of the port area is adjacent to the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, a rare, large-scale natural wetland within Buenos Aires that is home to a large number of birds. In addition, the streets in the port area are all named after prominent women in Argentine history, and there are several cultural venues along the way.