UltimateCity Guide Buenos Aires
Our favourites
Recoleta and the parks at sunset from above, with Floralis Genérica in its circular garden and the river beyond Recoleta and the parks at sunset from above, with Floralis Genérica in its circular garden and the river beyond The stage of the Teatro Colón, framed by red velvet curtains and gilded boxes The Recoleta Cemetery from above: a walled city of mausoleums and tree-lined avenues The brightly painted corrugated-iron houses of Caminito in La Boca The white Puente de la Mujer and its leaning mast over the dock at Puerto Madero

The city guide to Buenos Aires, Argentina

Best of Buenos Aires

Marble and jacaranda, opera and tango: the Teatro Colón’s red and gold, the palaces of the Avenida Alvear, Sunday on the cobbles of San Telmo and a late steak at Don Julio. Buenos Aires, checked place by place.

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

Where to eatWhat to see
The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyRecoleta, Palermo Chico, the docks and how the escritura works

Buenos Aires, from the opera house to the milonga

Buenos Aires stretches along the Río de la Plata: the palaces and parks of Recoleta and Palermo to the north, the colonial cobbles of San Telmo and the painted houses of La Boca to the south, the avenues, cafés and theatres of the centre in between, and the docks of Puerto Madero on the river. Here are its grand hotels and the 2026 MICHELIN stars, its cafés notables and parrillas, its museums, stages and tango salons, and day trips to Tigre, Colonia del Sacramento, San Antonio de Areco, La Plata and Montevideo. Every listing is checked against the venue’s own website or an official source, and anything we can’t confirm is left out.

The Paris of the south, and much more: Buenos Aires’ great sights

In depth

The Paris of the south, and much more

Buenos Aires·In depth

The Teatro Colón, the Recoleta Cemetery, the Plaza de Mayo, La Boca and the docks: how to see Buenos Aires, and in what order.

Read the story

Arts + Culture

The Teatro Colón, the MALBA and PROA, the theatres of Corrientes and the tango salons where the city dances.

The Salón Dorado of the Teatro Colón, with gilded columns, painted ceiling and crystal chandeliersArts + CultureArts & Culture in Buenos AiresOpera, museums and tango

Buenos Aires, barrio by barrio

Seven barrios, each with its own guide: the palaces and marble of Recoleta, the parks and designers of Palermo, the cobbles of San Telmo, the painted houses of La Boca, the docks of Puerto Madero, the opera and avenues of the centre, and the leafy streets of the north.

The Recoleta Cemetery from above: a walled city of mausoleums and tree-lined avenuesNeighbourhood guideRecoletaPalaces, marble and the Avenida AlvearRose beds in flower at the Rosedal de Palermo, with jacarandas beyondNeighbourhood guidePalermoParks, designers and the parrillaA white Belle Époque corner building in San TelmoNeighbourhood guideSan Telmo & MonserratCobbles, antiques and tangoThe brightly painted corrugated-iron houses of Caminito in La BocaNeighbourhood guideLa BocaColour, football and artThe white Puente de la Mujer and its leaning mast over the dock at Puerto MaderoNeighbourhood guidePuerto Madero & Costanera SurThe docks and the riverThe Salón Dorado of the Teatro Colón, with gilded columns, painted ceiling and crystal chandeliersNeighbourhood guideRetiro & the CentroThe opera, the avenues and the cafés

After dark

Buenos Aires keeps late hours: dinner at ten is ordinary, and the milongas are only warming up at midnight.

Paths and palms in the Barrancas de BelgranoNeighbourhood guideBelgrano, Colegiales & NúñezThe leafy north

Before you go

Entry and health insurance, arriving at Ezeiza or Aeroparque, tickets for the Colón and the tango houses, and three days that work for a first visit.

The white Obelisco on the Avenida 9 de Julio under a deep blue skyBefore you goBuenos Aires essentialsEntry, money, safety and 107The domed hall and gallery of the Retiro railway terminusGetting aroundGetting aroundThe airports, the Subte, the trains and the ferriesRecoleta and the parks at sunset from above, with Floralis Genérica in its circular garden and the river beyondItineraryBuenos Aires in three daysThe Colón, Recoleta, Palermo and San TelmoRecoleta and the parks at sunset from above, with Floralis Genérica in its circular garden and the river beyondLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesRecoleta and the parks at sunset from above, with Floralis Genérica in its circular garden and the river beyondItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Alvear Palace, Aramburu and CriziaThe white-and-red dining room of Bistro Sur at the Faena Hotel, with chandeliers and unicorn heads on the wallsItineraryThe Platinum weekendThe Faena, Rojo Tango and Don Julio

Our advice

Book the Colón before you fly

A guided visit shows you the horseshoe of red and gold, but a performance shows you the sound. Book the opera, the ballet or the Filarmónica on the theatre’s own site, then build your days around it. The Teatro Colón

Beyond Buenos Aires

The islands of the delta are a train ride north; Colonia and Montevideo lie across the river in Uruguay; the estancias of San Antonio de Areco are out in the pampas, and La Plata is down the coast.

A wooden passenger launch on a river of the Paraná DeltaBeyond Buenos AiresTigre & the DeltaA city on the waterThe rooftops of Colonia del Sacramento and the Río de la Plata, with a ferry in the harbourBeyond Buenos AiresColonia del SacramentoAcross the river to UruguayTrees reflected in the still Río Areco at San Antonio de Areco, at golden hourBeyond Buenos AiresSan Antonio de ArecoGauchos and estanciasThe pink Gothic Revival Cathedral of La Plata across the Plaza MorenoBeyond Buenos AiresLa PlataThe planned capitalMontevideo from above, the old city and the rambla along the riverBeyond Buenos AiresMontevideoUruguay’s capital

Our advice

Take your passport to Colonia

Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo are in Uruguay: the ferries leave from Buenos Aires, but there is passport control at the terminal. Stay for the sunset over the river and book the late boat back. Colonia del Sacramento

In depth: the back stories of Buenos Aires

The great sights, the table, tango and opera, the hotels, the Subte and the ferries, and where to buy: the stories behind Buenos Aires.

The Recoleta Cemetery from above: a walled city of mausoleums and tree-lined avenuesThe back storyThe Paris of the south, and much moreThe Colón, Recoleta, La Boca and the docksAn asado board of grilled ribs and sausagesThe back storyBuenos Aires at the tableAramburu, the parrillas and the late dinnerTwo tango dancers in red on the Avenida Corrientes at night, the Obelisco behind themThe back storyTango, opera and the avant-gardeThe arts of Buenos AiresRecoleta and the parks at sunset from above, with Floralis Genérica in its circular garden and the river beyondThe back storyWhere Buenos Aires sleepsPalaces, docks and gardensA Buquebus fast ferry moored at its Buenos Aires terminalThe back storyBy Subte, train and ferryUnder the city and across the riverA marble mausoleum with sculpted mourning figures in the Recoleta CemeteryThe back storyBuying in Buenos AiresNeighbourhoods and the escribano

At the milonga

Nobody walks across the floor to ask for a dance: a glance and a nod across the room, the cabeceo, is how it is done.

Bookshelves in the stalls and the old stage of El Ateneo Grand Splendid, ringed by gilded boxesFun factsBuenos Aires fun factsThings you might not know

Onward with the ULTIMATE guides

Buenos Aires joins Rio in the South American guides: north to the Corcovado, out to sea from the Río de la Plata, and the great journeys beyond.

The towers of Puerto Madero across the dock, with a tall ship moored in the foregroundULTIMATE Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroThe South American sister guideA Buquebus fast ferry moored at its Buenos Aires terminalULTIMATE CruisesCruisesFrom the Río de la PlataA marble mausoleum with sculpted mourning figures in the Recoleta CemeteryULTIMATE PropertyPropertyBuying around the worldThe domed hall and gallery of the Retiro railway terminusULTIMATE Rail JourneysRail JourneysThe great train journeys

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Europe

See all Europe
Canal houses and bridges in Amsterdamthe NetherlandsULTIMATE AmsterdamThe canal ring, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, canal-house hotels, twenty MICHELIN-starred tables, brown cafés, and day trips to Haarlem and Keukenhof.Visit the guide The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin against a blue skyGermanyULTIMATE BerlinThe Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, the Philharmonie and three opera houses, the story of the Wall, and day trips to Potsdam and Dresden.Visit the guide The Royal Pavilion in Brighton under a blue skyEnglandULTIMATE BrightonThe Royal Pavilion and the piers, the Lanes and the North Laine, Kemptown and Pride, and the South Downs on the doorstep.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Nyhavn, CopenhagenDenmarkULTIMATE CopenhagenNyhavn and Tivoli, Rosenborg and Amalienborg, smørrebrød at lunch, Geranium and Kadeau’s three stars, Danish design and the harbour baths.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide The Ha’penny Bridge on the Liffey, DublinIrelandULTIMATE DublinTrinity and the Book of Kells, the Georgian squares, The Shelbourne, the pubs and their music, and the coast from Howth to Dalkey.Visit the guide Edinburgh Castle on its rock above the trees of West Princes Street GardensScotlandULTIMATE EdinburghThe castle and the Royal Mile, the Georgian New Town, seven MICHELIN stars from Leith to Stockbridge and the August festivals.Visit the guide Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide The Baie des Anges, NiceFranceULTIMATE French RivieraNice, Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Menton, Saint-Tropez and Cassis: palace hotels, three-star tables, beach clubs, the Festival de Cannes and the painters’ coast.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening lightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide Varenna on Lake ComoItalyULTIMATE Lake ComoVilla d’Este and the Villa del Balbianello, Bellagio and Varenna, the gardens of the villas, Riva boats and the four MICHELIN stars of the lake.Visit the guide Lisbon’s rooftops falling to the Tagus under a clear blue skyPortugalULTIMATE LisbonBelém’s monastery and tower, the castle above Alfama, palace hotels, Belcanto’s two stars, and day trips to Sintra, Cascais and Comporta.Visit the guide Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behindSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the ThamesUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, great museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide The Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran VíaSpainULTIMATE MadridThe Prado and El Retiro, the Royal Palace, DiverXO’s three stars and cocido since 1870, with day trips to Toledo and Segovia.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Valletta’s honey-coloured skyline, with the dome of the Carmelite church and the spire of St Paul’s, above the harbour at sunsetGozo & CominoULTIMATE MaltaValletta’s knights’ city, temples older than the pyramids, Caravaggio, seven MICHELIN-starred kitchens and the Blue Lagoon.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaSpainULTIMATE MenorcaA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: the coves of Macarella and Turqueta, World Heritage Talayotic sites, Ciutadella and Maó’s great harbour.Visit the guide The Duomo di Milano and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the Piazza del DuomoItalyULTIMATE MilanThe Duomo and the Last Supper, La Scala and Brera, the Quadrilatero della Moda, Bartolini’s three stars, and day trips to Lake Como.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Oslo Opera HouseNorwayULTIMATE OsloThe Opera House you can walk on, MUNCH and Vigeland, the polar ships of Bygdøy, Holmenkollen and Maaemo’s three MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide The Eiffel Tower seen from the Trocadéro in ParisFranceULTIMATE ParisThe Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Notre-Dame reopened, the palace hotels, nine three-star tables, the bouillons, and day trips to Versailles and Giverny.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide Prague Castle and Charles BridgeCzechiaULTIMATE PraguePrague Castle and Charles Bridge, the Old Town and Malá Strana, Mozart, Dvořák and the opera, the Christmas markets and the five MICHELIN stars of 2026.Visit the guide The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratOur sister guideULTIMATE Property (prime markets worldwide)Prime neighbourhoods, estate agents, new developments and how buying works, market by market across the ULTIMATE network.Visit the guide The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakOur sister guideULTIMATE Rail Journeys (great train journeys worldwide)The story of the train, the great rail journeys of the world and where to book them, from the Orient Express to the Glacier Express.Visit the guide The Church of St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, North MacedoniaOur sister guideULTIMATE Regions (editor’s letters & regional guides)Editor’s letters and the food, markets, nature and seasons each region shares, starting with the Balkans.Visit the guide Reykjavík and Mount Esja from HallgrímskirkjaIcelandULTIMATE ReykjavíkHallgrímskirkja and Harpa, the geothermal pools and Sky Lagoon, whales and the northern lights, and the Golden Circle a morning away.Visit the guide St Peter’s Basilica in Rome under a clear blue skyItalyULTIMATE RomeThe Colosseum and the Vatican, the grand hotels above the Spanish Steps, La Pergola’s three stars, the trattorias, and day trips to Tivoli and Pompeii.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at nightNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening skyBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Gamla Stan, StockholmSwedenULTIMATE StockholmGamla Stan and the Royal Palace, the Vasa and Skansen, Frantzén’s three stars, fika and the archipelago of 30,000 islands.Visit the guide The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue skyAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its poolSpainULTIMATE ValenciaCalatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Gothic Lonja, paella by the sea, Las Fallas and the nine-kilometre Turia Garden.Visit the guide The Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute, VeniceItalyULTIMATE VeniceThe Grand Canal and St Mark’s, palace hotels, Two MICHELIN Stars at Glam, the bacari, the Biennale, and Murano, Burano and Torcello.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Stephen’s Cathedral and the rooftops of central ViennaAustriaULTIMATE ViennaThe State Opera and the Musikverein, Schönbrunn and Klimt, the coffee houses and Heurigen, and Railjets to Budapest every hour.Visit the guide St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Zurich and the LimmatSwitzerlandULTIMATE ZurichThe Limmat and its two minsters, Chagall’s windows, the Bahnhofstrasse and Sprüngli, the lake, Baur au Lac and The Dolder Grand, and the city’s MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide

North America

See all North America
Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key WestUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide The Palacio de Bellas Artes at duskMexicoULTIMATE Mexico CityThe Templo Mayor and the Zócalo, Bellas Artes and the murals, Pujol and Quintonil’s two stars, Día de Muertos, and day trips to Teotihuacan and Puebla.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide

Caribbean

See all Caribbean
The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the BahamasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide

South America

See all South America
Christ the Redeemer on the Corcovado and Sugarloaf in silhouette at sunrise, above the bay and the cityBrazilULTIMATE Rio de JaneiroChrist on the Corcovado, the cable car to Sugarloaf, the Copacabana Palace, Lasai’s two stars, the Carnival, and day trips to Paraty and Ilha Grande.Visit the guide

Asia & Indian Ocean

See all Asia & Indian Ocean
Pura Tanah Lot on its rock in the sea in late-afternoon lightIndonesiaULTIMATE BaliTemples on the rocks and the cliffs, the rice terraces of a UNESCO landscape, resorts above Ubud’s gorges and the beach clubs of the west coast.Visit the guide The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakOur sister guideULTIMATE Hong KongThe harbour from the Peak, the Star Ferry, Cantonese dining rooms with MICHELIN stars, dim sum in the lanes of Central and the museums of West Kowloon.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina BayOur sister guideULTIMATE SingaporeMarina Bay and Raffles, three restaurants with three MICHELIN Stars, the hawker centres, and the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Longtail boats on West Railay beach beneath the limestone cliffsOur sister guideULTIMATE Thai IslandsWinter sun on two seas: Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta on the Andaman, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the Gulf.Visit the guide

Middle East & North Africa

See all Middle East & North Africa
The pyramids of Giza across the desertEgyptULTIMATE CairoThe Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, the minarets of Islamic Cairo, feluccas on the Nile and journeys to Luxor and Aswan.Visit the guide Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide The Riyadh skyline at dusk, with the Kingdom Centre and Al FaisaliahSaudi ArabiaULTIMATE RiyadhMud-brick At-Turaif on the wadi, the Masmak and the souqs, the towers of KAFD, Saudi kitchens with a Bib Gourmand and the Edge of the World.Visit the guide

Africa

See all Africa
Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles above Cape TownSouth AfricaULTIMATE Cape TownTable Mountain and Robben Island, The Silo and the Mount Nelson, the great tables of Constantia and Camps Bay, and day trips to the Winelands and Cape Point.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

From our readers: visitors and porteños on the parrillas and cafés notables, the Colón and the milongas, Sundays in San Telmo and the ferry to Colonia.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    The Teatro Colón

    This week's pick

    The Teatro Colón

    Centro·Opera house

    The Ballet Estable del Teatro Colón dances Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon from 5 to 15 November, with the Filarmónica de Buenos Aires in the pit: book on teatrocolon.org.ar.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Recoleta and the parks at sunset from above, with Floralis Genérica in its circular garden and the river beyondItineraryBuenos Aires in three daysThree daysThe Avenida de Mayo, with the Palacio Barolo and its domes rising above the streetItineraryThe centre in a dayOne dayAntique stalls under awnings at the Sunday Feria de San TelmoItinerarySan Telmo and La Boca on a SundayOne dayA marble mausoleum with sculpted mourning figures in the Recoleta CemeteryItineraryA property viewing day: Recoleta, Palermo Chico and Puerto MaderoOne dayThe rooftops of Colonia del Sacramento and the Río de la Plata, with a ferry in the harbourItineraryA day across the river: Colonia del SacramentoOne dayRecoleta and the parks at sunset from above, with Floralis Genérica in its circular garden and the river beyondItineraryThe Gold weekend: a luxury weekend in Buenos AiresTwo daysThe white-and-red dining room of Bistro Sur at the Faena Hotel, with chandeliers and unicorn heads on the wallsItineraryThe Platinum weekend: Buenos Aires at its most exclusiveTwo days

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Buenos Aires at the table: fire, stars and the late dinnerBuenos Aires · In depth
    2. 2AramburuRecoleta · Fine dining
    3. 3Don JulioPalermo · Restaurant
    See all 38

    Cafés

    1. 1Gran Café TortoniAvenida de Mayo · Historic café
    2. 2Las VioletasAlmagro · Historic café
    3. 3La BielaRecoleta · Historic café
    See all 7

    Bars & Tango

    1. 1Florería AtlánticoRetiro · Cocktail bar
    2. 2Presidente BarRecoleta · Cocktail bar
    3. 3MiliónRecoleta · Bar and restaurant
    See all 12

    Hotels

    1. 1Where Buenos Aires sleeps: palaces, docks and garden hotelsRecoleta · In depth
    2. 2Alvear Palace HotelRecoleta · Grand hotel
    3. 3Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos AiresRecoleta · Grand hotel
    See all 13

    Sights

    1. 1The Paris of the south, and much more: Buenos Aires’ great sightsBuenos Aires · In depth
    2. 2The Teatro ColónCentro · Opera house
    3. 3The Plaza de Mayo and the CabildoMonserrat · Historic square
    See all 18

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1Tango, opera and the avant-garde: the arts of Buenos AiresBuenos Aires · In depth
    2. 2MALBA – Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos AiresPalermo Chico · Art museum
    3. 3Museo Nacional de Bellas ArtesRecoleta · Art museum
    See all 26

    Parks

    1. 1The Bosques de Palermo and the RosedalPalermo · Park
    2. 2The Japanese Garden (Jardín Japonés)Palermo · Garden
    3. 3The Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays)Palermo · Botanical garden
    See all 7

    Walks

    1. 1San Telmo on a SundaySan Telmo · Walk
    2. 2Recoleta: palaces, the cemetery and the parksRecoleta · Walk
    3. 3The Avenida de Mayo: from the Plaza de Mayo to the CongressAvenida de Mayo · Walk
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 1Galerías PacíficoCentro · Shopping gallery
    2. 2Patio BullrichRecoleta · Shopping centre
    3. 3Alcorta ShoppingPalermo Chico · Shopping centre
    See all 8

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: 107 and 911Buenos Aires · Emergency numbers
    2. 2Hospital AlemánRecoleta · Private hospital
    3. 3Hospital BritánicoBarracas · Private hospital
    See all 8

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Buenos Aires: palaces, towers and the escribanoBuenos Aires · In depth
    2. 2Your tax number and the escribanoBuenos Aires · Official step
    3. 3Toribio AchávalBuenos Aires · Estate agent
    See all 5

    Developments

    1. 1Puerto Madero: the docks rebornPuerto Madero · Regeneration
    2. 2The Paseo del BajoPuerto Madero · Road and parks
    3. 3Subte Line FBuenos Aires · Metro line
    See all 5

    Motoring

    1. 1Buenos Aires’ black-and-yellow taxisBuenos Aires · Taxis
    2. 2Tienda LeónBuenos Aires · Airport transfers
    3. 3Car hire at Ezeiza and AeroparqueBuenos Aires · Car hire
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Buenos Aires by Subte, train and ferryBuenos Aires · In depth
    2. 2Ezeiza International Airport (EZE)Ezeiza · Airport
    3. 3Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP)Palermo · Airport
    See all 8

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