If you’ve chosen Buenos Aires as your study abroad destination, then you’ve made a great decision that you certainly won’t regret! I think about my study abroad experience in Argentina often and long to return one day. Not only is Buenos Aires such a unique, dynamic and entertaining city, but there are other fantastic trips you can take within the region.
Here are some tips, advice and recommendations based on my experience as a study abroad student in Buenos Aires. I hope you find it helpful too!
General Tips & Helpful Info
- Make an effort to improve your Spanish. Don’t be afraid to speak with locals or make mistakes. Mundo Lingo, a regular language exchange event, is a fun way to meet locals and other foreigners.
- The city has several wonderful but expensive restaurants, which is why I suggest taking advantage of restaurant week, when lunches and dinners at various restaurants offer a set menu at a set price.
- The blog Pick Up the Fork has a super handy list of inexpensive places to eat in Buenos Aires.
- Expect a lot of bread and meat (and ice cream!). Ham is much more common than turkey. Argentinians aren’t big on seafood.
- Be open-minded.
- Be careful of your surroundings! Make sure you don’t bring anything that you would be devastated to lose.
- I used CómoLlego (it’s a website and an app) for directions and navigation.
- I lived in Palermo Viejo and loved it!
Top Sites & Activities
- Watch a tango show or take a tango lesson – tango is a quintessential aspect of Argentine culture.
- San Telmo Market – great place to buy souvenirs.
- Puerto Madero and the ecological reserve – don’t miss the food carts near the entrance!ecological
- Soccer game – Argentinian fútbol fans are almost as passionate and loud as the football student section of my alma mater, University of Michigan…kidding. These soccer fans are insane!
- Plaza de Mayo – see the Casa Rosada (government building/presidential office) and the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo march to demand justice for their children who disappeared during the Dirty War.
- Parque 3 de Febrero – nice place to go for a run.
- Cementerio de la Recoleta – burial site of several famed Argentine figures, including icon Eva Perón.
- Teatro Colón – take a tour of this lavish opera house and watch a performance.
- Plaza Serrano – bars, restaurants, nightlife.
- MALBA – the first time I have ever seen an exhibit involving live humans was at this museum. Simply amazing!
Favorite Food & Drink Establishments
I’m a foodie, so I could write pages about food. This is a very short list of places I really enjoyed! Are you in the mood for…
- Traditional: El Sanjuanino
- Steak: Don Julio
- Burgers: Burger Joint
- Italian: Bice & Sottovoce
- Ice cream: Freddo & Tufic
- Pizza: El Cuartito & Siamo nel Forno
- Mexican: La Fábrica del Taco
- Brunch: Malvón, Oui Oui, Ninina Bakery, Pehache & Magdalena’s Party (can you tell I like brunch?)
- Alfajores: Havanna’s alfajores are excellent in my opinion, but the best alfajores I had were from La Olla de Cobre Fábrica de Chocolates in San Antonio de Areco.
Recommended Trips
- Patagonia
- El Calafate – ice trekking on the Perrito Moreno glacier is an unforgettable, out-of-this world memory.
- El Chalten – beautiful hiking trails. Reaching the end viewpoint was always worth the long treks. My favorite hike was Laguna de los Tres, which ends with a spectacular view of Fitz Roy Mountain.
- Chile
- Viña del Mar – beach town with a relaxing vibe. I am originally from the west coast, so I was happy to be reunited with the Pacific Ocean!
- Valparaíso – a really cool, quirky city that’s situated between the ocean and hillside, with vibrantly colored homes and street art everywhere.
- Mendoza – known for being Argentina’s wine country, but also offers opportunities for outdoor recreation.
- Iguazú Falls – I’ve truly never seen anything like these waterfalls! Their degree of magnificence is indescribable.
- Estancia el Ombú de Areco or Tour of San Antonio de Areco – you’ll learn about San Antonio de Areco’s history, and at the estancia you’ll enjoy a traditional asado and go for a brief horseback ride.
- Punta del Este, Uruguay – ideal for a beach getaway. Just remember to lather on the sunscreen; my friends and I got super sunburnt!
Of course, there are several trips that I didn’t take, but wanted to… Brazil, Peru, Chile, they will just have to wait until next time!
Emily Wentworth is an Alumni Ambassador at CEA Study Abroad, she is currently a student at University of Michigan and studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina.