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With a lively café culture, a famous cuisine, gorgeous architecture, and wide, tree-filled avenues leading to breathtaking, Belle Époque parks, it’s no wonder Buenos Aires is one of the most popular destinations for study abroad in the world. 

In this guide, you’ll find advice on how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to food, where the best cafés are located, what sorts of day trips you should think about, and much more. 

As you check out this list, keep in mind that Verto will have tons of activities planned for you, so be sure to check in with your Student Life Coordinator to see which of these activities you’ll be able to opt-in to with the group!

Where to Get the Best Instagram Post

Just wandering around Buenos Aires, you’re likely to capture some great shots. That said, to make things a little easier for the image-obsessed, we’ve brought together a few locations in the city you won’t want to miss. 

Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays

Looking for greenery, beautiful flowers, and some elegant buildings? Then the Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays might be the place to visit. With five unique greenhouses, sculptures, rose bushes, and a butterfly garden, you’re bound to find the perfect shot. 

Photo Credit: Plataforma Arquitectura

El Ateneo Splendid

El Ateneo Splendid is a famous bookstore that’s been around since 1919. It’s a gorgeous physical location as well, with a famous dome decorated with frescoes and impressive, elegant balconies. All in all, a great place to snap a cute, bookish pic.

Photo Credit: Atlas Obscura

Caminito Boca

The streets in this area of the city are famous for their beauty and color, which makes them ideal for grabbing the perfect pictures. The houses in Caminito Boca are painted vibrant colors, and street art, musicians, and small cafés fill the streets and sidewalks. 

Photo Credit: LandingPadBA

Casa Rosada and Plaza de Mayo

The Plaza de Mayo is the central square in Buenos Aires, and it’s surrounded by a number of famous buildings, including the governmental palace, Casa Rosada. Named for its famous pink appearance, Casa Rosada is one of the most famous buildings in the country — and a perfect place for a photo. 

Photo Credit: Lonely Planet

Best Budget Eats

Argentine cuisine is all about the meat, and for non-vegetarians, the country’s famous asado is a must-try. But there are still plenty of options for all types of eaters — and there are even some great cheap options you’ll want to check out. We’ve brought together some of the best budget eats in Buenos Aires below. 

Pekin

When in Buenos Aires, you have to try the empanadas. In general, empanadas are a great cheap way to fill up, and although Pekin may not be the cheapest option in the city, the flavors more than make up for the extra cost. Feel free to try the restaurant’s pizza while you’re there as well!

Chori

A choripán — a type of sausage sandwich — is another cheap food option in the city. If you want one of the best choripáns in the city, you’ll want to check out Chori. They’ve got a lot of variety, and one sandwich will likely be enough to fill you up, and then some. 

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

Nola

Buenos Aires is also famous for its fried chicken, and you won’t find better fried chicken in the city than the chicken served up by Nola. It’s delicious and famously cheap, with a filling meal coming down to around $10 USD. 

Photo Credit: Comabeba.com

La Cocina

For some of the best empanadas in the city, check out La Cocina in the Recoleta neighborhood. Our tip? Order the restaurant’s speciality pikachu, an empanada filled with spicy cheese. Locals flock to this joint for a reason — it’s cheap, and it’s good. 

Photo Credit: AFAR Magazine

Sheikob’s Bagels

Sheikob’s Bagels has only been around for a few years, but they’ve already established themselves as an extremely cheap, tasty way to fill up. Since they’re the only bagel shop in the city, you might have to get there before lunch time to grab some food — they’re known for selling out early. 

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

Best Cafés to Study In

Every college student dreams of the perfect café — fresh coffee, plenty of space to work, and of course, free Wi-Fi. In general, most cafés in Buenos Aires will allow you to work and study inside, though if you’ve ever unsure feel free to check with an employee about the café’s policies. To make your search easier, we’ve brought together a list of the best cafés to study in when you’re in Buenos Aires. 

LAB

This modern cafe has an airy, open feel, and is filled with light throughout the day. The long tables at LAB are ideal for posting up for long periods of work or studying — and the coffee and snacks are solid too.

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

Vive Café

Vive Café is a great place to enjoy some Colombian coffee and excellent pastries. It’s a cozy spot with plenty of interesting decorations on the inside, and above all is a super chill place to post up and get some studying done. 

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

Varela Varelita 

This simple, popular neighborhood café is a favorite haunt of philosophy students and older locals. That’s because the vibe at Varela Varelita is perfect for long, intimate conversations — while the tables near the spot’s gorgeous windows get plenty of natural light for studying.

Photo Credit: Yelp

Musetta Caffe

Musetta is an old-school café with New York vibes. Plenty of secondhand furniture and big, comfy couches are available for seating, and there’s always something cool and jazzy playing over the speaker system. 

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Best Outdoor Activities

So you’ve been studying all day, trapped in the library, and now that you’re done you just want to take in some fresh air and stay outside as long as possible. The good news is that’s pretty easy to do in Buenos Aires. 

See a Fútbol Game

Soccer, or fútbol, is an integral part of Argentinian culture, so if you get a chance to check out a game you should. The local team, Club Atlético Boca Juniors, has been around since 1913 and plays at a stadium known as La Bombonara, famous for its excellent acoustics. 

Photo Credit: Sports Pro Media

See a Horse Race

Nearly 150 years old, the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo is a horse racing course located right in the city. If you’re interested, it shouldn’t be hard to catch a race — the track hosts more than 1,400 races every year, with multiple races occurring three days a week. 

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Visit a Park

The go-to park in Buenos Aires is Bosques de Palermo, also known as Parque Tres de Febrero. There’s plenty of space to spread out for a picnic or to read in the shade, and you can even rent bikes and paddle boats to go out on the park’s lake. 

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

San Telmo Market

This famous street market is an experience you can’t miss. San Telmo Market is known far and wide as one of the best street markets in all of South America. You’ll find plenty of incredible local food, art, clothing, jewelry, and more — plus there are always some great musicians performing in the street. 

Photo Credit: Traveller.com.au

Getting Outside the City

Part of the point of studying abroad is to go, well, abroad. If you’ve gotten pretty comfortable in Buenos Aires, it might be time to check out some of the incredible attractions located outside of the city. Below, we’ve brought together some awesome day trips that you won’t want to miss. 

And because Verto’s headquarters is centrally located near a variety of public transport options, you’ll have no trouble getting to the train and heading out of the city. 

Colonia

Located in neighboring Uruguay, just across the river, Colonia de Sacramento is a simply stunning, incredibly charming place to check out, filled with cobblestone streets and beautiful, quaint buildings. And the best part? It’s only an hour away from Buenos Aires by ferry. 

Photo Credit: Viator

San Antonio de Areco and the Gaucho Festival

San Antonio de Areco is a town known for its gaucho, or cowboy, past. You can visit the Ricardo Güiraldes Gaucho Museum in Criollo Park, and if you time your visit right you can check out the Festival of Tradition, otherwise known as the Gaucho Festival, which takes place every year in November. 

Photo Credit: Tangol

Iguazu Falls

Located on the border with Brazil, Iguazu Falls is one of the great natural wonders of the world, and part of the largest waterfall system in the world. It’s truly an astounding site, though a little far away. You’ll likely have to plan for a weekend stay and take a flight, both of which can still be cheap if you plan ahead. 

Photo Credit: Natural World Safaris

Montevideo

Just across the river from Buenos Aires, this gorgeous city located in neighboring Uruguay as an incredible stop for foodies, tourists, and anyone looking to luxuriate in the city’s many waterfront views. Convenient, cool, and nearby, Montevideo is a must. 

Photo Credit: Encyclopedia Brittanica

 

By now, you’re probably ready to hit the streets and start experiencing Buenos Aires on your own terms. But don’t forget, Verto will have tons of  incredible activities planned for you and your cohort. Your Student Life Coordinators and the team on the ground are eagerly awaiting your arrival!