Downtown Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires Hostels – www.ba-h.com.ar

Centro de Buenos Aires (Downtown) | Buenos Aires Neighborhoods, Argentina

The center of Buenos Aires, also known as Downtown, is not one neighborhood but rather an

area made up of the San Nicolás, Balvanera and Montserrat neighborhoods.

The sum of these three neighborhoods adds up to a rich diversity of space, contrasting

architectural styles, historic places and cultural, gastronomical and commercial experiences.

The principal avenues of the city are found in this area, and these avenues offer a great variety of

tourist attractions.

+ La Plaza de Mayo and its historic buildings

The Plaza de Mayo is the scene of the most important political events of our history. It has always

been a space for political demonstrations and a meeting place for citizens who want to be heard.

In the center of the Plaza is the first historic momunent of the city of Buenos Aires, the Pirámide

de Mayo, created to conmemorate the 1810 Revolución de Mayo (the beginning of Argentine

independence).

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La Pirámide de Mayo

La Plaza de Mayo

Surrounding the Plaza are the most important buildings of our country: la Casa Rosada (the Pink

House, also known as Government House), the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Cabildo, the National

Bank and the building that houses the government offices of the city of Buenos Aires.

Why pink? In 1873, President Sarmiento gave an order to paint the The Pink House using a mixture

of lime and blood from the slaughter houses (a paint mixture often used at the time). Standing



guard in the doorway are two soldiers of the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers of General San

Martín.

La Casa Rosada

On the other side of the Plaza is the Cabildo, which used to be twice as big but had to be reduced

to make way for the Avenue de Mayo and Diagonal Sur. On May 25, 1810, the citizens of Buenos

Aires established a “Governing Body” to replace the King of Spain and Viceroy Cisneros. We

suggest a guided tour of the Cabildo, the scene of many historical events.


El Cabildo


On one side of the Plaza you will find the Catedral Metropolitana, the oldest Catholic church in

Buenos Aires, the resting place of the Father of the Country, Don José de San Martín.

La Catedral Metropolitana

The oldest subway of the city (and of Latin America) the A line begins in Plaza de Mayo. It still has

the original wooden cars, now restored to their original condition.

+ The Avenida de Mayo – From the Government House to Congress

The first avenue of the city of Buenos Aires is born in Plaza de Mayo. This is the Avenida de Mayo,

and it has many attractive features.

The Avenida de Mayo unites Government House to Congress.

We recommend that you walk from one end to the other so as to enjoy the architectural gems

that you will find on each block.



La Avenida de Mayo

You should definitely plan to stop at the Café Tortoni, the city’s most famous café and the oldest

in the country. Sit down at one of its marble‐topped tables and enjoy a rich cup of coffee or hot

chocolate. You may be sitting at the same table as one of its illustrious visitors‐ Hillary Clinton, King

Juan Carlos Borbón, Carlos Gardel, Joan Serrat, Ernesto Sábato or Jorge Luis Borges. The Café

offers tango shows and houses the Academia Nacional de Tango on its top floor.

Café Tortoni



As you continue your journey towards Congress, you will see the Teatro Avenida, the 36 Billares

Bar, and the Palacio Barolo, inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy” ; its architectural

beauty, full of hidden symbols, is well worth a picture. The Palacio Barolo has a passageway that

connects it to other businesses.

El Palacio Barolo

At your journey’s end, you will arrive at the Plaza de los Dos Congresos where you will find the 0

kilometer marker, where the national highways begin. In front of the Plaza is the Palace of the

Congress of the Nation, a beautiful building that houses the Legislative Branch of the government,

full of magnificent chambers and the most complete library in the country.

+ The 9 de Julio Avenue – The widest avenue in the world

The Avenida de Mayo is crossed by the 9 de Julio Avenue, famous for being the widest in the world

and for its central plazoleta where you will find the city’s most famous monument, the Obelisco,

erected in the place where the Argentine flag flew for the first time and constructed to

conmemorate the fourth centenary of the founding of Buenos Aires.

The Obelisco is 67,5 meters high and weighs 170 tons. Corrientes Avenue crosses the Plazoleta

also. Taking a picture of the Obelisco is indispensible for all visitors who come to Buenos Aires.



The Obelisco

+ Corrientes Avenue – Lots of Activity Here

This extensive avenue is born at the River Plate (at Avenida Eduardo Madero) and goes all the way

to the Chacarita Cemetery.

A few meters from Corrientes Avenue and Madero, you will find Luna Park Stadium, the cradle of

the most important boxing matches and musicals.

In the trajectory from Alem to the Obelisco you will find the Opera, Gran Rex and Maipo theaters

as well as a large number of independent theaters.



Gran Rex Theater

This part of the city never sleeps. It is the most active in the city and its marquees illuminate

everything. Its streets are ideal places for walking, day or night.

On the other side of the 9 de Julio, on Corrientes Avenue, there are more theaters, including the

Complejo La Plaza which offers different theatricals and musicals.

You will also find many bookstores along these blocks. Specialized bookstores offer new books as

well as limited editions and rare books in good condition.



Corrientes is rich in traditional pizzerías. Las Cuartetas offers excellent pizza; its decor is original,

but not at all elegant‐in fact, it is rather ordinary.

Pizzería Las Cuartetas

If you are exploring the Center, you must visit the Colón Theater, re‐opened in 2010 after a

thorough restoration. The Colón is one of the best theaters in the world, renowned for its

architectural beauty and its perfect acoustics.


El Teatro Colón


As you continue along Corrientes, you will come to the area known as the Abasto, with its rich

tango tradition. Carlos Gardel lived here and the Abasto has a museum in his memory. You might

see a live tango demonstration or spectacle in the streets of the Abasto.

You can shop in Abasto Shopping, a shopping center that used to be a fruit and vegetable market.

It still conserves its spectacular exterior structure. Inside are around 250 shops offering different

brands and a variety of articles.

Abasto Shopping

+ Florida Street – The most important pedestrian street

Florida is the most pedestrian, commercial and lively street in Buenos Aires. Nearly a million

people (workers and tourists) walk up and down Florida every day. It is located in the Microcenter,

the business district, and the best time to visit is around 3:00 PM.

Here you will find all sorts of shops: the great stores like Falabella, exchange houses, shoe stores,

leather goods stores, computer stores, souvenir shops, clothing boutiques, and eateries. Besides,

you can watch spectacles “a la gorra” when you visit Florida (music, tango dancers, magicians and

fakirs, living statues, as well as art and diverse objects for sale on the street).



Pedestrian Florida

Galleries, department stores, businesses



Street shows on Calle Florida

In the intersection of Florida Street and Córdoba Avenue, you will find the beautiful Pacific

Galleries, an elegant commericial center of designer brands such as Tiffany, Polo, Ralph Lauren,

Christian Dior, Tommy Hilfiger and Lacoste. The central coupola is of exquisite beauty and was

declared a National Historical Monument because of its undeniable artistic value and its striking

murals.


Galerías Pacífico


Murals in Galerías Pacífico

On Florida Street and the streets that intersect it, you will also find the central offices of all the city

banks, exchange houses and financial companies.

Florida Street ends in the Plaza San Martín, a beautiful green space of 5 hectares, declared a

Historic Place in 1942.

Plaza San Martín




+ Where to Stay in the Center of Buenos Aires (Downtown)

The options ae diverse, according to your preferences and to your budget. We can recommend

Hostels, apartments or Bed & Breakfasts in downtown Buenos Aires: http://www.ba‐

h.com.ar/lodgingbuenosaries.htm

+ Recommendations

‐ Bring your camera. Charge your battery and make sure you have space on your memory card.

‐You need comfortable shoes to walk in.

‐ Don’t forget sunscreen if you come in the summer (November, December, January).

‐ Buy some Argentine shoes or leather products but engage in comparative shopping first.

‐Get a map of the City. Many stores offer them for free.

‐ Watch your things. As in every city, you have to be on the lookout for pickpockets. Don’t be

afraid‐be prudent.

‐ If you stop to watch a street show, don’t be distracted. Keep an eye on your valuables because

when you are distracted, the “punguistas” ‐the experts in stealing without your realizing it‐ will

take advantage of you.

‐ Have a cup of coffee in the Tortoni.

‐ Have a pizza in Las Cuartetas.

‐ You can save money by buying a sandwich and a soft drink in the snack shops along the way.

‐ If you visit the Plaza de Mayo or the Congress when a political demonstration is taking place,

don’t be afraid. The police are always nearby.

‐ On Florida Street you will hear people shouting, “Cambio, Cambio” which means “Exchange.”

These people, known as “little trees”, offer to exchange your dollars or euros for Argentine pesos.

Never exchange with them. Go to an exchange house in a safe area.

• Source: Buenos Aires Hostels + http://www.ba‐h.com.ar is the principal reference in Buenos

Aires. Created in 1999, it offers an ample selection of Hostels, Apartments, Bed & Breakfasts and

University Residences in the principal neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: Palermo, Recoleta, Barrio

Norte, Belgrano, San Telmo, La Boca, etc.

http://www.ba-h.com.ar/lodgingbuenosaries.htm

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Downtown Buenos Aires