25 Best Things to Do in Buenos Aires with Kids & Teens

There are so many wonderful things for families to do in Buenos Aires — it’s hard to know where to begin! Founded by the Spanish in the 1500s, you can hear, feel and taste cultural influences from Spain, France, Italy, and beyond. Argentina’s capital city is known as the Paris of South America for its beautiful architecture, fashionable residents, and love of café culture. With a population of over 3 million inhabitants, not only is Buenos Aires by far the largest city in the country, but also, it’s the second largest city on the continent. Although it’s the second most visited city in Latin America (behind Mexico City), it doesn’t feel touristy and my family rarely heard any languages spoken besides Spanish during our month-long visit. Intrigued? Read on to explore the 25 best things to do in Buenos Aires, Argentina with kids and teens!

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1. Soak up the colors of La Boca.

Buenos Aires consists of 48 neighborhoods, or barrios. None is more colorful and lively than La Boca. Calle Caminito — the most brightly decorated street in La Boca — sizzles with steak houses, pasta restaurants, tango shows, and souvenir shops.

This area of Buenos Aires is name La Boca, or The Mouth, because it sat at the mouth of an important trade port. Many of the area’s residents were once poor shipyard workers. When a new port was built in the 1920s, the bustling area began to decline.

Thankfully an Argentine artist, Benito Quinquela Martín, never forgot his La Boca roots. Known for his vibrant paintings of ships and port scenes, he began to paint murals throughout the neighborhood.

He also donated money to open a children’s dental hospital, a breast milk center, a theater, and a public school that he decorated himself with murals. He lived on the top floor of the school for many years.

After his death, the school became a museum named Museo Benito Quinquela Martín. Go here to view his private collection of art including some of his own works. Then wander through his residence on the third floor, from which you can take in pretty views of the harbor.

2. Wander the Mercado de San Telmo.

No matter what your taste buds desire, you’re sure to find a stand serving it at Mercado de San Telmo (San Telmo Market). Choose from pastries, coffees, pasta, pizza, salads, burgers, and beyond.

The vast indoor market overwhelms the senses with its tempting scents of good things cooking, rainbow displays of fresh fruits and vegetables, and vendors hawking their wares. (Feather duster, anyone?)

Come on a Sunday when the fun spills onto the surrounding streets for the San Telmo Fair. From clothing and antiques to handicrafts and sweets, you can buy it here. Even if you don’t want to spend any money, the fair is a lively place to wander and observe the San Telmo neighborhood.

3. Learn through play at Museo Participativo de Ciencias.

Museo Participativo de Ciencias (Science Participation Museum) in Buenos Aires all about active learning. In fact, their slogan is “Prohibido no tocar,” or “Forbidden not to touch.” Whereas some science centers focus on flashy displays, I felt like my family really learned some cool lessons here.

Science comes to life through interactive exhibits that teach concepts like centrifugal force. This scientific phenomenon is defined by Oxford’s Lexico.com as, “the apparent force that acts outward on a body moving around a center, arising from the body’s inertia.”

Confused? Watch the video below to see how my daughter spins faster in this rotating chair when she pulls weights toward her body.

The bad news for non-Spanish speakers? Many of the displays are in Spanish only. The good news? You can use a QR reader app to read most instructions and explanations in English.

This science museum is located in the high-end Recoleta neighborhood near the Recoleta Cemetery. It’s housed within the Centro Culturo Recoleta. This brightly colored exhibition and cultural events center is hard to miss.

4. Watch a tango performance.

To give kids a glimpse of this Argentinian dance, bring them to La Boca barrio. Many of the restaurants on Calle Caminito offer free, simple tango shows to diners.

If you can swing a date night without the kids, then I highly recommend making reservations for a tango dinner show. There are many options to choose from. My mom and dad loved the performances they saw at La Ventana, but locals told us this is the Las Vegas-like option with lots of production on a larger stage.

Instead, my husband and I opted for the more intimate El Querandi Tango Show inside a 100-year-old theater. The show takes viewers from the origins of tango to today’s sexier version of the dance. Click below to watch a tango dance performance at El Querandi.

5. Ride a horse and learn about gaucho culture at an estancia.

Take a break from the city and book an excursion to an estancia (ranch) for horseback riding and a taste of gaucho (Argentinian cowboy) culture.

Our hosted Say Hueque Estancia at the Pampas Tour started with a trail ride through the picturesque Argentine countryside. Then we enjoyed a delicious multi-course meal with wine and soft drinks. Finally, we were entertained by live music.

Estancia El Ombu even convinced our tour group to participate in a folkloric dance lesson. (Thank goodness for the wine!)

6. Play in plentiful parks and playgrounds.

The bounty of green space in Buenos Aires impresses nature lovers like me. Expect to find lots of parks filled with trees, fountains, art installments, playgrounds, walking paths, grassy lawns, and more.

The massive Parque Tres de Febrero, also known as Bosques de Palermo, encompasses 63 acres of recreational space. Rent a pedal boat to explore Lago Regatas, the park’s largest lake. Then take your children for a spin on the carousel.

On weekends, the park is filled with Porteños (as residents of Buenos Aires are called). It seems everyone in the city comes here to stroll, rollerblade, jog, bike, and dance.

7. Take a side trip to Iguazu Falls.

Ask my tween and my teen what they liked most about our four weeks in Argentina and they will both exclaim, “Iguazu Falls!” It would be an incredible shame to visit Buenos Aires with kids and not take them to see one of the world’s largest groupings of waterfalls.

The falls (also known as Cataratas del Iguazu) are not exactly close to Argentina’s capital city, however. They’re located on the border of Argentina and Brazil, about a two-hour flight away.

To really appreciate the scope and beauty of this natural wonder, I suggest booking a three-day private Iguazu Falls Tour with Say Hueque. You get a better panoramic view in Brazil but there are more trails and angles of the waterfalls in Argentina. Lodging, airport transfers, daily breakfast, and a thrilling boat tour of the falls are included.

You’ll spend a day wandering from one magnificent waterfall to another on the Argentine side, while learning about the flora and fauna of the area from a knowledgeable naturalist guide. The next day, your family will get to see cataratas from the Brazilian side.

When we got our first glimpse of Iguazu Falls, my 11-year-old son, Leo exclaimed, “Mom, that’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life!” I have to admit I can’t think of anything prettier.

8. Visit Recoleta Cemetery.

Going to a cemetery may seem like an odd choice for a family vacation. But Recoleta Cemetery is not any ordinary cemetery. It’s located on some of the most expensive real estate in the city and is filled with gorgeous sculptures and crypts belonging to the city’s wealthiest families.

The most famous person buried in Recoleta Cemetery is probably Eva Perón, former First Lady of Argentina. Although she died in 1952, she remains a controversial character in Argentine history. She is beloved by many and detested by others.

9. Learn Argentinian history at Museo Evita.

To give kids and adults some context about the famous Eva Perón, your family might want to visit Museo Evita in Palermo neighborhood. The highlight for me was viewing many of her beautiful gowns on display. (No photos of the dresses allowed!)

You will also see exhibits detailing her life, her relationship with former Argentina President Juan Perón, and the impact of her social work on the country. Most of the information is in Spanish only but you can get an English audio guide for an extra fee. The onsite restaurant with a picturesque outdoor courtyard serves surprisingly good food.

The museum is located within a building that was once the home of a wealthy family, but which was purchased by Evita’s foundation and then used as a refuge for poor women and their children.

Portraits of Juan and Evita Perón at Museo Evita (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

10. View Puente de la Mujer in Puerto Modero.

The newest real estate in Buenos Aires can be found at Puerto Modero. This high-end barrio features plenty of restaurants with harbor views.

Puente de la Mujer (Woman’s Bridge) is the star attraction here. The footbridge’s asymmetrical design isn’t the only thing that makes it unique. Its single mast features cables that suspend the bridge, enabling it to rotate and allow boats to pass.

11. Appreciate art at a museum.

There is no shortage of art museums in Buenos Aires. Choose which style of art works best for your family and take budding artists to soak up the creativity on display in the city.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts) in Recoleta features artwork by famous Argentine artists like Benito Quinquela Martín. You’ll also see art by foreign masters like Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Auguste Rodin.

Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires

The Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (the Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires) is known as MALBA and located in the Palermo neighborhood. It is dedicated to the collection, conservation, study, and awareness of Latin American art from the early 20th Century to the present.

Expect to find works by such artists as Diego Rivera, Antonio Berni, Frida Kahlo, Jorge de la Vega, and other modern masters hailing from Central and South America.

Museo Moderno

Modern art lovers will enjoy a visit to Museo Moderno in Palermo. It showcases modern works by Argentine and global artists from the mid-20th century to today. Check their website for hands-on art classes for children taught in Spanish.

Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo

Step back in time at Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo (National Museum of Decorative Arts). The beautiful Neoclassical mansion was built in the early 1900s and became a museum in 1937.

This museum features paintings, sculptures, a collection of Chinese art, and Zubov miniatures from Imperial Russia. Most interesting, though, are the period furnishings and descriptions of the lives of its original wealthy inhabitants (in both Spanish and English).

12. Experience Plaza de Mayo.

The central square of Buenos Aires is Plaza de Mayo (May Plaza). The white obelisk in its center, Pirámide de Mayo was erected in 1811, one year after the May Revolution on May 25. That’s when Argentina first became a country. Argentina celebrates a second birthday on July 9, to commemorate independence from Spain in 1816.

Look for images of women wearing white scarves painted on the ground here. These represent the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. These women bravely protested the disappearance of citizens between 1973 and 2006, when Argentina was under fascist rule. Women wearing these white scarves still perform protests to this day, seeking answers about the missing persons.

Located at one end of Plaza de Mayo, you’ll find Casa Rosada (Pink House). This is the official executive office of the President of Argentina. It’s also where Evita Perón gave her famous final speech.

13. Sign up for a free tour of Casa Rosada.

Free tours of Casa Rosada are available in both Spanish and English. Plan ahead, though. You need to reserve your spot on a tour well in advance via the Casa Rosada website. Visitors must show their passports to enter.

Even if you don’t sign up for a tour, you can still visit the Casa Rosada Museum without reservations. According to the Buenos Aires Tourism website, “The Casa Rosada Museum, behind the palace itself, stands on the spot occupied by the original colonial fort of Buenos Aires. It explores the history of Argentina, from colonial times to the present, and houses the remains of the original walls of the former customs house, as well as an acclaimed mural created by Mexican artist David Alfaro Siquieros.”

14. Learn about outer space at Planetario Galileo Galilei.

Located within Parque Tres de Febrero, Planetario Galileo Galilei is widely considered one of the best planetarium’s in the world. Would-be astronauts can view a variety of shows about the galaxy, planets, the moon, and beyond in the five-story spherical dome. It features 360 seats and 100 projectors.

15. Visit a botanic garden.

Stop to smell the flowers in one of three botanic gardens in Buenos Aires.

Jardín Japonés

In Palermo barrio, find a peaceful garden filled with cherry blossom trees, a red footbridge, and koi ponds at Jardín Japonés. It’s one of the largest Japanese gardens in the world outside of Japan.

Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays

Also situated in Palermo, Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays is a triangular-shaped botanic garden. It was designed by its namesake, a French architect and landscape designer.

The garden includes 5,500 species of plants, trees, and shrubs. You can also find a number of sculptures, monuments, and five greenhouses here. The garden also contains the mansion in which Thays and his family resided from 1892 to 1898.

Paseo El Rosedal

Within Parque Tres de Febrero lies the lovely Paseo El Rosedal, a rose garden dotted with statues and fountains. There is no fee to enter.

16. Have fun at Museo de los Niños.

Specifically designed for children ages 0 to 12, Museo de los Niños is all about pretend play. Located inside the Abasto Shopping Mall, families will find a make-believe supermarket, bank, candy shop, TV studio, radio station, house, and a port that features a pirate ship.

17. Browse books at El Ateneo Grand Splendid.

El Ateneo in Barrio Norte may be the most beautiful bookstore you will ever see. It’s housed within the former Teatro Gran Splendid, an opulent theater designed to remind visitors of the Paris Opera.

The theater housed 1,050 spectator seats when it opened in 1919. Today it is filled with rows and rows of books. It still features gilded carvings, a frescoed ceiling, and crimson stage curtains. Take to the stage for a drink and snack in the store’s café.

18. Board a ferry to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.

Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, is just a hop, skip, and a ferry away from Buenos Aires. The boat ride is about an hour long.

Choose from three ferry companies for the journey. Or, do as we did and book a guided tour of Colonia. Ours included a 1.5-hour walking tour with a local guide, ferry tickets, free time for wandering and dining on your own, and car transport to and from the port in Buenos Aires.

This UNESCO site has a population of just 30,000 but it receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Go to Colonia to wander its cobblestone streets, explore its many parks and shops, and soak up the town’s old-world vibe.

19. Splash and play at Parque Norte.

When temperatures soar in Buenos Aires, cool off at Pileta Parque Norte, a 74-acre water park and sports complex. Shallow pools and waterslides are perfect for families.

Beach volleyball and plenty of grassy space for picnics add to the fun. Additionally, sporty folks can enjoy basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis and racket ball courts, a gym, and more.

20. Pose in front of Floralis Genérica.

The four-acre Plaza de las Naciones Unidas (Plaza of the United Nations) is home to Floralis Genérica, a most unusual sculpture. Located in Recoleta, this park contains other public artworks. But this giant stainless-steel flower is its centerpiece.

Gifted to the city in 2002 by Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano, the flower opens in the morning and closes each night at sunset. Much like The Bean in Chicago, posing in front of Floralis Genérica is a must during a Buenos Aires vacation.

21. Attend a soccer match at La Bombonera.

Soccer fans won’t want to miss a chance to attend a match at Estadio Alberto J. Armando Stadium in La Boca barrio. Due to the stadium’s odd shape, it is nicknamed La Bombonera, which means chocolate box.

To experience football like a local, book a Boca Junior Soccer Match Tour with GetYourGuide. In addition to a local guide who will regale your family with stories of Argentinian football history, you’ll have an opportunity to buy food and drinks for a pre-game party. Then, it’s time to join the ruckus chorus of locals cheering on the Boca Juniors. (Kids must be age 7+. Not appropriate for pregnant participants.)

22. Shop, admire art, and eat at Galerías Pacífico Mall.

I wish my family had discovered Galerías Pacífico Mall before our last day in Argentina. It’s probably the prettiest shopping mall I’ve ever visited. Look for artwork hung throughout, a gorgeous glass roof, and a frescoed ceiling on the bottom level.

Of course, there’s also shopping aplenty, from local boutiques to international shops like Tommy Hilfiger and Chanel. The expansive food court is a great find, too, for when you want a quick meal.

23. Take Spanish lessons.

When in Buenos Aires, do like the Porteños and speak Spanish! If you don’t know how, or if you’d like to brush up on your skills, there are a few language schools in the city to choose from. My family chose VOS Spanish School in Recoleta because they offer classes for all levels of Spanish for kids, teens, and adults.

Keep in mind, Spanish in Argentina differs somewhat from what you might be used to hearing. For example, a double “l” word like “pollo” is pronounced as “poy-oh” in Mexico, but this word takes on a French flair in Argentina and is pronounced, “poh-zhoh.” Also, the singular informal Spanish “you” is “tu” in Mexico or Spain but is “vos” in most of South America. (Hence the VOS Spanish School name!) Not to worry, though, Porteños will understand your Spanish regardless.

Before you visit Buenos Aires with kids, you might want to learn some Spanish with Rosetta Stone. It’s easy and fun for all ages. Read my tips for using Rosetta Stone with kids and learn how to get $10 off your purchase!

24. Watch a movie in 4D.

If your family has some understanding of Spanish, then go see a movie in 4D when in Buenos Aires! Village Cines Recoleta plays select movies in 4D, complete with tilting and vibrating chairs, water and air effects, 3D glasses effects, and even scents to coincide with what you’re watching on the big screen.

Of all the things we did during our month in Argentina, this made me feel most like a local and not just a tourist. Plus, it’s a great way to improve those language skills for non-native speakers! Movies are played in Spanish without subtitles.

25. Explore Buenos Aires by bicycle.

Check many items off your list of things to do in Buenos Aires with a Say Hueque Bicycle Tour. We covered a lot of ground on our hosted adventure. A 5-hour bike tour in English includes stops at La Boca, Puente de la Mujer in Puerto Modero, Plaza de Mayo, and lunch along the Costañero Sur boardwalk.

The city’s wealth of well-marked bike paths may surprise you. Kids are welcome on private tours, but I’d suggest booking for those aged 10 or older unless your young children are particularly strong bicyclists. A Buenos Aires bike tour provides a great way to enjoy the outdoors and learn a lot about the city from an expert.

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Have you ever been to Argentina? Do you have any questions or recommendations of additional things to do in Buenos Aires? Let us know in the comments below!

Thank you to Say Hueque for hosting my family’s bicycle tour of Buenos Aires, our Iguazu Falls tour, and our estancia excursion. Thanks also to the Buenos Aires Tourism Board for providing comped tickets for Museo Moderno, the Japanese Botanic Garden and Museo Participativo de Ciencias. We paid for all other activities mentioned in this story. I did not receive any monetary compensation related to this blog post. All opinions are mine, as always.

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