South American Capital of Argentina – Buenos Aires

When you are preparing to travel to Buenos Aires and think about the culture in Argentina, you definitely think about the Argentine tango that originated in this country. The dance for two was first danced in Buenos Aires at the end of the 19th century to the tunes of the Argentine tango, the musical genre of the same name. The two-beat tempo of the moderately fast dance with the lyrics of the song tells of the tension and emotional turmoil of lost love. Initially, the Argentine tango was a dance of lower class people, but later it became popular among middle and upper class as well. In the early 20th century, Argentine tango spread rapidly in major European capitals, such as Paris, Rome and Berlin. In some European capitals and ceremonial dance events, the Argentine tango has also been a banned dance, excluded from the dance programme. In the early 1980s, the tango movement began to emerge in the second part of the world, where public outdoor dance events are held for dancing in pairs.

Eva Perón, an iconic figure who has been the subject of many films and books, made her mark in Buenos Aires as the First Lady of Argentina. The wife of an Argentine politician and president Juan Domingo Perón has become a major icon in Argentina with her humanitarian work and acting career. A traveller can meet her life and work at the Evita Museum and other locations in the city that have become known in favour of her work and activism. Eva Perón served as First Lady for six years until 1952, when she passed away. You can visit her grave at the Recoleta Cemetery, where the most famous figures of Argentina and Buenos Aires are buried. For a cinematic record of her work, see the musical La Cabalgata del Circo and the drama La Pródiga.

Travel to Buenos Aires with Globetrotter magazine and Lonely Planet's book Buenos Aires. The format of the book can be selected in two editions, printed and digital. A personal guide to Buenos Aires introduces you to the most lively and attractive city that will get under your skin so much that it will not leave you indifferent. For the history of Argentine tango, read Life is caught in the moment of movement to find out why tango dance is the discipline that teaches you to learn about your and your dancing partner's feelings. Useful information on how to travel around Buenos Aires and in which parts of the city you can take the time to explore, and where to get a good lunch, you can get with a travel contribution from South American 10 days — Part 2. Start your journey with good literature.

Best tourist offers in the city

The culinary experience in Buenos Aires captivates you with many traditional dishes, desserts and non-alcoholic, as well as alcoholic beverages. You'll recognise the Argentine capital for its exquisitely prepared dishes, which you can also create with our help. Participate in an interactive dinner and try your hand at exploring Argentine gastronomy. The preparation of traditional dishes at the interactive dinner is designed with six different meals, along with a variety of drinks. Everyone knows that you can't experience Buenos Aires without dancing the Argentine Tango. We have selected an offer for you at the Güemes Gallery, where you will learn the dance skills of Argentine tango, watch the Tango Carlos Gardel Show and enjoy a delicious dinner. The dance spectacle takes place in one of the most beautiful and luxurious theatres in Buenos Aires, so get ready to see the show and have a unique experience to remember.

Continue your journey to the city's Temaiken Park, which features more than 2,500 birds from five continents, African wildlife, aquarium, botanical and zoological gardens, and a natural and anthropological museum. Your day, surrounded by flora and fauna in the botanical garden, makes getting to know animal and plant species. Another suggestion for a boat trip from Buenos Aires on the Rio de la Plata is the town of Tigre. The boat route runs through the neighbourhoods of Nuñez, Olivos, Martinez and San Isidro, as well as along the San Antonio River and the River Delta. From the port of Puerto Madero on a boat trip and audio guide to Tigre. A look into the past and an understanding of propaganda graffiti, which served as a political advertisement for the presentation of candidates and their election campaign, is conceived with a guided tour of the Palermo neighbourhood. This is how you get to know the political movements of the 20th century and their influence on the society of that time.

The oldest cemetery in Buenos Aires represents the past of Argentinian families with 4000 large mausoleums decorated with sculptural works. A guided tour of the Recoleta Cemetery presents Argentina's most influential historical figures, who have marked the fate of the country. Wandering through the city continues to the La Boca area, where you will learn about street performances, where the Argentine tango was first danced, and all about the history of the bohemian, artistic and multicultural way of life. The last part of the English-language guided tour concludes in front of La Bombonera Stadium with the history of the most popular football club Boca Juniors. The countryside in the village of San Antonio de Areco in the Pampas region offers relaxation in nature and a glimpse of South American gauche skills with folklore performances and grilled meat delicacies. You can spend the day on the land of El Ombu Estancia, enjoy a horseback or carriage ride, and refresh yourself with baked Empanadas.

The best moments are when you relax and watch the sunset in good company. An open bar on a boat that takes you down the Rio de la Plata in the port of Puerto Madero shows you around Buenos Aires. The Immigrant Museum, Yacht Club and Ecological Reserve are just some of the tips for activities on your trip. A short boat tour of the city on the Rio de la Plata is presented by a guide over a loudspeaker, and you are introduced to the tourist attractions on the waterfront. Treat yourself to a traditional Alfajores pastry over a cup of coffee and learn about the history of the most important river in Argentina. You can enjoy the restaurant Fogón Asado, where all dishes are prepared in a pleasant atmosphere, based on social event and food preparation techniques called Asado. Argentine classic meat cold cuts in an eight-part meal are enriched by pancakes with strawberries. Everyone independently prepares a sauce from Chimichurri herbs.

Tourist activities and learning about Latin American culture

Latin American culture is present at every step of the metropolitan city, where you can stroll and see the architecture typical for the South American area. A reflection of the general climate of the last century has constantly accompanied the development of art, through which you get to know the lives of people at that time and their habits. The South American art scene is presented on the streets as well as in museums. Collected works by Latin American artists from the period from 1900 to 1970 are exhibited in the MALBA Museum, along with a description of the artistic movements that were present at that time. The MALBA Museum was created in 2001 in the Palermo district, on Figueroa Alcorta Avenue. It was founded by the collector Eduardo Constantini, who donated over 200 paintings by the most prominent Latin American artists active in the 20th century to the museum. Take a tour of the Malba Museum and the less visited locations of some districts to see artists modern and postmodern, achievements in architecture and construction.

A major contributor to the Latin American culture is the traditional and classical music included in the everyday life of the South American people. The culture was also strongly marked by folk music, which has been alive with the Cosquin festival in the small town of Córdoba since 1961. The traditional music of the tango is a distinctive element of Buenos Aires, and its social roots are an important value that exemplifies the way of life of every Argentinian. Take a look at the cultural speciality in sound and movement in El Viejo Almacén, where a musical performance with dancers is accompanied by a musical ensemble of sextets. Home to classical music, the Teatro Colón opera house is renowned for having the best acoustic hall in the world. In 2012, National Geographic named it one of the ten best opera houses in the world. You can visit the Promenades of the City and Teatro Colón by taking a stroll around the city and seeing the opera.

The people of Buenos Aires were united, among other things, by the Catholic faith with the famous cathedral in the centre of the city, the Cathedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires. The formation of the cathedral dates back to the 16th century, but its final image of architecture was created in the 19th century. It is built in a neoclassical style with characteristic neo-Renaissance and rich neo-Baroque details. The entrance is decorated with twelve Corinthian-style columns and a relief by the French sculptor Joseph Dubourdieu, depicting Jacob meeting his son Joseph in Egypt. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with a rococo altar, in front of which rises a 41-metre-high mighty dome. Between 1998 and 2013, Jorge Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. A guided tour of Buenos Aires Pope Francis is available for a visit to the cathedral.

Did you know?

• Argentine tango is the music to which the dance of the same name, the Argentine tango, is danced
• Argentine actress and first lady Eva Perón died at the age of 33.
• The Recoleta Cemetery, where the great personalities of Argentina are buried, was built in 1732.
• Traditional Alfajores pastry has travelled to Argentina from the Arab world to Spain via the Atlantic Ocean all the way to South America.
• The Rio de la Plata River was formed by the merger of two rivers, the Uruguay River and the Paraná River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
• The metropolitan area has a population of 15.5 million.
• Pope Francis, a native of Argentina, left the role of archbishop of Buenos Aires in 2013 and began his ministry as pope.

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