This article goes through the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires, given that there are a number of different neighborhoods that are great for tourists. These three different areas have various vibes and attributes, making them completely unique and appropriate for your trip based on your individual travel desires.
There are individual reasons to stay in each neighborhood and this can help you find the best location that fits your personality and goals of your trip. Each of the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires are safe for tourists with easy access to transportation to get to all the most popular tourist destinations. You can read more here about transportation through Buenos Aires here.
One of the Best Areas to Stay in Buenos Aires: Palermo Soho
This neighborhood is a favorite for tourists, and it’s easy to see why. Its cobblestone streets, boutique shops, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and weekly street market make it a quaint but lively place to stay and tour in Buenos Aires. The overall vibe make it one of the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires as there is always something fun going on here. If you’ve been to Soho in New York, you will appreciate the cobblestone streets and boutiques that will definitely show you why this neighborhood is named after it.
You can spend your time wandering through the streets to window-shop and admire the murals and art throughout the neighborhood. This is truly one of the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires as it is incredibly walkable with great access to restaurants, cafes, and local boutiques with clothes and items that you cannot find in other places. If you are interested in the murals that you will find throughout the neighborhood, you can consider taking a walking tour of the area.
Palermo Soho is also a big nightlife hub for the city with many bars and clubs. You can feel the youthful energy throughout the neighborhood in the evenings. That being said, make sure to read through reviews for the different hotels and accommodations in the area regarding noise and the pulse of the music that may continue to the early morning hours.
Because of how late people start going out (usually after midnight), the nightlife of Buenos Aires can last until 6 in the morning on the weekends. And if you are looking for a fun nightlife scene, then make sure to find accommodations here so you do not have to take transportation to return to your hotel at the end of your evening. Because of this strong nightlife scene, the neighborhood is safe to walk around in throughout the evenings but just be aware of your surroundings and make sure that there are other people in the areas that you are in.
In addition, the neighborhood is very LGBTQ+ friendly and is a hub within the city for welcoming bars and clubs. To get more information about the LGBTQ+ travel experience in Buenos Aires, you can read more about it at this blog by Nomadic Boys. The neighborhood celebrates Pride yearly through a weekend celebration within the area center that includes music, a street fair, and more.
Recoleta
This is the neighborhood that gives Buenos Aires the nickname of Paris of South America. It is considered one of the wealthiest of neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, is home to many expats, and has hotels geared towards international tourists. This is also one of the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires if you have an allegiance to a hotel conglomerate (Hilton, Marriott, etc.) as this is where you will find many of the hotel brands that you have in the United States.
The neighborhood is full of restaurants at a variety of dining levels, from coffee shops to nice restaurants. It is very walkable and you will find parks throughout the area that are full of activity at all times of the day with people drinking mate, walking their dogs, reading, etc. Because of this large amount of activity, it is safe to walk throughout the neighborhood, even after dinner.
The streets of Recoleta are lined with high-rise condo balconies full of plants. If you stay in a short-term accommodation in one of these buildings, you may have the fun local opportunity of hearing people react to the action of a televised soccer game. It’s these experiences that can give you a local feel and bring this neighborhood alive.
Villa Crespo
Villa Crespo is the last of the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires and it is completely different from Palermo and Recoleta. This neighborhood does not have hotels and, as a result, has a very local feel to it. You can stay in short-term accommodations within the neighborhood. This is the area that is often recommended by local tour guides for people who want a more authentic vibe. If you have been to Buenos Aires previously, consider staying here.
The restaurants and bars of Villa Crespo are more up-and-coming so you can find some true lesser known gems that are not profiled on social media or lists as much. In addition, a concentration of Jewish-Argentines live here so you can find a variety of delis that add a unique touch to this neighborhood. And if you want something a little more upscale, tourist-focused, or a night out at a club, you are just a 20-30 minute walk from the boutiques, restaurants, and clubs of Palermo Soho and it is safe to walk between the two neighborhoods.
Thoughts On Other Neighborhoods in Buenos Aires that Are Often Recommended
San Telmo
San Telmo is the neighborhood closest to the government center of Buenos Aires and is one of the oldest neighborhoods of the city. While it is conveniently located to access many of the tourist attractions in the city center, it is not considered the safest neighborhood and may be harder to walk around at night. For this reason, we often recommend the neighborhoods listed above over this one and tell people to visit the area during the day to get the most enjoyment. You can also look into this walking tour of the area on Sundays to get more information about this historical area.
Puerto Madero
Puerto Madero is one of the newest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, as exemplified with its architecture. While it is modern, it lacks the access into other parts of the city. making it less convenient for tourists, especially first time visitors. However, it does offer modern and luxurious accommodations if you don’t mind traveling a little further to reach the other popular areas of the city.
