Buenos Aires is the largest city in Argentina, in fact, it is one of the main capitals of the continent and of the western world. It is the second most populated city in South America, after São Paolo in Brazil. Buenos Aires is an important tourist destination; it is possible to find visitors from different parts of the world throughout the year, especially in the summer and spring seasons. Tourism in Buenos Aires is an important source of income, receiving an estimated 5.5 million tourists per year, and it is one of the 20 favourite destinations in the world.
Buenos Aires is also one of the favourite destinations for foreign students since it has numerous universities, of which the UBA (University of Buenos Aires) is considered one of the best in the world. It is also the destination chosen by many people to learn Spanish. Young people and adults from different countries decide to travel to Buenos Aires to take Spanish classes in one of the many schools available, such as Expanish.com.
Buenos Aires has plenty of places to visit and offers tons of cultural activities. While there are hundreds of world-renowned iconic attractions, such as the historic district, the traditional neighbourhoods of San Telmo and Montserrat, Puerto Madero, La Casa Rosada and many others, it is also important to note that there are hidden treasures in the city. Places not so well known that have a lot of historical and cultural potential, or that are simply beautiful spaces which must be visited to delight us with their beauty.
If you decide to travel to Buenos Aires and you dare to leave the conventional tour behind, we recommend you to visit some of these wonderful and unknown places by tourists, these city houses. Forget the guided tours and dare to discover these places that will enrich your trip! Let´s take a look at some of the non-touristy places you must see.
The Zanjón de Granados
It is a network of tunnels hidden under one of the blocks of the San Telmo neighbourhood, dating back to the first foundation of Buenos Aires in 1536. The Zanjón de Granados appeared by chance in 1985 under a house that had been built in 1830 for a wealthy Spanish family, which had been abandoned for years and had begun to be remodelled to turn it into a tango club. Since then, archaeological work has been constant, and today you can take guided tours through these tunnels full of mysticism and legends.
The ecological reserve of Buenos Aires Costanera Sur
The ecological reserve Costanera Sur is an incredible natural space located within the city of Buenos Aires, very close to downtown. The reserve will allow you to take a walk through nature, where you will find yourself surrounded by beautiful landscapes, lagoons and a great variety of birds and other autochthonous species. Here you will be able to observe more than 200 species of birds, 4 lakes and giant grasslands. It is ideal to disconnect from the noise of the big city and spend the day sitting and reading for a while or just take a deep breath and absorb the energy of nature. The reserve can be visited by bike, which can be rented at the entrance of the place. At the entrance, you can also see the Fountain of the Nereids, a work by Lola Mora, which shows the nymphs emerging from the water to attend the birth of Venus. The reserve also offers a different experience by organising night tours by the light of the full moon, which of course take place once a month.
Manzana de las Luces
This is a historical block of the city of Buenos Aires that houses several of the oldest buildings, such as the Church of San Ignacio (the oldest still standing). Underneath the Manzana de las Luces run some of the tunnels built in colonial times, which were used for defense and smuggling. Touring La Manzana de las Luces is like taking a trip back in time, as it allows you to see and feel what the city of Buenos Aires was like before independence.
La Recoleta and its handicrafts market
The Plaza Francia Market brings together the work of more than a hundred artisans who work with materials as diverse as ceramics, wood, cloth or leather, metal and loom. The Plaza Francia Market is a beautiful place to stroll in the open air, surrounded by huge green spaces and a very jovial atmosphere. It is usually a very popular activity for young people and students, even those foreign students who travelled to study the language in a Spanish school in Buenos Aires. People tend to relax on the grass or have a picnic after having visited all the craft stalls. There is also street art, artists, and food stalls. This market is ideal to understand the mix between tradition and cosmopolitan Buenos Aires that these artists capture in their work.
Tango night at La Viruta
Of course it is unimaginable to visit Buenos Aires and not go to enjoy a good tango! Tango is a fundamental part of the culture of this city, so one of the ideal places, and little known, to enjoy it is “La Viruta”. This dance hall is located in the neighborhood of Palermo and its motto is: “you walk in… you walk out dancing”. In La Viruta everyone is welcome, no matter what level of dance they have, from professional tango dancers to those who are taking their first steps. And best of all, this place not only offers tango, there are days when they also dance salsa and rock and roll. Besides going to dance, you can go to eat, as they serve delicious homemade food typical of Argentina, such as “empanadas” or “milanesas”. They also perform shows which you can go to see for very affordable prices!
La Estrella Pharmacy
This pharmacy is part of the national history. It was the first pharmacy in the city, created by Dr. Bernardino Rivadavia in 1834. Later he added the drugstore to the pharmacy, which made it become the most important in South America. At that time, it was not only dedicated to its commercial activity, but also important gatherings were held in its salons, where important figures such as Julio A. Roca, Bartolomé Mitre and Carlos Pellegrini, among others, passed through.
It is one of the oldest pharmacies, which preserves its original furniture and murals. Today it belongs to the Museo de la Ciudad, however, the store is under concession and continues to operate with its commercial purpose.
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
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