A Brief Guide to Buenos Aires with Kids

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, but the South American city has a distinctly European flair. My family had a great time during our visit, but Buenos Aires is a huge city, so knowing where to find family-friendly experiences is important.

Visit Recoleta and Recoleta Cemetery 

Recoleta is Buenos Aires’ most upscale neighborhood. It’s home to a tree-filled park; shops; open-air art markets; and the Grand Speldind, largely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores. The neighborhood is also home to the city’s Recoleta Cemetery. The cemetery is like a small city where each mausoleum tells a story, but it is best known as the place where Eva Peron is buried.

Visit the City’s Rival Soccer Stadiums

Argentina is home to several soccer legends, including Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. Even if you aren’t a soccer fan, touring one of Buenos Aires’ soccer stadiums is a must. Argentines tend to have strong feelings about which stadium is best. My family was split, so we toured two stadiums, River Plate and Boca Juniors. My son was beside himself with joy.

See the Colorful Caminito

No trip to Argentina would be complete without a trip to Caminito, a small street lined with colorful buildings. This lively part of the city was once home to an immigrant community. Now, it’s a bustling part of the La Boca neighborhood filled with restaurants and shops. My kids loved walking around and taking in the sights while live music wafted out of restaurant windows.

Be a Gaucho for the Day 

My family’s favorite experience in Argentina was traveling just outside the city to a traditional Argentine ranch, called an estancia. We chose a full-day tour to Estancia el Ombu de Areco, where we were immersed in the lives and culture of Gauchos, traditional Argentine cowboys. A guide picked us up at our Buenos Aires hotel and drove us to the old colonial town of San Antonio de Areco, where we walked along cobblestone streets and visited traditional artisans making leather goods, silver and craft chocolates. At the estancia, we rode horses, wandered the gorgeous grounds, enjoyed a decadent lunch, took a lesson to learn traditional Gaucho dances and watched a horse-taming session.

Where to Stay 

NH Buenos Aires Centro Historico is in the heart of Buenos Aires’ historic district. It also has a rooftop pool, popular with families. Anselmo Buenos Aires, Curio Collection by Hilton is another great family-friendly option. Anselmo is located in the city’s lively San Telmo neighborhood, just steps away from Buenos Aires’ iconic San Telmo market.