Holiday rentals in Buenos Aires

Visit Buenos Aires, home of the Tango!

Yes, it is the sensual Buenos Aires that we need to thank for the Tango, perhaps the city's most famous export. Though, there is even more underneath this city's raw and colourful core, as this Argentinian capital is a hive of vivid artworks, European inspired architecture and grilled goodness: asados, a combination of barbecued meat is the national dish, after all. When looking for vacation rentals in South America there is no where quite like Buenos Aires. Though day time and evening is a vibrant cultural journey for any visitor to the city, this capital truly comes alive at night, which famously only gets going after 2 am, so get ready to experience the coolest speakeasies in Argentina, along with Milongas, a tango house which is dedicated entirely to the art of the national dance.

When to visit?

Positioned in Southern Hemisphere, Buenos Aires experiences its seasons in reverse to the UK, so with the best time to visit being in the springtime, you should look to reserve a holiday rental around late September and to November, when the indigo jacaranda trees are blossoming. Alternatively, the autumnal months of April to June avoid the sunniest Argentinean weather, meaning you can enjoy the capital's vast attractions in comfort.

How to get there

Located in east Argentina on the South Atlantic Coast, the most time-efficient way of reaching Buenos Aires from the UK is by flying. The quickest flight is from London Heathrow direct to Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires and takes around 13 hours and 45 minutes. Flights with a connection or stopover are additionally available from Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh, though these stops lengthen the travel duration to a minimum of 16 hours. If you would prefer to split up the journey, consider a holiday apartment in New York or accommodation in Atlanta where you can discover a North American city for a few nights, before returning to Newark Airport or Atlanta International for the remainder of your journey.

Where to stay in Buenos Aires

Palermo

As the largest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Palermo has an accommodation option for every type of visitor, with its extensive shopping streets and the Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires, Palermo is by no means a boring barrio. Don't let the size of this cultural melting pot put you off choosing a relaxing holiday home with a garden, however, as Palermo is where you can discover some of the most peaceful locations in Buenos Aires. If you are looking for a nature-filled paradise which offers an escape to the neighbourhoods colour-kissed streets, then consider a guest house near the Botanical Gardens, where you can laze the day away by wandering through one of the five greenhouses which make up this beautiful attraction. Then, spend the afternoon at the Parque Tres de Febrero, which is an authentic Japanese garden that pays homage to poets through statues across the 24 acres of verdant green landscape.

La Boca

If you are a sports fan, you will have probably already recognised La Boca as the home of the famous La Bombonera stadium which is home to the Boca Juniors. This barrio is otherwise, known as the ‘locals neighbourhood', La Boca is the epitome of authentic Buenos Aires, with its colourful streets, crawling with tango dancers and art sellers, whichever hour of the day you decide pass through. There is no better place to choose a self-catered apartment than in La Boca, because you don't need a kitchen to dine on the most exceptional Italian food in the city, after Europeans, most especially from Genoa, left their influence on the neighbourhood. Alternatively, La Boca offers a range of youth hostels and bedrooms in guesthouses, which is a cost-effective alternative to a hotel, meaning you can spend your savings on making the most of your vacation.

San Telmo

Picture fruit markets along narrow cobbled streets, where you are surrounded by nothing but age-old grandeur, faded colourful townhouses, murals and pop-up art galleries. This bohemian barrio has a name as the most romantic neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, meaning there is no better place to reserve a luxury holiday apartment with a swimming pool, or a room in a boutique guesthouse than in San Telmo. The area is crawling with antique stores, where you just might find a rare souvenir to bring home and help you remember your vacation.

Puerto Madero

Natives of Buenos Aires are nicknamed porteños, meaning ‘people of the port', so naturally, the only thing to do is to find a holiday home by the port. The most electric of these waterfront neighbourhoods is Puerto Madero, which has a different feel to the rest of the city. Thanks to a substantial foreign investment in the 1990s, this port has been redeveloped into an area which could pass as a neighbourhood in the heart of a North American city. Choose a studio apartment or a loft with a bedroom which looks over the water, and you too can become a fellow porteños.

Recoleta

The downtown neighbourhood of Recoleta is brimming with Parisian-style architecture, prestigious boutiques and abandoned palaces, making it the grandest barrio in the city. Reserve a luxury apartment rental in Buenos Aires's most exclusive area by finding your place in a beautiful townhouse, then spend your days getting your Argentine culture fix at The National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Recoleta Cultural Center which showcases the most extravagant events in the country.

Monserrat

The historic barrio of Monserrat is a hive of iconic structures, monuments and museums, and its streets are crawling with every type of person, from camera-hugging tourists to government officials. It is easy to see why you would not want to leave your camera in your property, however, as Monserrat is home to the beautiful Casa Rosada palace, among countless Neo-gothic buildings and century-old coffee houses along Avenida de Mayo.

What to do in Buenos Aires

Visit Recoleta Cemetery

A cemetery might not usually be at the top of your holiday to-do list, but Recoleta is not your typical cemetery. This is a tightly packed display of ornate monuments to the wealthiest natives to ever grace Buenos Aires, with tombs including the likes of former first lady Eva Perón, where visitors still leave flowers at her grave.

Watch the Tango at Plaza Dorrego

When wandering around Buenos Aires, there is no shortage of reminders that the city is the birthplace of the Tango. Though there are numerous spots to watch or try your hand at the dance around the capital, there is nowhere quite like Plaza Dorrego. Dancers take to the square which acts as the heart of the city, and the beat of this heart is undoubtedly the tapping of the Tango, which kicks off every Sunday evening and often continues on deep into the night.

Grab a coffee in Café Tortoni

Having first opened its doors in the mid-nineteenth century, Café Tortoni, there is no better place to grab a morning coffee in Buenos Aires than in this caffeinated jewel of the Avenida de Mayo. This coffee house is steeped in a history which can be seen in its grand architecture and iconic Tiffany glass ceilings, all of which have already been enjoyed throughout the ages by the likes of the most famous scholars and celebrities in Argentina.

Wander around the Museum of Fine Arts

Housing masterpieces from the likes of Monet, Picasso and Van Gogh, the Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most significant institutions in the art world, and the best part is that it is entirely free to visit! Whether you want to escape the glaze of the South American sun, or you are passionate art enthusiast, the Museum of Fine Arts is unmissable for every visitor to Buenos Aires.

Admire La Casa Rosada

This ‘Pink House' is among the most important structures in the city, as it is the office to the President of Argentina, and consequently, the setting to the most historic speeches in Argentina history, which have taken place upon on its balcony.

Sample some Asado

Asado, a mixture of grilled meat, and the national dish of Argentina is served up across the capital and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike, most famously from Parrilla Pena restaurant, which has a reputation as one of the best. If you are a fan of bbq culture, be sure not to leave the city without trying meat which is cooked the Argentinian way!