As in any metropolitan city, traffic in Buenos Aires is quite heavy during business hours because of the many commercial buildings. Nevertheless, you will surely enjoy strolling down the 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest one in the world, up to the intersection with Corrientes Avenue, where the Obelisco is located, the emblem of Buenos Aires. Many people enjoy walking along Corrientes Avenue, densely populated with theatres, cinemas restaurants and bookshops, open until late at night, where you might get your hands on all type of editions.

There are lots of buses there which take the tourists to every part from the city and outside too. Also you have the subway which goes along Corrientes Ave. There is Florida street which is only a pedestrian street, all kind of shops are there, specially leather ones, with no cars in it, the same is Lavalle street which is plenty of cinemas, restaurants, Bingo, bars.
At the end of Florida street you've got Plaza San Martín which is very nice and full of big trees and flowers and near Retiro Station where are trains and buses.

PLACES TO VISIT:

* Plaza de Mayo: (Mayo Square): Defensa Street, Rivadavia Street.
It was originally Plaza Mayor and was designed along Spanish setting criterio a green central space surrounded by the Cabildo, the House of Government, the National bank and the Catedral.
In the center of the square it's the first monument which had Buenos Aires: The Mayo Piramid. 

* The House of Government or Casa Rosada(Pink House): 50 Balcarce Street.-Since 1580 Juan de Garay has designated it as a place to lodge governors, has been the seat of government ever since the first Council in 1810. 
The presidential balcony facing Rivadavia Street, was designed bay a Swedish architect, and has been renewed recently, it's known as the Speech Balcony.
President Juan Domingo Perón and his charismatic wife Evita, used to stand on the balcony to adder the crowds.

* The Cabildo: 65 Bolívar Street. 
Completed in 1748 is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The Cabildo was in 1810 the center of The Mayo Revolution and now is guarded by the Patricios Regiment, founded in 1806.-

* The Metropolitan Cathedral: opposite Plaza de Mayo on Rivadavia Street.-
It has fice wide neorenaissance aisles.The main aisle, called San Pedro, is 75 meters long. The sagrario Chapel has a fine marble altar imitating the "Altar de la Confesión" in San Pedro at the Roman Basilic. 

* Banco de la Nación Argentina(National Bank): 25 de Mayo Street and Rivadavia Street:
This building is considered an architectural masterpiece. Its transparent central cupola is 50 meters wide and 36 meters tall.

* The Congress: Callao Avenue and Rivadavia Avenue .
It houses the upper and lower chambers of the Legislative Power. It was designed by the Italian architect Victor Meano. Its cupola is lightened at night. Just opposite you will find the Congresos Square, which is the 0 km reference for all national roads. At the spot you will find a replica of "The Thinker" by August Rodin

* Obelisco: 9 de Julio Avenue and Obelisco:
El Obelisco es. It's the most traditional buildings in the city. It is 67,50 metres tall in the crossing of Corrientes Avenue and 9 de Julio Avenue. To get to the top there is a ladder with 206 stairs.
9 de Julio Avenue takes this name remembering the date of the Independence of Argentina. Is the widest in the world and crosses the city from north to south. 

* Palacio de Justicia (Justice Palace). Talcahuano Street and Lavalle Street.
The Judicial Power has its headquarters there. IT was finished in 1920 by the French architect Norberto Maillart. It is neoclassic style with a touch of Greek and Roman.

* Colon Theatre: 621 Libertad Street. Te. 4382-5414/16
Colon Theatre is well known worldwide for its excellent acoustics and for being the most famous lyric theatre in Latin America
It can seat 2.500 people. Inside the theatre you can watch the cupola which was painted by Raul Soldi in 1966, the theatre Museum and the (Golden Room) Salon Dorado with details in gold.

* Cervantes National Theatre: 815 Libertad Street Tel:4816-4224
It was built by Fernando Díaz de Mendoza and his wife María Guerrero, both Spanish comedians, in gratitude to Argentina. It has Spanish renaissance characteristics and its front is a replica of the Alcala Henares.

* General San Martín Municipal Theatre: 1530 Corrientes Avenue. Tel:4374-8611
It is a 30.000 m2 cultural center. It houses three theatres, one cinema and several exposition auditoriums.

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BELGRANO

Belgrano is a distinguished residential district. It was named after Manuel Belgrano, one of Argentina's forefathers. There are many shops in this area as well as restaurants,green open spaces and places of architectural interest.
The "Barrancas de Belgrano"is one of the most prominent places of the district. Set on the former slopes of the river bank it was designed by landscape artist Carlos Thyas, builder of the Botanical Gardens.

The original town of Belgrano was inhabited by families closely related or linked to the ruling class of Argentina. Therefore, you will find important mansions, embassies and petit-hotels. Unfortunately, from the 80's onwards, most of these have given way to high rise residential buildings.
It's crossed bay Cabildo Ave. where are lots of buses to different parts of the city and the new subway line which takes the tourist to Downtown, passing bay Palermo, Barrio Norte, Faculty and Florida Street. It's near the north zone too, it means Vicente López, San Isidro, etc which are more residential neighborhoods as well.

In Belgrano there are lots of different kind of shops, clothes the most famous, furniture, and bars, restaurants, theaters, museums and cinemas as well.
There is an artesanal feria in the park near the Cathedral where are also shows and theater plays.

PLACES TO VISIT:

* Manuel Belgrano Square. Juramento Avenue and Vuelta de Obligado Street:In the heart of the zone. During the week ends from 9 am to 19pm you will find handicraft market as web as street artists and performers. 

* Spanish Art Museum Enrique Larreta:Juramento Avenue 2291, TE 4784-4040 Gothic, Rennaissance and Barroque art is exhibited here.

* Church of Inmaculada Concepción. Vuelta de Obligado 2044:
It is popularly known as "LA REDONDA"(the round one) due to its particular shape. This temple, built in 1878, was designed bay the Genovese architects Nicolás y José Canale and helped by Antonio Buschiazzo.

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LA BOCA

The portuary landscape from La Boca is one of the most picturesque places due to its colorful port setting which has been showed by the painter Quinquela Martín in famous painting which reflect the work of those times. The corrugated roof style of the houses and the customs reflect the European influence, mainly southern Italian, who arrive between 1860 and 1910.

The so-called "La Piccola Italia" (little Italy) is stamped with mediterranean style, from its typical restaurants ("cantinas") to its architecture. Brightly painted multicolored houses inhabited by families, called "Conventillos" give La Boca has always been a working class neighborhood and in the past, people used the paint their houses. You will notice that sidewalks are elevated to prevent flooding from the Rio de la Plata. It is best to go there on Sunday when there are activities for tourist. We suggest visiting La Boca during daylight hours.
  

PLACES TO VISIT:

* Calle Museo Caminito:
From Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm, street artists and performers paint, dance tango and take pictures outdoors. There is also handicrafts markets where you can buy all kinds of things.

* "Quinquela Martín" Fine Arts Museum:1835, Pedro de Mendoza Avenue Te. 4301-1080
The Museum, recently renewed, was built in the upper part of a colorful public school.

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PALERMO

Palermo can be divided into two distinct areas: Palermo Chico (Small Palermo), where there are several large parks and small lakes, and Palermo Viejo (Old Palermo),a traditional Buenos Aires neighborhood with wide streets and old houses.
"Palermo chico" is a beautiful place with big houses and small streets.
Palermo Viejo is a cultural zone as well as entertainment due to the quantity of bars, pubs, restaurants of different styles of foods, mexican, japanese, criolla, etc. Also there is developing a vanguard fashion zone and handicraft markets, particularly developed by young people.

There are a lot of buses along Santa Fé Av. Which take the tourist to almost every part from the city and the surroundings. There are also trains and subway which drives you to Belgrano and to downtown.
Also in Palermo there are the Zoo and the Botanical Garden.

PLACES TO VISIT:

* Los Bosques de Palermo: (Palermo Forests): casares Avenue and Libertador Avenue.
It is the main green space in the city. The forest has three artificial lakes which can be gone through by renting small boats. You can walk along the Rosedal, the Patio Andaluz, made of Spanish materials , and the Jardín de los Poetas (Poet's garden) where you can find sculptures of famous writers such as William Shakespeare, Paul Groussac, Alfonsina Storni, Dante Alighieri, Federico García Lorca and Antonio Machado, among others.

* Galileo Galilei Planetarium : Sarmiento Avenue and Belisario Roldán Avenue.
It was built in 1966 by architect Enrique Jan. Shaped like a planet, it has a 20 meter wide cupola. Shows are projected on the inside of the cupola through a spotlight and laser system. The equipment can project up to 8900 fixed stars, constellation and nebulas.

* Jardín Botánico (Botanical Gardens): 3951 Santa Fé Avenue.
You can find up to 8000 different varieties of plants from all over the world, as web as sculptures and some interesting buildings. There is a tree from Chine called "Arbol de Oro" , ("Tree of gold") which is the only left in the world. Entrance free, daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

* Jardín Zoológico (Zoo): 2827, Sarmineto Avenue.
It was founded by President Sarmiento in 1874 and it became a private zoo in 1990. It consists in 18 hectares where different animal species are found and also it is dedicating to save The Condor Andino which was to extinct.

* Japanese Garden: Casares Avenue and Figueroa Alcorta Avenue.
It was built and designed by the civil engineer Isakari and the painter Yatsuo Inomata in 1979. It is a nice classic Japanese Style place to visit. It combines great varieties of plants and trees among artificial lakes connected by wooden bridges.

PALERMO VIEJO (Old Palermo)

It is an anciant district and it has made wide streets full of trees. There are important colonial style houses. There are different options for all ages. There are places where you can watch a show and others are only for dancing, having a meal or picture exhibitions.

Things to see:
* Jorge Luis Borges House: 2135 Serrano Street.

*  San Jorge Orthodox Church:1247 Scalabrini Ortiz Avenue. It is a big Neo-Byzantine style temple..

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RECOLETA

It is considered to be on of the finest and most expensive areas of the city. It boast many French style buildings, large green and first class restaurants. Originally, this area was made up of simple houses or "ranchos". During the XVII century though, the lands were bestowed to the Recoleto priests where the place takes its name from. Both the Convent and the Pilar Church were built by them in 1706.
During the yellow fever epidemic, in 1871, many rich families fled to this area and built large houses and palaces surrounded by large gardens. Some people consider this district a copy of Paris.

Many cultural events take place here. On weekends there is a large handicrafts market where you can find high quality items, and legions of street performers. Every day you will be able to enjoy tipicaly argentine mate or delicious tea at Loi Suites Recoleta Hotel (Vicente Lopez 1955). 

There are a great number of restaurants, pubs and night clubs on the streets surrounding the cementery (Junín Street, Azcuénaga Street and Vicente Lopez Street), which gives a special atmosphere to the places.
During the week end there is a big handicraft market and lots of free shows, music and theatre plays too.
 
PLACES TO VISIT:

* Recoleta Cementery: Junin atreet and Quintana Ave.
It is one of the most famous cementeries in the world. It was found in 1822 bay the Recoleto Fathers. There are famous sculptures, crypts and graves where famous people rest, some which are considered Historic Monuments.
Important mausoleums, such as Eva Duarte's, worldwide known as Evita, Federico Leloir's (medicine Nobel Prize), as well as those of other national heroes.

* Nuestra Señora del Pilar Basilic:1892 Junin Street.
It is one of the oldest churches in Buenos Aires. Ir was built in 1732 by the Jesuits.
There is an Inca style sun made in silver in front of the mains altar.

* Recoleta Cultural Center: 1930 Junin Street Tel 4803-9744
It was an old convent, built in 1732, by the Recolets monks. 
Young and avant garde exhibits prevail at the center. Permanent paintings, sculpture, photography and theatre exhibitions take place at the 25 auditoriums.

* Fine Arts National Museum: 1473 Libertador Ave. Tel 4803-8817
It is one of the most important art exhibition centers in Argentina. Where 10 thousand works of art are permanently exhibited and expositions by contemporary artists take place. Works of art by Goya, El Greco, Tintoretto, Van Gogh, Picasso, etc stand out at the exhibition.

* Palais de Glace: 1725 Posadas Street Tel 4804-4324
This circular building is a National Exhibition Hall.

* National Decorative Art Museum: 1902 Libertador Ave. Tel 4802-6606
It was an old private neoclassic residence.
In 1937 it was bought by the National government and turned into a museum.

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RETIRO

The first settlers gave the name "Retiro" to this place because there was a hermitage to retreat (retiro) spiritually, Later on, the name was associated with the enormous railway station that operates there Some years ago, trains to all parts of the country left from this station.

Nowadays, five star hotels and exclusive office buildings are to be found. This is one of the most constantly changing places in Buenos Aires. Urbanization of the Catalinas Norte sector (bordered by Córdoba Avenue, Eduardo Madero, Leandro N. Alem and San Martín street) began three decades ago, where now many intelligent high rise buildings are located housing large companies and multinational firms.
There are also the terminal of lots of buses which drive you to the provinces form Argentina. The train and other buses to all the city

PLACES TO VISIT

* Retiro Station: Ramos Mejía Avenue, between Libertador Avenue and Antártida Argentina.
It is one of the biggest stations in the world. Suburban trains leave from here.

* San Martín Square: Santa Fe Avenue, L.N Alem Avenue and Maipú Street.
This large green space was used for different purposes in the course of time. Several monuments stand out among the varied vegetation and the ancient trees.
The most important monument is the one devoted to General José de San Martín .

* Torre de los Ingleses (Englishmen's Tower): San Martín Street and Libertador Avenue.
It was built by the British residents in commemoration of the Argentine Independece Centenary.
The name "Torre de los Ingleses" (Englishmen's Tower) was changed for Torre Monumental (Monumental Tower) during the last decade.

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