Full Day Buenos Aires Essentials Tour, Max 7ppl, Perfect 1st Day
Description
Our resident guides will act as a cultural bridge to introduce you to the wonders of Buenos Aires. There are no megaphones, umbrellas/flags to follow, crowded tour buses, massive groups to get lost in like on a "free" tour, nor any scripted speeches. This tour feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend. You will learn about local life beyond the standard tourist sights. Our groups are small, "semi-private" if you will, with a maximum of seven guests, and an emphasis on personal connection & quality experiences. We share the hidden stories of our city. Our guides are native or native-level English speakers who have been residents of this great city for many years. We focus on connecting the historical dots of the past to the modern Buenos Aires of today. And have a great time while doing so!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover a book lover's paradise in this converted 1919 theater. Frequently ranked as the most beautiful bookstore in the world, El Ateneo Grand Splendid features breathtaking ceiling frescoes, original theater boxes converted into reading nooks, and a café situated on the former stage, where we meet for an introductory chat over coffee before getting started on our walk. It is a must-visit landmark that perfectly captures the "Paris of the South" elegance of Buenos Aires.
Witness the architectural grandeur of Barrio Norte. We'll marvel at the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes, a "water palace" disguised in 300,000 terracotta tiles, and the French-style Palacio Pizzurno. These majestic buildings perfectly illustrate the city’s golden age of opulence.
Admire the imposing Law Faculty building and the iconic, metallic Floralis Genérica sculpture before diving into Recoleta’s "Parisian" elegance. We’ll visit vibrant Plaza Francia, the historic Basílica del Pilar church, and the legendary Gomero tree, plus take a peak at the grandiose Avenida Alvear.
The highlight of our tours for many: Explore this world-renowned "City of the Dead," famous for its stunning architecture and fascinating history. Over 45–60 minutes, we’ll navigate the marble-lined walkways to visit the tomb of Eva Perón and hear the captivating, often macabre, stories of the legends buried within these grand walls. There really is nowhere else on the planet quite like it. We cover the $16-20 USD per person cost of admission for you!
Walk through Tribunales, the city’s judicial and cultural hub. We’ll admire the exterior of the world-class Teatro Colón, the imposing Supreme Court, and the stunning Mirador Massué. It’s a masterclass in varied architecture, from neoclassical power to Art Nouveau elegance.
Enjoy a quintessential local lunch. On weekdays, we dine at El Patio, tucked inside the serene courtyard of the historic Convento San Ramón Nonato. On weekends, we’ll visit a local favorite for authentic Argentine pizza or world-class empanadas.
Dive into the city’s bustling core. We’ll navigate Avenida Corrientes, "the street that never sleeps", have a photo op at the iconic Obelisk and Green BA sign, cross Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world, and pass by the beautifully restored Confiteria Ideal for a taste of Belle Époque splendor.
Stand at the epicenter of Argentine history, politics, culture, religion and economy. We’ll discuss the legends of Evita, the Mothers of the Plaza, and landmarks like the Casa Rosada, Metopolitan Cathedral, and the Cabildo. This is where the nation's most dramatic stories unfold, from colonial revolution to modern-day celebrations. Military coups, massive protests, financial crises, independence heroes, Peron, Evita, Maradona, the Pope and more... Plaza de Mayo hides story after story and cannot be fully appreciated without a knowledgeable guide.
Immerse yourself in the cobblestone charm of Buenos Aires’ oldest barrio. Once the aristocratic heart of the city, San Telmo is now a bohemian treasure trove of antiques, tango, and historic architecture. We’ll explore its colonial soul and vibrant market atmosphere.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please try to turn up 10 minutes early, at 9.50am, to ensure no delays for the rest of the small group. If you arrive after 10.20am, we cannot guarantee your group will still be there (although contact your guide directly in this case to try to catch up with the group for the rest of the tour!)
- What you'll need on this tour:
- Good shoes for walking! (but don't worry about the duration/distance of the tour, it's done at a relaxed pace and with plenty of chances to recharge your batteries along the way)
- Some cash (pesos or USD) and a credit/debit card, in case you want to buy any additional food or drinks etc along the way
- For most of the year you should consider bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat etc
- If rain looks possible, dress appropriately and ask your hotel to borrow an umbrella (or if not possible, ask your guide and they can help you purchase an inexpensive umbrella near the start of the day)
- A camera or cell phone to take photos, don't worry too much about safety as long as you can store it as you walk and remain aware of your belongings
Reviews(328)
Absolutely amazing cultural tour. Tracy was our guide. My experience the best tour guide that I have worked with. She was beyond words wonderful. Easy pace covered 7 miles.
We had a wonderful experience touring Buenos Aires with Tracy. She struck the perfect balance between walking and driving, allowing us to see so much of the city comfortably while still feeling immersed in it. Along the way, she shared fascinating insights—not just about the history, but what it’s really like to live here. What truly sets her apart is her warmth. She has a way of making you feel welcomed from the very beginning. As an Argentine tango dancer, she also gave us a unique and meaningful perspective on tango that we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. I can’t recommend her highly enough—she made our time in Buenos Aires truly special. We travel often and can truly say she is one of the best guides we have had.
Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We are so pleased Tracy could make your Buenos Aires private city tour an unforgettable experience. We are very lucky to have such a knowledgable, warm & welcoming guide on the BuenosTours team. And of course, her Argentine tango expertise adds an extra level to our tours! We hope your time in Buenos Aires has left beautiful memories for you. If you ever come back and would like another tour, or any of your friends or family visit, please don't hesitate to contact us. Even if just to ask any questions about the city, it doesn't necessarily need to be for another tour. We'd be more than happy to help. Take care!
Tracy was a great tour guide. So much knowledge and information on Buenos Aires. She tailored our tour to our small group and was flexible when we added stops along the way. There are a lot of street fairs with the long holiday weekend. I will definitely take her tour again when I come back. We went EVERYWHERE! It was a perfect first day to learn the area
Thank you so much, Tina, for sharing your wonderful experience! We're delighted to hear that Tracy made your BA 101 full day city tour of Buenos Aires so memorable and accommodated your group’s preferences with such flexibility. Exploring the street fairs and discovering the city at the start of the holiday weekend sounds like a fantastic experience. We would love to welcome you back for another walking tour to continue discovering Buenos Aires' charm. Your feedback means a lot to us and future travelers too. Thanks again, and see you next time!
An amazing day - our guide Tracy was knowledgable and fun. She was flexible to our liking, showed us the true Buenos Aires - loved the local spots we visited. Thanks again Tracy! ❤️
Thank you, Aby, for sharing your amazing experience! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed discovering the true charm of the city on our "BA 101" Full Day walking tour of Buenos Aires. It's wonderful that Tracy made the day flexible and fun for you, showcasing local gems. Happy travels!
We had only a short time in BA and were looking to get a good sense of the culture and city life. We got SO lucky doing a full day with Tracy from Buenos Tours! First off - the company was incredibly flexible and super easy to communicate with. Our flight was cancelled and via whatsapp we were able to easily be in touch and ultimately rebook. We had friends booked who were not able to make it due to the cancellations and they refunded them almost immediately. The day with Tracy was full of history, culture, local color, delicious food, and humor! Tracy is incredibly knowledgable and took our cues on what we were interested in seeing and hearing about. You could tell she was making choices all day long about where to take us and what to point out or talk about based on what she was learning along the way about our interests. Her passion for tango was a bonus we enjoyed a lot. We found this to be an incredible value - Tracy was 100% focused on making the experience what we wanted it to be and she fully succeeded!
Thank you so much, Polly, for sharing your wonderful experience & lovely photos! We're truly thrilled that your Buenos Aires city tour was such a memorable and personalized day. Tracy is indeed passionate about delivering a unique and enriching experience tailored to your interests, and we're glad you enjoyed her expertise in tango and local culture. We're also pleased that our team could support you effectively with your scheduling needs. Wishing you more amazing travels ahead!
I would like to evaluate the excellent funcinarios : Ana Lucia, Edvard, Danilo, Alex, Carlos, Eliene and Ivan.
Absolutely loved this walking tour, it felt very special from the meeting location, to the restaurant for lunch and finishing with a bottle of wine in San Telmo and all the sights and experiences in-between. Chris our guide was so knowledgeable and showed us so many fantastic sights around Buenos Aires. It was like having a freind show you around this beautiful city. I would highly recommend this tour.
Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your wonderful experience! We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed exploring Buenos Aires with us. It’s fantastic that Chris made the tour feel special and personal, it’s always our goal! Your kind words mean a lot, and we’re thrilled you appreciated the mix of sights, local experience, and the special moments like lunch and wine in San Telmo. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip too!
Our walking tour of Buenos Aires was perfect, as was our guide! We got to see, and learn about, so many areas of the city, starting with meeting at the fabulous/beautiful book store. Arrive early so that you have a chance to spend time there. It’ll take your breath away. Our guide, Chris, was excellent! He is so knowledgeable and very personable. The tour was worth every penny! The price includes coffee, water and lunch.
Thank you so much, Susan, for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your Buenos Aires 101 walking tour and had a great experience with your guide, Chris. Taking in such a remarkable bookstore is indeed a special start, and we're delighted you appreciated it. By including coffee, water, lunch, public transport and your Recoleta Cemetery entrance fees, we aim to make the day as simple and enjoyable as possible for our guests. Wishing you many happy travels in the future!
We were fortunate to have the guide, Tracy to ourselves and she was excellent. Not only did she take us to all the major sites but she also told us lots about the history, politics and culture of the country We started at the beautiful bookstore, El Ateneo Grand Splendid and then walked to the Recoleta Cemetery where Tracy told us about all the notable graves. We travelled by tube, bus and taxi to visit La Boca and San Telmo areas. In La Boca we even saw a lookalike Maradona! For lunch Tracy took us to the most beautiful restaurant in La Boca with outside seating and music. As Tracy is also a tango dancer she told us lots about this which was really interesting. It helped us understand the show we saw on another day. It was one of our favourite days out.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your day exploring Buenos Aires with Tracy. It's great to know you appreciated learning about Argentina's history and culture, and that Tracy's tango insights added to your visit. We're thrilled this was among your favorite outings, comments like that are what makes everything we do feel worthwhile! Thanks again!
Great day familiarizing myself with the beautiful city of Buenos Aires! Tracy is a great guide and knows her stuff! 10-10 would do it again.
Thank you, Elizabeth! We're so happy to hear you had a fantastic time exploring Buenos Aires with Tracy and enjoyed our Buenos Aires walking tour. Your enthusiasm motivates us to keep creating memorable experiences! 😊
