If you are like me and believe that studying abroad should be an individual experience and have decided that the Paris of South America is the ciudad para voz, you might be feeling a little anxious about your transition into Latin American culture (I definitely was).

Living in a new city is thrilling and exciting but at the same time can be overwhelming as you may be alone and disoriented.  Although it seems farfetched, in no time you will find your people and be going off on all kinds of amazing adventures.  Here are a few different lists that I recommend for you to eat, drink, see, and everything else!

Places to eat and drink:

• RAPANUI / BUFALA – by far the best places to get ice cream, Freddo is classic but it can’t compare to Rapa and Bufala.
• FRUTERIAS – you won’t walk more than a block before you can find a few Fruterias. Stopping for some fresh fruit is a delicious and cheap snack, and you cant beat the fruit in South America during their summer months.
• THE FISHERMAN – you may not always find seafood on the menu when out for dinner, so to satisfy your mercury cravings go to the Fisherman and pick up some popcorn shrimp.
• THE SKY BAR @ PULITZER HOTEL – this is one of the best roof top bars with great views, a creative drink menu, and awesome music. You should definitely go in the summer months to enjoy the breeze and views the Sky Bar has to offer.  You just go into the hotel and tell the concierge you are going to the Sky Bar, there are no entrance fees.
• THE FACTORY JUICE BAR / HARPER JUICE – living in a county that loves carne, it can be hard to find healthy options. The Factory and Harper offer great varieties of fresh juices and are great spots to do some homework.
• MARFAS – when you’re hungry and on the go in Belgrano, Marfas is an absolute must. It has amazing sandwiches and salads to-go.
• MEDIALUNAS DEL ABUELO – the medialunas (smaller & sweeter croissants) from here were some of my absolute favorite. You will be a crowd-pleaser when you show up with a dozen or two medialunas for your friends for breakfast.
• TACO BOX – this a chain restaurant in the city of Buenos Aires. If you are looking for a little Tex Mex with delicious (oversized) drinks then Taco Box is place for you.  They could be one of the few restaurants with salsa picante and the price is great.  If you’re going on a date, I suggest getting the Botana and Mexican Bulldog to share.
• DRAFTERS – when all you need is a normal For a country that prides itself on their beef, I was usually dissatisfied when I ordered burgers until I went to Drafters (formally known as Crafters). This is a craft brewery in Recoleta right next to the cemetery.  They also offer a great happy hour and a huge selection of burgers and beer.
• LA CHOLITA / LA HORMIGA – v good v cheap steak. These are basically two versions of the same restaurant; their menus and prices are practically the same.  They have classic Argentine meals that you need to try. The bife de chorizo is incredible and will make you questions if you had ever actually eaten steak before. They are always crowded, so I would recommend getting there before 9 pm for dinner.
• BARRIO CHINO – this is not your typical china town, it only about a block or two, but if you a looking for a cheap lunch this is where you should go. One of the first little restaurants on the left once you go under the gate has amazing Choripan for about 30 pesos.
• LAS LILAS– this is a fancy restaurant in Puerto Madero, so if your parents come to visit or you have a special someone you want to impress, this is definitely the place to go.
• LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN – LPQ is a great place for breakfast and brunch. They offer great daily specials and I have always loved everything I’ve eaten from here. There are a few locations in the city and it’s not too expensive.  They also offer a tasty chocolate oat milk that you need to try!

Some other great places to brunchear:

• NININA BAKERY– Gorriti 4392, Palermo Soho
• LA ALACENA– Gascon 1401, Palermo
• HIERBABUENA– Caseros 454, San Telmo/Barracas
• UCO Restaurant– Fierro Hotel, Soler 5862, Palermo Hollywood
• CAFE CRESPIN– Vera 699, Villa Crespo
• MALVÓN– Serrano 789, Villa Crespo // Lafinur 3275, Palermo Botánico
• YEITE– Humboldt 293, Villa Crespo
• OUI OUI– Nicaragua 6068 // Nicaragua 6099, Palermo Hollywood

Here are some notable places you should visit and things to do while in Buenos Aires:

• El Ateneo is one of the top ten most beautiful book stores in the world and is located on Santa Fe in Recoleta.
• Plaza Serrano is the place to go if you don’t have a bar or club in mind, it’s a great place to start your night. There are tons of bars, clubs and restaurants in this area; just ask your taxi driver to take you here and you are sure to have a good time.  There are usually promoters handing out free entrances and drink offers.
• Rosebar, Kika, Jet, and Shampoo are all great Boliches (clubs) but don’t even think about showing up before 3 am. Buenos Aires is a city that never sleeps, in my experience arriving around 4 am is prime time.
• Milion, Temple, Florería Atlántico, Caracas are cool bars. Milion is very exclusive while Temple offers a great Happy Hour selection.
• Near the Floralis, a scenic metal flower, you can always find people working out. Across the street from it in the park you can even find workout equipment.  In the evenings the park is always full of runners and others getting their sweat on.
• You have to try fernet and coke. You will find it on every menu and is basically the official drink of Argentina.
• The Recoleta Cemetery is beautiful and is in the dead center of Recoleta. On weekends you will find all sorts venders lined up in the park outside the cemetery.  Around the block there are also many restaurants, bars, and shopping.  Beware and do not make my mistake: do not enter Newport Pub, is not a pub, it is a prostitution ring.
• Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and MALBA are two beautiful art museums, and I believe most days Bellas Artes is free.
• Go to Zoo Lujan is you want to pet tigers and play with lion cubs. This is a controversial zoo, the conditions for the animals are not ideal, but if you want to be up close and personal with many animals this is the zoo for you.  You can take a bus near Plaza Italia, but make sure you have enough pesos on your Sube card for the ride there and back, I would recommend at least 250 pesos each.
• La Parque de la Memoria is an absolute must. Once you’ve done your research about the Dirty War you will truly appreciate all the aspects of the park.
• Reserva Ecológica is the perfect location for an picnic and to drink some mate with friends.
• La Bomba de Tiempo is a cirque du solei meats the blue man group kind of show. It is in recoleta and you can buy your tickets in advance.
• If you are looking for a new piercing or tattoo then American Tattoo is the place to go. They are known for their high standards but it is also very affordable.
• Tigre is a great day trip, and you can take a train all the way there leaving from Belgrano. Tigre is a gateway to the rivers and wetlands of the vast Paraná Delta.  You can spend the day swimming and canoeing through the rivers.  It is a great place to go when you need to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
• Take advantage of the laundry services, like Lavarap, in Buenos Aires; they are incredible. You can drop off your laundry one day and pick it up the next clean and folded for less than $5.
• Googles Maps is what dreams are made of. The app still works even on airplane mode once you have set your destination.  It is also the easiest way to find the best route to get to your destination and what makes public transportation so easy.
• Joining a gym is a great way to feel like a local and make friends. I joined crossfit and it was one of the best decisions I made, and remember weight isn’t the only thing you want to gain while abroad so join a gym! There are many CrossFit locations throughout the city such as Aquila, Bigg and Reebok.
• On a Sunday morning you need to go to the San Telmo Market. This is the best place to buy souvenirs for you, your friends and your family.  And when you’re there don’t forget to have some choripan.

If you are looking for a weekend getaway here are some amazing Argentine locations:

• MAR DEL PLATA – go by bus in the summer and enjoy the beach.
• MENDOZA – go wine tasting, white water rafting in the Andes, and visit and Estancia.
• EL CALAFATE / EL CHALTEN – fly to Calafate, stay in America del Sur Hostel, rent a car, visit the Glacier (drive there with your rented car to save some pesos for that excusion, you can buy tickets for the boat at the dock), drive around to the differnte view points, then drive to El Chalten to hike the mountain that the Patagonia label is based off of. It’s a lone hike so you will need the entire day, I recommend starting as early as you can.
• BARILOCHE – located in the lake district of Patagonia you can go horseback riding through the Andes, visit Los Arroyos and Isla Victoria, go zip lining, spend a day at the beach, hike around the lakes. Go to the tourism office downtown to get all the information you need! I recommend going there on your first day and planning your trip around what’s available.
• Go to an estancia and spend a weekend with some gauchos.
• If you want more stamps on your passport visit Uruguay and Chile as they are close and easy to travel to!

Hopefully these lists will inspire you to try new things! If you have any questions about Buenos Aires or traveling around Argentina please feel free to reach out to me at alundhild@umass.edu!

https://vsco.co/alundhild/journal/buenas-vibes-from-buenos-aires

https://vsco.co/alundhild/journal/el-chalten-el-calafate