Activities - Buenos Aires

Inherent to tourism is the search for experiences that lead to a real knowledge of the city or country that one is visiting, which is often very different than one’s own. Furthermore, as one wants to develop a notion of the habits, uses and costumes, and lifestyles of the city or country’s natives. one sets off to explore a city’s activities.

Exploring a city’s recreational activities, whether it be by taking part or even just researching it, converts the tourist into an active agent, as opposed to one who merely contemplates and whose interactions suggest complacency, a crime in and of itself.

Moreover, observing integrated differences, such as drinking mate, for example, permits one to get close to conventions and provides a cultural enrichment without comparison.

It is therefore important to list in what, distinct porteño activities consist and where they take place, so that the tourist can approach and participate in and relax from the same recreational activities as do the inhabitants of Buenos Aires – including cultural manifestations, sporting events, and entertainment, etc.

Cultural Activities

They are those that have a cultural value, and are therefore appreciated and accredited historically for it.

Buenos Aires has a wide range of possibilities, including: museums, exhibition halls and lectures (many of them held at “Cultural Centers”), art galleries, theaters and movie theaters, patrimonial cemeteries (The Recoleta Cemetery), guided excursions, libraries, churches and cathedrals (The Cathedral of Buenos Aires), among others.

Open Spaces

Buenos Aires is bedecked with open spaces, most of which are green.

As much in its center as in the periphery, every one of the city’s neighborhoods has more than one, either in the form of a plaza or a great park. They are generally outfitted with the proper infrastructure for visitors (sandboxes and games for children, park benches, water fountains, and refreshment stands). Furthermore, they expose some of the most diverse and abundant trees and flowers, and commemorative busts and statues.

Recreational activities take place in many of these spaces. For children, there are puppets shows as well as other ones performed by magicians and mimes. Adults can enjoy folkloric concerts as well as ones performed by musical ensembles and singers.

The “Costanera” (South and North) is also a very popular destination, with its promenade that runs along the La Plata River.

Open air shopping areas and artesian markets also fall under this category, which operate on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as holidays, throughout the year.
Sports

Soccer is the quintessential Argentine sport with Buenos Aires at the center.

The imposing soccer stadiums are those of the two traditionally favorite teams: Boca’s “La Bombonera” and River’s “El Monumental.” In addition to the arenas, they have trophy museums and sales points for equipment that identifies each team (such as jerseys, soccer logos, soccer shoes, and souvenirs, etc.).

Gastronomy

One predominant feature of Argentine and porteño idiosyncrasy is a passion for eating well, the pleasure of an aromatic coffee or a substantial aperitif. The city is therefore filled with a very large proliferation of restaurants, bars and confectioneries.

As with respect to the plazas and parks, there isn’t an area that doesn’t have places of this character. That is not to say that there aren’t zones that are singularly accredited with a profusion of them: in the porteño center, the Palermo neighborhoods, in San Telmo, in La Boca and in Puerto Madero, to name a few.

Commercial activities

Without a doubt, one activity common to all kinds of tourism is shopping -with the intention of acquiring a range of items from books to clothing.

The main bookstore area is located on the principle central streets (Corrientes, Callao, Av. de Mayo). Nonetheless, there are also weekend markets, set up in large parks, such as Centenario Park and Rivadavia Park, etc.

One event that has worldwide prestige is the annual book fair, usually held at La Rural, April though May.

Clothing stores are also located in established areas, (including the neighborhood of Once, along the Santa Fe Avenue, and on Florida- a pedestrian street). Still, the majority of the porteño neighborhoods have their own centers. Additionally, shopping malls and galleries gather, in their carefully designed locales, desirable objects that a demanding consumer expects.

Nocturnal activities

Definitely a city for the lovers of the night- clubs, Peñas and Tanguerias stay open all night long.

The clubs are places to go dancing in which the orchestras that formerly animated them have been substituted by electronic music.

Peñas consist of a spectacle, generally folkloric, in which the acts of the invited artists are followed by dancing or singing conducted by their assistants. Drinks are also served, as well as typical foods such as empanadas, humita and locro, among others.
The Tanguerias- as the name suggests- are places specifically designated for the execution of tango, in all of its variations: musical, singing, dancing, and tango poets alike find their natural scene in these places. It’s common practice that elementary dance instructions be given, so that incipient tourists can actively participate in the dancing.