WHERE TO STAY IN BUENOS AIRES: BEST DISTRICTS + HOTELS.
Buenos Aires is the absolute definiton of sprawling metropolis. As we moved around the city, we learnt about the history of how it had evolved. How it was once a small place, with La Boca as the main residential district, but it soon evolved.
Wealthy people moved North and expanded the city and before long, an influx of immigration from Europe caused Buenos Aires to expand even further.
As a visitor, it can be super overwhelming to decide where to stay in Buenos Aires. Each district, or barrio, has it’s own unique personality and charm. Each has it’s own safety considerations. And, each district offers accommodation that may suit different types of travellers – from couples, to solo, budget and beyond.
Choosing where to stay in Buenos Aires is a big decision. I believe that Buenos Aires is one of those cities where the area you stay in will dictate a lot about your experience. Subsequently, it’s important to choose the right place for you.
Based on our experience of speaking to locals and travelling to Buenos Aires ourselves, here is our guide to where to stay in Buenos Aires.
Top Picks: At a glance
Don’t have time to read the full article? 😊
Here are the top picks for best places to stay in Buenos Aires
- BEST HOSTEL: America del Sur Hostel, San Telmo
- BEST OVERALL: Home Hotel, Palermo Soho
- BEST BOUTIQUE/ DESIGN HOTEL: Be Jardin Escondido, Palermo Soho
- BEST LUXURY HOTEL: Palacio Duhau- Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, Recoleta
Where to stay in Buenos Aires: A quick overview
Here’s a short overview of the best places to stay in Buenos Aires – there is far more detail in this post below.
First time visitors: Palermo or Recoleta
Nightlife: Palermo
Gastronomy: Palermo
Luxury/ Upmarket accommodation $$$: Recoleta or Puerto Madero
Budget Friendly accommodation $: San Telmo
Central Location: Mircocentro
Quiet stay: Retiro
Where to stay in Buenos Aires: Palermo
Palermo is a vast and diverse neighborhood, encompassing several sub-districts with unique characters. From trendy Palermo Soho with its upscale boutiques, street art and vibrant nightlife to laid-back Palermo Hollywood with its artistic flair, Palermo caters to a variety of tastes.
In our opinion, this is the best area to stay in Buenos Aires if you this is your first time in the city and you want to enjoy somewhere with more authentic “neighborhood” feel.
During our stay in Palermo, we loved the ease of strolling out for dinner or coffee. It felt like a safe, diverse and cosmopolitan district.
Isn’t Palermo too far out? Palermo is in the North of the city, but we found it pretty easy to get anywhere we needed. Uber works really well in Buenos Aires and you can be in the centre in around 20 minutes.
Best for: Anyone who enjoys nightlife and wants restaurants/ happy hours on their door step. Foodies!
What to do in Palermo:
Take a food tour around the district to identify the best places that locals like to eat and drink. Dine at Don Julio restaurant – a one Michelin star steak restaurant, known as the best steak restaurant in the world. Explore the parks, go vintage shopping and spend time people watching.
You can find our detailed guide to exploring Palermo and the 17 best things to do here.
Where to stay in Palermo
- BUDGET: Malevo Hostel is the most popular hostel in Palermo Soho with an 8.8 score on Booking.com. Lopez Hostel & Suites is a slightly smarter option, offering private rooms at budget rates.
- MID-RANGE: Home Hotel is a boutique modern hotel in the heart of Palermo, it comes complete with a friendly hotel cat (photos below). Another choice is 5411 Soho Boutique Hotel, offering bijou design features in central Soho.
- LUXURY: In Palermo Hollywood, you can find the aptly named Be Hollywood, an upscale hotel with a rooftop pool. Alternatively, Mine Hotel, in Soho, offers a homely vibe but with luxury features. However, probably the most well loved luxury hotel in Soho is Be Jardin Escondido– a top pick for adults only romance in Palermo.
Where to stay in Buenos Aires: Recoleta
Home to the famous Recoleta Cemetery and upscale boutiques, Recoleta exudes a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere. Wide avenues, grand buildings, and a refined culinary scene characterize this area.
Best for: Upscale accommodation, relaxed nightlife
What to do in Recoleta:
Pay your respects at the iconic Recoleta Cemetery (Eva Perón’s resting place), delve into European art at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, wander through the luxurious stores on Avenida Alvear, or enjoy a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Parque Carlos Thays.
Where to stay in Recoleta
- BUDGET: Recoleta isn’t really a budget district, but there are a few places. Casa Franca is one such option for a budget hostel in this area.
- MID-RANGE: Casa Bevant is a gorgeous mid-range choice in Recoleta. It has a relaxed vibe and is known for the helpful and friendly staff.
- LUXURY: For absolute top class luxury, the best pick is Palacio Duhau (Park Hyatt). If I could picture a luxury hotel, this would be it – decadent marble, pristine gardens and every detail you could possibly ask for.
Where to stay in Buenos Aires: Retiro
Retiro is a green and leafy oasis in the heart of the city. This area of the city is home to boutique hotels, designer stores, quaint restaurants and a slower pace of life.
Best for: A slow paced trip, upscale romance
What to do in Retiro:
Explore Plaza San Martin and visit Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento. Drink coffee, and later wine, at Parisian style cafes. Visit the Museo de Armas to see various weaponary displays.
Where to stay in Retiro
- MID-RANGE: 1253 Recoleta Small Hotel is on the edge of Retiro/ Recoleta. It offers boutique style accommodation, but for a reasonable price. Guests love the value for money, the comfortable features and the staff.
- LUXURY: Casa Lucia in Retiro is found close to the famous Basilica. A luxury design hotel with a chic art-deco bar and tons of fabulous features. Guests particularly rave about the welcoming staff and the service. This is the type of place to enjoy an Old Fashioned cocktail in a comfortable leather armchair, with a good book.
Where to stay in Buenos Aires: San Telmo
Steeped in history and tango allure, San Telmo is a treasure trove of colorful houses, cobbled streets, and a thriving antique market on Sundays. This artistic neighborhood is perfect for those seeking a bohemian atmosphere.
San Telmo once was seen as an unsafe neighborhood, but it is now considered by locals to be much safer.
There are certain areas where it is not advisable to be at night, but the centre of San Telmo has become more popular with tourists and as such, has a safer feeling to it.
Best for: Bohemians and budget travellers
What to do in San Telmo:
Explore the labyrinthine streets, unearth hidden gems at the Sunday market, dine at the food market, take a tango lesson, and delve into Modern Art at MACBA.
Where to stay in San Telmo
- BUDGET: America del Sur Hostel in San Telmo is hugely popular with budget travellers. Guests rate it 8.5 out of 10 on booking.com and love the vast communal space and location. If you can’t get booked in there, Circus Hostel is also great and has a swimming pool!
- MID-RANGE: San Telmo has a good selection of mid-range accommodation. Via Via Guest House is an upbeat and fun hotel. L’Adresse Hotel Boutique is a relaxed and quirky option in the heart of the district.
- LUXURY: Anselmo (Curio Collection by Hilton)is a chic and spacious hotel in the San Telmo district. Guests particularly love the location and attentiveness of staff.
Where to stay in Buenos Aires: Microcentro
The beating heart of Buenos Aires, Microcentro is the city’s commercial and financial center. Towering office buildings, bustling streets, and historical landmarks define this energetic area.
This is an area that is a must-see during your Buenos Aires itinerary.
Personally, I would not choose to stay in this area as it is far too busy and also not the best place to enjoy in the evening. I would rather opt for somewhere a little further out that allows a better overall experience. However, if you’re flying in/ out of Buenos Aires and don’t have time to explore fully, this area may suit you.
Best for: If you’re only in Buenos Aires for one day, business travellers
What to do in Microcentro:
Visit the iconic Obelisco (you may recognize this from scenes after Argentina’s world cup win), explore the grand architecture of Palacio Barolo, wander through the bustling Galerias Pacifico shopping arcade, and delve into Argentine history at the impressive Casa Rosada (the Pink House).
Where to stay in Microcentro
- BUDGET: Millhouse Avenue is a budget proposition in Monserrat (the centre). It has dorm style accommodation or small private rooms. Bright and clean decor throughout.
- MID-RANGE: Gardi Hotel & Suites is clean, modern and welcoming. Popular for the central location.
- LUXURY: Alvear Art Hotel is a modern 17 story hotel in the centre of Buenos Aires. Guests love the location and state of the art rooms. Hotel Pulitzer is an alternative. A plush pad with a roof terrace.
Where to stay in Buenos Aires: Puerto Madero
Once a neglected dock area, Puerto Madero has undergone a dramatic transformation. Now, it’s a trendy waterfront district boasting modern high-rises, upscale restaurants, and swanky bars.
Personally, this is not my favourite area of Buenos Aires. I find it a little homogeneous and I think there are better areas to enjoy authentic Argentinean life. But, if you’re a fan of a more modern area then you may like Puerto Madero.
Best for: Fans of modern architecture, upscale experience
What to do in Puerto Madero:
Dine at acclaimed restaurants, indulge in a luxurious spa treatment at a fancy hotel, enjoy a scenic river cruise, or explore the modern art scene at Museo PROA.
Where to stay in Puerto Madero
- MID-RANGE: For mid-range accommodation in this area, there are lots of well appointed apartments to choose from. This, trendy apartment, is typical of the area. Often you can find a pool and communal space shared by multiple apartments.
- LUXURY: Faena Hotel Buenos Aires is the height of luxury in Puerto Madero. A modern hotel, with a gorgeous outdoor pool. When it comes to decor, think leather, fur and all the trimmings.
A three day itinerary for Buenos Aires
The reason that I so passionately wanted to create a three day itinerary for Buenos Aires is that when I visited, I was quite overwhelmed by how much there was to do in the city.
All the blogs I read recommended a million amazing things to do, but they were all found in different parts of the city and I found it impossible to imagine how I could cram it all in.
When I visit a city, I don’t want to end up feeling frazzled after a few days of manic sightseeing. I believe that you get more from your travels when you slow things down and take it all in.
I want to spend time in fabulous coffee shops, drink a glass of wine and people watch, browse markets and romanticize the hell out of my life. For me, I like to avoid some of the “must do” tourist attractions and find my own hang outs instead.
And that is what I will be sharing with you in this three day Buenos Aires itinerary.
Click here to read our three day itinerary for Buenos Aires.
Where to next in Argentina?
You can find our guides to travelling in Argentina below:
- Buenos Aires – a three day itinerary
- Best things to do in Palermo, Buenos Aires
- Dining at Don Julio restaurant in Buenos Aires
- Where to stay in Buenos Aires
- Where to stay in Mendoza
- Our experience of staying in a wine hotel in Mendoza
- Wine cycling in Mendoza – a top experience
- Best hikes in Bariloche
- Best hikes & things to do in El Chalten
- Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier – a guide
- Driving in Argentina: A guide
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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