Today, we add another do-it-yourself Buenos Aires walking tour for our clients. You may have already walked our earlier Recoleta to Palermo Soho walking tour using Recoleta’s and Palermo’s plazas and parks – a big favorite for all our clients.
Other helpful guides for DIY Buenos Aires sightseeing are:
· Sightseeing by Buenos Aires bus (colectivo)
· Buenos Aires Best Attractions – DIY City Tour
· Weekend walking (taxi) tour Buenos Aires
When writing this blog (3 months old) we are learning, and your questions help us to better understand what our clients need, so this walking tour of the central area of Buenos Aires, mainly around the barrios of San Nicolas and Monserrat, is a little more detailed and directional.
Start at Plaza San Martin; finish at Plaza del Congreso; about four Kilometres in distance; 3 hours to a whole day to complete, subject to how often you stop and for how long.
We start at Plaza San Martin, a large leafy square that adjoins Retiro where you find the English Clock Tower. The square is more a large leafy park designed by Carlos Thays, it also holds a memorial to those that died in the Falklands war. You can stop at the Museum of Arms if you like military memorabilia such as cannon, swords and small arms or if that is not your thing head straight for Florida Street.
Florida Street has its Harrods, long closed, and more importantly the Galaria Pacifico. Pop in for a browse. Outside you will always find tango dancers, singers and the odd puppeteer to amuse you and if you are not so lucky, you might have to listen to the haunting sound of those pipes! If you spend any amount of time in South America followed around by pipes players, you will no doubt dislike the sound immensely (I am Scots with the same aversion to the bagpipes).
From Galeria Pacifico on Florida you head west on to Avenida Cordoba to cross the Avenida 9 de Julio, this large avenue is one of the widest in the world, we often see if we can make it across before the light change green and the answer is no. To cross safely without running you need to complete the crossing with one stop in the middle. After crossing, you soon arrive at Teatro Cervantes and Templo de la Congregacion Israelita.
Now take Libertad street south to Teatro Colon, at this point we get questions, ‘how do I know what is south?’ Try taking a map with you, get a good quality map, it helps, and a cheap compass might prove helpful if you cannot read a map. Teatro Colon is currently undergoing works and if you would like to know more about this impressive opera house there is a free Teatro Colon exhibition.
Keep going south on Lebertad until you reach Avenida Corrientes and then turn left and head back towards Avenida 9 de Julio where you will find yourself right in front of the iconic obelisk (el obelisco). This where all our guests usually get lost because of the confusing nature of Plaza del la Republica, the traffic, the hoards of people or quite possibly another demonstration that brings the city to a halt. You need to cross the Plaza and turn left into Carlos Pellegrini and walk up to Lavalle Street where you turn right onto Lavalle.
Once on Lavalle you are heading back to Florida where you are going to follow the street down to, this is a real mouth full, turning left into Diagonal Roque Saenz Pena for a short walk to Plaza de Mayo.
Once you have visited and photographed all the various building in Buenos Aires most important square you are going to go west down Avenida de Mayo, again, keep your eye’s peeled at this is where some people get lost. Make sure you take the right street west as there are three – you want the middle one.
This is where we suggest you stop for some food and beverage, on your left on the way down Avenida de Mayo, just passed the third block is cafe Tortoni, an historic cafe, and great for people watching, good coffee, great hot chocolate and a Tango review on Thursdays that is well worth seeing.
Now just follow Avenida de Mayo all the way down to Plaza del Congres, which brings us to the end of our Buenos Aires walking tour.
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