Buenos Aires is a formidably large city at first glance, but most of the interesting neighborhoods for travelers are clustered along narrow strip near the bank of the Rio de la Plata.
The historic core of Buenos Aires consists of the central neighborhoods of San Nicolás and Monserrat, which are traversed by the city's main pedestrian thoroughfare Florida Street. This area contains most of Buenos Aires' main government buildings and museums and is the preferred location for the street protests that occur with startling regularity.
Just south of the center is San Telmo, the oldest neighborhood in Buenos Aires and the location of the famous Sunday street market. San Telmo has also earned a reputation for being Buenos Aires' most bohemian and artistic neighborhood.
South of San Telmo is La Boca, whose brightly colored shanties are the most easily recognized symbol of Buenos Aires and frequently adorn the covers of guidebooks. Staying in La Boca means total immersion in the music and art of the city, but be aware that this neighborhood has large swaths that are not recommended for tourists after dark. The safest area is considered to be around the colorful alley El Caminito.
Buenos Aires' most upscale, modern neighborhoods are located north of the center. Retiro is a smaller district that is home to the city's main train and bus terminals as well as the large green space Plaza General San Martin. Despite its small size, Retiro is the site of many of Buenos Aires' most lavish mansions and numerous five star hotels.
Northwest of Retiro are the stylish, residential barrios of Recoleta and Palermo. These districts have most of the embassies and are favorites of Buenos Aires' expat population. Recoleta and Palermo are among the best areas for restaurants, nightlife, and shopping but some travelers may feel they don't capture the essence of Buenos Aires as much as the neighborhoods closer to the center.
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@zzlangherhans has toured the globe with his family, having visited over 55 countries. He writes about their journeys on his excellent blog - Fledgling Explorers
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