"Like any great city, Buenos Aires has its Museum Mile. For art, standouts include the National Fine Arts Museum (MNBA), with its mix of Argentine and European pieces, as well as the Buenos Aires Latin American Art Museum (MALBA), highlighting the works of Latin American artists. Walk the boulevard between the MNBA and MALBA to see some of the city’s most luxurious real estate. From the MNBA, cross Figueroa Alcorta and swing by the University of Buenos Aires Law School and Floralis Genérica , a 65-foot, stainless-steel kinetic sculpture representing a massive flower. Follow Figueroa Alcorta to Castilla, then turn left into Grand Bourg Park, a stately, if petite, plaza surrounded by imposing palaces, or take a right into Palermo Chico with its circular streets, grand mansions, and palaces. By Travesías"

"The Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve owes its creation to rubble from a highway construction project that was dumped into the river: As nature took over the landfill, new life emerged along the shoreline. Look out over the estuary—that spot on the horizon (on clear days, at least) is Uruguay. Glance back toward the city and admire the urban-rustic juxtaposition of cattails framing sleek steel towers. You could spend all day walking the trails here, so give yourself at least an hour; rent a bike at the main entrance to get around faster. There are free guided tours in Spanish on weekends, plus monthly bird-watching excursions and full-moon nighttime walks. By Travesías"

"Exploring an urban archaeological site at El Zanjón de Granados Touring this one-of-a-kind urban villa and archaeological site allows a unique insight into the city's history. The beautifully restored urban mansion was once the residence of a wealthy Spanish family; they fled for higher ground when yellow fever struck San Telmo, and the abandoned building later served as tenement housing for countless immigrant families. When a new buyer purchased the property in 1985, he discovered layers of historical objects in the subterranean tunnels. Today, knowledgeable local guides take small groups through the grand villa and its underground maze, pointing out the old water cistern and display cases filled with antique children's toys, old hairbrushes and beautifully painted dishes, reminders of an era gone by."

"Visiting the Pope's Parish Up until recently, the Catedral Metropolitana was famous for a few things - the rococo altar, the Christ statue carved from algarrobo (carob) wood, the fact that it's the final resting place of the great South American liberator General Jose de San Martin. Lately the city cathedral has made headlines for something bigger - it's the parish of the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires , Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope in history. Stop in to admire the beautiful baroque interior - and while you're here, picture the throngs of proud Argentinians who crowded into the nave on the day Bergoglio was chosen as the next pope."

"El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookstore Buenos Aires is a city of readers—it supports more bookstores per capita than any other place in the world. The crown jewel of the librerías here is the Ateneo Grand Splendid. Housed in a theater where music legends such as Carlos Gardel once attracted vast crowds, the store features shelf after shelf of tempting volumes on its rounded balconies. Italian frescoes on the domed ceiling and plush red-velvet curtains are from the theater’s original 1919 design. The four-story space carries over 120,000 books and a local-music selection, and there’s a café on the erstwhile stage. By Travesías"

"Buenos Aires on Two Wheels Okay, okay. Unless you're a serious cyclist who travels with his own custom-made helmet - or an adventurous traveler with some local friends - you're probably not going to be joining the nighttime Masa Critica group bike ride through Buenos Aires ' streets, as pictured above. (Though it's not impossible - check out www.masacriticabsas.com.ar for details.) That doesn't mean you can't explore the city on two wheels. Thanks to an ever-expanding network of bike paths and a relatively new urban bike-share system, cycling through Buenos Aires is more accessible than ever. But unless you know your way around already, it's best to start off with a guide. Biking Buenos Aires is one of several reputable agencies offering full- and half-day tours plus specialized options, like the Parks & Plazas tour, or the Sunday afternoon architecture tour. Not to mention that they offer the holy grail of Buenos Aires bike tours - the Sunday street art bike tour, organized in collaboration with Graffitimundo."

"Discover Argentina's immigrant past New York has Ellis Island; Buenos Aires has the Hotel de Inmigrantes. The huge waterfront building, located near the old port docks in what's today known as Puerto Madero, served as the temporary home for waves of European immigrants arriving to Argentina between 1911-53. Today, the Hotel de Inmigrantes is an intriguing (and free) museum that few tourists see: come to see photos and memorabilia representing the many immigrant groups who came through the port of Buenos Aires, plus colorful advertisements for trans-Atlantic passages and model boats."

"If the name doesn’t tip you off, photos of Eva and Juan You-Know-Who, crammed into every available space, announce this restaurant’s campy (though not entirely tongue-in-cheek) political sympathies. No matter your ideological bent, you’ll enjoy PP’s exquisite versions of traditional Argentine stews, grilled meats, and freshwater fish. Menu items bear humorous names related to political trivia you probably won’t get, but you might learn the words to a peronista march diners and waiters intone every hour, on the hour. Order the braised osso buco with polenta or the grilled pacú (a freshwater fish) with potatoes, tomatoes, and capers. By Travesías"

"Behind a massive bougainvillea vine that covers a century-old mansion on the corner of a quiet, cobbled street, San Telmo’s Café Rivas evinces an elegant, 1920s vibe—but the food is decidedly contemporary. The menu is short and to the point. Three prix-fixe options are posted for lunch and change daily to delight a claque of assiduous regulars. Standout items at dinner include a nightly ceviche special and the dry-aged beef. There’s also a Sunday brunch with traditional favorites like eggs Benedict. In the evening, a bartender arrives to serve up cocktails, and there’s live piano on weekends. By Travesías"

"Founded in 1982 by local poet Rubén Derlis, this café once served as a meeting place for writers, artists, and left-leaning thinkers anxious to speak freely after years of fear and oppression under Argentina’s late-’70s military dictatorships. Order the picada , a charcuterie and cheese sampler; lubricate with a traditional local-favorite drink like a Fernet-and-Coke or a Cynar, the tangy artichoke liqueur mixed with pomelo, a sour, grapefruit-flavored soda. Wood paneling and exposed brick, walls covered in photographs, and shelves packed with antique objets make La Poesía an inviting space to linger over a book from the lending library or listen to the live tango music played on Tuesday and Thursday nights. By Travesías"

"Coffee and Tea, Turn-of-the-Century Style On weekends, the line to get into Las Violetas stretches halfway around the block. (A little much, you say, in a city that's filled with lovely cafes?) No, in fact, the locals know what they're doing. This gem of a corner cafe may be the most beautiful in the entire city, and coming here for weekend breakfast or afternoon tea is a proud tradition. Once you do have a seat—it's much easier to pull off on a weekday—admire the stained-glass windows and old brass fixtures, and the prim and proper porteño couples of a certain age, out for their daily merienda. You're off the tourist track here, in a barrio with few other attractions for travelers, so catching a glimpse of the neighborhood's residents is part of the fun. On the way out, stop in the chocolate shop, located in one corner of the huge cafe, for a little souvenir to take home. But who are we kidding, those chocolates aren't going to make it much further than your hotel room."

"Originally a puertas cerradas restaurant (that is, one operated from a private residence), Doña gained such instant word-of-mouth that it quickly moved from the chef’s apartment and opened as a full-blown, public corner bistro in Almagro. Billed as comida tipo casa , the cuisine as an homage to the women in the chef’s family. As many Argentines have learned from their nonnas , pasta is the ultimate comfort food—and it’s the star of the show at Doña. Reserve a table for a dinner of house-specialty fusilli with meatballs and sauce. By Travesías"

"Centro cultural ex asilo Exposiciones temporarias en un ex convento y asilo By Mariana Quiroga"

"A Cup of Tea at the Alvear Palace Don't let the 'Afternoon Tea' title fool you: at the Alvear Palace's lavish service, you'll be having far more than a cup of Earl Grey. Guests are pleasantly stuffed here, in fact, with beautiful little cakes, homemade scones, tiny tea sandwiches, and elegant Kir Royales, and treated to classy tableside service, silver cart and all. This afternoon tea is a meal in itself, and an opportunity to experience some of the old-fashioned glamour of Avenida Alvear and its signature luxury hotel. Make reservations - and for the best table, ask for a seat in the covered garden patio."

"Glowing Candles & Cold Beer in a Classic Corner Cafe It's true: picturesque old corner cafes are practically a dime a dozen in the bohemian barrio of San Telmo. But Bar Seddon, distinguished by the city as one of the bares notables (notable historic bars) of Buenos Aires , has a few things going for it. First, there's the location. The bar is situated at the intersection of Defensa and Chile , smack dab in the center of Sunday's street fair, when the main drag is closed to traffic. Even on a regular evening, the central location and huge windows opening to the busy sidewalks allow for prime people-watching opportunities. Then there's the interior itself. Hanging lanterns and dripping yellow candles cast a romantic glow across old sculptures, rustic wooden tables and tiled black and white floors, cold beer is served in icy glass mugs, a few neighborhood guys sit at the central wooden bar, with couples, families and groups of friends taking the tables around the periphery. The food is nothing special; just come for a drink and a little San Telmo atmosphere."

"This small, chic hotel came into being after an Argentine PR director and her English record producer husband couldn’t find the perfect place for their visiting guests to stay during their Buenos Aires wedding. They needed a place with a bar, a spa, a nice pool, good cocktails in a friendly environment—and so in 2005 they opened Home, one of the pioneer boutique properties in Palermo Hollywood. Strategically located within blocks of much of the city’s nightlife, Home has become something of a base for those coming to the city looking to indulge in it. Generally though, Home’s reputation is quite positive. Few modern design elements have been left out, fromKnoll furniture and vintage wallpaper to the Chilean wool rugs and tech-friendly amenities like iPod-ready stereos and LCD TVs. A spacious walled garden area is the focal point of the property, holding the heated swimming pool plus deck chairs and ferns, alongside a bar and restaurant."