Free Attractions and Public Places in Buenos Aires

Located in the Recoleta neighbourhood, the National Museum of Fine Arts is one of the museums with the highest cultural value in Argentina and Latin America and a must-see on the list of places to visit free of charge. You can find an extensive collection of colonial art that includes paintings and artefacts, and European art from different periods.

The collection of paintings, in addition to being the most significant in the entire country, includes works by renowned Argentine and foreign artists: Berni, Alonso, Castagnino, Velázquez, Rubens, Pettoruti, Marc Chagall, Pollock, Amaral, Kandinsky, Klee, Portinari, Rivera, Degas, Gauguin, Goya, Renoir and Picasso.

At the Bellas Artes, you can see how history merges with the modern, as it offers travelling collections that allow you to appreciate the work of contemporary artists.

If you want to take a free of charge guided tour, you can request it through prior registration.

Free entry is only for Argentine residents. Open from 11 am to 8 pm, Tuesday to Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Located in the Palermo neighbourhood, in what was formerly the Buenos Aires City Zoo, the Ecopark has become one of the favourite free attractions in Buenos Aires, since it is designed to be a family adventure and a walk through nature.

A great opportunity to enjoy a day outdoors, but also a way to raise awareness about the conservation of native species that are in danger of extinction.

Ecopark has the goal of conserving and studying flora, fauna and ecology: You will find some animals walking free and others under care and protection. It is always recommended to follow the rules of the space to protect flora and wildlife. 

With 16.7 hectares of extension, you can tour and participate in a wide variety of free activities:  Guided tours, talks at the renewable energy dome, or visits to the Río de la Plata exploratory. You will also find a water plaza, a carousel, interactive animatronics and the 4D Eco Evolution experience.

The Ecopark is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In the wide range of free walks and tours in Buenos Aires, this place cannot be missing due to its history and attractions. The Recoleta Cemetery is considered an open-air museum, since it has tombs and mausoleums that, due to their work and beauty, are true works of art.

The remains of important personalities in Argentine history, such as Eva Perón, Domingo Sarmiento, Raúl Alfonsín, Victoria Ocampo, Hipólito Yrigoyen and Facundo Quiroga lie in the historical cemetery.

To learn about some of the stories of this landmark, you can take guided tours. You’ll discover curiosities and legends about the cemetery, the architecture and the characters who rest there.

Entry is free for Argentine residents, foreigners must pay for admission. Open every day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Looking for a place to unwind in the middle of the city? The Botanical Garden Carlos Thays is the perfect free activity to do in Buenos Aires.

This magical spot is minutes away from the Ecopark, La Rural and Plaza Italia, and houses an impressive collection of plants and trees from different areas around the world. It’s an extension of 5 hectares where you will find more than 5,500 species, both native and foreign.

The beautiful sculptures, the paths between the plants offering benches to sit on, and the greenhouses and ponds make this park a unique verdant oasis.  

The Botanical Garden has a stand at the entrance and library with informative posters: curious visitors will discover more about the plants they are contemplating. The Botanical Garden usually organises events, so we recommend you pay attention to their social networks.

The Friends of the Tram Association organise these free walks in the Caballito neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. They also offer tour guides, where you’ll learn about the tram’s history, as well as some technical aspects.

Trolley cars have free tours on weekends and holidays: every 20 minutes from their only station, located at Emilio Miter and José Bonifacio, you can take a twenty-block circuit excursion through the neighbourhood.

Tram schedules may vary: On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays they depart from the station from 4 to 7 p.m. If touring on Sundays, visitors can take the morning tour from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Among the various options for free walks and tours in Buenos Aires, this is an excellent plan to share with the family, since it is not only picturesque but also educational.

There is no doubt, this is one of the free places to visit in Buenos Aires that you are going to love…

Chosen by the British newspaper The Guardian as the second most important bookstore in the world in 2008, Ateneo Grand Splendid leaves visitors speechless due to its architectural beauty.

The building that holds the immense bookstore used to be the Grand Splendid Cinema and Theatre, the place where great figures such as Carlos Gardel and Roberto Firpo once performed. What makes this bookstore so attractive? It preserves the charm of that era and its original structure: the frescoes decorating the dome accompany the balconies that overlook the stage.

At the cafeteria, you can enjoy a delicious snack and admire the architectural details of this beautiful place while reading a book. 2 thousand square metres spread over four floors to find a wide variety of copies of books, music and movies. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 to 7 p.m.

Enjoy a day in Buenos Aires outdoors at one of the natural reserves: the Costanera Sur, one of the favourite places to visit at no cost in Buenos Aires.

Ecological reserves are green spaces intended to preserve and protect fauna and flora. The Costanera Sur is located in Puerto Madero and is the largest green space in the City of Buenos Aires.

It has 350 hectares to enjoy and relax in the middle of all the native vegetation, both with family and friends  Due to its location, it is possible to access the coast of the Río de la Plata, through different pedestrian paths, and discover the different species of birds, small mammals and reptiles that inhabit the reserve.

Costanera Sur Space has two entrances and is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm It can be accessed by bicycle and hiking. In addition, at both entrances, there is a bike bus to rent or repair bicycles.

Guided tours are offered on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays times are 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., although we recommend checking their website for changes.

Open on Sundays, the San Telmo Fair, a unique space, will surprise you with stalls of antiques and curiosities.

Here you can find an infinite number of objects for personal use, home decoration and gifts. The fair is divided into areas: on the square, you will find antiques and on Defensa Street, crafts and unusual items.

A must-visit? Plaza Dorrego Square, one of the few in the City of Buenos Aires that is completely paved, offers a flea market where you will find different collective treasures.

Around the square, many 19th-century mansions have been recycled and transformed into cafes, antique shops or top-notch restaurants. Bars usually set up tables in the square, where many artists gather to exhibit and sell their works. San Telmo Fair is a great plan among the proposals for free tours in Buenos Aires.

The San Telmo Fair is open every Sunday and on holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.