Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the federal capital of Argentina, sitting on the western bank of the Río de la Plata estuary and divided into 48 neighborhoods. Broad tree-lined avenues cross through residential quarters where buildings in French and Italian Revival styles sit next to glass towers while public squares filled with purple jacaranda blooms separate street blocks.

Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza set up a small outpost in 1536 but the settlement collapsed after repeated conflicts. Juan de Garay returned in 1580 to refound the colony and European immigration waves in the late 19th century brought millions who reshaped the streetscape and social fabric.

Neighbors meet in corner cafes to share a gourd of mate and talk about how their football team played last Sunday. Weekend dinners often start late at grills where families spend hours eating slow-cooked meat and chatting between courses.

Trains, buses and six subway lines run from dawn until midnight with rechargeable cards sold at corner shops and station machines. Many shops close between midafternoon and evening while museums and galleries tend to shut their doors on Mondays throughout the year.

The city holds one of the highest concentrations of bookshops per capita anywhere on the planet and many stay open past midnight to serve night readers. The widest avenue in South America crosses through the center and takes at least three separate traffic signal phases to walk from one side to the other.

Location: Argentina

Inception: June 11, 1580

Elevation above the sea: 25 m

Part of: Greater Buenos Aires

Shares border with: Buenos Aires Province

Address: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Website: https://buenosaires.gob.ar

GPS coordinates: -34.60956,-58.38879

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:51