San Telmo
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Live Music,
Off-the-Beaten Path,
People Watching,
Popular with Locals,
Neighborhood
Like La Boca, the central barrio of San Telmo is one of Buenos Aires’ tango haunts.
Formerly an up-market residential area, the area’s crumbling mansions and atmosphere of faded glory form the perfect backdrop for the city’s artists and musicians who now call this inner-city enclave home.
Visit on Sundays to browse the enormous Plaza Dorrego antiques fair, clap along to the tango buskers and relax with a drink at one of the surrounding cafes.
The streets here are picturesquely cobbled, and the fascinating little shops are well worth a browse. Visit San Telmo at night to take in a tango show in one of the area’s many clubs.
Latest Reviews
Review by DannyUF, USA, March 2013
Doing what: Buenos Aires Bike Tour: San Telmo and La Boca Districts
We are so glad we did the bike tour in Buenos Aires. What a great way to see the city. You must be at least a little athletic because you do have to maneuver pretty well through traffic and a climb up at the end. It was a beautiful day and our guide was excellent. We kind of felt like locals riding our bikes through the city. At the end of our bike ride we ate pizza outdoors in a San Telmo square very close to the drop off spot and we got to see some tango while we ate. Will definitely do it again if I go back to Buenos Aires and explore the other neighborhoods.
Review by hedgie, Singapore, April 2013
Doing what: Buenos Aires Bike Tour: San Telmo and La Boca Districts
The bike ride is definitely not for beginners as you will be cycling on uneven, pebbly roads and among traffic most of the time. It was a pity that my friend had to back out from the tour as she is only a beginner cyclist. Nonetheless, I continued with a solo tour with my guide Sebestian and got to zip through an ecological reserve, parks, the port area, La Boca (keep ur cameras) and San Telmo. Exhilarating and a great work out ;)
Review by PaulGBoston, November 2012
Doing what: Best of Buenos Aires Walking Tour
I wasn't all that impressed with this tour mainly because it was me and some other people that the guide had the previous day. He catered to what they wanted to see with the tour which was everything I did on my own the day before. It was supposed to be something entirely different than what was delivered. Because they were going to La Boca and I had been there the day before, he cut me loose at the San Telmo market. This particular guide was speed walking, so I'd be prepared to walk at a brisk pace. Otherwise it was informative enough for me.
Practical Info
San Telmo is six blocks south of the main city square, Plaza de Mayo. It’s a few streets north of La Boca.
The closest metro stations are Independencia and San Juan, a few streets to the west near Avenue 9 de Julio.
