The oldest, most bohemian barrio — cobbled streets of crumbling grandeur, antique shops, milongas, a famous Sunday market and the soul of tango. Atmospheric, arty and cheaper than the north, walkable to the centre and La Boca; a characterful, edgy base (keep your wits at night), rich in history and music.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€60–130
typical per night in Argentina
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Buenos Aires — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is San Telmo and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Casa Rosada & Plaza de Mayo17 min walk1.5 km
- The Obelisco & Avenida 9 de Julio25 min walk2.1 km
- Teatro Colón29 min walk2.4 km
- El Ateneo Grand Splendid10 min taxi3.4 km
- Recoleta Cemetery12 min taxi4.2 km
- An Argentine steak (parrilla)18 min taxi6.1 km
- Palermo nightlife18 min taxi6.2 km
- The Palermo parks & Rosedal19 min taxi6.5 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 2.La Boca & Caminito — The working-class port barrio where tango was born and Maradona's Boca Juniors play — its Caminito street a riot of corrugated houses painted in vivid colours, with tango dancers and artists. Touristy and to be visited by day (stick to the few main streets), but joyously colourful; pair it with the Bombonera stadium.
- 3.A tango show or milonga — Tango was born in the port barrios of Buenos Aires, and there's no better place to feel it — a slick dinner-show in a grand old hall, or, more authentically, a milonga (dance salon) in San Telmo where locals dance the night away. Watch, take a lesson, or just soak up the smouldering passion of the national dance.
- 8.The San Telmo Sunday market — Every Sunday, the cobbled streets of San Telmo fill with a huge antiques and craft fair, centred on Plaza Dorrego — bric-a-brac, leather, mate gourds and street tango, with buskers and food stalls the length of Calle Defensa. The city's most atmospheric market and a wonderful Sunday wander; go early to beat the crush.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to San Telmo; flights via Google Flights.