Excursions, travel in Argentina, Featured Content

Buenos Aires Day Trips: San Isidro

Mary Gomez

By | April 28, 2011

Day trip from Buenos Aires, San Isidro Riverside

From riding bikes along Peru Beach to strolling the artisanal markets, a day trip to the Buenos Aires suburb of San Isidro makes for nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

*Updated June 2020*

The northern suburb San Isidro is one part Beverly Hills and one part shady Cabana. Most people visiting Buenos Aires find it hard to leave the center because there are so many things to see and do, but a visit to Buenos Aires without visiting San Isidro would be a shame. Set aside a Sunday when all the artisan markets are open, go early to get the most from your day and avoid the crowded trains. Or if you just want to ride a bike along the river and don’t care much for markets go on a weekday when you can truly feel like a local.

Getting to San Isidro from Buenos Aires:

You have 3 options when getting to San Isidro, you can:
A. Take the scenic route by taking the TBA Mitre train at Retiro to the Bartolmé Mitre station where you can transfer to the Tren de la Costa. This train is a bit pricier than the regular TBA Tigre train however it will save you some walking time and offer you a riverside ride. This way will take about 50 minutes including transfer time, get off at the Barrancas train stop.
B. The second option is to take the more economical TBA Tigre train line. Get off at the San Isidro stop where you’ll be near the main shopping street of Belgrano. From there you can explore.
C. There is also the good old Colectivo but I don’t suggest you do this unless you have plenty of free time and patience as this way can take up to 2 hours. 168 line is your best bet and will be less expensive than taking the train.

Antique market:

Start the day by stopping at the Barrancas Station off the Tren de la Costa line. Once getting off the train you will see a small antique market selling a mixture of Argentine Seltzer bottles, fileteria signs, brass fixtures, crystal ash trays and vintage clothing. Prices here are a lot better than the San Telmo market and the ambiance is less touristy. Plus you can see where the hipsters of Palermo buy their vintage garb.

Rent a bike:

On the opposite side of the market there is a little café called “Bikes and Coffee” here like the name suggests you can drink coffee and rent bikes. The food is good (waffles!) and the inked up waiters are helpful. You can rent a bike for a few hours and ride along the river on the bike path (bring your ID). From here you can take a walk/ride along the river to Peru Beach. Along Peru Beach if you turn left from the tren de la costa station Barrancas, you can find 2 sports centers that offer windsurfing, kayaking, rock climbing, swimming, etc. The first is Puerto Tablas and the other Mogino. If you don’t want to get your sport on keep walking towards San Isidro, catch a glimpse of the beautiful, expansive river or better yet find a place to sit for a few hours (there’s a few public beaches) and relax with a book.

Artisanal Market:

If you keep walking for 15 to 20 minutes riverside you should run into the Tren de la Costa San Isidro train station. Here you want to walk away from the river and through the little shopping mall and up the steps. On a Sunday or on a holiday you will find a “feria” here, with artists selling goods like jewelry, leather, mates and more. This is my personal favorite market of Buenos Aires because prices are much more affordable and there are many more locals shopping here than other markets in the city.

Towards dusk the plaza where the feria is held begins to fill up with lots of locals sipping mate and entertainers. My personal favorite is a clown/mime that does a little show for propinas. If you don’t fancy quirky mime shows and want to head home be sure to stop by the Cathedral to your left before leaving. If you want to take the cheaper train back to Retiro you can walk up Libertador and make a right at Belgrano and in 10 blocks or so you should see the station. Also if you walk this way you can take a peek at some of the famous fancy San Isidro houses.

Restaurant recommendations in San Isidro:

1000 Rosa Negra is an upmarket parrilla situated right across from the San Isidro Race track. With stylish decor, patio seating, good service, and delicious food, the location makes this is great spot to stop for lunch. It’s a popular spot that fills up during high season, so head there early if you want to avoid a long wait. Another high quality parrilla, Ribereno (Calle Chile 193) is simply decorated and unassuming spot that serves delicious contemporary Argentinean fare.

So there you have it, a beautiful day spent in the burbs’. I hope you enjoy your day trip and let us know if you discover anything else in San Isidro!

  • Share this article!

Wow! Don't forget to check the 'Activities you might like' right here