LandingPad Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires plays host to a plethora of outdoor markets or ferias that sprout up all over the city in plazas and random sidewalks. These improvised flea markets and artisan’s stands draw everything from silver lined boleadoras, traditional gaucho wear and mate yerba dispensers to antique fountain pens, gramophones and leather everything.

Here’s a top 7 list (there aren’t many more) of the best of the best and a few of the “off the beaten track” ferias.

1. Feria de Recoleta aka Feria Artesanal Plaza Francia
Location: Plaza Francia, near the Recoleta cemetery
When: Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 6 pm + Holidays
Total number of stands and set ups: 150-200
Generally offered: High quality artisan goods ranging from silver, mates, leather, pottery, traditional and modern. Music, food vendors and street performers can often be found wandering around or setting up shop within close proximity.
Comments: This is the best outdoor market to find genuine, high quality hand-made goods. Fair prices are offered- many of the same goods are found in high end stores marked up 100%.

2. Feria de San Telmo
Location: Defensa and Brasil all the way down Defensa, Plaza Dorrego, located in San Telmo
When: Sunday, some activity on Saturday at Plaza Dorrego
Total number of stands and set ups: 250-300
Generally offered: Heavy focus on antiques especially in Plaza Dorrego and the stores lining Defensa. Street performers, tango dancers and hundreds of rogue sidewalk vendors. Food, hand-made goods and art section of the fair are regularly in attendance.
Comments: San Telmo has the most classic, old school vib in Buenos Aires. Cobblestone streets, old lanterns, hundred year old buildings match what is generally offered and what many people expect to see in Buenos Aires. Don’t miss the “Mercado San Telmo” located at Defensa 961- it’s a large more permanent flea market, open all week 10 am to 7 pm.

3. Feria Artesanal Palermo Viejo
Location: Plaza Armenia, Malabia and Costa Rica in Palermo Soho
Total number of stands and set ups: 35-50
When: Saturday and Sunday + Holidays, 11 am to 7 pm
Generally offered: A mixture of hand-made goods, clothing and random stands (ex: Bonsai trees).
Comments: If you are in Palermo Soho (Palermo Viejo) this is a nice stop for general exploring and keepsakes. I have personally picked up a few wedding and birthday presents here. Be sure to follow either Malabia or Armenia towards Cordoba (ask someone if you do not have a map) to lead you to the heart of Palermo Soho. Frozen yogurt shops, specialty tea houses, high end clothing, boutique designers and much more!

4. Feria de Plaza Serrano aka Feria Artesanal Paseo Cortázar
Location: Plaza Serrano, corner of Serrano or Borjes and Honduras in Palermo Soho
Total number of stands and set ups: 35-50
When: Saturday, Sunday + Holidays 11 am to 7 pm
Generally offered: The round-about is lined with bars and restaurants that temporarily convert into designer clothing shops and boutiques. This is a great place to find unique clothing, plus you get more of a hippie vib in the inner-plaza. Sticking with its roots Plaza Serrano offers a lot of alternative jewelry, “tobacco” pipes along with hand-made goods.
Comments: If you are in the area it’s worth a look, plus it is about 6 blocks from Plaza Armenia where the Palermo Viejo fair is held each Saturday and Sunday. Walking and exploring Palermo Soho with the two of these fairs as your destinations in the same day is highly recommended.

5. Feria Artesanal Parque Centenario
Location: Patricias Argentinas y Machado, Parque Centenario in Caballito
Total number of stands and set ups: 300+
When: Saturday, Sunday + Holidays 11 am to 7 pm
Generally offered: A very wide variety of stuff can be found here. The park is circular and the sidewalk that surrounds it is lined with stands of all kinds that tend to group together in genres. There is a used clothing/flea market section, incense/perfumes/liquores section, tools both old and new section and many more. Basic food like hot dogs, chori-pan, hamburgers, popcorn and kiddie treats are served by walking vendors and temporary stands.
Comments: A less touristy and more off the beaten track feria- this outdoor market serves the more frugal needs of the Buenos Aires’ residents although some real gems can be found in the flea market section. Could be a fun day of exploration if you have more than a couple of weeks here!
Bonus: The park is quite pleasant to walk through and relax with a book.

6. Feria Artesanal Paseo El Retiro
Location: Av. Calabria y Julieta Lanteri, in Puerto Madero
Total number of stands and set ups: 150
When: Saturday, Sunday + Holidays, 11 am to 7 pm
Generally offered: Flea market, used goods and some artisan goods. Musical performances, carnival games, inflatable castles* and slides*. (Yes, we love these)
Comments: A very odd feel to this outdoor market. It is like a county fair meets a flea market, add random musical acts and surround it with the wealthiest neighborhood in Buenos Aires on one side and a natural reserve on the other.
Bonus: Very nice parks and what resembles a boardwalk next to the marsh. Plus the natural reserve*.

7. Feria de Mataderos
Location: Av. Lisandro de la Torre y Av. de los Corrales, in Mataderos
Total number of stands and set ups: 150 – 200
When: Sundays, 11 am to 8 pm
Generally offered: Used goods, artisan goods, regional cuisine, carnival atmosphere on the outer rim, gaucho (Argentinan cowboy) competition with horses, dance, traditional live music and festive feel
Comments: Way off the beaten path….
Pro’s: Great place to find keep sakes, regional cuisine, see the gauchos compete on horseback and to get you out of the typical traveler circuit of; Palermo, San Telmo and Recoleta! Many tourists flock here, but the outdoor market’s vib has not changed and it is quite genuine.
Con’s:It is not near Palermo, no where near San Telmo or Recoleta and at night this neighborhood is questionable safety wise. How this immensely popular feria amongst travelers and locals alike ended up in Mataderos neighborhood is a mystery. Try to exit before dusk*.

We hope you enjoy your street fair/flea market hunting and exploration! Have fun and enjoy this incredible city!

Rex Racer
LPBA Staff