Featured Content, How To, Buenos Aires things to do

Summer activities and things to do in Buenos Aires

Dominic Mauger

By | January 8, 2020

home hotel

Visiting Buenos Aires is the summer can offer a wonderful escape from a cold Northern Hemisphere winter. From celebrating Christmas, to heading to the beach, here is our guide of what to do when things heat up in Buenos Aires.

The Buenos Aires summer, which runs from December through March, is characterized by two things. Heat and humidity. When researching the weather ahead of time, don’t let the mild-seeming temperatures fool you. The average temperatures for January and February range from 25°C to 33°C (77°F-91°F). However, it’s the humidity that gives the air that muggy feeling, and the sensation that the temperatures are closer to 34°C-38°C (93°F-102°F) on some of the hotter days.

If you’d prefer more mild temperatures, visiting in Spring or Fall may be a better idea. However, for those who can brave the heat and humidity, Buenos Aires has a lot to offer during the summer months. Many of the locals are on vacation, making the city less congested, and there are countless al fresco dining spots to be taken advantage of.

Where can I go to the pool in Buenos Aires?

If you’re planning your trip during the summer months, my top recommendation is to book an accommodation with a pool. There’s nothing quite like a cool dip into a crystal clear pool after a long day of sight-seeing.

Already booked a hotel without a pool? Living in Buenos and you’ve yet to make a friend with a pool? Don’t panic, all is not lost. Buenos Aires has plenty of pools, you just need to know where to look.
Parque Norte (Av. Cantilo y Guiraldes)
Parque Norte is a gigantic public pool and outdoor funplex. The three giant petal shaped pools get pretty busy on the weekends, but that is all part of the fun. On Saturdays the pools are roughly 3 parts water 2 parts people. There are slides, bars and restaurants, tennis courts, volleyball nets, and Paddle courts. Parque Norte is loud, crowded, and heaps of fun. Rent an umbrella and post up poolside.
Parque Sarmiento – Saavadra (Ricardo Balbin 4750)
With a pretty handy location, 2 big pools (plus a kids pool), and a host of courts and fields, Parque Sarmiento is another good public pool option in BA. The park itself is also a nice place to wander/ picnic in.
Parque Manuel Belgrano – Palermo (Salguero y Av. Costanera)
Parque Manuel Belgrano is a very large pool and park in Palermo. Complete with plenty of green space, a track for cycling or running, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and football fields, Parque Manuel Belgrano has everything you need for an active day in the sun.

If you are in search of a pool but want a more luxurious experience, many of Buenos Aires’ smaller boutique hotels offer day passes. Some of these spots are pretty magical, like Home Hotel Buenos Aires, a super stylish boutique hotel in Palermo Hollywood. A day pass gives you access to their beautiful Pool Garden area, a locker, and even a robe.

Does Buenos Aires have a beach?

While Buenos Aires is technically on the water, the city is situated on the Rio de la Plata, not the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to Buenos Aires’ industrial port, the murky brown water doesn’t make for a very inviting swim. For a good Argentine beach, you’ll need to go south. So, if you have a few days to burn, join the hoards and head down the Atlantic coast where you’ll find some beautiful beaches, coastal towns and cities. There are a number to choose from, here are a couple:

Mar del Plata: The second largest city in Buenos Aires province, “Mardel” is hands down the most popular summertime destination for Porteños. Think bursting beach resort, casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, and heaps of other entertainment. If you don’t have a car, Mardel can be reached by train or bus. Trains leave daily from BA at 1.45pm and arrive at 8.30pm. It’s a fairly long journey by train, but comfortable and affordable. 
Mar de las Pampas: For something a little less crowded, a little more picturesque, and a little more ‘ride a horse along the beach’, Mar de las Pampas is the spot. Nestled amongst a forest of Pine and Eucalyptus trees, Mar de las Pampas is a charming resort town with a small village vibe. The beach is also much nicer than Mardel, and a lot less crowded.

Alternatively, you could take a ferry across the River to Uruguay. Colonia, which is only an hour and a half away from Buenos Aires, is a cute colonial town with a small beach on the River. While not an amazing beach destination, Colonia’s proximity makes for an easy day trip. For a high-quality beach vacation, head about five hours further up the Uruguayan coast, for Punta del Este. Known for beautiful beaches, a lively party town, and high prices, this is a favorite destination amongst wealthy Argentines and Brazilians. Keep in mind that It’ll take you about 7 hours total to get here from Buenos Aires, so it’s only really worth the trip if you have at least 3 or 4 extra days to kill.

How do you stay cool traveling in Buenos Aires in the summer?

As perfect as pools and beaches are for cooling down, Buenos Aires has a lot of culture to offer as well. Since you’ve traveled all the way to Argentina, you’ll probably want to brave the heat and do some sight-seeing. So, whether you’re checking out the historical monuments downtown, or strolling the San Telmo market, how are some tips for avoiding a heat stroke.

1. Take a lot of ice cream breaks. The Italian classic somehow got even better when it arrived on these shores, and the Argentinian version is creamy, and decadent. Luckily, there’s an abundance of heladerías (ice cream shop) in Buenos Aires, so no matter where you are, you’re probably only a few blocks away from a refreshing treat. Capricci in Palermo Hollywood is a charmingly modest establishment, that (arguably) serves up the most generous cucuruchos (cones) in town. Antiche Tentazioni (Palermo), Occo (Recoleta), Rapanui (Retiro), and Iceland (San Telmo) are all delicious options as well.

Bonus Tip: Rappanui also makes some of the best chocolate in Buenos Aires, which make for delicious gifts to bring home.

2. Wear light, loose and breathable clothes. Don’t wear heavy fabrics, black clothes, or long pants during the day. For sightseeing, cotton or linen dress, skirts, or shorts will be your best friend.

3. Factor air conditioning into your itinerary. When planning your day, schedule your outdoor activities for the morning, and your indoor activities for the afternoon. For example, spend a morning exploring Bosques del Palermo, and then just when the sun becomes unbearable plan to head to the nearby MALBA Museum. Buenos Aires has so many great museums, that double as air conditioned havens during the summer months.

4. Roof Top Bars. Buenos Aires is filled with rooftop bars, despite only have the right weather for them half of the year. Now that summer is here, we can finally take advantage of these charming terraces. Buller is a brewery right across from the Recoleta cemetery that has great happy hour deals, and aerial views of the cemetery. For a fancier evening, check out Skybar, a chic rooftop bar on top of the Pultizer Hotel. Head there early, grab a spot in the shade, and enjoy the sunset views and the cool breeze.

Open roof bar at Dome in Centro

How to people celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Buenos Aires?

While a non-snowy Christmas may feel unnatural, celebrating Christmas and New Years in another culture can be a cool experience. While it’s true that Buenos Aires is on the quieter side for both these holidays, with some research, there are some good events/restaurants/parties to be discovered.

Restaurants: Many of the restaurants that remain open on Christmas and NYE will have special holiday menus and will be reservation only.

Fireworks: There are generally pretty impressive fireworks displays over Puerto Madero at midnight on both holidays. Thanks to the lack of open container laws in Buenos Aires, this spot is a perfect low cost BYOB option for ringing in the New Year.

Xmas and NYE in Buenos Aires

Clubs/Parties: As per the usual, clubs in Palermo will get bumping around 2:00 am. Be aware though, if you plan on clubbing you can expect higher covers and inflated drink prices.

Tango Shows: Many of the tango shows put on luxurious New Year’s Eve parties that include everything you could possible want to ring in the New Year. Imagine a gourmet dinner, sultry tango show, open bar, and after party that goes all night long.

No matter your plan, the key to a successful Buenos Aires Christmas or New Years is planning ahead. On both nights, public transportation will be limited and fewer taxis will be operating. Many supermarkets and corner stores close early on both days, and open up late on the following days. So, make sure you’ve bought everything you’ll need for the night and the morning. No matter how you want to celebrate, your best bet will be researching the options, and making reservations/buying tickets ahead of time.

  • Share this article!

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