Best Day Trips from Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a fantastic city and the perfect base for exploring not only Argentina’s stunning destinations but also some of South America’s most incredible spots.

In this article, I will share with you the best day trips and short getaways from Buenos Aires.

Tigre

As the first one I have to mention Tigre as it is one of the easiest day trips to do. You can do it completely on your own by taking a train ride from Retiro or Palermo train stations. The ticket costs around $1 and the ride takes less than 1 hour (55 minutes from Retiro station, and 45 minutes from Palermo station).

Tigre is a refreshing break from the busy streets of Buenos Aires. Tigre sits on the Paraná Delta, one of the world’s largest. Instead of roads, people use boats to get around, giving it a Venice-like feel but with a wild, tropical touch.

Tigre got its name from jaguars (mistakenly called tigers) that once roamed the area. Today, it’s a peaceful retreat but still full of wildlife, including capybaras and exotic birds.

The most popular thing to do there is to take a boat ride and see the local life that way. You can also rent a kayak and explore the delta at your own pace. In the city, you will find Puerto de Frutos, a lively market with crafts, souvenirs, and local snacks. A cool place to visit is Tigre Art Museum (Museo de Arte Tigre) which is a former casino turned art museum showcasing local artist paintings.

If you are traveling with kids then you will also find Argentina’s largest amusement park in Tigre - Parque de la Costa.

Another easy day trip the other way from Buenos Aires center is La Plata. Also, an hour's train ride away it is a lovely city with fewer tourists offering a more authentic experience. The main thing to see in La Plata is the La Plata Cathedral which is one of the largest churches in South America, with stunning neo-Gothic architecture. A must-visit is the Museo de La Plata, a world-class natural history museum with dinosaur fossils and Egyptian mummies.

Uruguay

Buenos Aires is conveniently close located to Uruguay. Which offers you a great opportunity to pop over the river and visit Uruguay for a day. Here I want to offer you 2 options.

Colonia del Sacramento

A short ferry ride (1–2 hours) across the Río de la Plata takes you to this historic town with cobblestone streets and colonial architecture.

Colonia del Sacramento is one of Uruguay’s oldest towns, founded by the Portuguese in 1680. Colonia was a strategic smuggling hub in colonial times, constantly fought over by Spain and Portugal before becoming part of Uruguay. Today, it’s a peaceful retreat, its mix of Portuguese and Spanish influences makes it unique in the region.

Wander Barrio Histórico, the UNESCO-listed old town with its picturesque streets and colorful houses. Visit the Lighthouse (Faro de Colonia) for panoramic views of the river and city. Have lunch at Plaza Mayor, a quiet square surrounded by colonial ruins and cafés. Learn about Colonia’s Portuguese roots in Museo Portugués. Rambla Costanera will be a perfect spot to enjoy sunset views over the Río de la Plata.

To both, Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo you can get an easy boat ride from Buenos Aires port. There are 2 companies doing the routes so you get quite a lot of options during the day. The route to Colonia del Sacramento is shorter so cheaper. To Montevideo, you can go 2 ways - direct or via Colonia del Sacramento. The direct route is more expensive.

Montevideo

Montevideo you can do as a day trip if you pay more and take the direct route or take the longer but cheaper route via Colonia del Sacramento and make it as a weekend trip!

Montevideo is a fantastic city. I decided to spend a weekend there and loved every part of it. You can find out more about the best things to do and see there in my 'Montevideo Travel Guide'.

Experience the Gaucho Culture

A day trip to the countryside offers a unique chance to experience Argentina’s gaucho (cowboy) culture. Estancias (ranches) near Buenos Aires give visitors a glimpse into traditional rural life, horseback riding, and classic Argentine cuisine.

Gauchos were the nomadic horsemen of Argentina’s Pampas, emerging in the 18th century. They lived off the land, herding cattle and mastering horseback riding. Known for their independence and bravery, gauchos played a key role in Argentina’s fight for independence. Today, their traditions - like mate, asado, and folk music - are still celebrated, especially in rural estancias where visitors can experience their way of life.

For this one of the best places to visit is San Antonio de Areco, only 2 hour drive away.

The best things to there as you might have gathered are:

• Do horseback riding at one of the Estancias 

• Watch a Doma Show where skilled gauchos perform traditional horse-riding techniques

• Enjoy an Asado, a full Argentinian barbecue with premium beef, chorizo, and chimichurri sauce.

• Try Mate

• Listen to live performances of traditional songs and dances.

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Iguazú Falls

An absolute must-see is the Iguazu Falls! I truly believe it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

If you are short on time, you can actually do this as a day trip. There are flights that leave Buenos Aires early in the morning and return later that same day giving just enough time to visit the Iguazú National Park on the Argentina side.

To see the Iguazu Falls also from Brazil's side, you will need to make it into a 2 or 3-day trip. And I do highly recommend doing that as each side gives you absolutely different perspective of the falls.

To understand more about each side, check out my 'Iguazu Travel Guide' where I go into detail about the differences as well as all the technical things you need to know.