Everything has a price and we know it, but how nice it is to find things, places, events and opportunities that cost nothing and are free. There are not a lot of them but there are a few that you can enjoy and money is not a necessity or a problem.Do you want to know what to do for free in Buenos Aires? We have a list of 16 free things to do in Buenos Aires.
1. Recoleta Cemetery
Recoleta Cemetery is unique in Buenos Aires and in fact in the world. There are not many cemeteries with pantheons that can be toured like small cities. This is the Recoleta Cemetery. If you are Argentinean you can visit it for free (foreigners pay admission) every day.
There are modern mausoleums mixed with classic ones and even tombstones of the first people who lived in Buenos Aires. The Recoleta Cemetery holds very interesting stories and there are guided tours that reveal all its history and legends.
Recoleta Cemetery
📍Junin 1760.
Open every day from 9am to 5pm.
2. Ecological Reserve
The Ecological Reserve of Buenos Aires is its largest green lung and is a great place to visit. If you are looking for free things to do in Buenos Aires, include a visit to the reserve in your plans: you can go bird watching, get out of the city for a while and spend the afternoon among the different tours around its lagoons and green trails.
Ecological Reserve
📍Dr. Tristán Achával Rodríguez 1550 Av.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm.
3. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts
If you don’t know what to do for free in Buenos Aires, you should know that the Museo de Bellas Artes is one of the few art museums in Buenos Aires that is free. This beautiful museum has an extensive collection of colonial art including paintings and objects, as well as a good collection of European art from different periods.
The Museo de Bellas Artes also brings together the contemporary through its traveling collections that bring the work of contemporary artists to the city and is one of the 10 things you can do in Buenos Aires for free.
National Museum of Fine Arts
📍Del Libertador Av. 1473. Recoleta.
Open Tuesday to Friday from 11am. Weekends from 10am. Mondays closed.
👉IG @bellasartesargentina
4. Tour the Ecoparque
Visiting the Ecopark is another of the 10 free things you can do in Buenos Aires. The former Zoo is now a green space where you can stroll around, see some species walking freely with you and take some of the special tours. The ecopark is also now a hospital where you can treat, heal and recover native species.
If you don’t know what to do for free in Buenos Aires, stop by the Ecoparque without hesitation. It also has a beautiful outdoor cafeteria and a playground for children.
Ecopark (Former Zoo)
📍Sarmiento 2601
📅 Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm.
5. Spend the afternoon at the Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden of Buenos Aires houses an impressive collection of plants and trees from all over the world and is one of the most beautiful parks in Buenos Aires. If you go, you will discover its greenhouses, shady paths and ponds. It also has a children’s library and is an excellent place to stroll and cool off in the summer for free in Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires Botanical Garden
📍Santa Fe Avenue 3951
6. Visit the Japanese Garden
Did you know that there are certain days of the month when the entrance to the Japanese Garden is free for Argentines? If you decide to visit, you will be able to see the Koi fish in its canals and ponds, have a cup of tea and eat a real Japanese lunch that is not just sushi. The Japanese Garden is a beautiful walk in the city and is one of the 10 free things to do in Buenos Aires. On their website they announce each month the days with free admission.
👉Japanese Garden
📍 2966 Casares Av.
📅Open every day from 10hs to 18.45 hs
7. Have a coffee at El Ateneo Gran Esplendid bookstore.
This is one of the most beautiful bookstores in Buenos Aires and although it is big and imposing on the outside, the truth is that entering, browsing, browsing books and even sitting down to read is totally free.
The Librería Ateneo Gran Esplendid used to be a cinema and theater a long time ago, but it retains the charm and structure of that past and that is what makes it so special. It also has a cafeteria where you can read and have a coffee. Don’t know what to do for free in Buenos Aires? This!
El Ateneo Gran Esplendid Bookstore
📍1860 Santa Fé Ave.
📅 Open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 9pm.
8. Access to the Fundación Cassará’s Mirador
The Cassará building houses the Cassará Foundation, but that is not its only secret. It is one of the most beautiful buildings on Avenida de Mayo and perhaps you didn’t know that you can visit its architecture, its art exhibitions and its spectacular viewpoint.
Inside this building there is an art gallery that periodically renews its exhibitions and being a tall building, its terrace was converted into an incredible viewpoint from where you can observe Buenos Aires for free.
Cassará Building – Cassará Foundation
📍 Avenida de Mayo 1190
📅 Free visits Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm to 8pm.
👉 Book your place at the event’s website
9. Take a free tango lesson
There are 10 free things you can do in Buenos Aires and one of them is to take a tango class. At the Centro Cultural Borges you can participate in the open milonga where, besides dancing in the milonga, you can go before and join the free tango class. It is for all levels and for those who have no idea how to move their feet. Now you know what to do for free in Buenos Aires.
Borges Cultural Center
📍Viamonte 525
📅 Saturdays and Sundays at 5pm
10. I attended a concert at the Teatro Colón.
The Teatro Colón is the opera house of Buenos Aires and holds many events, from opera, ballet and also concerts. The Teatro Colón is also a center for training and experimentation, so many of the activities of the ISATC (the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón) are free of charge.
For its concerts you can get two free tickets, always online, per person, until 48 hours before the beginning of each performance.
Colón Theater
📍Tucumán 1171
11. Parque Centenario Amphitheater Concerts
Every month the government of the City of Buenos Aires has an extensive program of concerts and cultural events, including dance, recitals and plays for children. And all of them are free. The Parque Centenario Amphitheater is huge, it is in the Parque Centenario, which gives it a wonderful setting and every one of its activities are free. Usually, you just need to reserve your place through their IG account.
Parque Centenario 📍Av. Patricias Argentinas 822
12. Concerts at the Centro Naval
The Centro Naval is a beautiful building on Córdoba Avenue and Florida that hosts a series of free concerts every month. Usually classical music, but there are also art exhibitions that you can visit in Buenos Aires without paying a cent.
Centro Naval 📍Florida 801
13. Tours of El Molino
The El Molino building is that beautiful building on the corner of Callao and Rivadavia with, as its name suggests, mill propellers at the top. It used to be an incredible confectionery of Italian origin and today it is in the process of restoration. The good thing is that every month you can visit it for free and it is really worth it. If you don’t know what to do for free in Buenos Aires and you are tempted to see this beautiful building, reserve your place at El Molino’s IG.
El Molino 📍Callao Av. and Rivadavia Av.
14. Free plans for kids
La Usina del Arte is a cultural center in Buenos Aires with spaces dedicated to the youngest members of the family. There are always concerts, workshops and games for all ages. Many of its spaces are specially designed for children and best of all, everything that happens in the Usina del Arte in Buenos Aires is free.
Usina del Arte 📍Agustín Caffarena 1.
15. Go to the theater or to a jazz concert for free.
The Centro Cultural Borges is known for its series of jazz concerts. But also every month or week it usually renews its program of theater plays or dance shows. The activities at the CC Borges are totally free, but you must pick up your ticket at the reception desk one hour before the beginning of the performance.
CC Borges 📍Viamonte 151
If you are looking for plans and events where you don’t have to spend, schedule these activities when you want to do something in Buenos Aires for free.
16. Visit the City Park
The Parque de la Ciudad is one of the largest parks in Buenos Aires and besides being an ideal green space to spend the afternoon, drink mate and walk or sunbathe, it also usually has many activities on weekends. There is no lack of activities and games for the family, as well as live music and games. Obviously free of charge.
📍Gral. Francisco Fernández de la Cruz 4000 Av.