Less than an hour from Buenos Aires lies one of Argentina’s most fascinating and historically significant mansions . It was the home of one of the most important Argentine writers of her time, a refuge for intellectuals, and today you can dine in its gardens or explore its library, which houses thousands of volumes. This is Villa Ocampo, less than an hour from Buenos Aires.
Villa Ocampo was the summer residence of Victoria Ocampo, the writer, editor, and founder of the legendary magazine Sur, and it is the mansion that hosted and witnessed debates among figures such as Jorge Luis Borges and Albert Camus.
A library of 11,000 volumes and century-old gardens just minutes from Buenos Aires
Victoria Ocampo’s summer home retains its essence intact: its library with over 10,000 books, the original furniture, works of art, and personal belongings of Victoria Ocampo that keep alive the atmosphere of its years of splendor.
In addition to all this cultural richness within its walls, the mansion surprises visitors with its century-old gardens. What many people don’t know is that Victoria Ocampo’s mansion is open to the public and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you can explore on guided or self-guided tours.
Among the ways to explore this 19th-century mansion, you can take a self-guided tour of the various rooms in the main house, including the library, and then stroll through the garden to spend a unique afternoon. A key tip to make the most of your visit is that it has its own bistro—the perfect spot to have a coffee, enjoy a slice of cake, or have lunch surrounded by an aristocratic and historic atmosphere found in few other places in Buenos Aires.
How to get to Villa Ocampo from Buenos Aires
👉By car: Leave the city and take Avenida del Libertador. When you reach Béccar, turn right onto Uriburu and drive three blocks straight toward the river until you reach 1837 Elortondo.
👉By train: Take the Mitre Line (Tigre Branch) from Retiro or Belgrano C and get off at the Béccar station. From there, it’s about an 8-block walk along Presidente Uriburu Street until you reach Elortondo.
👉By bus: Bus 60 (make sure the route goes through San Isidro or Tigre) drops you off very close by. Other direct options that take you there via the main avenues are buses 168, 203, and 365.
📍Address: Elortondo 1837, Béccar, San Isidro (Northern Zone)
⏰Hours: Fridays: 12:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
