Where to Stay in Buenos Aires (+ BEST Neighborhoods)

Buenos Aires is a vibrant and dynamic city with so much to offer travelers. You’ll find Buenos Aires neighborhoods that are residential and upscale like Recoleta, lively and cool like Palermo, and in the middle of the action like el Centro. If you’re looking for where to stay in Buenos Aires as a visitor, you’ll have plenty of excellent choices no matter your price range. 

This is our ultimate guide to where to stay in Buenos Aires, covering the best accommodations options and the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. We’re sharing the best area to stay in Buenos Aires for every kind of traveler, plus specific accommodation recommendations that we love!

We’ve even created a Buenos Aires neighborhoods map for you to check out the different parts of the city we mention here. 

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Buenos Aires Neighborhoods

Buenos Aires is truly massive and has dozens of neighborhoods, each with its distinct personality.

While most Buenos Aires neighborhoods are quite well connected by different transportation options like the subway and multiple bus lines (plus the ever-present Uber!), it’s important to find a neighborhood for your stay that fits what you’re looking for.

Here are just a few of the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires:

• Recoleta: An upscale, ritzy neighborhood with stately mansions, nice restaurants, and some beautiful luxury hotels.

• Palermo: The coolest neighborhood in town. Divided into sub-neighborhoods like Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood, and Palermo Chico. Palermo Soho.

• Centro: The center of Buenos Aires business and government, el Centro is a big city feel. Transportation easily moves you around the whole city, but you won’t find much charm or character here.

• San Telmo: Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhood fell out of fashion for awhile, but has recently started to be reclaimed and embraced again, as new restaurants and hotels move in to the stately homes here. This is a great, centrally located place to stay!

• Boca: Known as a scrappier neighborhood (a bit more dangerous), home to the Boca Juniors football stadium, PROA museum, and the colorful houses at Caminito.

• Colegiales: A largely residential area just north of Palermo, with tree-lined streets and family-friendly cafes and restaurants. A great option for less expensive accommodations relatively close to some of the best of the city.

• Belgrano: You’ll find lovely parks and lots to do in this mostly residential neighborhood north of Palermo and Colegiales. The Universidad de Buenos Aires is located here, which gives the neighborhood a cool vibe.

Keep reading for an overview of our recommendations for where to stay in each of these cool neighborhoods. Or, just looking for a quick recommendation?

These are the best accommodation options in Buenos Aires, at various price points!

• Circus Hostel & Hotel ($) 
• Selina Palermo ($ – $$) 
• Shoshana Apart Hotel ($$) 
• Mine Boutique Hotel ($$ – $$$) 
• Alvear Art Hotel ($$$)

Buenos Aires Neighborhoods Map

Check out this interactive Buenos Aires neighborhoods map we’ve created with all the neighborhoods and accommodations we recommend in this article.

Click around to get a feel for the layout of the city. Plus, you’ll see a few of the transportation options in Buenos Aires, like the subway and bus lines, to get a feel for how to move around between neighborhoods. 

Best Neighborhood to Stay in Buenos Aires

Most visitors in Buenos Aires will want to stay in one of the centrally located Buenos Aires neighborhoods near most of the city’s favorite attractions. We recommend choosing between the following neighborhoods.

Palermo

Palermo is where to stay in Buenos Aires to enjoy the most up-and-coming dining, cafes, bars, and shopping. This is the coolest neighborhood in town. Divided into sub-neighborhoods like Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood, and Palermo Chico.

Palermo Soho is the most jam-packed with the best of the neighborhood, while the other parts of Palermo are slightly more residential.

Recoleta

Recoleta is where to stay in Buenos Aires for a taste of luxury and the best of the city. An upscale, ritzy neighborhood with stately mansions, nice restaurants, and some beautiful luxury hotels. Close to everything, this is an excellent choice for a quick visit to the city.

San Telmo

San Telmo is where to stay in Buenos Aires to enjoy the city’s colonial and stately history, and its biggest street market. Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhood fell out of fashion for a while, but has recently started to be reclaimed and embraced again, as new restaurants and hotels move into the historic homes and buildings here.

This is a great, centrally located place to stay!

Centro

Centro is where to stay in Buenos Aires for just a quick trip. The center of Buenos Aires business and government, el Centro is a big city feel. Transportation easily moves you around the whole city, but you won’t find much charm or character here.

Where To Stay in Buenos Aires

In all of these neighborhoods, you’ll find a range of prices for accommodations, while staying in well-located, safe, lively neighborhoods that allow you to make the most of your time here. Jump ahead to read more about the best places to stay in each neighborhood.

If you’re looking to stay in Buenos Aires as a digital nomad, consider staying in San Telmo or the neighborhoods north of Palermo, such as Belgrano or Colegiales.

Here you’ll find more budget-friendly accommodations for a month or more and feel more settled in a residential (though still active and lively) Buenos Aires neighborhood.

Read More: Ranked: 9 Safest Countries for Travelers in South America

Where to Stay in Buenos Aires

Palermo

Palermo is probably the number one neighborhood that I recommend most travelers consider when visiting Buenos Aires. Especially if you’re looking to enjoy the city’s cool cafes, bars, shopping, and dining options, Palermo is the place to be.

Palermo is one of the city’s largest neighborhoods, so it’s divided into several sub-neighborhoods as well. Palermo Soho centers around the buzzing Plaza Serrano and has the highest concentration of bars, restaurants, and cafes, and Palermo Hollywood is just north, crossing the train tracks that divide the two areas.

South of Palermo Soho, Palermo Viejo is a bit more residential – this is where I lived when I was in Buenos Aires – it’s a great choice for a slightly quieter place to stay, but with easy access and walking distance to the rest of Palermo.

For being such a cool, sought-after neighborhood, the prices of accommodations generally reflect it. Airbnbs can be quite expensive, even with weekly or monthly discounts, and hotels are generally your best option. Here are our recommendations for the best places in this neighborhood.

Selina Palermo ($ – $$)

If you’re looking for a great hostel in the Palermo neighborhood, Selina Palermo is an excellent option. Dorm rooms are comfortable, and there are several private rooms with different configurations as well.

Plus, there are activities almost every day to help travelers connect and see the city, coworking space, and a rooftop bar.

Shoshana Apart Hotel ($$)

One of the best places to stay for apartment-style accommodations in Buenos Aires, Shoshana Apart Hotel has it all, within walking distance of the very best parts of both Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood.

Rooms have private washers and dryers, kitchens, and ample space, with breakfast included.

Mine Boutique Hotel ($$)

This modern building with lovely rooms and a pool in the tranquil back courtyard feels like a retreat from the big city. Mine Boutique Hotel is an affordable option for travelers looking for luxury on a budget, and it feels like a true steal in the heart of such a sought-after neighborhood.

Legado Mitico ($$ – $$$)

Complete with a cozy library and fireplace, Legado Mitico is a very special boutique hotel in Palermo that feels like a home away from home.

The backyard patio feels worlds away from the city streets, even though this hotel is just steps from the heart of Palermo Soho – right between Plaza Armenia and Plaza Serrano.

Be Jardin Escondido ($$$)

One of the very best hotels in Palermo, Be Jardin Escondido makes guests feel like they have the opportunity to stay in the estate of a wealthy, well-traveled Argentine. This isn’t one of those sterile 5-star hotels – here you’ll find plush rugs, comfortable beds, and a lush garden and pool in the back that look like they’re out of a nature reserve.

Here you’re bound to have a memorable stay.

Recoleta

Recoleta is so much more than its most famous attraction, the Cementerio de Recoleta with its beautiful yet creepy statues and tombs. The luxury and excess of the final resting place of the city’s most famous resident extends through the Recoleta neighborhood.

Grand palaces, tree-lined streets, and beautiful parks abound in Recoleta, one of the most beautiful and sought-after neighborhoods of Buenos Aires.

Don’t think you can’t enjoy this neighborhood if you don’t have a ton of money to spend! There are actually a fair amount of budget accommodation options and even hostels to choose from in Recoleta.

Wedged between Palermo and El Centro, Recoleta is well-located to enjoy some of the best the city has to offer. 

Voyage Recoleta Hostel ($)

The Voyage Recoleta Hostel is a lively, social hostel in the heart of Recoleta. Within a converted historic building, you’ll find lovely dorm rooms and private rooms, plus an excellent common space and kitchen, and a rooftop deck with lounge chairs for morning yoga and evening live music.

It is a favorite among all the hostels in the city.

Casa Bevant ($$)

In one of the best parts of Recoleta, Casa Bevant feels like an absolute steal – comfortable and spacious rooms with sitting areas and kitchenettes at a very affordable rate. There is laundry available for guests in the basement, plus bikes to enjoy the nearby parks.

Loi Suites Recoleta ($$ – $$$)

Staying at the Loi Suites Recoleta is a taste of the historic luxury of Recoleta. This historic building is impressive, and the glass-covered courtyard filled with plants and fountains is a dreamy spot for breakfast and afternoon tea and coffee – the spread is impressive!

Just a block away from the Cemetary and some of the most happening sections of the neighborhood, this is a great choice, one of my favorites in the city at this price range.

Palacio Duhau ($$$)

Easily one of the nicest hotels in Buenos Aires and the former private home of the wealthy Duhau family, Palacio Duhau is the epitome of Buenos Aires and Recoleta old-world luxury. Think crystal chandeliers, plush ballrooms, several fine dining restaurants, and exquisite rooms.

The hotel retains much of the character of the original palace, transporting you back to the city’s original glory days. 

San Telmo

The oldest neighborhood in Buenos Aires, San Telmo is populated by impressive historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and architectural details that will instantly draw you in.

While some parts of the neighborhood are a bit weathered, it just adds to the charm of this neighborhood, now considered among the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires.

While parts of San Telmo used to be downright dangerous, the neighborhood has been changing rapidly in recent years. You’ll find new restaurants and cafes, bars, and hotels popping up all the time. San Telmo is officially a cool place to be again.

Circus Hostel ($)

San Telmo’s Circus Hostel is by far my favorite hostel in Buenos Aires – and wildly considered one of the best in the city! They have a large common area and dining space, plus an outdoor patio with a pool, and a great range of dorm and private room options.

They offer almost daily activities to connect travelers and help you explore the city.

L’Adresse Hotel Boutique ($$)

L’Adresse Hotel Boutique is an adorable little boutique hotel in a restored historic building. It’s stylish, quirky, and comfortable, and a great price for such a beautiful place to stay. The free breakfast spread is impressive and the location excellent, but hands down the best part of a stay here is the excellent and friendly service.

Anselmo Buenos Aires ($$)

Located facing Plaza Dorrego, a quaint square surrounded by restaurants during the week, and the epicenter of the famous San Telmo Market on the weekend, you couldn’t ask for a better place to stay in San Telmo.

Anselmo Buenos Aires is a sleek, modern hotel with top-notch service – you’ll scratch your head that it’s such a bargain.

Centro

The Buenos Aires neighborhood of el Centro is all about hustle and bustle, and it is the lifeblood of the city in many ways. Among the tall buildings and traffic, you’ll find a lot of advantages to this neighborhood that makes it one of the best places to stay in Buenos Aires.

In fact, it is our best recommendation for where to stay in Buenos Aires if you’re here for just one day or two days in Buenos Aires.

El Centro is also home to some of the city’s most important attractions. El Cabildo, La Casa Rosada and Plaza de Mayo, the incomparable Teatro Colón, and more are just steps away here.

Don’t write off staying in this area because it lacks the charm of Recoleta, Palermo, or San Telmo. Here you’ll be at the center of every transportation line in the city, find nice hotel rooms for cheap, and you’ll find yourself well-positioned to reach the attractions scattered across the city. 

Che Juan Hostal ($)

If you’re looking for an excellent hostel near public transportation, I’d recommend checking out Che Juan Hostal. Buenos Aires is great for backpackers with its abundance of cheap public transportation, and Che Juan’s location will help you make the most of it.

Pod-style dorm beds with curtains provide privacy and each pod is equipped with a reading light and outlet. Great common space, lockers, and helpful staff.

AQ Tailored Suites ($$)

A small boutique apartment-style hotel, AQ Tailored Suites is an excellent choice for business travelers or those with just a little time in the city. The rooftop pool, gym, and lovely dining area are great amenities.

Alvear Art Hotel ($$$)

With a location just a few blocks from Plaza General San Martin and the bustling 9 de Julio, it’s hard to say whether the hotel itself or the location is what makes the Alvear Art Hotel one of the best in the city.

The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and modern, and the top-floor swimming pool with incredible views over the city is impressive.