Cementerio de Recoleta (Recoleta Cemetery)
Recoleta's cemetery is a veritable village of the dead, with rows and rows of towering tombs housing the remains of many of Argentina's most revered – the most famous being the country's infamous First Lady, Maria Eva Duarte Perón, or Evita. Evita's burial site can easily be located by following the guided tour groups or by seeking out the mass of bouquets. The cemetery was founded in 1822 and also contains the tombs of writers, scientists, national heroes and former presidents, exhibiting a variety of architectural styles. Entry is free, although a map priced at a few pesos is a useful purchase. There are also usually tour guides on hand, offering inexpensive guided tours.

Calle Junín 1790
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel: (011) 4804 7040.
Web: www.cementeriorecoleta.com.ar
Opening hours: Daily 0800-1800. Free English language tours at 1100 Tues and Thurs (in fine weather only).
Admission Fee: No
Disabled Access: Yes


Jardín Japonés (Japanese Garden)
The Jardín Japonés in Palermo Park is one of the most pleasant open spaces in Buenos Aires, and is the perfect antidote to the noise and bustle of the city. Created in 1967 as a gift from the Emperor of Japan, the garden is a tranquil park of Asiatic shrubs and trees beautifully landscaped around a small lake bubbling with huge carp. The garden is something of a hub for the city's sizeable Japanese community and the Japanese restaurant is well worth a visit for lunch.

near Avenida Figueroa Alcorta
Avenida Casares 2966
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel: (011) 4804 4922.
Web: www.jardinjapones.com.ar
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800.
Admission Fee: Yes


La Boca
This colourful barrio (neighbourhood) is best known for its football team, Boca Juniors, for whom the legendary Diego Maradona played. Multi-coloured, corrugated-iron houses characterise the touristic section of La Boca, with bustling Calle Caminito the main street. The simple houses were built by Italian immigrants, who decorated them with paint nicked from the local docks where they worked. Caminito and the immediate streets are continually lively, with street performers, artists and tango dancers all eager to win tourists' affections. Visitors should, however, avoid straying too far from Caminito. Catching a game at the Boca Juniors football team's stadium, La Bombonera, is certainly a passionate experience.

La Boca
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Admission Fee: No
Disabled Access: Yes


Museo Evita
Inaugurated on the 50th anniversary of Evita's death (on 26 July 2002), the Museo Evita tells the life story of Eva Perón using a moving mixture of personal artefacts, dresses, photographs and compelling audiovisual displays. Already a famous radio and theatre actress in her own right, Eva Duarte became one of the most revered and reviled figures in Argentine history when she married Colonel Juan Domingo Perón (who was elected president in 1946) and used her position to further the rights and conditions of the working class. Her life came to an abrupt end in 1952 when she died of cancer, aged 33.

Calle Lafinur 2988
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel: (011) 4807 0306.
Web: museoevita.org
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1100-1900.
Admission Fee: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes


Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Housed in a red-brick, neoclassical building in the Recoleta district, Buenos Aires's airy National Fine Arts Museum contains European paintings and sculpture along with a complete collection of Argentine art. Downstairs, there are galleries devoted to Impressionists, such as Renoir, Monet, Degas, Pissarro and Sisley. Rubens, Rothko, Pollock and an assortment of other renowned artists also feature, along with internationally famous Argentine artist, Lucio Fontana. Visitors can also see the works of other Argentine artists and temporary exhibits on loan from international museums.

Avenida del Libertador 1473
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel: (011) 5288 9900.
Web: www.mnba.org.ar
Opening hours: Tues-Fri 1230-2030, Sat-Sun 0930-2030.
Admission Fee: No
Disabled Access: Yes


Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA)
This ultra-modern building was built to house the Costantini collection of Latin American art and is a welcome addition to Buenos Aires's cultural landscape. The museum promotes appreciation of Latin American art from the early 20th century to the present day. Many Argentine artists are represented, including Xul Solar, Benito Quinquela Martín and Antonio Berni. Brazilian and Uruguayan works are also shown and a famous self-portrait by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. This light, airy gallery also has spaces for temporary exhibits, an outdoor sculpture balcony, gift shop, library and a smart café.

Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel: (011) 4808 6500.
Web: www.malba.org.ar
Opening hours: Thurs-Mon 1200-2000, Wed 1200-2100.
Admission Fee: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes


Plaza de Mayo
The dusty-pink Casa Rosada is the focal point of the Plaza de Mayo. From the balcony of this Presidential Palace, located at the historic heart of Buenos Aires, prominent figures, from Evita to Diego Maradona, have addressed the crowds at various stages in Argentina's history. Originally a fortress, the Casa Rosada was remodelled when Buenos Aires became the Capital of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata in 1776. Today, it looks out across a pigeon-filled plaza that features gardens, fountains and statues. Opposite, find the only surviving government building from colonial times – the Cabildo – constructed in 1748. Every Thursday, the Mothers of those who went missing during Argentina's late 20th-century military dictatorship march around the Plaza.

Plaza de Mayo (Eastern end of Avenida de Mayo)
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Admission Fee: No
Disabled Access: Yes


Puerto Madero
An ambitious regeneration project has turned this former working dock into a lively and popular area for a stroll, a drink or a bite to eat. The old, red-brick warehouses now house galleries, bars and restaurants, the grandest of which is the Faena Hotel and Universe, which encompasses a design hotel and cutting-edge eatery El Bistro. Old docking cranes line either side of the dock, which is spanned by the Puente de la Mujer ('Bridge of the Woman'). The area does feel a little sterile, but Puerto Madero is evolving an increasingly vibrant atmosphere as more projects are completed.

Avenida Alicia Moreau de Justo
Docks 3 and 4
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Admission Fee: No
Disabled Access: Yes