With 11 million people, Buenos Aires is one of the busiest cities in South America. It is also the essence of elegance and does show how varied life in Argentina is. Known as the Gateway to South America, it has friendly people and old-world charm.

The weather is moderate with summer temperatures averaging about 23º and winter temperatures averaging about 9º. Around the coast and the beaches the temperature often reaches 30º and it is not unusual to get a light dusting of snow during the winter.

The currency used here is the peso, which is almost equivalent to the US dollar. There is a public transportation system and the taxis are all recognizable by their yellow roofs.

Accommodations and Dining

There is a wealth of accommodations here and they are all reasonably priced. You will pay about the same price as you would pay back home, but the view from the windows is entirely different. Stay in the center of San Martin Square at the Gran Hotel Buenos Aires or choose the NH Florida located right in the middle of the city.

The meals served in the restaurants are not expensive either. You can generally get a large variety of cuisines, but the specialty is beef. If you like eating meat, there are many grill restaurants where you can get to sample a wide variety of barbequed meat. Taste the local dishes such as empanadas and locro ? which, of course, contain meat. Wine and rum is cheap here and since there are no liquor licensing laws you can enjoy the spirits anywhere.

Attractions

Visit the Catedral Metroplitana, an immense church where the remains of the Argentinian liberator, San Martin, lie. This church is one of the reminders of the glorious history that Argentina has. Another historic site is the Teatro Colon, the largest opera house in the world, taking up a full city block. This building is the cultural pride of Argentina.

See the silverware collection at the Fernandez Blanco Museum of Spanish American Art and other museums within the city, such as the Ambrosetti Museum and the Musuem of Colonial America, where you will see artefacts dating back to the Age of Exploration.

See the brightly painted houses of La Boca, the center of artistic creativity in Argentina. Once a popular port founded by Italian immigrants, this section of Buenos Aires now houses many stores where you can buy local art. Visit the Palace built in 1906 that now houses the Parliament of the country. At night this structure is very impressive because it is illuminated and inside some of the outstanding features include the semi-circular room and the room of the lost steps.

Visit the small museum at the famous Casa Rosada, the building where all the important events in Argentina?s history took place.

Shopping

Shopping opportunities are extensive in Buenos Aires. Often called the ?Paris of South America? you can get exclusive designs from all over the world as well as local clothing and crafts. Leather is the most sought after item because the leather that comes from Argentina is softer than other kinds.

Calle Florida is a shopping center that extends for 9 blocks and has every kind of store you can imagine, including Harrods. The Patio Bullrich is the most exclusive shopping center and will take you a full afternoon just to walk through it. The Galleria is another exclusive mall, which is three stories high.

Nightlife

With theatres, concert halls, and clubs, Buenos Aires has a vibrant nightlife. Although you can go out on any night of the week, from Thursday to Saturday nights, Buenos Aires really comes alive. There is a large selection of alcoholic drinks to choose from, but you will not find a lot of beer in Buenos Aires.