Buenos Aires is a vibrant city, with a unique blend of tradition, art, and modernity. Among its many neighborhoods, one stands out with a soul of its own: La Boca. With its bohemian spirit and history linked to the port, immigration, and tango, this southern corner of the city is one of the most visited by tourists from around the world.
The streets of La Boca tell stories. It’s the neighborhood where tango, as we know it today, was born, where artists like Benito Quinquela Martín flourished, and where every color speaks volumes.
Esplendor Buenos Aires Tango: the ideal place to stay and discover La Boca
For those who want to fully experience La Boca, staying in a strategic location is key. Esplendor by Wyndham Buenos Aires Tango is the best option to live this experience.
Just steps from Avenida 9 de Julio, in the heart of the city center, this hotel offers a prime location to move around Buenos Aires with ease. From there, you can reach La Boca in about 15 minutes by car or taxi, or by combining public transport, making it an ideal base for exploring this neighborhood so representative of Buenos Aires culture.
Beyond its unbeatable location, the hotel stands out for its elegant architecture, modern design, and first-class amenities. The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and stylishly decorated to provide a relaxing and unique stay.
Among its top features is the heated outdoor rooftop pool, perfect for unwinding after a day of walking the city. It also includes breakfast with a wide variety of pastries, fruits, juices, and more, served in a breakfast room with an outdoor seating area.
Exploring La Boca: art, history, and unforgettable postcards
Once you’re settled in, you’re ready to begin your tour. From Esplendor Tango, you can reach La Boca in just a few minutes by car or public transport. Here are some must-see spots in the neighborhood:
First stop: Caminito, the heart of La Boca
Just a few minutes by car from Esplendor Tango, Caminito welcomes you with its charm. This 150-meter open-air museum is one of the city’s most iconic walks. Amid colorful tin houses and street performers, you’ll discover a place brimming with tango and passion.
Caminito’s winding path has a unique history: in the early 20th century, it was the bed of a stream and later part of the Ensenada railway route. In 1959, thanks to the vision of painter Benito Quinquela Martín and local residents, it was transformed into a pedestrian street and a symbol of popular Buenos Aires art.
Benito Quinquela Martín Museum
Just steps from Caminito, the Museo Benito Quinquela Martín is a must-visit. Located in the building donated by the artist himself, who grew up in a local orphanage and is considered the greatest figure of boquense art, the museum houses the largest collection of Quinquela’s oil paintings and etchings, capturing with expressive force the life of the port and the shipyards.
In addition to its main galleries, the museum features a house museum with the painter’s personal belongings, a terrace with sculptures, and stunning views of the Riachuelo. It also showcases 19th-century Argentine art and a unique collection of ship figureheads, wooden carvings once mounted on the bows of ships and now emblematic of maritime culture.
The Nicolás Avellaneda transporter bridge
One of La Boca’s most iconic landmarks is the Puente Transbordador, a colossal iron structure inaugurated in 1914 to connect the city with the then-growing industrial zone of Avellaneda. Built with English engineering, it is one of only eight transporter bridges left in the world, and the only operational one in the Americas.
Declared a National Historic Monument, its suspended gondola over the Riachuelo was restored in 2017 and today stands as a symbol of the working-class and port identity of the neighborhood. Its majestic silhouette appears in countless postcards, and at sunset, offers one of the city’s most breathtaking views.
Usina del Arte: culture and architecture at its finest
Housed in a monumental Florentine-style brick building, the Usina del Arte is a cultural hub offering concerts, exhibitions, workshops, and activities for the whole family. Once home to the Compañía Ítalo Argentina de Electricidad, the building has been restored with care for its original design and equipped with cutting-edge technology.
Its auditorium, known for perfect acoustics, hosts symphony orchestras, tango shows, and international events. The Usina also features the Calle Interna, a replica of an urban street with continuous programming, and the Plaza de la Usina, where outdoor concerts and markets take place. It’s a space where the industrial past of the neighborhood blends with contemporary cultural life.
Pablo Ducrós Hicken Film Museum
Right next to the Usina del Arte, the Museo del Cine offers a fascinating journey through Argentina’s audiovisual history. Founded in 1971, the museum preserves and exhibits more than 90,000 film reels, original scripts, vintage cameras, costumes, posters, and historical documents from Argentine cinema.
Its collection includes rare silent film footage, key works from the Nuevo Cine Argentino, and personal items from legendary directors like Leonardo Favio and María Luisa Bemberg. A true treasure for film lovers, researchers, and cinephiles, it also features screenings and themed film series.
Feel the excitement of watching Boca Juniors at La Bombonera
Seeing a Boca Juniors match at La Bombonera is an experience every football fan should have. From the moment you arrive in La Boca, you feel the energy: the streets fill with blue and gold jerseys, drums beat, fans sing nonstop, and the vibe is pure excitement.
The stadium, officially named Alberto J. Armando, opened in 1940 and is famous for its unique shape and the closeness between the stands and the field, a combination that makes every play intensely thrilling.
British newspapers The Observer and The Sun have listed it among the most exciting sporting events in the world. And for many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
To complete the visit, under one of the stands you’ll find the Museo de la Pasión Boquense, filled with historic artifacts that celebrate the identity and legacy of the club.
If you want to experience that passion firsthand, you can buy tickets for a Boca Juniors match and take part in one of the most unforgettable experiences in the world of sports.
