Tour operator
Parrilla Tour
A Buenos Aires food tour company founded in 2011, leading English-language walks through parrillas, empanada shops and ice cream parlours in several neighbourhoods.
Buenos Aires Free Tour
A tip-based walking tour company with daily routes through Recoleta, the city centre, La Boca and Recoleta Cemetery, plus San Telmo walks on Sundays.
At a glance
- Type
- Tip-based walking tours
- Area
- San Nicolás, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Official site
- bafreetour.com
Good to know
- Daily walking tours
- Tours in English and Spanish
- Pay-what-you-wish tips
Why we recommend it
Buenos Aires Free Tour describes itself as the first free tour in Latin America. Its local guides lead walking tours that have no fixed price; instead, guests pay what they think the experience was worth in tips at the end. That model makes it a good option for travellers on a budget and for anyone who wants an introduction to the city on their first day before deciding which areas to explore in more depth.
The company runs a set of regular routes, each with a fixed meeting point. The Free Tour Recoleta leaves every day at 10:30 from the corner of Libertad and Viamonte, next to the Teatro Colón, and lasts about three hours. The Free Tour City Center starts every day at 15:00 at the main entrance of the National Congress on Avenida Entre Ríos 51 and lasts two and a half hours. Both are offered in English and Spanish, and together they make a good two-part introduction to the centre and the elegant northern districts.
Other walks focus on particular neighbourhoods. The La Boca walking tour meets daily at 11:00 at the corner of Magallanes and Caminito and lasts two hours. The San Telmo walk runs on Sundays at 11:00 from San Ignacio Church at Bolívar 225, which fits neatly with the Sunday Feria de San Telmo. A Graffiti Palermo tour in English meets at Plaza Serrano, also known as Plaza Cortázar, at the corner of Jorge Luis Borges and Honduras, at 15:00 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. There is also a two-hour tour of Recoleta Cemetery in English, daily at 15:30 from the main entrance at Junín 1760; note that the cemetery's own entrance ticket is not included. Tours of Puerto Madero and Palermo were listed as coming soon.
Book a place through the button for each tour on the website, as this helps the guides plan group sizes. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and sun protection in summer, and have some cash ready for the tip at the end. The company does not publish a phone number or email on its home page, but it is active on Facebook and Instagram.
These tours suit solo travellers, students, families and first-time visitors who want to get their bearings. Combine the Recoleta tour with lunch at La Biela, or follow the La Boca walk with a meal at El Obrero.
Buenos Aires Free Tour FAQs
Are the tours really free?
They have no fixed price; guests pay what they feel the tour was worth in tips.
Where does the Recoleta tour start?
At the corner of Libertad and Viamonte, next to the Teatro Colón, daily at 10:30.
What languages are tours in?
Most tours are in English and Spanish; the Graffiti Palermo and Recoleta Cemetery tours are in English.
Is there a San Telmo tour?
Yes, on Sundays at 11:00 from San Ignacio Church at Bolívar 225.
Is the cemetery entry included on the Recoleta Cemetery tour?
No, the cemetery entrance ticket is not included.
How long are the tours?
Between two and three hours.
Do I need to book?
Yes, reserve through the button for each tour on the website.
Where does the La Boca tour meet?
At the corner of Magallanes and Caminito, daily at 11:00.