5 Things to Do in Buenos Aires, Argentina

A working-class immigrant port neighborhood known for its corrugated-metal houses painted in bright, mismatched colors — the birthplace of tango as a street art form, with dancers still performing along the pedestrian Caminito street.

Good to know: Stick to the main tourist stretch around Caminito itself — La Boca's surrounding streets have a real reputation for safety issues after dark.

An extraordinary above-ground cemetery of elaborate marble mausoleums built for Argentina's wealthiest families, most famously housing Eva Perón's grave — walking its narrow 'streets' feels more like touring a miniature city than a graveyard.

Good to know: A free or low-cost guided tour is worth it — many of the most interesting family histories aren't obvious from the tombs alone.

Widely ranked among the world's great opera houses for its acoustics, with guided tours through the ornate gold-leafed interior even outside performance times.

Good to know: Book a guided tour in advance if you want to see the interior without attending a performance — tours sell out, especially in high season.

Buenos Aires's oldest, most bohemian neighborhood turns its cobblestone streets into a sprawling antiques and crafts market every Sunday, with impromptu tango performances breaking out along Defensa street.

Good to know: Go on a Sunday specifically — the market and street tango performances are what make San Telmo worth the trip, and it's much quieter other days.

A revitalized dockland district of restored brick warehouses and a striking modern skyline, connected by Santiago Calatrava's cable-stayed Puente de la Mujer (Women's Bridge) — a good contrast to the city's older, more ornate neighborhoods.

Good to know: Good for an evening riverside dinner — many of Buenos Aires's best-known steakhouses have outposts here.