Many of the city's most popular attractions are free to visit.

Spending a culture-packed day in the city doesn't have to be expensive. One of the best ways to absorb the charm of Buenos Aires is to stroll through the best neighborhoods.

If you want to catch street performers dancing tango, go to one of the parks or plazas. The top 10 experiences can show you the best of Buenos Aires.

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1. Rollerblade and smell the roses in the Bosques de Palermo

Rollerblading can be done on the smooth tarmac path that goes around an artificial lake. You can rent a pair of skates at the entrance to the rosedal if you bring your own skates.

2. Immerse yourself in cutting-edge culture at the Usina del Arte

Usina del Arte is a cultural center and events space located in a former electricity plant in La Boca. The events here include contemporary dance performances, tango festivals, and art exhibitions.

Kid-friendly activities and workshops are included in the planning tip.

Tourists walking through Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires stop to admire the statuary on the front of a mausoleum
Admire the elaborate structures in Recoleta Cemetery for free © FotografiaBasica / Getty Images

3. Wander between mausoleums in Recoleta Cemetery

Cementerio de la Recoleta is different. The streets of the city of the dead are lined with thousands of elaborate mausoleums in a variety of architectural styles.

It can be difficult to find Eva Pern's tomb.

Pick up a map at the entrance and allow a lot of time to explore the most worthwhile attraction.

4. Catch a performance at the Centro Cultural Kirchner

The central post office in the city has been replaced by a huge cultural center that offers a variety of activities for free. The CCK has several concert halls with great acoustics.

If you want to attend a concert, you need to reserve your tickets quickly.

If you're interested in architecture, you should take a free guided tour of the building's interior.

Tango dancers pose for photos with tourists in front of a brightly painted building in El Caminito, Buenos Aires
Enjoy performances in El Caminito for free, but be aware that there may be a charge for photographs © Meinzahn / Getty Images

5. See colorful shacks and street performers on El Caminito

Tourists take photos of tango dancers in front of brightly painted shacks on El Caminito, while statues of Diego Maradona and Carlos Gardel stand nearby. El caminito was conceived by local artists as a way to celebrate and preserve the spirit of the neighborhood, and the tenement shacks here are reconstructions of the real colorful homes of port workers.

Street performers can charge for photos if they want to.

6. View works of art at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes 

The museum is located in a former waterworks building in the neighborhood of Recoleta and is free to visit. The collection includes works by Argentina's most celebrated artists, such as Antonio Berni and Xul Solar, as well as works by Picasso, Goya, and Renoir.

It's a good idea to view the masterpieces on a rainy day.

7. Learn about Argentine folk culture at the Feria de Mataderos

The Feria de Matadero is a free street fair on the southwestern outskirts of the city. There are food and craft stalls and musicians playing Argentine folk music.

A bowl of locro or an empanada can be had for a small amount of money.

8. Tour the Casa Rosada and look out over Plaza de Mayo

It is possible to see the presidential palace on weekends and public holidays. There is a good overview of the building's history offered by guides. There is a chance to take a photo on the famous balcony and look out over the plaza.

It's a good idea to book tours of the CasaRosada online. If you don't speak Spanish, check the English language tour schedule.

People browse at stalls at an antique market during Feria de San Pedro Telmo in Buenos Aires
It's free to browse at Feria de San Pedro Telmo, a street market held every Sunday © gvictoria / Shutterstock

9. Browse the stalls at the Feria de San Telmo

There is a Sunday street market in San Telmo. If you can resist the urge to buy, you can browse the antiques and craft stalls for free.

There is an atmospheric indoor produce and antiques market nearby.

10. Discover street art in Barracas

One of the world's top street art scenes can be found in Argentina. There are many murals in Palermo or San Telmo. Colegiales and Chacarita are close to Palermo Hollywood and are home to a lot of street art. There is a depiction of a gaucho holding a spray can.

In the south of the city, there's an off-the-beaten-track area called Barracas, which is home to street art. The longest mural in the world is said to be painted by one artist and can be found here.

The houses of Calle Lann are covered in mosaic.

The article was last updated about 6 hours ago.