Buenos Aires Shopping

A walk down Calle Florida, BA’s most famous (and expensive) shopping thoroughfare, offers a one-sided glimpse of the offerings available for dishing out pesos—one dominated by malls and chain stores. Beyond the crowded Microcentro street are glamorous boutiques in Palermo, kitschy houseware shops in San Telmo, huge bookstores set in former theaters, and the classic Buenos Aires flea markets that take over plazas on Sunday afternoons. Not everything is affordable for the budget traveler—it’s a big city, after all—but there’s something for everyone, from the window shopper to the bargain hunter.

The Center

Though there is certainly no lack of stores in Microcentro or Monserrat, few travelers will find either location to be an interesting shopping destination. The types of stores you’ll find here are ...more

San Telmo

San Telmo is the place to go in BA for antiques. From Av. Independencía to Av. San Juan, Defensa is lined almost solely by flashy stores, hawking urns, statuary, and furniture. Most are well out of the ...more

Retiro And Recoleta

If Palermo is the center for relatively expensive, yet independent stores, Retiro and Recoleta have a slew of even more upscale options and are peppered with pricey shops and boutiques. Avenida Alvear ...more

Palermo

Expensive shops line the streets in Palermo, especially around Plaza Serrano, but the quiet streets and occasional cafe make ducking in and out of stores here one of the more pleasant shopping experiences ...more

Belgrano

Palacio de las Artes, Zapiola 2196 (☎ 4542 7904; www.palaciodelasartes.com.ar). S Juramento. In 1997, this stately 1912 mansion opened its doors as a private cultural center. In addition to an art gallery ...more

Once And Abasto

For bargain-hunters, this is the perfect alternative to shopping in the city center. One of the sub-neighborhoods of Balvanera, Once , really just a system of streets around a train station, hosts a ...more