Steak, soccer, tango and…toddlers? Surprisingly, Buenos Aires is a great city for kids – there are activities galore, child-friendly eateries and lots of parks to explore. Best of all, porteños adore children, and with these natural ice-breakers in tow, you’ll probably meet more locals than you would otherwise. Here are a few tips to make traveling with los niños enjoyable.
Out and about
On weekends, Palermo’s parks bustle with families taking walks, picnicking and playing sports. Rent bikes, boats and in-line skates at Parque 3 de Febrero, which is partially closed to traffic on weekends. The park is also home to Planetario Galileo Galilei, where you can catch an astronomy show.
Museums for kids include the aptly named Museo de los Niños, the puppet museum (Museo Argentino del Títere) and the Museo Participativo de Ciencias, an interactive science museum.
Older kids, especially those with a macabre streak, will love wandering among the ornate mausoleums at the Cementerio de la Recoleta.
Where to count sheep
The following hotels all have multi-room suites or apartments with kitchenettes, which make them great choices for families:
Great eats for the whole family
Whether or not a children’s menu is offered, most cafes and restaurants welcome children and offer freshly squeezed juices, hot chocolate and simple, kid-friendly foods like pizza and spaghetti.
All-you-can-eat restaurants offer lots of choices; try Grants or Siga La Vaca.
Cumaná is great for empanadas and pizzas.
La Payuca – this grill restaurant has a babysitter-manned playroom.
Save room for an helado – BA’s ice cream rivals Rome’s. Freddo and Persicco both have multiple branches.
Tips
BA’s crowded and uneven sidewalks are difficult to manage with a stroller – consider a baby carrier instead.
Always carry toilet paper and wet wipes. Public bathrooms are often poorly maintained.
This article was refreshed in April 2019.
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