What to do in Partido de Quilmes

The Obelisco stands tall in the center of Buenos Aires. It is perhaps the city’s most recognizable icon. The large stone pillar surrounded by lights and electric screens draws comparisons with New York’s Times Square. The column itself resembles the Washington Monument.

Exceptional shopping, exciting nightlife, beautiful parks and fine food and wine is what you can expect in the glamorous Palermo area of Buenos Aires. When you visit Buenos Aires, take the short journey to the neighbourhood of Palermo, located in the northeast of the city. It has attractive tree-lined streets and cobblestone alleyways and there is plenty to see and do there both day and night. Palermo is trendy, hip and happening – 'the place to be seen'. This is historically an area where the rich and famous choose to live and it's where many embassies are located today.

The history, character and charm of a city is often revealed by the stories behind the people who have lived and died there. This is also the case in Buenos Aires. La Recoleta Cemetery is where many of the city's wealthiest and best-known figures have finally been laid to rest.

See a show or take a guided tour at the Teatro Colón, one of the finest theatres in the world. Home to the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra, Teatro Colón features classical music, opera and ballet performances throughout the year. Seats at a performance are not only for wealthy Buenos Aires residents: look into the theatre’s budget tickets to get cheap, last-minute tickets for a world-class show.

Named after Argentina’s May Revolution of 1810, Plaza de Mayo is the country’s most politically important square. Government palaces and historical landmarks surround the square, and national celebrations and high-profile political demonstrations take place here regularly. Admire the monuments, tour the government buildings and arrive on the date of an event for the liveliest experience.

Florida Street is the most prominent shopping boulevard in the city. It is a traffic-free zone full of many different types of stores. Travelers often visit the street to pick up souvenirs of their trip. Find many leather shops, vendors and street performers. You can usually pay in dollars here to get a better rate than the official peso. With the street’s central location and eclectic range of shops, it has become a principal destination for Buenos Aires visitors.

Tour the offices of Argentina’s president in the Casa Rosada (Pink House). Since the 1860s, this vibrantly pink palace has served as the headquarters of Argentina’s executive government. Admire the palace’s unlikely paint job, learn about the history of Argentine politics in the on-site museum and see inside the president’s office.

La Bombonera (the Chocolate Box) is the stadium of one of the most illustrious soccer clubs in South America, the Boca Juniors. The stadium takes its name from its unusual design; it has one flat side with the rest of the stadium arched around it. The grounds have a seating capacity of 49,000 and have also hosted music concerts over the years. Look for the museum, VIP boxes and paintings as you tour the inside.

San Martin Square, in central Buenos Aires, is a tranquil refuge with large patches of grass, old trees and wide paths. On one side of the park are elegant buildings. Florida Street, a popular shopping strip, begins at the other entrance. The square is home to a tall 19th-century monument of a former military general and a memorial of the Falklands War. These are among the most recognizable sites in the city.