Buenos Aires with Kids: 10 Fun Activities

Buenos Aires is a great city to spend time with kids. Whether visiting a neighborhood park, going to the theater or taking a class, the city has you covered with spaces and activities to have kids not only entertained but also learning. Going beyond the logistical considerations we earlier provided for Argentina, here are some of the things we did with our daughter in the summer of 2024.

Some of these activities are permanent, whereas others are seasonal.  For activities specific to the time of your visit we recommend checking the Buenos Aires Tourism Page, which was a great resource during our visit.

1. Explore the immense network of playgrounds. We found the playgrounds in Buenos Aires particularly creative as compared with traditional structures in other cities, and many have equipment designed for kids with disabilities. We stayed in Palermo Chico, probably one of the best neighborhoods to stay with kids. There were many options, often situated within larger green spaces such as the one in Plaza Alemania and the three (!) separate playgrounds in Parque Las Heras. Others, like Patio Cerviño, are more closely bordered by city streets but usually well-separated.

Of course it’s not just Palermo Chico where you’ll find great playgrounds. One of our favorites overall is the one in Plaza Inmigrantes de Armenia. Designs vary across the city so your kids can enjoy a variety of play spaces as you explore the city together.

2. Visit Museo de los Niños Abasto. Many cities have formal spaces where kids can pretend to be adults. Buenos Aires has a great one called the Museo de los Niños Abasto. The space is meant to integrate play with curiosity and learning. It is located in Abasto Shopping, a building with over 100 years of history, having served as a fruit and vegetable market towards the end of the 19th and part of the 20th century. Although it is a large shopping mall now the edifice is cool and another reason to visit. This was my first visit to this type of museum and I had a lot of fun with Vienna! 

3. Ecoparque Buenos Aires. This is a large space in the city that used to operate as a zoo, but has now been re-invented as a space for environmental education and animal conservation. There are still some animals that are better off in the Ecoparque than in their natural enviroment including giraffes, elephants, and flamingos. There is also a carousel, a cool playground and a couple of water sculptures in the summer. Entrance is free with the exception of special exhibits and there are some restaurants on site. We enjoyed a full morning there and could have spent the entire day. The space is really cool and there was a lot to learn! 

4. Planetario Galieo Galilei. This was my first experience in a planeterium so it was exciting for me and Vienna both. At the time of our visit they had a performance geared for kids where the audience was going on an adventure in space and participated in the journey. The ambience and technology are great, and so are the surrounding parks. At the time of our visit tickets had to be purchased in advance to enter the planetarium.

5. Pixar in Concierto at Teatro Colon. Teatro Colon itself is one of the most visited atractions in Buenos Aires. Sound-wise it is said to be the best opera house in the world, and the architecture is majestic. The only performance that was available during the time of our visit was “Pixar en Concierto.” The Orquesta Academica del Teatro Colon played pieces of Disney movies (some projected in the background), and live dancers and actors performed at times.

It was great not only to enjoy the performance in the most beautiful theater I’ve ever visited, but also to introduce our three-year old to a symphonic orchestra in a way that she could also appreciate. This performance is meant to run every summer so we recommend attending if you’re in Buenos Aires with your kids at the right time.

Tip: The theater also runs the performance with reduced stimulation for neuro-divergent people. Buenos Aires inclusion goes beyond just words. 

6. Museum Visits. Many museums in Buenos Aires have activities for kids, often listed in the “agenda” section of their website. Entrance fees are generally low, and some have one day per week with a free or discounted fee. Kids usually get in for free.

Tip: The Museo de Arte Latinoamericano (MALBA)  has a scavenger hunt for older kids and a few interactive exhibits that our daughter enjoyed. 

7. Bookstores. You can spend hours in them. You’ll find Argentinian authors (like Maria Elena Walsh) and wonderful activity books for kids all ages. We got a bunch for our daughter in the spirit of keeping up some elements of formal education while traveling. They have been very useful in her Spanish practice. 

A favorite was the bookstore at Backroom Bar, which also has a restaurant and often live music.

8. Outdoor performances in parks. We saw Funhouse, a circus performance but the Suiss-Argentinian company Innovacirco in Parque Centenario. The performance was free and first-come first-serve, and we had to arrive about an hour before to make sure we could get in. It was a great performance for the family with some audience interaction. Another fun highlight during our visit! 

9. Ice Cream Tasting. This was almost a daily ritual during which I gained some pounds. Another advantage of the Italian influence in Buenos Aires is the large number of ice cream shops with delicious gelatto. That’s hard to resist! We found ourselves at Aversa and Cremolatti (multiple locations), each more than once but our favorite was Heladeria Scannapieco.

10. Go on a date. Yes, go on a fun date with your partner and your kid. From traditional pizza places to upscale restaurants, there are endless options for dinning that generally kids can enjoy too. We found the atmosphere in many restaurants to be casual enough to feel comofortable with a kid.

Other tips for enjoying your time with kids in Buenos Aires

We found Palermo Chico to be great for kids. It’s close to Ecoparque, Planetarium, Botanic Garden, and a big network of parks in Buenos Aires, some within walking distance. It offers easy access to kid-friendly activities and is a short ride to other fun neighborhoods like Palermo Soho for when we wanted a different dining experience or just see another place.

Finally, restaurants in Buenos Aires generally open late for dinner (after 7:30pm or 8:00pm). If your kid has an early bed rutine, plan accordingly to find a restaurant with early opening.