10 Things to Do in Buenos Aires in December

The city of Buenos Aires is known for its energy and rich culture. During the month of December there is a wealth of events and activities for all ages and interests.

From shows, live music, Christmas and New Year's dinners at top restaurants, to shopping in local shops and visits to fascinating museums, Buenos Aires in December is an experience you won't want to miss! Whether you're travelling with your family or a group of friends, Buenos Aires in December is an experience you won't want to miss - find out what the city has to offer this time of year!

If there is something that identifies the city of Buenos Aires, it is the tango. Every December 11th is celebrated the International Tango Day, a very special celebration. This date was chosen in honour of the birth of two great tango figures: Carlos Gardel and Julio De Caro.

The city dresses up to commemorate this important date for Argentines, especially tango lovers. The streets are filled with music and dance, and public spaces are transformed into authentic open-air milongas. In the most emblematic corners of the city you can find couples of all ages dancing, between bandoneons and guitars.

One of the places to celebrate Tango Day is the neighbourhood of San Telmo, where you can find numerous milongas and bars that join in the celebration. This neighbourhood is considered the cradle of tango, its cobbled streets and old buildings give it a special atmosphere, absolutely unique. And if you want more, I recommend you to book a tango lesson in Buenos Aires or even attend a show. Here are a couple of options:

• Book a tango show at Café de los Angelitos.
• Book atango show at Esquina Homero Manzi.

At the beginning of December, the Night of the Temples is celebrated. It is an event that invites you to know the religious and cultural richness of the different cults present in the city of Buenos Aires. I recommend you to book a guided tour around Buenos Aires to enjoy it to the fullest. The activity of the Night of the Temples brings together 86 religious buildings that open their doors to share their historical, cultural and architectural heritage.

The Night of the Temples is a great opportunity to enter the universe of different religions and learn about their practices, rites and beliefs, while you can visit for free some of the landmarks of local architecture, qualified as thebest buildings in Buenos Aires.

In this event there are 10 guided tours around the different neighbourhoods of the city. In this way, you will be able to delve into its history and culture with a guide. The night includes shows of sacred music, art and gastronomy, with different activities that will make this night a unique and unforgettable experience.

If you're a football lover, then you're sure to know that Argentina breathes football. Boca Juniors is one of the most popular teams in the country, so you can't miss its stadium, known as La Bombonera, and its Casa Amarilla museum. Don't hesitate, book a tour of the River Plate and Boca Juniors museums. Also, in December, Boca fans' day is celebrated all over the country. Boca fans are famous all over the world for their passion and fervour.

On 12 December, fans gather at La Bombonera to celebrate and show their love for the club's colours. The celebration is a real party, with music, dancing and chants echoing throughout the stadium. There are also events in different parts of the city, such as concerts, fairs and exhibitions, all dedicated to honouring the team's fans.

For Boca fans, 12 December is a very special date, and if you are in Buenos Aires for this celebration you can experience the Argentinean football passion first hand.

A comfortable and entertaining way to visit the city is to book the Buenos Aires tourist bus. This service is ideal if you want to visit the main tourist attractions comfortably and without suffering the December heat. You will be able to get off at any stop and get back on whenever you want within the 24-hour period that the ticket lasts. This way, you will be able to visit the city at your own pace and without worrying about the transport.

The Buenos Aires tourist bus has different stops, among which we can highlight emblematic places such as:

• The Colón Theatre.
• The Congress Square.
• The Paseo de la Historieta.
• San Telmo.
• The Bombonera.
• The neighbourhood of La Boca.
• Lezama Park.
• The Ecological Reserve.
• The Museum of Latin American Art.
• The MALBA Museum.
• The Palermo Woods.

And if your visit is in December, it is a more than appropriate month to book the tourist bus of Buenos Aires. At this time of the year, it is hot and walking around the city can be exhausting. The bus allows you to enjoy the attractions of the city in a cooler and more relaxed way.

The Teatro Colón is one of the most important opera houses in the world and a cultural and architectural icon of Buenos Aires and Argentina. Inaugurated in 1908, it has impeccable acoustics and an architectural beauty that makes it unique in its style. For this reason, it is essential to book a guided visit to the Teatro Colón.

It offers a wide variety of shows throughout the year, and in December there are usually special shows for Christmas and New Year's Eve festivities. In addition, there are shows on the outdoor screens in the Vatican Square that are usually free and a great option to enjoy culture and art in an accessible way.

As for the experience of attending a show at the Teatro Colón, I can assure you that it is unique and unforgettable. The majesty of the building, the quality of the artists and the unique atmosphere that is created in each performance, make it an essential place to visit and enjoy culture and art in Buenos Aires. If you decide to attend one of these shows, I suggest you do your research:

• How to get tickets for the Teatro Colón.
• Its website or social networks, so you can choose the show you like the most and plan your visit in advance.
• And I also suggest that you arrive in plenty of time before the show starts, as the theatre is very large and there can be queues to get in.

If you are planning to spend the New Year in Buenos Aires, a perfect place to do it is the trendy Puerto Madero neighbourhood, one of the most fashionable. It is located on the banks of the Río de la Plata, on land that was gradually reclaimed from the river.

There you will find a great variety of restaurants offering special menus for the occasion, dinners with shows and live shows. Besides, the view of the illuminated port is simply spectacular.

But the best of all are the fireworks. In Puerto Madero, the tradition is that restaurants organise their own fireworks to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. So, you can enjoy a light show from your table in the restaurant, or stroll along the docks and watch the fireworks from different perspectives. Without a doubt, this is one of the best things to do in Buenos Aires at night.

December is the perfect month for shopping in Buenos Aires. You will find a lot of special offers and discounts in the shops, from home decorations to gifts for friends and family. In addition, shops often decorate their windows and installations with Christmas motifs, which creates a festive and pleasant atmosphere for visitors.

But that's not all, you can also enjoy craft fairs where you can find unique and original products. The craft fairs in Buenos Aires are known for offering quality products, and during the month of December, you will find more of them in different parts of the city.

Visit the fair in Plaza Francia, where you will find everything you need. You can also take the opportunity to stroll around the neighbourhood and enjoy some of the best things to do in Recoleta.

December 13th is the feast day of Santa Lucia. Saint Lucia is a very venerated saint in Argentina and other countries around the world. She lived in the 4th century and was martyred for her faith in Sicily, in southern Italy. She is depicted with her eyes in a dish, as, according to legend, they were gouged out before her death.

The celebration takes place in the Santa Lucia Parish located in Barracas, a neighbourhood in the south of Buenos Aires. There, various religious and cultural activities are held to honour the saint.

The day begins early in the morning with a mass in which the image of Saint Lucia is venerated. After the religious ceremony, a procession takes place through the streets of the neighbourhood in which the faithful carry the image of the saint and accompany her with songs and prayers. In addition, throughout the day, cultural activities take place around the church and in the adjacent square, such as folk music and dance shows, typical food stalls, crafts and games for the little ones.

The 8th of December is a very important date for the Catholic community of Buenos Aires and the whole country, since it is celebrated the Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. During this day, several activities take place to pay homage and venerate the Virgin, one of the most loved and respected figures by the Argentineans.

In the city of Buenos Aires, the celebrations begin early with a mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral, located in the centre of the city. This mass is officiated by the archbishop of Buenos Aires and is broadcast live on television and radio so that the whole population can participate.

In addition, throughout the day there are fairs, festivals and concerts in different parts of the city where you can find food and drink stands where you can taste all kinds of local preparations. On this day, processions also take place. If you have the opportunity to be in Buenos Aires on this date, I invite you to join the celebrations and live this unique experience.

Among the many things to see and do in Buenos Aires is to visit the Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Buenos Aires. Housed in a restored former theatre, it offers a unique experience to visitors.

It is the largest bookstore in Latin America and considered by National Geographic as the most beautiful in the world. Here you can find books in several languages, special editions and much more. But, you may ask, why is it a good idea to visit it in December?

• First of all, because it's the beginning of summer in Buenos Aires and temperatures can be quite high and humid. If you need a cool and comfortable place to take shelter from the heat, the Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore is an excellent option.
• Secondly, December is a time of year when the city is especially "dressed up" for Christmas. The festive lights and decorations add to the magical atmosphere of the bookshop, which is already impressive in itself.

So this activity, besides allowing you to get to know an iconic place in Buenos Aires, can also be a refuge from the high temperatures. At the Ateneo Grand Splendid you can relax browsing through books and tasting some of the delicacies of its cafeteria, as well as take advantage of the seasonal offers and buy some good books to give as gifts for the New Year's Eve festivities.