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🇦🇷 South America · metro 14.2M

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, on the Río de la Plata. It is classified as an Alpha− global city. The city proper has 3.1 million and its urban area 16.7 million, making it the 21st most populous metropolitan area in the world. It is known for its preserved eclectic European architecture and rich cultural life. Since the 19th century, it has been a major recipient of millions of immigrants, making it a melting pot. Buenos Aires is considered one of the most diverse cities of the Americas.

Typical weather

1981–present
JFMAMJJASOND
autumnwinterspringsummer
coldcool warmhot
JFMAMJJASOND
Come for everything else Buenos Aires does a lot well. The weather is not on the list.

City Rhythm

measured
Eat well at 2 a.m.
26% of food & drink open past midnight
Work all day from a café
84 h open per week
Run Sunday's errands
82% of shops open on Sundays
Find breakfast before 8
20% open before 8 a.m.

Opening hours, by kind of place

median across mapped venues
Food & drink12,058 places mapped
09:00–24:00
0006121824
26%
open past midnight
79%
open on Sundays
84h
open per week
9%
take a midday break
3%
open 24/7
Shops & errands12,185 places mapped
08:00–21:00
0006121824
1%
open past midnight
82%
open on Sundays
90h
open per week
7%
take a midday break
15%
open 24/7

Vital absurdities

measured · the Anti-Awards

Same time system

by rhythm

What to do each season

4
Dec-Feb

summer

hot and humid; openmeteo mean 23.0-24.9 °C (Jan warmest 24.9; Wikipedia heat waves common; extreme 43.3 °C); the Pampero wind brings violent thunderstorms then cooler temperatures; the wettest period (Feb 4.0 mm/day)

  • the hot humid summer — life shifts to the late evening; the outdoor café/nightlife economy (bars open 'well past midnight'); the festival season (Quilmes Rock, Creamfields)
  • heat waves and the Pampero thunderstorms; the 2022 heatwave caused power-grid failure affecting 700,000 households
Mar-May

autumn

mild and changeable; openmeteo mean 13.1-21.3 °C; wet (Mar 3.9 mm/day); 'spring and autumn are characterized by changeable weather conditions'

  • the comfortable autumn — the changeable transition; the wine-harvest and the cultural season opens
Jun-Aug

winter

rather cool with fog; openmeteo mean 9.2-11.2 °C (Jul coolest 9.2; Wikipedia Jul avg 11.0 °C; highs ~16.6 °C, lows ~8.3 °C); 'moderate-to-heavy fogs'; cold spells from Antarctica; snow very rare (last 2007)

  • the cool foggy winter — the indoor theater season (300+ active theaters); the lowest tourist density
  • Antarctic cold spells can persist for several days
Sep-Nov

spring

warming and changeable; openmeteo mean 13.3-19.9 °C; the jacaranda bloom; 'changeable weather conditions' — cold southern air vs warm northern air

  • the spring bloom and the return of the patio/café season; the high tourist season begins

What it is known for

'Paris of South America' (the European-influenced culture)tango (the defining cultural export)🎵the Teatro Colón (an internationally rated opera house)🎭300+ active theaters (1st worldwide; busiest live theater)the Plaza de Mayo / Casa Rosada🌉Boca Juniors vs River Plate (the Superclásico; 24 pro teams)the 1978 FIFA World Cup🍜the asado (the cuisine)the European-immigrant heritage (Italian/Spanish melting pot)🎓the University of Buenos Aires (5 Nobel laureates)🌉the Río de la Plata (the world's widest river)Avenida 9 de Julio (140 m wide)🚇the Subte (the oldest subway in the Southern Hemisphere, 1913)Palermo (the largest barrio)La Boca (the colorful Caminito)

Important moments in a year

1978-06-25

1978 Fifa World Cup

  • Argentina won the 1978 FIFA World Cup, defeating the Netherlands 3-1 at the Estadio Monumental
wikipedia:Sports
1951

1951 Pan American Games

  • Buenos Aires hosted the first Pan American Games
wikipedia:Sports
2018

2018 Youth Olympics

  • Buenos Aires hosted the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics
wikipedia:Sports

On the record

source-tracked
nature

Buenos Aires has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Summers are hot and humid. The warmest month is January, with a daily average of 24.9 °C.

wikipedia:Climate
nature

Heat waves are common during summers … most heat waves are of short duration and are followed by the passage of the cold, dry Pampero wind which brings violent and intense thunderstorms followed by cooler temperatures.

wikipedia:Climate
nature

Winters are rather cool … Highs during the season average 16.6 °C while lows average 8.3 °C. Relative humidity averages in the upper 70s%, which means the city is noted for moderate-to-heavy fogs.

wikipedia:Climate
social

The city is sometimes referred to as the 'Paris of South America'.

wikipedia:Culture
social

Every weekend, there are about 300 active theaters with plays, a number that places the city as 1st worldwide, more than either London, New York or Paris.

wikipedia:Culture
social

Buenos Aires is the home of the Teatro Colón, an internationally rated opera house.

wikipedia:Culture
social

Buenos Aires, featuring no fewer than 24 professional teams, has the highest concentration of teams of any city in the world.

wikipedia:Sports
social

Since the 19th century, the city has been a major recipient of millions of immigrants from all over the world, making it a melting pot.

wikipedia:lead
everyday

The University of Buenos Aires … has produced five Nobel Prize winners.

wikipedia:Education
movement

Buenos Aires is a very walkable city and the majority of residents use public transport.

wikipedia:Transportation
social

The city is a multicultural city that is home to multiple ethnic and religious groups … It is considered one of the most diverse cities of the Americas.

wikipedia:lead
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