Things to do in San Telmo

San Telmo is Buenos Aires' oldest barrio, a grid of cobbled streets and colonial-era buildings a short walk south of Plaza de Mayo, now lined with antique shops, tango bars and cafes.

On Sundays the Feria de San Telmo fills Defensa street and Plaza Dorrego with stalls, street tango and heavy foot traffic from roughly 10:00 to 17:00, which changes the barrio completely; on other days the permanent antique shops and the covered Mercado de San Telmo are quieter and easier to browse. Half a day covers the core streets outside market hours; a Sunday visit needs longer because of the crowds.

San Telmo is more central and generally more comfortable after dark than neighbouring La Boca, though it is still worth sticking to well-lit, busier streets late at night and keeping valuables out of sight, as in any dense city barrio.