Things to do with kids in Buenos Aires

For many children travelling in Buenos Aires, the chaos of the city can be quite intimidating. However, parents don't need to fret as there are great child-friendly attractions tucked away in just about every barrio (neighbourhood).

Buenos Aires is a great city to explore on foot but, for the more active, it is also extremely bicycle-friendly. Travellers can rent a bike and pedal their way round the leafy suburbs and side streets. They can also stop off at the Nueve de Julio Avenue, the widest avenue in the world and admire the 220-foot-tall (67metre) obelisk in the centre, marking the heart of Buenos Aires. Or for a slightly more cultural experience, a stroll with the children past the Floralis Genérica in Recoleta, a working metal sculpture of a flower that opens and closes with the sun, is highly recommended.

For those days when the sun isn't shining, visitors should head to one of the many indoor playgrounds or museums dotted around the city, such as the Museo de Los Ninos or the Galileo Galilei Planetarium, where children will have a great time stargazing and learning about the solar system.

Galileo Galilei Planetarium photo

Galileo Galilei Planetarium

The Galileo Galilei Planetarium is located inside the Bosques de Palermo, its massive dome making it almost impossible to miss for those who love the stars. The building is made up…

Galileo Galilei Planetarium

The Galileo Galilei Planetarium is located inside the Bosques de Palermo, its massive dome making it almost impossible to miss for those who love the stars. The building is made up of six floors, five staircases and a main room with a 60-foot (20m) diameter, filled with 360 seats. On any given day, this planetarium is abuzz with the chatter of children enjoying a spot of stargazing. The planetarium regularly changes its shows and displays, which include First Man in Space, A Blue Planet, and Super Moons. In addition to the main show, there is also a small museum containing a lunar rock, a collection of 100-million-year-old sea life fossils and a metallic meteorite from Chaco Province.

Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens photo

Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens

Lined with trees, flowers and other indigenous plants, the Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens are a great place to take the kids. Open since 1898, the grounds contain a symmetric Roman…

Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens

Lined with trees, flowers and other indigenous plants, the Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens are a great place to take the kids. Open since 1898, the grounds contain a symmetric Roman garden, a picturesque Oriental garden and a mixed French garden. With plenty of open space, hundreds of stray yet friendly cats and a fascinating greenhouse for inquisitive kids, it's the ideal location to relax with a picnic or take a leisurely walk with the family. Its 33 sculptures and monuments, along with a botanical library, are also open to the public.