San Telmo essential free tour: Tango: History and legends, markets and museums
Tour description
We will meet at Adolfo Alsina Street 400 (please check with another map besides the app map) at the corner of the Basilica San Francisco de Asis. We will see the oldest pharmacy in Buenos Aires and then at the door of the Santo Domingo convent, we will talk about the British Invasions.
From there, we will walk to the Mafalda statue, and if the line is not too long, we will take the famous photo.
The next stop is "la casa mínima," which is the smallest house museum in Buenos Aires, not without first stopping at the Zanjón de Granados, another museum where you can explore the underground tunnels of San Telmo. Here we will begin the tango chapter of this tour, passing by the iconic tango bars, "Michelangelo" and "el viejo Almacen." It will be our stop to talk about the history of tango and legends of San Telmo, as it is here where this wonderful dance was born. The mystique of tango lives and is felt in San Telmo. If you haven't decided which tango show to see, I can show you different options.
Returning to Defensa Street, our next stop is the famous "Mercado de San Telmo." There we will see the different stalls of antiques, food, drinks, and regional items. We will be able to taste the delicious dulce de leche.
Then we will arrive at the famous square where we will also take some time to see the market and, maybe, if we are lucky, we will be able to see street tango dancing.
We will stop to see the beautiful San Pedro Telmo Church and the Penitentiary Museum (former Women's Prison).
The next stop will be the "Casa Ezeiza," the famous "casa chorizo" open-air museum where you can explore antiques while I share with you the history of European immigration in Argentina during the 19th and 20th centuries and imagine how the first tango steps were taken.
We will walk a little more until we reach the beautiful Parque Lezama, where the first foundation of Buenos Aires took place, and finally, we will say goodbye at the door of the incredible National Historical Museum.
My goal is not only for you to have a great time walking through this incredible neighborhood but also to feel free to ask any questions about the city, what to do, where to shop, and the nightlife.
Sundays are a very special day as the giant open-air fair takes place in San Telmo, covering the entire neighborhood. It is definitely a must-visit day for this beautiful and historic part of the city.
I want to help you make the most of your visit to Buenos Aires, the city that never sleeps.
Note: San Telmo is a neighborhood full of tango, and it is not uncommon to find dancers doing small performances for tourists, where it will even be possible to film them, and even more, they may want to teach you some steps. For this reason, it is important to give them a small tip as a sign of appreciation and respect for their art.
NO debit card. Only cash or Paypal (5% charge)
Basilica San Francisco de Asis
Farmacia la estrella
Convento de Santo Domingo
Mafalda Statue
Casa Mínima
Zanjon de Granados Museum
Viejo Almacén tango bar
San Telmo Market
Argentine Penitentiary Museum
San Pedro Telmo Church
Casa Ezeiza
Modern Art Museum




