Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays

At the top of Palermo Viejo, alongside Plaza Italia, you’ll find the Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays (@buenosairesjardin; free; 8am-6pm Mon-Fri; 9:30am-6pm Sat & Sun) a green refuge for Palermo residents and visitors alike with plenty of peaceful pockets to connect with nature or simply sit and chat with friends. Designed by renowned landscape architect Carlos Thays (he was responsible for many of BA’s public green spaces) in 1898, there are thousands of botanical species on view including a garden devoted to yerba, the plant used to create Argentina’s ubiquitous tea-like brew mate. There are plenty of sculptures positioned throughout the gardens. If visiting on the weekend, be sure to visit the Invernáculo (4-5pm Sat & Sun), a stunning late 19th-century iron-and-glass greenhouse originally shown at the 1900 Paris Exhibition, and the butterfly garden (noon-1pm Sun). Check their Instagram for upcoming events and workshops.