After Plaza de Mayo, Plaza Dorrego is the city’s oldest plaza. Dating back to the 18th century, it was originally a pit stop for caravans bringing supplies into the city from the Pampas. Now a lively square surrounded by colonial buildings and old-world cafe-bars, it's popular with tourists who come to watch tango dancers and musicians perform (get ready with your spare change when they pass the hat around). It's also the heart of San Telmo’s famous Sunday street market.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Feria de San Telmo

0.01 MILES

On Sundays, San Telmo’s main drag is closed to traffic and the street is a sea of both locals and tourists browsing craft stalls, waiting at vendors’…

2. Pasaje de la Defensa

0.08 MILES

Originally built for the Ezeiza family in around 1880, this building later became a conventillo (tenement house) that was home to dozens of families…

3. Mercado de San Telmo

0.09 MILES

Occupying an entire city block, this striking marketplace was built in 1897 by Juan Antonio Buschiazzo, the Italian-born Argentine architect who designed…

4. Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires

0.12 MILES

After significant renovations, this excellent museum is a magnet for modern-art enthusiasts. Housed in a former tobacco warehouse, this spacious museum…

6. El Zanjón de Granados

0.25 MILES

This amazing urban architectural site is a must for travelers interested in the city's history. A series of old tunnels, sewers and cisterns (built from…

7. Archivo del Ejército

0.29 MILES

Built in 1881, this building was where Argentinian money was minted until 1944. It now contains military archives.

8. Facultad de Ingeniería

0.29 MILES

This neoclassical building is the engineering school for the Universidad de Buenos Aires. It was originally built for the Fundación Eva Perón and is an…