Argentina's most cosmopolitan city sits at the mouth of the mighty Rio de la Plata, and along with it's vicinity is home to over fifteen million people. The actual city of Buenos Aires has a population of around 3.5 million, but it has a pulse that is chaotic and charming at the same time. It's easy to fall in love with BA, from it's charming antiquities, top notch museums, endless parks, sub tropical weather, and beautifully chic people that love to party until dawn. Even the city's metro sy...
Argentina's most cosmopolitan city sits at the mouth of the mighty Rio de la Plata, and along with it's vicinity is home to over fifteen million people. The actual city of Buenos Aires has a population of around 3.5 million, but it has a pulse that is chaotic and charming at the same time. It's easy to fall in love with BA, from it's charming antiquities, top notch museums, endless parks, sub tropical weather, and beautifully chic people that love to party until dawn. Even the city's metro system (Subte) is unique as many of the train seats are still covered in velvet, and the stations are decorated in intricate tiling dating back the early 1900s. As you walk for miles admiring the historic architecture and grand public spaces, you might just believe you're in Europe.
BA is divided into 48 barrios, several of which gather gay-friendly hotels, trendy restaurants, bars, and thumping clubs into a few square blocks. Not surprisingly, theses neighborhoods host many of the city's historical sites and cultural offerings such as the Evita Museum. Thus you will find yourself right at home in posh Recoleta, trendy Palermo, tango-inspired San Telmo, or the bubbling Microcentro. Other barrios such as Belgrano, Nuez, Barrio Norte, Villa Crespo, and even the traditional Colegiales are also of interest and increasingly gay-infused.
These days, Porteños (locals born in BA) joke about how gay their city has become in a relatively short period. In 2004, Buenos Aires became the first city in Latin America to legalize civil unions, and since then a steady sexual liberalization has allowed not only locals but also gay visitors to enjoy everything the city offers without fear. The next logical step came in July 2010 when Argentina became the tenth country in the world to grant full marriage and adoption equality to gay and lesbian couples.
A Note on Safety:
Buenos Aires is known for its charm, but also the skill of its pick pocketers. You might think that you are safe in queer spaces, but this is especially prevalent at crowded dance parties and sexy backrooms. Make sure to keep you are cognizant if your phone and belongings in these paces.