The magic of Buenos Aires lasts all year long. This non-stop, fast-paced city has something to offer at any time of year, and a packed calendar of cultural events brings a different festival to the city almost every month.
When is the best time to visit Buenos Aires? That depends on whether you prefer sticky summer heat, cooler winter temperatures or the pleasant in-between days of fall and spring. (Just remember that Argentina’s summer is the northern hemisphere’s winter.)
The calendar is busy year-round, and there’s always something going on in this multicultural port city, from tango competitions and rock concerts to spirited celebrations of gaucho (cowboy) culture. Note that things can get busy around Christmas and New Year, coinciding with school holidays and some of the warmest summer weather.
To get a visceral sense of how Buenos Aires changes with the seasons, listen to Ástor Piazzolla’s Estaciones Porteñas, a series of tangos that celebrate summer, fall, winter and spring in this beguiling city, then read on for tips on the top times to come.
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December to February is the best time for sunseekers
The southern hemisphere summer in Buenos Aires is hot, with average daytime high temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F). And as any porteño (Buenos Aires resident) will tell you, the humidity makes it feel even hotter. Long hot spells are often broken by dramatic thunderstorms and several days of rain. As this is the high season for tourism, hotels are busy with high prices to match. If your budget permits, consider booking a hotel with a pool – nothing beats cooling off in the water after a day of sightseeing on sticky summer days in Buenos Aires.
Fall and spring in Buenos Aires are made for stepping out to explore © FluxFactory / iStockphoto / Getty Images
March to May and September to November are the most pleasant times to explore
Most people find fall (March to May) and spring (September to November) are the most pleasant times to visit Buenos Aires. The weather is generally mild, with average temperatures around 22°C (72°F), and a mix of sunny and rainy days. Hotel occupancy rates are usually at their lowest between April and June, making this the best time to find discounted rates.
June to August is the best time for low prices and crisp winter days
Winters in Buenos Aires can be overcast and chilly, with average highs around 16°C (61°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F). Although rain is possible year-round, the weather in winter is often dry, and the sunny winter days are perfect for exploring the city. There’s a small uptick in tourist numbers in July and August, during the northern hemisphere summer break.
Locals head to the beach in summer to escape the sticky heat in Buenos Aires © Craig Pershouse / Getty Images
January sees locals and visitors hit the beach
The first month of the year means summer holidays in Buenos Aires. Schools are closed and many porteños take time off work to escape the sweltering city heat and head to the beach. The city is generally quieter and traffic is calmer – but since it’s also the peak time for tourism in the city, you should book accommodation in advance.
Key events: Verano en la Ciudad
February is Carnaval time!
It’s still hot and humid as the city gears up for Carnaval, with parades every weekend building up to the official carnival holiday, which falls toward the end of the month. Colorful carnival troupes take to the streets to perform murga, a style of percussion-heavy music and dancing. Pay attention for kids with water bombs and foam sprays…
Key events: Carnaval Porteño
March brings milder weather and some rainy days
As fall approaches, the weather is balmy. Rainy fall days are a good excuse for ducking into one of Buenos Aires’ magnificent old-school bars and people watching over a café con leche (milky coffee).
Key events: Día de la Memoria (March 24); FIBA (Festival Internacional de Buenos Aires; held biannually)
Buenos Aires looks lush and green after the humid months of summer © Courtesy of Nomadic Boys
April is a good for fans of books and film
The weather is still pleasantly mild, with a good chance of rain. Film buffs won’t want to miss the independent film festival BAFICI, with screenings held in cinemas across the city.
Key events: BAFICI; Feria del Libro
May sees the first signs of approaching winter
There is a chill in the air as porteños gather to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution of 25 May 1810 with steaming bowls of locro (a corn-based stew).
Key events: Día de la Revolucion de Mayo (25 May)
June is crisp, clear and cool
Though winter has set in, June is historically the driest month in Buenos Aires. Crisp, sunny days with vibrant blue skies are perfect for exploring outdoors – but pack a warm jacket.
July brings a big celebration of gaucho culture
The countryside comes to the heart of the city during the Exposición Rural, a 10-day agriculture and livestock show held in the upscale district of Palermo. Events include impressive displays of gaucho horseback-riding skills.
Key events: Día de la Independencia (Independence Day, July 9); Exposición Rural
August brings the annual Buenos Aires tango festival and world championship – though you can find street tango performers year-round © Stefano Barzellotti / Shutterstock
August is the time to tango
The biggest event on the tango calendar is the Buenos Aires tango festival and world championship, Tango BA, with couples from around the world competing in improvised salon dancing and choreographed stage dance categories. The festival features a packed schedule of performances by tango orchestras, tango classes and milongas (tango dance events).
Key events: Tango BA
September welcomes the arrival of spring
The first day of spring is celebrated with picnics in the park. Music lovers should check out the lineup at the Ciudad Emergente festival, held as part of the Usina del Arte in La Boca. What started out as a rock festival has expanded to include other musical genres and features both up-and-coming and established bands.
Key events: Ciudad Emergente
October brings sports and cultural events
As spring sets in, the city hosts the world’s elite distance runners for the Buenos Aires Marathon. Other events include Ciudanza, with dance performances staged in the street and other outdoor urban spaces.
Key events: Buenos Aires Marathon; Ciudanza; Buenos Aires Photo; Gallery Day
Warm and clear days make spring a great time to take photos in colorful La Boca © Ivo Antonie de Rooij / Shutterstock
November is the best time for a trip to Buenos Aires
November is the best month to visit Buenos Aires, hands down. There is a warmth to the late-spring air and the blossom of jacaranda trees turns the city streets purple. It’s the shoulder season for tourism yet the cultural calendar is packed with events. Jostle with the crowds at the Noche de los Museos (Night of the Museums), when museums across the city open their doors for a series of late-night events.
Key events: Buenos Aires Jazz; Semana del Orgullo BA (LGBTQI+ Pride Week); Noche de los Museos, Lollapalooza; ArteBA
December sees temperatures climb in the run up to New Year
As the mercury rises, porteños head outside, dining at alfresco tables and soaking up the sun’s rays in the city parks. Summer in Buenos Aires means ice cream, cold beers and asados (barbecues), and the smell of grilling meat floats on the breeze. Families gather to exchange gifts on nochebuena (Christmas Eve). The start of the new year is marked with fireworks.
Key events: Argentine Open Polo Championships; Nochebuena (Christmas Eve); Fin de Año (New Year’s Eve)
