Senior travel: Buenos Aires
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 61 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Caminito and La BocaStep-free: yes · about 60 minFlat pedestrian street; cobbles in places. No barriers to a wheelchair on the main stretch.
- Puerto Madero waterfrontStep-free: yes · about 60 minFlat, paved promenade throughout; the Women's Bridge has a ramp as well as steps.
- Palermo parks and the Japanese GardenStep-free: yes · about 90 minFlat gravel and paved paths throughout both the Japanese Garden and the wider parks.
- Metropolitan Cathedral (Plaza de Mayo)Step-free: partial (check before you go) · about 40 minA few steps at the main entrance; the interior floor is flat.
- El Ateneo Grand SplendidStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 45 minA few steps at the entrance and between levels; ask staff about the easiest route if using a wheelchair.
- San Telmo MarketStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 50 minLevel floor inside the hall; the surrounding streets are cobbled.
- Teatro ColónStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 70 minLifts serve the main levels; some backstage areas on the technical tour involve stairs — ask for the step-free route when booking.
- Recoleta CemeteryStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 75 minPaved but uneven lanes between mausoleums, with a few steps at the main gate.
Getting around in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a mixed picture. The grid layout and wide pavements in the north (Recoleta, Palermo, Puerto Madero) are relatively easy going; the colonial cobbles of San Telmo and much of the subte network are not.
- Pavements:
- Generally wide but uneven in places, with cobbled streets in San Telmo; Puerto Madero and parts of Palermo are the smoothest.
- Subte lifts:
- Only some, mostly newer or renovated, stations have lifts; many older stations are stairs-only — check the specific station before relying on it.
- Getting around:
- Taxis and ride-hailing cars are the most reliable step-free option; ask for a larger car if you need room for a folding wheelchair.
- Buses:
- Many colectivos now run low-floor accessible buses, but not all routes or all times — confirm locally if this matters for your trip.
- Hotels:
- Newer hotels in Recoleta, Palermo and Puerto Madero are more likely to have lifts and accessible rooms than small guesthouses in older buildings.
- Toilets:
- Accessible toilets in malls, larger hotels and some museums; less common in cafés and older buildings.
Medicines and health on the ground
- Travel insurance · before flying: Medical cover required in practice since 2026 hospital charges for non-residents — check.
- Tap water:
- Generally safe to drink in the city (CABA); ask your hotel if you are ever unsure.
- Heat:
- Dec-Feb: shade and hydration in the hottest hours, and plan outdoor sights for morning or early evening.
- Dengue:
- Argentina has recorded seasonal dengue outbreaks in recent years, worse in warmer months; use mosquito repellent, especially Dec-Apr, and see a doctor promptly for a sudden high fever.
- Pharmacies:
- Common and well-stocked (farmacias); ask any one which is the 24-hour "de turno" pharmacy that night.
- Travel insurance:
- Recommended for all visitors; public hospitals treat emergencies but private care and repatriation are not free.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.