The Best Day Trips from Buenos Aires for British Families

After a few months in Buenos Aires, you will feel the need to leave the city. Not because it is bad, but because it is big, and children need trees, animals, and open space that even Bosques de Palermo cannot provide. Fortunately, Buenos Aires is surrounded by excellent day-trip options.

Here are the six that every British family does — in rough order of ease.

1. Tigre and the Delta (40 minutes)

How: Mitre train from Retiro to Tigre station (50 min, ARS 500).

What: river town with a fruit market (Puerto de Frutos), boat rides into the Paraná Delta, riverside restaurants, and the Museo de Arte Tigre (in a beautiful Belle Époque building).

With kids: take a lancha colectiva (public river boat) into the delta islands. Pack a picnic. The children run free on the island docks while you drink mate on the riverbank. Cost: ARS 3,000-5,000 per person for the boat.

Duration: 4-6 hours is perfect. Leave by 10 AM, return by 4 PM.

See our full Tigre Day Trip Guide.

2. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay (3 hours)

How: ferry from Buenos Aires (Buquebus or Colonia Express, 1-3 hours depending on speed).

What: UNESCO World Heritage colonial town. Cobblestone streets, lighthouse, 17th-century Portuguese architecture, artisan shops, and excellent restaurants overlooking the Río de la Plata.

With kids: the lighthouse climb, the old town exploration, beach time in summer. Colonia is small enough to walk entirely. Ice cream shops on every corner.

Cost: ferry USD 60-150 return per adult. Children half-price. Lunch in Colonia: USD 15-30 per person.

Duration: full day (leave 8 AM, return 8 PM) or overnight (recommended for a more relaxed pace).

See our full Colonia Day Trip Guide.

3. San Antonio de Areco (2 hours)

How: car (Ruta 8, 113 km) or bus from Retiro (2 hours).

What: the capital of gaucho culture. Colonial architecture, artisan silver shops, estancias with horseback riding, and the best empanadas in the province.

With kids: estancia visit with horseback riding (from age 4-5), gaucho demonstrations, and asado lunch cooked over open fire. The children will talk about the horses for months.

Cost: estancia day visit USD 60-120 per adult, children half-price.

See our full San Antonio de Areco Guide.

4. Luján (1.5 hours)

How: car or bus from Once station (1.5 hours).

What: pilgrimage town centred on the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Luján (one of the most important Catholic sites in Argentina). Also has a zoo (being transformed into an eco-park), a river promenade, and traditional Argentine country-town culture.

With kids: the basilica is impressive even for non-religious families. The river promenade has boats, parks, and stalls selling choripán. The town has a nostalgic, small-town feel that contrasts with Buenos Aires.

Cost: minimal. Bus fare ARS 3,000-5,000. Food and activities ARS 10,000-20,000 for a family.

5. La Plata (1 hour)

How: car (60 km south) or bus from Retiro (1 hour).

What: the capital of Buenos Aires Province. A planned city from the 1880s with diagonal avenues, a massive neo-Gothic cathedral, the excellent Museo de Ciencias Naturales (natural history museum, one of the best in South America), and beautiful parks.

With kids: the Museo de Ciencias Naturales is exceptional. Dinosaur skeletons, a blue whale skeleton, and extensive natural history exhibits. Children love it. Free entry.

Cost: bus ARS 3,000-5,000. Museum free. Lunch USD 10-20 per person.

6. Estancias (1-2 hours, various)

How: car (most estancias provide detailed directions).

What: working ranches offering day visits with horseback riding, asado, folk music, and campo (countryside) atmosphere.

Top options near Buenos Aires:

• Estancia La Candelaria (Lobos, 2 hours) — historic, beautiful grounds
• Estancia Santa Susana (Los Cardales, 1.5 hours) — popular with families, good facilities
• Estancia La Margarita (San Miguel del Monte, 1.5 hours) — lakeside, horseback riding

Cost: USD 50-120 per adult including lunch and activities. Children usually half-price.

Planning tips

• Start early. Buenos Aires traffic is heavy until 9:30 AM. Leave by 8 AM for anything involving a car.
• Pack snacks. Rest-stop food on Argentine highways is mediocre.
• Bring sunscreen and water for any outdoor activity (even in winter, the UV is stronger than the UK).
• Book in advance for estancia visits and Colonia ferry crossings on weekends.
• Cash is king at rural and small-town destinations. Cards are not always accepted.

Worth reading next

• Tigre Day Trip Guide
• Colonia Uruguay Day Trip
• Mendoza Wine Weekend