Argentina · Culture

Private History of Tango Customizable Tour in Buenos Aires

3 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided in Buenos Aires. Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Private customizable tango-themed tour of Buenos Aires
  • 02 Explore places linked to Carlos Gardel and tango history
  • 03 Visit historic cafés, bars, and traditional city landmarks
  • 04 Discover San Telmo and La Boca’s tango atmosphere
  • 05 See Plaza Dorrego and the iconic Caminito passage
  • 06 Hotel pickup and drop-off included in Buenos Aires

Discover the story of tango in the city where it became a cultural icon on this private, customizable tour through Buenos Aires. Follow the legacy of Carlos Gardel, visit historic cafés and traditional gathering places, and explore neighborhoods where tango’s music, lyrics, and atmosphere still come alive today.

Over three hours, you’ll trace tango from its early roots to its lasting place in Argentine culture, with stops that may include Museo Casa Carlos Gardel, Café Tortoni, Plaza Dorrego, and Caminito. With private transport and hotel pickup and drop-off included, this experience offers a comfortable and flexible way to explore Buenos Aires through one of its most celebrated traditions.

Discover the story of tango in the city where it became a cultural icon on this private, customizable tour through Buenos Aires.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Hours
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
City Buenos Aires
Languages English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

The house inhabited by the tango singer, composer and film actor, Carlos Gardel, together with his mother, is now the headquarters of the Museo Casa Carlos Gardel. Its mission is to rescue, preserve, investigate and disseminate the heritage linked to Gardel, his time and the cultural industries in which he participated.The Café Tortoni, a remarkable bar located in the Monserrat district, is the oldest in the city and is a real attraction for those who visit it. On its marble tables and walls is an important part of the history of Buenos Aires, as among its most prominent clients were the writers Jorge Luis Borges, Luigi Pirandello, Federico García Lorca and Julio Cortázar, as well as the musicians Arthur Rubinstein and the mythical Carlos Gardel. Its first owner was a French immigrant named Touan, who baptized it in honor of another famous Café Tortoni in Paris. Currently, in the subsoil of the Tortoni there are jazz and tango shows, next to the café there are the Academia Nacional del Tango and the Museo Mundial del Tango.The 36 Billares is a remarkable traditional bar and restaurant in Buenos Aires, known for its subsoil where billiard tables used to operate. It is located on Avenida de Mayo and offers tango musical shows.

It was inaugurated in 1894, when the opening of Avenida de Mayo had just been completed. It occupies the ground floor and the basement of an apartment building that was built in 1914 with a French academic style.

The name The 36 Billares alludes to the name of the manufacturer of billiard tables. Notable writers passed, such as Federico García Lorca, Abelardo Arias, and journalists such as Miguel Ángel Bavio Esquiú or Timo Zorraquín.Las Violetas, inaugurated in 1884, was built by its original owners without sparing any effort or expense: fine boiserie, magnificent stained glass, Italian marbles and furniture brought from Paris. The Argentine poetess Alfonsina Storni was an assiduous client of Las Violetas. His salons were also known by Roberto Arlt and Irineo Leguisamo, the jockey who was sung by the legendary Carlos Gardel in a well-known tango.Plaza Dorrego is the name with which Plaza Coronel Manuel Dorrego is popularly known. It is located in the heart of the San Telmo neighborhood. It is delimited by the streets Humberto I ° and Defensa and by two cuts: A parallel to Humberto I ° called Bethlem, and another parallel to Defensa with the name of the bandoneonist and tango composer Anselmo Aieta. It constitutes one of the main pedestrian tourist spots in Buenos Aires. Around it, one can find cafes, bars and pubs with their tables on the square; and also houses of antiques and crafts. There are also musicians shows and street dancing, including Tango exhibitions.Caminito is an alley museum and a traditional passage, of great cultural and tourist value, located in the neighborhood of La Boca. The place acquired cultural significance because it inspired the music of the famous tango Caminito, 1926, composed by Juan de Dios Filiberto.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Pickup service provided in Buenos Aires. 1 city · 3 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Professional Local Guide
  • Hotel Pick-Up and Drop-Off

What's Not Included

  • Gratuities
  • Food and Drink
  • Admission

Know before you go

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • No public transportation nearby
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • This is a kid-friendly tour
  • Pick-Up at centrally located hotels and apartments in Buenos Aires (Palermo, Recoleta, Downtown, Puerto Madero, and San Telmo areas) or at the Port of Buenos Aires (Gate 12).
  • Our tour guide will meet you at the Hotel or apartment Lobby.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Pickup service provided in Buenos Aires.
Tour start
Pickup service provided in Buenos Aires.
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 3 hours finish where they began, in Pickup service provided in Buenos Aires..

Watch the tourHQ film Watch the film

Create your own adventure

Can't find the perfect tour? Tailor your dream trip.

  • Tell us your destination, dates and group size.
  • Our travel experts and local guides design a tailored itinerary, just for you.
  • Enjoy your trip with peace of mind, knowing everything is taken care of.
Plan my holiday

Say goodbye to travel stress.