1. LEARN TO PLAY FOOTBALL LIKE MESSI AND MARADONA
Having nurtured some of the world’s greatest soccer stars, Buenos Aires’ footballing legacy can be enjoyed to the max, with FC BAFA (Buenos Aires Futbol Amigos). As well as a Tinder-type set up for football fans, in which visitors can link up with local players and join games on an ad hoc ‘play and play’ basis, FC BAFA also organises immersive courses. These include a one-day Boca Juniors camp which comprises a professionally led training session, lunch and game; also, an overnight training and match play with Rosario Futbol Club. Week-long footballing courses can also be booked including training, matches with locals, behind the scenes stadium visits and homestays with local families. To book visit: https://www.bafutboltours.com/ or more footballing options visit: https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/es/article/pasi%C3%B3n-por-el-f%C3%B…
2. LEARN TO PLAY POLO
While it may be known as the Sport of Kings, the locals’ passion for polo can be very much enjoyed by all visitors to the city. As well as booking tickets to see one of the three major events which take place from September to December at the Palermo ground or ‘Cathedral of Polo’, there are several day-long polo trips. Based slightly out of the city in the countryside setting of a polo ranch, as well as watching the professionals at play, participants also learn the basics of the game then put their newly acquired skills to the test and play a match themselves. Prices from 12,000 ARS (£77 per person) for a full day trip including tuition, transportation, a welcome breakfast, BBQ lunch and Argentine wine tasting completes the experience. For more information on Buenos Aires polo programme: https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/en/article/experience-passion-polo or to book a course https://www.ba.tours/en/activity/full-polo-day-30772153
3. LEARN TO TANGO
Tango is the backbone of Buenos Aires’ cultural identity and no visit to the city would be complete without a taster class at the very least. Once armed with some background information from the tourist office’s online fact file https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/en/agrupador-noticias/tango; wanabee Strictly types can book a series of one to one or group sessions which range from a quick ‘learn the basics in an hour’, to a more intensive course spread over a week or two. Prices from 1000 ARS (£12). More practice can be enjoyed at the many Milongas dance venues, many of which welcome dancers of all levels. See hoy-milonga for the latest day-by-day listings https://www.hoy-milonga.com/buenos-aires/en
4. LEARN TO MAKE STREET FOOD
The fragrant aromas of street food are certain to create an evocative memory of any visit to Buenos Aires – and to ensure the delicious aromas can be recreated on home soil, local husband and wife team Veronica and Manuel offer a year-round programme of cooking courses. Operating out of their own home, the courses at Tierra Negra include an empanadas masterclass, as well as a street food experience and medialunas or mid-morning sweet treat-making. All classes include a demonstration, hands-on cooking experience and tastings. Prices from 3300 ARS (£43) For more information and to book contact: https://www.tierranegragourmet.com/classes
5. LEARN SOMETHING CREATIVE: FILETEADO ART CLASS
Adorning many of Buenos Aires’ public signs and buildings are the colourful painted swirls of fileteado art. UNESCO protected, this beautiful stylistic artwork is an integral part of Buenos Aires’ artistic culture. And while plaques can be bought direct from the workshops of the ‘fileteadores’ artists, many also offer classes – enabling visitors to create their own souvenirs. Classes start from 2120 ARS (£25) for a two-hour workshop, to more intensive courses spanning several days. For more information about the artform visit https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/es/article/fileteado-el-arte-porte%C… or to book a course: https://ba.tours/en/activity/buenos-aires-cultural-san-telmo-class-of-p… or www.fileteado.com.ar
5. LEARN TO BE BARTENDER, BUENOS AIRES STYLE
Buenos Aires has a booming bar scene where quirky new cocktails are cropping up every day. Visitors looking to hone their bartending skills should look no further than Tres Monos, a quaint bar with a punky vibe and friendly bar staff headed up by owner Sebastian who speaks excellent English. The choice for many of Palermo’s residents, Tres Monos offers MezcAR sessions for visitors with no previous experience in the art of mixology. Sebastian runs you though his recipes, classic cocktails, modern classics and the different methods of preparing them, all with a pro cocktail toolkit and working stations. The session lasts around two and a half hours and is available in both Spanish and English. For more information visit www.instagram.com/3monosestudio
6. LEARN BUENOS AIRES STREET ART
From large-scale murals to quirky wall posters, Buenos Aires is a go-to destination for street art. Those wishing to get an edge when snapping the city’s street art, Day Clicker Photo Tours offers an immersive photography workshop allowing participants to improve their photo-taking skills with the help of a local expert. All sessions are led by Amelia McGoldrick, a professional photographer from Toronto based in the heart of Buenos Aires. The tour starts with a short workshop focusing on how to take creative images of street art and urban scenes before touring the streets for a creative photo adventure. To finish the day, all participants are invited to enjoy a drink or two in a local bar and chat about the images they have taken. The two-hour long tour is priced at $60 USD (approx. £45). To book visit: www.dayclickerphototours.com/graffiti-tour or for more information about street art in Buenos Aires visit: https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/en/article/street-art-buenos-aires
7. LEARN ABOUT ARGENTINA’S DIVERSE WINE CULTURE
Having launched on 01 December 2019, Taste Argentina Wine is a new cultural wine tasting experience in Buenos Aires that has been curated for visitors to gain an insight into Argentina’s wonderful and diverse wine country stretching far beyond Malbec. Headed up by brother-sister duo Gastón and Sol Cernadas, wannabe wine sommeliers can taste their way through Argentina with wines from Mendoza, Salta, Patagonia, the Atlantic Coast and San Juan learning about the rich cultural history that gave rise to each wine. The sessions are guided by British sommelier and award-winning journalist Sorrel Moseley-Williams and are held in a variety of pop up locations across the city from the prestigious wine cellar of Don Julio to celebrity chef’s kitchens. http://tasteargentinawine.com
8. LEARN TO PLAY TENNIS
Argentina has given rise to some of the best tennis players in history including Gabriela Sabatini, Guillermo Vilas, José Luis Clerc and more recently Juan Martín Del Potro. For travellers looking to try their hand at tennis, player, teacher and coach Adriana Korn founded a tennis academy that bears her name in the heart of Buenos Aires. The classes use the best methods and teaching techniques to adapt to the needs of every level of player – be it beginner or a seasoned pro. The Adriana Korn Tennis Academy offers private and team tennis lessons for both children and adults Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 21:00. For more information, visit www.adrianakorntenis.com.ar
For more information on tourism, visit: https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/en or follow Buenos Aires’ Facebook page or Instagram.
About Buenos Aires
Argentina’s capital and most populous city, Buenos Aires, is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata estuary, on the south-eastern coast of South America. The city is neither part of Buenos Aires Province nor the province's capital; rather, it is an autonomous district. Buenos Aires is a top tourist destination that offers a unique blend of European elegance and Latin American passion. Famous as the birthplace of tango, the city is also home to world-class opera, theatre and art, well-preserved European-style architecture, native traditions, and to restaurants that overflow with wine from Mendoza and cuts of beef fresh from the Pampas. Ranked by The Economist as 2017’s best Latin American city to live in, Buenos Aires is made up of small, highly individualized neighbourhoods, each with its own characteristic colours and forms. The destination attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including luxury hotels, chic boutique hotels, and international brands. For more information on tourism, visit: https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/en or follow Buenos Aires’ Facebook page or Instagram.
