The 5 Most Buenos Aires Spots Perfect for Photos

A man in San Telmo

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Argentina's capital city is often considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With its grand boulevards, large leafy parks, inspiring architecture and stylish citizens, Buenos Aires is regularly dubbed the Paris of South America. In writer Paul Theroux's 1979 travel book, The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas, which included time spent in Buenos Aires, he said, "I had expected a fairly prosperous place, cattle and gauchos, and a merciless dictatorship; I had not counted on its being charming, on the seductions of its architecture, or the vigour of its appeal."

A city that has bewitched many, Buenos Aires is the ideal destination for the smartphone generation, where there are countless corners for capturing Instagram-worthy moments. "Buenos Aires offers a wealth of intriguing contrasts and contradictions," says Becky Hayes, founder of Foto Ruta, a walking tour operation that focuses on photographing BA's vibrant neighborhoods. "One minute you can feel like you're exploring a European city, the next you can feel slap bang in the centre of a chaotic Latin American capital."

With that, Hayes walks us through the five most photogenic locations in the city. Get your camera-app ready.

Parque 3 de Febrero

Bosques de Palermo / Parque 3 de Febrero

"Buenos Aires' huge green, tree and lake filled parkland on the eastern edge of the city stretches for miles. It's a fantastic place to capture Porteño park life, from the famous professional dog walkers, to rollerbladers, skaters, choripan vendors and old people in lycra, you'll have a multitude of colorful content and landscape opportunities."

San Telmo at sunset

San Telmo at Sunset

"With its crumbling Latino conventillos (tenement houses), cobblestone streets and hidden alleyways, San Telmo is a classic Porteño barrio, offering wonderful backdrops and street scapes. The neighborhood is filled with impressive street art and if it's details you're after, the famous San Telmo market is filled with antiques, trinkets, leather goods and retro signage. For picturesque streets and Latino architecture head to Balcarce."

Chacarita Cemetery

Chacarita Cemetery

"Although Recoleta cemetery is one of the most famous of Buenos Aires' tourist attractions, Chacarita is its bigger, lesser-known cousin further north. The cemetery is like a miniature city full of impressive and haunting concrete sculptures, ironwork and pathways. You won't find a single tourist here but you will find the famous Carlos Gardel's grave, covered in messages and notes of adoration."

Costanera

Costanera sur at Sunrise

"Buenos Aires' coast, although not exactly a coast, is a great place to shoot in the morning. It's a peaceful retreat away from the craziness of the city. You'll be able to capture the outdoor Parilla (grill) stands, and taxistas having breakfast after their night shift set against great city scapes of Puerto Madero, the city's modern and high-rise neighborhood."

Palacio Borolo

Rooftop view from Palacio Borolo

"This stunning building designed by Mario Palatini, used to be Buenos Aire's tallest building. Although no longer the tallest, it's certainly one of the city's most impressive. And the birds eye views over of Plaza Congresso are second to none."