Commercial partnership. This article contains affiliate links. If you book through these links, Pixidia earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more Partners: Viator
The eight highly rated Buenos Aires tours on Viator, all rated 4.75 or higher, cost from $12 to $129 per person for two travelers. For a first day, the small-group city tour at $38 is the easiest pick: hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and you choose a 3-hour or 5-hour version.
Verified on via the Viator partner API (prices, ratings, availability).
If you have a few days in Buenos Aires and want to spend them on the right experiences, the first page of search results is not much help. In our check of three searches, the top five results were mostly resellers. We wanted a shorter and more useful answer. We started from 288 Buenos Aires products returned by the Viator partner API, kept only those rated 4.7 or higher with at least 100 reviews, and then checked 19 of the 35 candidates that passed that filter for active status, all of them active. Eight made the final list, chosen to cover different formats: a small-group city tour, a private tour, two dinners built around cooking and grilled beef, a food tour, a bike ride, a cemetery walk and a tango show. The only bus product in the pool, a Hop-On Hop-Off tour rated 4.41 from 3,146 reviews, is not on this list because it falls below our 4.7 floor.
Two of the eight are based in Palermo. We kept both because they cover the food and dinner formats well, but this is not a neighborhood guide, and the list does not favor any area. Pixidia earns a commission when you book through the links on this page. It did not decide the order. The eight were chosen to cover different formats, not ranked by score. We kept only tours rated 4.7 or higher with at least 100 reviews, then limited each format and each supplier. Commission was never a selection criterion, and you will see the same facts in the comparison table so you can check them against each card.
Prices are in US dollars, based on two travelers: per adult unless a card gives a price for the car. We checked the prices and availability on November 10, 2026 for dates from November 24, 2026 to January 22, 2027. Prices can change, so confirm the figure on the booking page before you pay.
If you only book one thing, start with the small-group city tour. It is the easiest first pick: a guided loop of the city, with hotel pickup and drop-off included and a choice of a three-hour or five-hour version. The sections below describe each option in more depth, and the comparison table lets you set the figures side by side before you choose.
Why Buenos Aires Rewards a Plan
Buenos Aires is spread across many neighborhoods, and the distances between them are long enough that a guided tour pays for itself on the first day. A good city tour is mostly a way to learn the map, so you know which district you want to return to. This list leaves out La Boca, which is outside the scope of these tours.
Recoleta Cemetery, in the Recoleta neighborhood, is the single-place option in this list. Its walking tour focuses on the stories of the burials and the history of the site, so it suits a traveler who wants something different from a city tour. The cemetery is not a city-wide experience, and that is why we kept it in the list as a separate format rather than folding it into the orientation tours.
Your dates matter more than the order of the list. The booking window runs from November 24, 2026 to January 22, 2027. Most of the window falls in the southern summer, roughly December to February, according to secondary guides. Secondary travel guides put afternoon highs near 86 °F (30 °C) in December and January, and they recommend the shoulder months of October and November, or March to May, for milder weather. In November, jacaranda trees bloom across the city, which is one reason some guides prefer that month. For tours, heat changes the plan. Morning departures are easier in summer, and the air-conditioned vehicle included on the small-group city tour is worth more in December than it would be in April.
The calendar is the second constraint. Several products have closed days inside the window, and they are not the same days for each product. The private city tour has no departures on December 6, December 24 or 25, December 30 or 31, or on January 1. The cooking dinner has 45 of the 60 days open. Some restaurants also close for two to four weeks in January, according to Nomadotravel’s seasonal guide, which matters for the food tour and for any dinner you plan on your own. Choose the day first, and then choose the product that is open on it.
Budget is easier to manage when you think in formats. The prices run from $12 per adult for the Recoleta Cemetery walk to $129 per adult for the asado (two travelers, checked November 10, 2026), so one experience from each format gives you a clear range before you add meals and transport. The cheapest are the cemetery walk at $12, the small-group city tour at $38 and the bike tour at $45. The private tour is $64, the tango show $85, the food tour $89 to $93, and the two dinners $120 to $129.
The 8 Tours Compared
| Experience | Duration | Price per adult (base 2) | Rating (reviews) | Free cancellation | Days available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Small-Group City Tour | 3 to 5 hours | $38 | 4.75 (2,398) | Yes | 60 of 60 |
| 2. Private City Tour | 4 hours | $64 (car: $128) | 4.87 (4,060) | Yes | 54 of 60 |
| 3. Palermo Food Tour | 3.5 hours | $89 to $93 | 4.97 (8,389) | Yes | 56 of 60 |
| 4. Cooking, Wine and Beef Dinner | 3 hours | $120 | 4.96 (1,671) | Yes | 45 of 60 |
| 5. Asado in Palermo Soho | 3 hours | $120 to $129 | 4.99 (957) | Yes | 46 of 60 |
| 6. Half-Day Bike Tour | 4 hours | $45 | 4.88 (1,210) | Yes | 58 of 60 |
| 7. Recoleta Cemetery Walk | 2 hours | $12 | 4.88 (809) | Yes | 60 of 60 |
| 8. Underground Tango Show | 1 hour | $85 | 4.99 (1,628) | Yes | 56 of 60 |
Prices and availability checked on the Viator partner API on November 10, 2026, for November 24, 2026 to January 22, 2027. Entrance fees, gratuities and food are excluded unless a card says otherwise. Prices can change.
The Best Buenos Aires Tours, Card by Card
1. Small-Group City Tour: The Orientation Day
Start here if you have one full day and no plan yet. This tour keeps the group small, with one language per vehicle, so the guide can give the commentary in the language you understand and answer your questions without a crowd around the microphone. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the same point brings you back at the end, so the day starts from your own door. The listing lets you choose a three-hour version or a five-hour version, and that choice matters. Pick the shorter one if you want a fast overview and the longer one if you want to see more of the city with time to spare. An air-conditioned vehicle and live commentary are included, which is worth having in December. Food, drinks, gratuities, and tickets to museums, galleries and theaters are not included, so plan a coffee and a lunch on your own. I would book this on your first morning, because the route becomes your map for the rest of the trip, and it tells you which district to go back to on foot.
- Small groups with one language per vehicle
- Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Choice of a three-hour or five-hour version
2. Private City Tour: The Group Sets the Pace
Choose this one if you do not want to share a vehicle or a guide with strangers. The tour is private, so the route and the pace follow your group, and the bilingual guide can adjust for a slow morning or a longer afternoon. At about four hours, it is a manageable first-day tour that covers the city without the rush of a longer day. It suits two couples travelling together, or a family that wants one plan for the day with no waiting for other guests. The price is $128 for the car with two travelers (about $64 each), and the listing has 4.87 from 4,060 reviews, a large sample for a private product. Two details need attention before you book. The listing does not give a pickup point, so ask the supplier to confirm where the vehicle meets you. Pickup at Ezeiza airport is not included, so arrange that transfer separately if you land that day. Snacks are also excluded. The bilingual guide can adjust the pace on the day.
- Private vehicle and bilingual guide
- About four hours, one group only
- Ezeiza airport pickup not included
3. Palermo Food Tour: Eight-Plus Tastings on Foot
This is the most-reviewed experience in the list, with 8,389 reviews and a 4.97 rating, so it is the safest first food pick if you do not know the operator. The tour is a walk of about three and a half hours with a local guide, four or more stops, and more than eight tastings, moving from simple counter food to a dining room with a fuller menu. The stops are the reason to book it: each one shows a different side of the neighborhood’s food, and the guide explains what you are eating as you go. Vegetarian and gluten-free menus are available on request, and you should ask for them when you book rather than on the day. On the six dates we checked on November 10, 2026, the price was $89 to $93 per adult (two travelers), and gratuities and transportation are not included. The meeting point is outside the orange door, and the listing names the Picsa restaurant on the corner in Palermo as the daily meeting point. Eat light before you go, and do not plan a heavy dinner the same evening. It is a good choice on your second or third day, when you have a sense of the city and want to compare the food you have eaten with the food you find on your own.
- Four or more stops, from counter food to fine dining
- Eight-plus Argentine tastings
- Vegetarian and gluten-free menus on request
4. Cooking, Wine and Beef: The Hands-On Dinner
Pick this if you want to do something rather than watch it. The evening is built around two hands-on classes: you make empanadas, then you learn the mate and alfajores routine, and then the group sits down for a meal that the listing describes as a 14-course menu. Unlimited wine and a meat tasting are part of the dinner. The group is small, with up to 24 travelers, and the evening lasts about three hours, so treat it as your main dinner of the week rather than a snack before another plan. The price is $120 per adult when two travelers book, and the listing has 4.96 from 1,671 reviews. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and gratuities are excluded, so budget for a taxi or a ride app to the venue. The meeting point is the venue entrance, where you ring the bell, and the street address comes with your booking. Choose this over the asado if you want to cook and move around. Choose the asado if you want a long, seated meal at a family table. The two are alternatives, so you do not need both in the same week.
- Empanada and mate or alfajores classes
- Unlimited wine and a meat tasting
- Hotel pickup and gratuities not included
5. Asado at a Family Table in Palermo Soho
This is the most intimate dinner in the list. An Argentine family hosts the asado in their home in Palermo Soho, and the menu includes the meal, alcoholic beverages, and dishes adapted to dietary needs. The supplier states that it uses 100 percent grass-fed beef, which you can ask about at the table. The rating is 4.99 from 957 reviews, the highest rating among the dinners, though with a smaller sample than the food tour. The price runs from $120 to $129 per adult (two travelers, checked November 10, 2026). The address is shared when you book. The home is about five minutes from Plaza Armenia, ten from Plaza Serrano, and ten from Subte Line D at Scalabrini Ortiz, so it is easy to reach on foot once you know the neighborhood. Choose it when you want to sit down and talk for an evening rather than work at a counter. The listing does not name gratuities, so ask the host how they are handled. It is the right choice for a couple or a small group that wants a relaxed, home-style evening after a busy day of sightseeing.
- Asado meal and alcoholic beverages included
- Grass-fed beef (supplier statement)
- Menu adapted to dietary needs
6. Half-Day Bike Tour of the City Highlights
Choose the bike tour if you want to cover ground without a bus or a car. The half-day format lasts about four hours, and the price is $45 per adult when two travelers book. Beach cruiser bikes, helmets, medical assistance, multilingual guides and one bottled water are included. Food, drinks and lunch are not, so eat before you start or plan a stop along the way. The meeting point is San Martín Square in Retiro, next to the monument to General San Martín on horseback. Morning departures start at 9:30 a.m., and afternoon departures at 2 p.m., and the listing asks you to arrive fifteen minutes early. The listing describes the tour as designed for all ages, but it does not describe the terrain or the level of effort, so if the group includes older travelers or young children, ask the operator before you book. With 4.88 from 1,210 reviews, the tour has a strong record. It works best on a morning when the weather is cool enough to ride in comfort, which in December and January often means an early start.
- Beach cruiser bike and helmet
- Multilingual guides and medical assistance
- Arrive fifteen minutes before the start
7. Recoleta Cemetery Walk: Stories Behind the Gates
This is the lowest-priced experience in the list at $12 per adult for two travelers, checked November 10, 2026, and the one that stays in a single place. The walk lasts about two hours inside the cemetery, with an English-speaking guide who tells the stories of the burials and the history of the site. It fits a second or third day, when you want something quieter than a city tour, or a short, structured walk on a day when the weather is changing. The listing has 4.88 from 809 reviews, the smallest review count in this list, so read a few recent reviews before you book if sample size matters to you. Entrance fees are not included, so you pay them separately, and the listing does not state the fee in its text. The meeting point is the main entrance, the white gate with four Greek columns, and the guide is in orange. The listed street address is Junín 1760, while Google Maps marks Junín 1851, so use the gate as your reference rather than the address. Check the cemetery’s current opening hours before you go. We did not publish hours or fees here, because the sources we checked disagree and we could not confirm them against an official page.
- About two hours with an English-speaking guide
- Stories of the burials and the cemetery’s history
- Entrance fees not included
8. Underground Tango Show: Close Up and Live
Tango is in this list once, and this is the version to choose if you want the music and the dancing rather than a lesson. The show runs about an hour in an intimate room with no stage between the dancers and the audience, and the performance is live, by professional dancers and musicians. Alcoholic beverages are included, and a multilingual host works in English and Spanish. The listing is flagged for skip-the-line access and has 4.99 from 1,628 reviews. The venue is kept private: the address is communicated by the supplier after booking, so do not plan a route until you have it. Food is not included, so eat before the show or plan a late dinner afterward. At $85 per adult when two travelers book, it is the only show in the list, and it works best on an evening when you have already eaten. That is the reason we did not pair it with a dinner.
- Live tango by professional dancers and musicians
- Alcoholic beverages included
- Venue address sent after booking
Preparing for Your Trip
Only the small-group city tour lists hotel pickup and drop-off in its inclusions. The private city tour uses a private vehicle, but its listing does not give a pickup point, so confirm it when you book. The cooking dinner does not include hotel pickup, and the private tour excludes pickup at Ezeiza airport. Plan your own transfers for the tours that do not cover them.
Restaurants commonly receive about 10 percent for good service, and many receipts have no tip line. The tipping paragraph in the tips section gives the guide ranges we found.
Secondary guides say US citizens can visit Argentina without a visa for tourism stays of up to 90 days, and that the reciprocity fee was removed. Confirm both with the Argentine consulate, and check the U.S. Department of State travel advice before you travel.
Practical Tips Before You Book
Book the dated tours with the closures in mind. The private city tour has no departures on December 6, December 24 or 25, December 30 or 31, or January 1, so a holiday weekend can rule it out for your group. The cooking dinner and the asado have 45 and 46 open days in the window, which is less than the others. Choose the day first and the product second, and check the calendar on the booking page before you commit to a route.
Confirm the meeting point for the tours that leave it open. The private tour does not state a pickup point, so ask the supplier as soon as you have a booking. The tango show shares its address only after booking, and the cooking dinner gives its street address at booking, with the instruction to ring the bell at the venue entrance. Keep the confirmation email in your phone, because the address is what you will need on the day.
Tell the supplier about dietary needs when you book. The food tour offers vegetarian and gluten-free menus on request, and the asado lists a menu adapted to dietary needs. Asking early avoids a conversation at the table, and it gives the host time to plan the courses.
Plan the bike tour around its start time. The listing asks you to arrive fifteen minutes before the 9:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. start at San Martín Square in Retiro. Ride with water, because the bike tour includes one bottled water and food is excluded, and sunscreen is worth bringing in December and January when afternoon highs are close to 86 °F (30 °C).
Tipping is where sources disagree the most, so use the listings as the first reference. Several products exclude gratuities: the small-group city tour, the food tour and the cooking dinner. For the asado and the bike tour, the listing does not name them, so ask the supplier. Restaurants commonly receive about 10 percent for good service, although many receipts have no tip line, so carry some cash. Guide tipping varies: some travel guides quote 10 to 20 percent of a private tour’s price, and others a fixed amount per person on shared tours, often cited around $5 to $10. Free walking tours depend on tips, often quoted at $5 to $7 per person. Treat these as ranges to confirm with the operator, not as rules.
Restaurants have their own calendar. Some close for two to four weeks in January, according to Nomadotravel’s seasonal guide, so confirm the dinner and the food tour in the days before you travel. Expect the afternoons to be hot, and plan a rest between the midday tours and the evening dinners.
Three mistakes come up often with tours like these. The first is assuming hotel pickup is included on every tour, when only the small-group city tour lists it. The second is assuming entrance tickets are covered on the cemetery walk, when the listing excludes them. The third is booking two dinner-style experiences on the same evening, which leaves no room for the rest of the day. Avoid all three by reading the inclusions line on each booking page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Buenos Aires tour has the highest rating?
Two tours share the top rating of 4.99 in this list: the asado dinner in Palermo Soho, with 957 reviews, and the underground tango show, with 1,628 reviews. The Palermo food tour has the most reviews, at 8,389, with a 4.97 rating. If you want the most evidence behind the score, start with the food tour, and if you want the highest rating with a smaller crowd, pick one of the two 4.99 options. Details are in the food tour card.
How much do Buenos Aires tours cost per person?
On Viator, the eight tours in this list cost between $12 and $129 per adult when two travelers book, with prices checked on November 10, 2026. The Recoleta Cemetery walk is the lowest at $12, and the asado in Palermo Soho is the highest at $120 to $129 (two travelers, checked November 10, 2026). Prices are in US dollars and can change, so check the figure on the booking page before you pay.
Which Buenos Aires tours include hotel pickup?
Only the small-group city tour lists hotel pickup and drop-off in its inclusions. The private city tour uses a private vehicle, but its listing does not give a pickup point, so ask the supplier when you book. The cooking dinner excludes hotel pickup, and the private tour excludes pickup at Ezeiza airport. Plan your own transfers for the other tours on the list.
Is entry to Recoleta Cemetery included in the walking tour?
No. The listing excludes entrance fees, so you pay them separately. We did not publish a fee or opening hours, because the secondary sources we checked disagree and we could not confirm the figures against an official page. Check both before you go. Look for the white gate with four Greek columns and the guide in orange, as the listing describes.
Can I cancel these Buenos Aires tours for free?
All eight listings show free cancellation, with a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. The timing matters more than the reason, so set a reminder for the day before your start time. Check the cancellation note on each booking page, because the terms are shown product by product.
What should I check before booking from the United States?
Check the U.S. Department of State travel advice for Argentina before you travel. Secondary guides say US citizens can visit for tourism stays of up to 90 days without a visa, and that the reciprocity fee was removed. Confirm both with official sources close to your departure date, not with a travel blog or a site that sells entry vouchers.
Sources
- Recoleta Cemetery, Wikipedia, accessed November 10, 2026
- Plaza de Mayo, Wikipedia, accessed November 10, 2026
- San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Wikipedia, accessed November 10, 2026
- Caminito, Wikipedia, accessed November 10, 2026
- Best time to visit Buenos Aires, Lonely Planet, accessed November 10, 2026
- When is the best time to visit Buenos Aires, GoWithGuide, accessed November 10, 2026
- Best time to visit Buenos Aires, seasonality and prices, Civitatis blog, accessed November 10, 2026
- Tipping in Argentina, secondary travel guide (figures vary by source), accessed November 10, 2026
- Tipping and gratuities in Argentina, secondary travel guide, accessed November 10, 2026
- Tipping in Buenos Aires, Fodor’s community forum (anecdotal), accessed November 10, 2026
- Best time to visit Buenos Aires, Nomadotravel seasonal guide, accessed November 10, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Argentina travel advice, not read at the time of writing
- Viator partner API, product pages, prices and availability, checked November 10, 2026
Plan your trip with Pixidia
Pixidia learns how you travel and helps you build a trip that truly fits you and everyone coming along.
Open the planner