Move Over Buenos Aires! This Lesser Known City In Argentina Is Rising Fast In Popularity

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Buenos Aires could also be one of the stunning cities in South America, with its Haussmann-inspired boulevards à la parisienne, lush city parks, and unequalled gastronomy, however let’s face it, it is type of yesterday’s information.

It has been coated to loss of life by most main journey publications, and even when you have not been to BA your self, we’re positive you are a minimum of acquainted with its primary landmarks, whether or not it is the baby-pink Presidential Palace, or the colourful streets of La Boca.

The excellent news? Argentina is way over simply Buenos Aires, and in the event you’ve ever puzzled what lies past the nationwide capital, you are in for a deal with with Córdoba:

Argentina’s Vibrant Second Metropolis

The capital of the namesake Argentinian province, in addition to the second largest metropolis in Argentina as a complete, Córdoba is likely one of the fastest-rising locations within the nation.

Over a long weekend in November alone, it hosted 320,000 vacationers, a 9.42% improve in guests in comparison with the earlier yr, and although total figures for 2025 aren’t in but, we suspect Córdoba may very well be leaving good previous BA within the rearview mirror.

It is not like Córdoba is inside straightforward attain of the capital, nevertheless, with vacationers dealing with both a 1.5-hour flight from Buenos Aires, or extra generally, a back-breaking 8-hour bus journey, so is it even well worth the main detour?

Brief reply: sure, completely.

Why Swap Buenos Aires For Córdoba

Córdoba is likely one of the oldest and most conventional cities in Argentina, surrounded by the plush grasslands and snow-capped sierras of the broader province.

Based as early as 1573, it hosted a serious inflow of Spanish and Italian settlers over the centuries, so it is no shock its colonial center resembles your common Southern European city:

Plaza San Martín, the historic coronary heart, is bordered by beautiful colonial edifices, and it is at all times busy with metropolis life, although not on the identical chaotic stage as Buenos Aires. Córdoba is way smaller, in any case, with over 1.5 million residents, in opposition to the Better BA’s 17+ million.

Inside quick strolling distance of the principle plaza, Córdoba Cathedral is understood for being one in every of Argentina’s first-ever church buildings, distinguished by its distinctive mixture of Baroque and Neoclassical structure and hovering central dome.

Córdoba’s delight and pleasure, the Manzana Jesuítica, or Jesuit Block, is a UNESCO World Heritage Website with smaller colonial church buildings, cloisters, and college buildings nonetheless completely preserved from the sixteenth century.

On that notice, the Nationwide College of Córdoba is a must-see in the event you’re on the town: established in 1613, it’s a European-style middle of information along with your normal tranquil courtyards, richly adorned libraries, and mental really feel.

Inexperienced Areas Galore

BA is legendary for its multitude of city parks that supply a respite from the hustle and bustle of the large metropolis, and peaceable as Córdoba could also be as compared, the town’s (sometimes) hectic visitors and fast-pacedness can nonetheless get to you.

In these moments, Sarmiento Park is all of the refuge you want: designed by the famend French panorama architect Charles Thays, who made Argentina his dwelling, it’s well-liked for its romantic ponds, footpaths amid lush inexperienced areas, and Asian gazebos.

The French affect does not cease there: a brief 18-minute stroll from the middle of the park, Palacio Ferreyra is a French-style colonial mansion turned artwork museum. Not solely is it attractive to admire, because it actually appears like cut-and-paste Paris, it now homes an ‘Evita’ High quality Arts Museum.

Individuals flock to BA from all around the world to discover its churrascarias and empanada spots. Fluctuating prices apart, it is actually price all of the hype, however allow us to let you know that the unassuming Córdoba leaves nothing to be desired:

Unimaginable Meals Each 10 Meters

An upscale residential space, Cerro de las Rosas boasts among the finest eating places we have tried anyplace in Argentina, usually with epic metropolis views.

Identified for his or her ample number of native wine and basic parrilla cuts, Bodegán is a cherished spot amongst locals, and also you’re welcome to affix for a dressy dinner and wine pairings in the event you’ve budgeted $30–45 for an evening out within the city.

Tucson Córdoba, however, is famend for its grilled meats and draft beer ($18–30 for a primary), whereas Mercé is the classical Argentinian-Italian fusion meting out Mediterranean-inspired meals for round $12–25.

That is the place you go for Michelin-star-worthy meals, however what about informal eats?

Posta! is a energetic beer room serving street-style meals, with menus averaging solely $10. Roughly 15 min on foot from the cathedral sq., Antojos is an equally well-liked lomito spot, the place you’ll be able to gorge on generously crammed sandwiches, usually for below $5.

In fact, there is not any visiting Córdoba with out swinging by the most conventional market within the downtown space: Mercado Norte, with its 100+ stalls buying and selling recent provincial produce, cured meats and Argentinian cheeses, and all of the empanadas and choripanes you’ll be able to muster up an urge for food for.

Oh, and in the event you occur to be on the lookout for an affordable lodge proper within the buzz of all of it, the highly-rated Hotel Everest has a rooftop view with epic views of the town’s skyline, and rooms begin from solely $73.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead author at Journey Off Path, has over 60+ international locations below his belt (and presently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative tales that may have you ever packing your baggage.