Buenos Aires Docks

New York, London and Barcelona gave life to their old ports and turned them into tourist centers. Buenos Aires did the same and also has its docks area in Puerto Madero, the most modern area of the city.

Buenos Aires docs preserve the red brick structure, but have been recycled. The 16 old port docks were built in the early twentieth century on the west bank of the river by British engineers.

In the early 90's, Buenos Aires docks were recycled. Now they house the best restaurants in the city like Cabañas Las Lilas and Aires de Patagonia. At the docks there are exclusive shops and the most expensive offices in the city. One of the docks is occupied by the Catholic University (one of the largest in the country) and another houses a cinema complex.

The east area of Puerto Madero has been growing constantly. Every day, more people choose to live a few yards of the river, overlooking dams and few miles away from the center of Buenos Aires.

Previously, Puerto Madero docks consisted of four interconnected dams. You could enter by boat from the Rio de la Plata, in the North, and from the Riachuelo, in the South. The work was carried out between 1887 and 1898 by Eduardo Madero.

In the forth dam, there is one of the seven centers of tourist aid offered by Buenos Aires city government. Here you can be provided with maps, guides and brochures.

It is recommended to visit the Puente de la Mujer, built by the Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava. The bridge rotates 90 degrees to allow the passage of ships. The construction took 12 months and finished in 2001. We also recommend eating at one of the grills and try the famous asado (Argentine barbecue).