Why you should choose the Centro/Downtown neighborhood

The San Nicolás neighborhood, better known as Centro, Microcentro or Downtown, is the heart of financial and commercial activity in Buenos Aires. Many visitors choose to rent a room in the Centro given that it has many different attractions to see and experience, such as Florida Street (a pedestrian walkway closed off to traffic) and Corrientes Avenue, an essential part of the porteño nightlife with its shows, restaurants, cafés, bookstores, cinemas and theaters.

Measuring 140 meters across and being one of the world's widest avenues, the 9 de Julio Avenue can also be found in the Centro. In addition to its width, the avenue is also notable for the jacaranda and silk floss trees that line it. The avenue consists of 25 blocks heading north and another 25 blocks that stretch south to the Obelisco, the quintessential symbol of Buenos Aires, in the middle of the downtown area.

Other places to visit include the Plaza de Mayo, famous for its political protests and social gatherings from Argentine history; the Casa Rosada (Pink House), the official workplace of the Argentine president; the Catedral Metropolitana; and the Teatro Colón, one of the most important opera houses in the world.

What it's like living in the Centro/Downtown

To the north of the downtown area is Retiro, home to three different train stations and the country's most important long-distance bus terminal; the most elegant and refined part of Retiro can be found around the Plaza San Martín, which is surrounded by luxurious hotels, spacious buildings and apartments with very good views.

The best thing about renting in the Centro is how well-connected it is to bus lines, trains, long-distance buses and subway lines. During working hours from Monday to Friday it is a very busy area, but at night and on the weekends it is more peaceful.