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 unmatched gastronomy, however let’s face it, it is type of yesterday’s information.

It’s been lined to demise by most main journey publications, and even when you have not been to BA your self, we’re certain you are no less than aware of 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 excess of simply Buenos Aires, and in case you’ve ever puzzled what lies past the nationwide capital, you are in for a deal with with Córdoba:

Argentina’s Vibrant Second City

The capital of the namesake Argentinian province, in addition to the second largest metropolis in Argentina as a complete, Córdoba is without doubt one of the fastest-rising locations within the nation.

Over a long weekend in November alone, it hosted 320,000 vacationers, a 9.42% enhance in guests in comparison with the earlier 12 months, and although total figures for 2025 aren’t in but, we suspect Córdoba might be leaving good previous BA within the rearview mirror.

It’s 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 definitely worth the main detour?

Short reply: sure, completely.

Why Swap Buenos Aires For Córdoba

Córdoba is without doubt one of the oldest and most conventional cities in Argentina, surrounded by the plush grasslands and snow-capped sierras of the broader province.

Founded 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 gorgeous 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 Greater BA’s 17+ million.

Within brief strolling distance of the primary plaza, Córdoba Cathedral is understood for being certainly one of Argentina’s first-ever church buildings, distinguished by its distinctive mixture of Baroque and Neoclassical structure and hovering central dome.

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

On that observe, the National University of Córdoba is a must-see in case you’re on the town: established in 1613, it’s a European-style heart of data along with your standard tranquil courtyards, richly embellished libraries, and mental really feel.

Green Spaces 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 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 house, it’s standard for its romantic ponds, footpaths amid lush inexperienced areas, and Asian gazebos.

The French affect would 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 really appears like cut-and-paste Paris, it now homes an ‘Evita’ Fine Arts Museum.

People flock to BA from all around the world to discover its churrascarias and empanada spots. Fluctuating prices apart, it is really value all of the hype, however allow us to inform you that the unassuming Córdoba leaves nothing to be desired:

Incredible Food Every 10 Meters

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

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

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

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

Posta! is a full of life beer room serving street-style meals, with menus averaging solely $10. Roughly 15 min on foot from the cathedral sq., Antojos is an equally standard lomito spot, the place you possibly can gorge on generously crammed sandwiches, usually for beneath $5.

Of course, there is no 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 possibly can muster up an urge for food for.

Oh, and in case you occur to be searching for a cheap 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 Travel Off Path, has over 60+ international locations beneath his belt (and at the moment weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative tales that can have you ever packing your luggage.