Parque Tres de Febrero (Bosques de Palermo)

Visitors come to the Palermo Woods to walk or cycle along the lakeside trails, rent a paddle boat to cruise around Lake Rosedal (Lago del Rosedal), visit the Japanese Garden, and stroll around the central Rose Garden (El Rosedal), home to thousands of colorful rose bushes. As well as being a popular recreation area and picnic spot for locals, the park is often included on sightseeing tours of Buenos Aires’ Palermo neighborhood, as well as bike tours of the city.

• The park and rose garden are free to visit; there is an entrance fee for the Japanese Garden.

• The Palermo Woods is a great spot for bird-watching—more than 194 birds species inhabit the park, including kingfishers, woodpeckers, and herons.

• Wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water if you plan on walking, biking, or taking part in outdoor activities.

• There are public restrooms by the Rose Garden and picnic areas throughout the park. A number of restaurants and cafés are located along Avenida del Libertador at the western edge of the park.

• Many of the park’s walking trails are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

The Palermo Woods are located in north Palermo, bordered by Avenida del Libertador to the south and Avenida Presidente Figueroa Alcorta to the north. The closest metro stations are Plaza Italia and Palermo on line D, each about a 15-minute walk away, while the 3 de Febrero train station is just a few minutes’ walk away. Multiple bus routes have stops along Avenida del Libertador right outside the park.

The park is open year-round, and while it can get busy on summer afternoons, it’s big enough that you’ll always be able to find a quiet spot. It’s worth returning at different times of the year to admire the seasonal flora—the rose gardens are in full bloom in springtime (October–November), and the yellow tipas and purple jacaranda trees flower at this time, too. In fall (April–June), the autumn leaves make for some stunning photos.

The Palermo Woods lie at the heart of Palermo’s green belt, surrounded by a number of smaller parks and gardens. To the south, the Buenos Aires Eco Park is home to giant pandas, pumas, orangutans, and many other animals; and the Botanical Gardens have more than 5,500 plant species from around the world. The Palermo Woods area also encompasses the serene Japanese Garden, the landmark Spanish Monument, and the planetarium.