Recoleta Cemetery (Cementerio de Recoleta)

This labyrinthine city of the dead is often at the top of visitors’ must-see lists when spending time in the Argentinean capital. You’d be hard-pressed to find a city sightseeing tour that doesn’t make a stop here. While it’s easy enough to visit independently, it’s well worth exploring the grounds with a guide, who can regale you with stories of the various tombs and monuments. To learn more about the city’s history through the lens of those interred in the cemetery, consider taking a themed tour about Evita or Argentina’s Dirty War history.

• A visit to Recoleta Cemetery (Cementerio de Recoleta) is a must for first-time visitors to Buenos Aires.

• Remember to keep your voice down and be mindful of where you step in this burial ground.

• The cemetery is wheelchair-accessible via a side door; inquire at the main entrance if you need assistance.

• Pick up a map at the entrance to find significant sites within the cemetery more easily.

Recoleta Cemetery (Cementerio de Recoleta) is located in the upscale Recoleta neighborhood, within easy walking distance of many top attractions. To get there by public transportation, take the subway to Retiro or Callao.

The cemetery is open daily from 8am to 6pm, with free tours in English on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

While Evita is certainly the most famous figure laid to rest in Recoleta Cemetery, there are a few other notable individuals to keep an eye out for. The black stone mausoleum of the Paz family is where the former owners of the newspaper La Prensa are buried. The mausoleum of Liliana Crociati, a young woman who died on her honeymoon, features a bronze statue of her in her wedding dress with her pet dog. It is believed that Rufina Cambaceres was accidentally enclosed alive in her coffin, and her tomb now reflects her family’s immense grief.