When arriving into Buenos Aires, you would normally hear the taxis horns honking as they weave in and out of the traffic and you would normally see hundreds of people rushing around the Microcentro on their way to work. This Thursday and Friday you will find that exploring Buenos Aires is a little different. The 8th December is a Catholic National Holiday called the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. As this festival is non-movable, this year it falls on a Thursday meaning, the Friday is also made into a holiday, meaning its an extra long weekend. To make the most of this free time, Porteños migrate to the beaches of Uruguay or the coastal region of Mar del Plata, leaving the city free for you to explore and enjoy. Here are some ideas of things to do over the extended weekend. [caption id="attachment_5576" align="aligncenter" width="610"]The beach in Mar del Plata The coastal city of Mar del Plata / Source[/caption]

Sightseeing an emptier Buenos Aires:

With the crowds out of the city, it's the perfect time for some sightseeing. Start off exploring Buenos Aires at Teatro Colón and walk down the widest avenue in the world, 9 de Julio and stop off at the impressive Obelisk. Head over to Plaza de Mayo to see Casa Rosada (the Pink House) and end up at the graceful Puente de la Mujer (Women’s Bridge) in the trendiest and most modern area of Buenos Aires, Puerto Madero. Here you can sit back and relax next to the beautiful docks. It would roughly take 40 minutes to an hour to do this walking tour of the must see landmarks in Buenos Aires. Click here to see a route of your do-it-yourself walking tour.

Top up your tan:

If you want to relax this long weekend in Buenos Aires and enjoy the weather, then head to a park. Go to one of the many beautiful parks in Palermo such as, Bosques de Palermo or the Botanical Gardens and sit back, relax and soak up the rays. If you are going to one of the parks, make sure you don’t forget your sun cream, water and, to ensure you look the part, your mate.

A photo posted by daytours4u (@daytours4u) on

Visit one of the many public swimming pools in the city, such as Parque President Sarmiento or Parque Norte. Make sure you are careful with your belongings when in the pool and get there early to claim your patch of grass with your towel as it will be busy!

Head for the air-conditioning indoors:

To escape the sun and heat, head to one of the many air-conditioned museums in Buenos Aires and see why Buenos Aires is known as the capital of culture in Latin America. All the museums are free on National Holidays, so take advantage and go to the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA) or the Faena Arts Centre in Puerto Madero. Grab a book and sit down on the chairs provided or at the cafe in the most impressive and beautiful library, El Ateneo Gran Splendid. [caption id="attachment_5577" align="aligncenter" width="610"]El Ateneo The splendid El Ateneo book shop / Source[/caption] Otherwise, get those last few Christmas presents at one of the modern shopping centres in Buenos Aires such as, Alto Palermo or Abasto Shopping Centre which have a large offering of shops, with both local and international brands. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy the weather in a calmer Buenos Aires and start exploring Buenos Aires!

Fill your long weekend in Buenos Aires with the best activities in the city! Visit bsas4u.com for more exciting things to do.