Anchored by El Obelisco, Avenida Corrientes is a principal roadway in Buenos Aires. The street is intimately linked to the birth of Tango, especially since the popular tango star Carlos Gardel lived on Corrientes. Numerous Tango songs make reference to Corrientes, such as Calle Corrientes by Alberto Vaccarezza and Enrique Delfino. The street is celebrated  by lovers of history and Tango.

[caption id="attachment_6075" align="alignnone" width="640"]Avenida Corrientes: "The street that never sleeps" Avenida Corrientes: "The street that never sleeps" / source[/caption] There are plenty of things to do on Avenida Corrientes. Commonly referred to as "the street that never sleeps", Corrientes is a commercial as well as cultural hub. It hosts shopping malls, theatres, bookstores, restaurants, and nightlife of all kinds. The wide sidewalks make the avenue a pleasure to explore on foot, and there are all kinds of things to see along the way. [caption id="attachment_958" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Abasto Abasto: Buenos Aires' largest shopping mall / source[/caption]

On Avenida Corrientes you can enjoy top-of-the-line theatre at Teatro Gran Rex, Teatro General San Martín and Teatro Opera Citi. You can dine in historical restaurants that serve everything from traditional Argentine cuisine to modern Spanish and Italian. You can sample classic Argentine helado at Heladería Cadore ice cream shop, and you can munch on a slice of popular Argentine pizza at Pizzeria Güerrín. Visit Café La Paz, the historic meeting place for leftist activists, and Café La Giralda, which serves Spanish-style hot chocolate and churros. And don’t miss Paseo la Plaza, an urban oasis hidden inside the 1600 block of Corrientes, where you’ll find a plethora of shops, bars, and restaurants around a lush plaza.

[caption id="attachment_6076" align="alignnone" width="640"]Stage works, film and art exhibitions can all be seen at Teatro San Martin Stage works, film and art exhibitions can all be seen at Teatro San Martin / source[/caption]

Yet another draw is the various architectural styles which can be found in this area, from modern neo-gothic to French Bourbon to modern skyscrapers constructed of sleek glass and concrete.

[caption id="attachment_956" align="aligncenter" width="600"]A number of skyscrapers can be seen along the street A number of skyscrapers can be seen along the street / source[/caption]

With so many things to do on Avenida Corrientes, it’s no surprise that Corrientes has its very own advocacy group: The Asociación Amigos de la Calle Corrientes, or "Friends of Corrientes Street Association." Responsible for the urban planning of the street, this group mounted plaques on 40 different Corrientes street corners to honor distinguished figures from tango history. Similarly, take note of the colorful statue on Corrientes and Uruguay that honors comedians Alberto Olmeda and Javier Portales.

In the spirit of the Friends of Corrientes, visit this compelling avenue and jump right in with any of the endless things to do on Avenida Corrientes!

For more tours and activities in Buenos Aires, head to our website.

Happy Travels!

By: Caroline Leland