Cementerio de la Recoleta — Attraction in Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

Recoleta Cemetery is one of the most fascinating and historically rich sites in Buenos Aires, offering a truly unique experience. More than just a resting place, it feels like an open-air museum, with its stunning architecture, intricate sculptures, and elaborate mausoleums that tell the stories of Argentina’s most prominent figures. Walking through the narrow pathways feels like stepping back in time, as each tomb has its own distinctive design, ranging from grand and ornate to simple yet elegant.

One of the most visited sites within the cemetery is the tomb of Eva Perón (Evita), a significant figure in Argentine history. However, beyond Evita, there are countless other notable figures buried here, including former presidents, military leaders, writers, and artists, making it a place of deep national importance. The attention to detail in the mausoleums, many of which are adorned with statues, stained glass, and intricate carvings, is truly remarkable.

The cemetery is well-maintained, and the peaceful atmosphere adds to the overall experience. While it is possible to explore on your own, a guided tour is highly recommended to fully appreciate the history and stories behind the most significant tombs. Without guidance, it’s easy to miss some of the most interesting details, as many mausoleums have fascinating histories attached to them.

For anyone visiting Buenos Aires, Recoleta Cemetery is an absolute must-see. Whether you are drawn by its historical significance, its architectural beauty, or its mysterious and almost eerie charm, this place leaves a lasting impression. It’s a reminder of Argentina’s rich past and the legacy of those who shaped...

This is definitely a must-see if you're visiting Buenos Aires. While you may be thinking why on earth would anyone want to see a cemetery that you have no connection to, it ended up being an unforeseen highlight of our vacation.

THE CEMETERY: The 14 acre site opened in 1822 and is bordered by high walls. Entry is free, but being interred here is at a premium. The cemetery is laid out like a miniaturized city. The numerous "blocks" are lined with mausoleums from simple to grand to unique. Sadly and shockingly, some are in disrepair and unkempt. Many have coffins and urns in plain view. Some are multi-leveled with underground rooms too.

I'm sure 99% of the visitors are here to visit one person, Eva Perón, whose plot # is 88, though no signs will guide you there. There's a map of the cemetery as you enter to reference, but all you have to do is look for the crowds and sole mausoleum that is abundant with flowers. Our poor private tour guide was hounded by more than a few people asking where her place was. Her family's mausoleum is mixed in with the others in a tight aisle, so head-on pics are impossible.

Other townsfolk include politicians, celebrities, businessmen, doctors and high-ranking individuals with deep pockets.

TIPS: A cluster of white cement/marble graves near the entry are the very first occupants laid to rest. While they're not mausoleums, the markers are quite tall and grand in their own way.

Allow at least an hour as there are many photo ops and curiosities to see.

OVERALL: Free, interesting and not...

My husband and I visited on March 18, 2025. We arrived just before they opened at 0900, and were the third set of guests in line. Luckily, I read recent reviews prior to our visit regarding credit cards being compromised after paying for tickets here. We used a disposable credit card with a small balance on it to pay for our admission. The clerk manually typed in the credit card number onto her computer, and they do not accept cash. We froze the card immediately after the charge went through.

Today (March 19, 2025), we received a message that a charge was attempted on this card for over $100, and we have no doubt that it was compromised somehow from the office at the Recoleta Cemetery. We haven’t used this card in months except to pay for our tickets here.

We are grateful that we had a disposable card we were able to use rather than our primary credit card.

Our advice- if you want to visit the cemetery (which is very interesting), then take a disposable credit card with you that has just enough of a balance to pay for your admission (~$33 USD for 2 adults for us) and only use it at Recoleta Cemetery. I feel whatever scam is being pulled is done on tourists/non-residents (or at least non-Spanish speaking guests). It’s a shame that this is being allowed to happen and is impacting so many people. We are very thankful for previous reviews that warned of this issue, and wanted to add our experience to helpfully prevent others from being impacted...