The 8 Best Buenos Aires Markets: Where to Spend Your Pesos

One of the absolute top things to do in Buenos Aires is to explore its many outdoor markets.

These markets – called ferias – are all over the city. In reality, they are all over Argentina. El Bolson in Patagonia is famous for its artisan market, Rosario, the villages of Cordoba… Wherever you go, I promise that you will find a feria.

Antiques, vintage clothing, souvenirs, handicrafts and more, you’ll find whatever you’re looking for at one of the following Buenos Aires ferias.

This post lists all the best Buenos Aires markets from San Telmo to San Isidro.

The 8 Best Markets in Buenos Aires

One of the first things I research when traveling to a new city is markets.

Do they have a unique street market or a traditional souk? If there are antiques, knick-knacks, or traditional handicrafts for sale, I am there.

If you’re like me and planning to visit Buenos Aires, then you are in for a treat.

The Buenos Aires markets are excellent and worth planning your itinerary around.

Schedule at least one full weekend into your Buenos Aires itinerary to be able to visit these markets as they take place only on Saturday and/or Sunday. The only exception is some also take place on national holidays.

This post details the 8 best markets in Buenos Aires, when and where to shop and what to expect.

📣Pro Tip: To get the most of your visit to these markets, use my Buenos Aires map, which is accessible offline. I’ve pinned over 300 sites, shops and restaurants so you’ll always find something to do near the market (or wherever you are in the city!).

Shopping Tips for Markets in Buenos Aires

• Bring cash!
• And make it pesos. I’m sure many vendors will be more than happy to unload you of your dollars but you’ll likely get a bad exchange rate.
• But do consider using dollars on big purchases and see if they’ll offer you a better deal that way. Be sure of the day’s exchange rate first so you know if you’re actually being offered a better deal!
• Haggling isn’t the norm. You can see if they’ll offer you a small discount if you’re purchasing multiple items but vendors will be offended if you try to drastically undercut their price tag.
• Have fun and pick up something memorable! Great souvenirs will always remind you of great memories.
• Check the map at the end of this post for the location of all these markets in Buenos Aires.

The List of the Best Buenos Aires markets

Without further ado, here are the coolest markets in Buenos Aires.

1. Feria de San Telmo

📆 Sundays, cancelled for rain
📍 San Telmo, the length of Defensa Street starting in Plaza de Mayo

The Feria de San Telmo is the reigning king of the the outdoor markets in Buenos Aires.

This weekly market takes place every Sunday, dominating Calle Defensa in San Telmo. You’ll find a bit of everything in this feria – handicrafts, vintage leather goods, tacky souvenirs, antiques and jewelry made from local Inca Rose stones.

I recommend starting in Plaza de Mayo and walking the length of Defensa from there. The first block or two are a bit uninspiring, but it quickly gets better.

At the corner of Defensa and Alsina, there is a stunning church, a historic pharmarcy La Farmacia de la Estrella, and the Buenos Aires Museo.

This is one of my favorite intersection in the entire city, pause for photos. Look up and spin around for all angles. Go into the pharmacy (the oldest in the entire country) and the museum.

The market continues down Defensa for more than 10 blocks to Avenida San Juan. There is a lot to see and do here so read my complete San Telmo guide to plan.

Wait, where are the antiques? The famous Sunday antique market (pictured above) is in Plaza Dorrego. They start to dismantle starting at 5 pm so get there before that to treasure hunt.

More than 10,000 people visit the Feria de San Telmo every Sunday, ranking it among the biggest and best markets in Buenos Aires.

There’s more to this neighborhood than its weekly feria, make sure to visit the permanent Mercado de San Telmo to search for vintage items and antiques.

This market is also becoming a gastro-hub with new, international restaurants taking over abandoned butcher and vegetable stands.

Read Next | A Complete Guide to Shopping Buenos Aires

2. Feria de Mataderos

📆 Sundays from 11 am – 6 pm, March through December. Cancelled for rain.
📍 Av. Lisandro de la Torre y Av. de los Corrales, Mataderos

While San Telmo may be the official king of Buenos Aires markets, my heart lies with the Feria de Mataderos.

The weekly Feria de Mataderos is one of my absolute favorite things to do in Buenos Aires, located on the western border of the city.

This neighborhood and market represent the joining of the urban sprawl with the rural countryside.

Therefore it only makes sense that this market features folkloric music and dance from rural, northern provinces and gaucho influences.

The Mataderos Market centers around the neighborhood’s main square at Av. Lisandro de la Torre y Av. de los Corrales and the surrounding blocks.

Locals dress up in traditional clothing to dance to Chamame and Chacarera – folkloric music from the north. It’s a unique opportunity to see another side to Argentine music to Buenos Aires’ tango shows.

There is a market on the plaza’s surrounding blocks selling traditional items like ponchos and gaucho knives as well as regional salami, cheese and liqueur.

The food here is spectacular so come hungry for choripan, empanadas, and homemade cakes. You’ll see parrillas on the chock full of chorizos.

For more information read my full guide to visiting the Mataderos Market.

3. Feria de Artesanos de Plaza Francia

📆 Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays, 10 am to 8 pm
📍 Plaza Intendente Alvear, Recoleta

Recoleta’s weekend outdoor Buenos Aires market takes place on both Saturday and Sunday each week and on government holidays.

It’s located in the square in front of the famous Recoleta Cemetery, Plaza Intendente Alvear (not Plaza Francia like the name suggests, sorry).

Painters set up in front of the cemetery, clothes are next with beautiful handmade pieces. There are leather goods, mate gourds and more.

Speaking of mate, if you have it, bring it.

If you don’t then buy one of the enormous fruit salads from the many street food vendors.

Snack or mate in hand, lounge on the grassy knoll, and watch the street performers sing, dance, or even perform capoeira.

💡Itinerary Tip: If you have all weekend, go to Recoleta on Saturday. On Sunday you can visit one of the other Sunday-only markets like Mataderos of San Telmo. And to see all of Recoleta well, choose one of my TWO self-guided Recoleta Walking Tours available on my Buenos Aires map here.

Read next: 9 Cultural Argentine Souvenirs

4. Feria Plaza Belgrano

📆 Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, from 10 am
📍Avenida Juramento 2200, Plaza Manuel Belgrano

This smaller market takes place on weekends and holidays in Plaza Manuel Belgrano in the residential Belgrano neighborhood.

It’s small, occupying only the plaza and bleeding onto Juramento for a block up to Cabildo Avenue.

This market is pure artisan, with locals selling well made items ranging from crocheted tops to hand carved serving platters.

The market is on the small side so if you come out here, take time to see more in the area like the Parish of the Immaculate Conception (known as La Redonda) – a beautiful church at the head of this plaza. There are also museums like Museo Larreta and just down the road is Buenos Aires’ Chinatown.

5. El Mercado de las Pulgas

📆 Tuesday – Sunday from 11 am – 7 pm, closed Mondays, official page
📍Dorrego y Alvarez Thomas, Colegiales

This historic Buenos Aires flea market is different from the others on this list.

It is a permanent fixture, indoors and open all week (closed only on Mondays) on the outskirts of Palermo Hollywood in Colegiales.

I love the Mercado de las Pulgas (pulgas translating literally to fleas) and stocked my house with quite a few pieces we picked up here.

While it’s ideal for homemakers looking for antique sofas and refurbished cabinets, there are still wonderful finds for the passing traveler.

Crystal champagne glasses, bronze dog statuettes, costume jewelry, this Buenos Aires Flea Market is perfect for treasure hunters.

The walls inside and around the market also host some of the best Buenos Aires street art so don’t miss the murals.

6. Feria de Anticuarios de Las Barrancas

📆 Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm
📍Elcano 735, on the platform of the Las Barrancas station of the Tren de la Costa

If you’re looking to escape the city for a day, hop on a train to the riverside suburb of San Isidro to the north of the city.

This area is paradise on a hot summer day, with restaurants and bars lining the riverfront offering kayak rentals and windsurfing.

Take the Tren de la Costa to get here, disembarking at the Las Barrancas Station.

This station’s northbound platform converts into an antique market every weekend.

You’ll find some really beautiful pieces here and if you’re an antique aficionado this market should absolutely be part of your Buenos Aires itinerary.

There’s a little of everything here and you’ll have to hunt with a discerning eye.

After perusing the antiques, treat yourself to a coffee at the Coffee & Bike cafe on the opposite platform or to a beer at Peru Beach across the street.

7. Feria Honduras – Plaza Serrano

📆 Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays
📍Plaza Serrano and along Calle Honduras, Palermo Soho

This quirky market takes place each weekend in the heart of Palermo Soho.

Don’t come to this market in search of antiques or traditional Argentine items like ponchos, etc. There are a few stands selling fileteado or leather belts, but it’s not the best place for this sort of thing.

What you will find is handmade clothing, purses, jewelry, and the like. This market and its Plaza Armenia cousin lean more towards the hippy than the historic.

Over the years this market has really grown and I really love coming for gifts, fun clothes for the kids, hand painted penguin pitchers, and more.

While here don’t miss some of the best street art in Buenos Aires in the alleyways that surround Plaza Serrano.

8. Feria Palermo Viejo

📆 Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, official page
📍Plaza Armenia

Every weekend, artisans set up stands to sell their wares surrounding Plaza Armenia. You’ll find mainly handmade items as well incense and more.

This market is very similar to Plaza Serrano but it’s smaller, visit both together.

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• Where to go Leather Shopping in Buenos Aires
• The Best Time to Visit Buenos Aires
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• Argentina Packing List

Map of the Top Buenos Aires Markets