Attractions in Puerto Madero

Puerto Madero is a nice neighborhood to lounge in one of many parks, ride a bike and perhaps dine on the waterfront, but it’s not distinguished for its abundance of touristic sights. There are a handful of attractions for sightseers, history buffs and art lovers in Puerto Madero though.

On the east side of dock four, by crane eight, you can stroll by the tourist information office of Puerto Madero to pick up some maps and tourist info in a variety of languages.

Along the southern side of Puerto Madero is Buenos Aires only floating casino, the ‘Star of Fortune,’ a replica of a Mississippi riverboat. Casino Puerto Madero has 700 slot machines and 150 tables of the standard casino games and is open 24 hours a day. If you lose money here we would like to say you could take comfort knowing that the income earned is invested back into the country– profits go to the Argentine National Lottery, but they are currently facing legal action for a lack of transparency.

On dock two you can step into the Catholic University of Argentina’s Art Pavilion and check out some interesting exhibitions for free.

On dock four, near the tourist information center, is the Corbeta Uruguay Museum, a gunner boat that pioneered Arctic exploration. This 1874 boat is the oldest of Argentina’s navy’s fleet.

If one boat isn’t sufficient on dock three you can visit the Fragata Presidente Sarmiento, a 1897 Argentine Navy training boat converted into a museum that will delight kids. This ship, now declared a national monument, sailed around the world over 40 times and hosted notable guests such as Theodore Roosevelt.

Crossing over to the eastern side of the water, you’ll pass the Buenos Aires Yatch Club and the 200 sailboats docked there. There is a nautical school here that gives classes in sailing, rowing and kayaking.

On the same side of the dock is the public art collection of Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat, one of Argentina’s wealthiest women. Over 200 works on display in a modern building of glass and steel. It has electronically controlled moving panels that allow for maximum control of the natural light. Among the artists whose works on display are Joseph Mallord, William Turner, Andy Warhol and Pieter Brueghel II and Argentine artists such as Xul Solar and Antonio Berni.

East of all the action in central Puerto Madero you can also take a ramble around the sprawling Costanera Sur, where you can visit the Humor Museum in the old Munich Brewery and enter the peaceful confines of the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, a national park running along the eastern side of Puerto Madero.

Tourist information Center, Puerto Madero
Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 200
Dock 4, Crane 8
Tel: 4313-0187

• Hours: Mon-Sat, 10 am—6 pm

Casino Puerto Madero
Elvira Rawson de Dellepiane (no number)
Dock 1
Tel: 
4363-3100

Catholic University of Argentina Art’s Pavilion
Paseo Joan M. Gorriti 1300
Dock 2
Tel: 4349-0200

• Hours:Tues—Sun: 11a.m.—7p.m
• Cost: free

Frigate President Sarmiento Museum
Dock 3 (Juana M. Gorriti)
Tel (for guided tours): 4334-9389
• Hours: Sun—Fri 9 am-10 pm, Sat: 9am—11pm
• Cost: AR-$/children under five free

Corbeta Uruguay Museum
600 Juana M. Gorriti
Dock 4
Tel: 4314-1090 (to arrange guided tours)

• Hours: Everyday, 10am-9pm
•Cost: AR-$/children under five free

Yacht Club Puerto Madero
Dock four
Tel: 4313-8008

Art Collection of Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat
Olga Cossettini 141
Dock 4
Tel: 4310-6600

• Entrance: AR-$$
• Hours: Tue- Sun; 12—9 pm
• Closed Mondays
• Guided tours in Spanish everyday at 5 pm

Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve
Av. Costanera Tristan Achaval Rodríguez 1550
Tel. 4315-4129/4893-1853
• Cost: free

Museum Center of Buenos Aires/Munich Brewery
Av. de los Italianos 851
Tel: 4516-0943/ 4/9
• Hours: Mon-Fri; 10am–6pm
Sat &Sun: 10am-7pm
• Residents: AR$-/Non-residents: AR-$