Exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires!

When it comes to exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires ~ also known as the San Telmo Feria (or San Telmo Fair), this is an adventure we stumbled right into because of our hotel choice.  We checked into the Moreno Hotel Buenos Aires on a Saturday, & much to our surprise: woke up to absolute pandemonium Sunday morning!  Because the Moreno Hotel is one block from Calle Defensa…& Defensa is THE main drag for the San Telmo Fair.  The street was closed off to auto traffic, & vendor after vendor was setting up for the fair…with people already starting to mill around.  Within another hour, there were literally thousands of people there!

In this post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Fair & give you my best tips for enjoying your day there.  Let’s go to Buenos Aires!

Exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires, Girl Who Travels the World

Welcome to the colorful, cobble-stoned streets of San Telmo!

Map of San Telmo Market

The map below highlights two popular destinations in Buenos Aires ~ Playa de Mayo (a huge, central landmark in the city), & the smaller, more quaint Plaza Dorrego, which is right in the heart of San Telmo.  Calle Defensa is the street that vertically descends from Plaza de Mayo to Plaza Dorrego, & this is the route you’ll take to walk the San Telmo Market.

Plaza de Mayo

Plaza Dorrego

Quick Facts About the San Telmo Fair!

  • Location: About 15 blocks along Calle Defensa, in the heart of the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, starting near Plaza de Mayo & heading south to Plaza Dorrego. A few streets have off-shoots with vendors, but Defensa is the “main drag.”
  • When: Every Sunday, weather permitting (if it’s raining, many vendors won’t set up).  The San Telmo Fair should not be confused with the “San Telmo Mercado,” which is a brick-and-mortars establishment open every day of the week.
  • Hours: Approx. 10AM – 6PM (it’s busiest from 12-4PM)
  • What Can You Buy? Antiques, old records, clothing, leather goods, journals, books, souvenirs, hand crafts, basically…anything you can think of!  But it’s all got a Bohemian flair, much like the neighborhood of San Telmo itself.
  • Best Tips for Enjoying San Telmo Fair: Bring cash; bring comfortable, flat shoes (the cobble-stoned streets can be tricky in heels); stop for a drink in one of the many bars along Defensa & enjoy people-watching; stay for the late afternoon tango show(s) in Plaza Dorrego; & possibly take a taxi from Plaza Dorrego to the Caminito district in La Boca (south of San Telmo) for more daytime tango shows & fun outdoor restaurants. 
  • What to Do After Visiting the San Telmo Fair: Walk a few streets over to the trendy Puerto Madero neighborhood, & grab dinner overlooking the waterfront ~ or head south to the La Boca district (if it’s before 7PM) to watch tango in the streets.  Or, stay right in San Telmo & grab some famous Argentinian steak at a neighborhood bar, followed by watching jazz at the Bebop Club or taking tango lessons!

Photos of the San Telmo Market!

Exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires, Girl Who Travel the World

One of our favorite things to do was to duck in & grab a drink at one of the many cute bars along Defensa…& then people-watch galore!

Exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires, Girl Who Travel the World

Beautiful turquoise glassware on display in Plaza Dorrego ~ the heart of San Telmo.

Exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires!

Exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires, Girl Who Travel the World

Admire Buenos Aires’ beautiful old buildings while walking the streets of San Telmo…

Exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires, Girl Who Travel the World

Make sure to linger late in the afternoon in Plaza Dorrego…because you’ll see free, outdoor tango exhibitions.

Exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires, Girl Who Travels the World

Plaza Dorrego. 

Exploring the San Telmo Market in Buenos Aires!

  Finally, a word on accommodations in Buenos Aires: many tourists choose to stay in the more fashionable & trendy Palermo district ~ which is definitely a great destination for high-end shopping, nightlife, & restaurants.  But personally, I found that San Telmo better reflected the “real” Buenos Aires, with its richer sense of history & quaint streets…not to mention, more Argentinians & less tourists.  I LOVED my time spent in San Telmo!

Read Next: Best Milongas in Buenos Aires!

Â