Parque Tres de Febrero

Parque Tres de Febrero Review

Known locally as Los Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Woods), this 200-acre green space is really a crazy quilt of smaller parks. Lush grass and shady trees make it an urban oasis, although the busy roads and horn-honking drivers that crisscross the park never let you forget what city you're in. South of Avenida Figueroa Alcorta you can take part in organized tai chi and exercise classes or impromptu soccer matches. You can also jog, bike, or in-line skate here, or take a pedal boat out on the tiny lake. The park gets crowded on sunny weekends, as this is where families come for strolls or picnics. If you'd like to picnic, take advantage of the street vendors who sell refreshments and choripan (chorizo sausage in a bread roll) within the park. There are also several posh cafés lining the Paseo de la Infanta (running from Libertador toward Sarmiento in the park).

Museo de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Sívori. If you're looking for a sedate activity, try the Museo de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Sívori, which resides in the Parque Tres de Febrero. The focus of this collection is 19th- and 20th-century Argentine art, including paintings by local masters like Emilio Petorutti, Lino Eneo Spilimbergo, Antonio Berni, and the museum's namesake Sívori. The shaded sculpture garden is the perfect combination of art and park. Av. Infanta Isabel 555, Palermo, Buenos Aires, C1425ABX. 11/4774-9452. www.museosivori.org. 1 peso, Wed. and Sat. free. Tues.-Fri. noon-8, weekends 10-8.

Paseo del Rosedal. Close to the Museo de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Sívori (within the Parque Tres Febrero) is the Paseo del Rosedal. About 12,000 rosebushes (more than 1,000 different species) bloom seasonally in this rose garden. A stroll along the paths takes you through the Jardín de los Poetas (Poets' Garden), dotted with statues of literary figures, and to the enchanting Patio Andaluz (Andalusian Patio), whose majolica tiles and Spanish mosaics sit under a vine-covered pergola. Avs. Infanta Isabel and Iraola, Buenos Aires. Free. Apr.-Oct., daily 9-6; Nov.-Mar., daily 8-8.

The Planetario Galileo Galilei is a great orb positioned on a massive concrete tripod. It looks like something out of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and it seems as though small green men could descend from its central staircase at any moment. Content inside is flimsy, but the authentic 3,373-pound asteroid at the entrance is a highlight. The pond with swans, geese, and ducks is a favorite. Avs. Sarmiento and Figueroa Alcorta, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1425FHA. 11/4771-6629. www.planetario.gov.ar. Free. Weekdays 9-5, weekends 3-8.