How to Meet People in Buenos Aires: 5 Ways

Are you traveling to Buenos Aires or perhaps moving there for an indefinite time? Then it’s obviously important to meet people and make friends. It can be locals or other foreigners – in both cases, there are several ways to do it.

Let’s have a look at the best ways of meeting people in Buenos Aires! This doesn’t necessarily apply to the rest of Argentina since Buenos Aires has opportunities that most other cities don’t.

And it should be said that Argentinian people are very warm and friendly. So this will probably be one of the easiest places in the world to make friends. Anyway, let’s look at the methods…

Mundo Lingo

Mundo Lingo is the name of a language exchange organization. There are events all over the world, but it’s particularly popular in Buenos Aires where you find events 4 (!) times per week.

They always take place at night, usually starting at 9 p.m. and going on until 2-4 a.m., depending on the day and location.

There is an event every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The majority of the people are Argentinians, but there are also a lot of foreigners. Some of them are living in Argentina, while others are just passing through.

The main idea of Mundo Lingo is language exchange. You can meet other people there and practice languages. In most cases, that would be foreigners wanting to practice Spanish and locals wanting to practice English. But it can be anything, really.

And of course, a lot of people just go there for social reasons and to make new friends. It’s really great for that. Mundo Lingo offers a better social opportunity than going to a regular bar – everyone is open to conversations at Mundo Lingo and that makes it easier to approach people and develop friendships.

Stay at a hostel

Staying at a hostel is a great idea if you want to meet people and take part in various events.

Obviously, this is mostly an option for travelers. But even if you live in Buenos Aires, nothing is stopping you from checking into a hostel for a weekend and socializing a bit.

The great thing about hostels is that people generally go there to have a good time. People are open-minded and most are willing to socialize. Most people in Argentinian hostels tend to be other South Americans such as Brazilians, Chileans and Colombians. But you will also meet Europeans, Americans, Asians and even Argentinians from other parts of the country who are visiting Buenos Aires.

Sometimes you have to be the one who breaks the ice – but the best hostels have activities that help you with that. Some hostels in Buenos Aires have pub crawls, tango classes, game nights, walking tours, and other fun activities. If you take part in those, it’s very likely that you will start talking to people. So it’s a really good opportunity.

The most social hostels in Buenos Aires are the Viajero Hostel, the Millhouse Avenue, the Che Juan BA, and America del Sur.

If you don’t like sleeping in dorms, don’t worry. Several of the hostels have private rooms. It costs extra, but the comfort is much better. Worth it for some people – although staying in a dorm typically makes it even easier to strike up conversations.

Take various classes

Another way to meet people in Buenos Aires is to join classes (or activities).

It can be anything, really. There are Spanish classes, dance classes, cooking classes, and so much more. In some classes, there will be a majority of foreigners, and in other classes, there will be a majority of locals. It really depends on your interest and what specific class you take. But in any case, it’s a great way to meet people.

Soccer/football is another good opportunity. It might not be a class, but it is an activity. And it’s so popular in Argentina that you can always find players to team up with.

But in case you don’t already know, then how do you find the right class or activity to join in Buenos Aires? Well, looking online is a great start. You can search on MeetUp or simply on Google. If you already know people in the city, word-of-mouth is another way to find cool things to do.

Simply go out

In a city like Buenos Aires, you will probably notice that people are very social and that many will be interested in talking to you as a foreigner. The conversation pretty much starts itself in some places.

If you go to a restaurant, it’s not uncommon to talk to some of the other people around. Depending on the place, of course. If you go into stores, it’s the same thing. Conversations happen easily, not just among customers and staff but even among the customers.

Even going to a park could be a way to meet people. Preferably, bring a ball or some kind of game with you!

The nightlife should be mentioned as well. Going to bars and boliches (nightclubs) is really fun. Not everyone will be social in those settings, but many are – and especially in bars, it’s quite easy to get into some cool conversations. The idea is to find a bar with your kind of vibe – a place that suits you well. It could be a bar with artisanal beers, a sports bar, a wine bodega, or maybe something with live music. Whatever you like. And it’s likely that you’ll have something in common with the other guests.

Make connections online

You can also try to talk to people online and meet them in person. Nowadays, this is super common and it’s one of the best ways to make connections.

For example, HostelWorld has an app to meet other travelers. Or you could use Couchsurfing, MeetUp, Tandem, Interpals, or one of the many language exchange sites to start talking to people and potentially arrange a meeting. These sites are great for connecting with locals. There are WhatsApp groups for expats in Buenos Aires that you could join if you want to connect with other foreigners living in the city.

A lot of people are online nowadays, and many are looking for social connections. So it’s definitely one of the best options if you want to meet people in Buenos Aires.