For many children travelling in Buenos Aires, the chaos of the city can be quite intimidating, but parents need look just a little further to find child-friendly attractions tucked away in just about every barrio(neighbourhood). Buenos Aires is a great city to explore on foot, but for the more active, it is also extremely bicycle-friendly. Rent a bike and pedal your way round the leafy suburbs and side streets. Stop off at the Nueve de Julio Avenue, the widest avenue in the world, and admire the 220-foot-tall (67metre) obelisk in the centre, marking the heart of Buenos Aires. Or for a slightly more cultural experience, take a stroll with the children past the Floralis Genérica in Recoleta, a working metal sculpture of a flower that opens and closes with the sun - the kids will be in awe!For those days when the sun isn't shining, head to one of the many indoor playgrounds or museums dotted around the city, such as the Museo de Los Ninos, or even the Galileo Galilei Planetarium where children will have a great time stargazing and learning about the solar system.
Lined with trees, flowers and other indigenous plants, the Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens are a great place to take the kids. The garden has been open since 1898 and was designed by Carlos Thays in a triangular shape. There are three different styles of gardening contained in the gardens - a symmetric Roman garden, a picturesque Oriental garden and a mixed French garden. With plenty of open space for kids to run around, its the ideal location to relax with a picnic or take a leisurely walk with the family. The central greenhouse is also great to explore for the more inquisitive children.In more recent years, the garden has become home to hundreds of abandoned domestic cats. It's estimated that approximately one cat is abandoned in the gardens per day during the summer, so instead of fighting a losing battle trying to remove the cats, a volunteer society was established to feed and care for the cats and put them up for adoption. Visitors to the gardens can rest assured the garden's cats are clean, tame and well-fed.Aside from cats, the garden is filled with thirty-three artistic works such as sculptures and monuments, and there is a Botanical Library that is open to the public.
Address : Av. Las Heras at Plaza Italia
The Galileo Galilei Planetarium is located inside the Bosques de Palermo, its massive dome making it almost impossible to miss. The planetarium was commissioned in 1962 and building was completed in 1966. In 1968, the planetarium was officially opened to the public. The building is made up of six floors, five staircases and a main room with a 60-foot (20m) diameter, filled with 360 seats.On any given day, this planetarium is abuzz with the chatter of children enjoying a spot of stargazing. This is a must for kids of all ages and anyone with a love of stars, space and planets. The planetarium regularly changes its shows and displays, including First Man in Space, A Blue Planet, Super Moons, Genesis: Birth of the Solar System, and many more. In addition to the main show in the planetarium, there is also a small museum containing a lunar rock (a gift from Richard Nixon), a collection of 100-million-year-old sea life fossils, and a metallic meteorite from Chaco Province.
Address : Av. Sarmiento y Figueroa Alcorta, Palermo
Telephone : +54 11 4771 6629
Opening times : Open Tuesday to Friday 9:30am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11:30am-7pm.
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