What to do in Mar del Plata?

What to do in Mar del Plata?

As so many beautiful cities and locations in Argentina, Mar del Plata is a great weekend get-away for the Spanish students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires at AMAUTA Spanish School, especially in spring and summer.

You can find Mar del Plata in the southeast area of the province of Buenos Aires, located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the major fishing ports of Argentina. It’s also Argentina’s biggest seaside beach resort. Besides the beaches, Mar del Plata is the home to many good restaurants and bars.

How to get to Mar del Plata?

There are several ways to get to Mar del Plata. I recommend you go by train or bus. The connection between Buenos Aires is relatively good and there is not much to see on the way there.

If you would like to go by bus, have a look on “Omnilineas”. A ticket will cost you roughly AR$ 400 and the trip takes about 5 hours.

If you would like to go by train, train tickets are a bit cheaper: about AR$ 240. You can get your ticket at the stations in Constitucion, Mar del Plata, Retiro Mitre, Once or online. A trip by train will take about 7 hours – a bit longer.

Another option is to rent a car in Buenos Aires and drive there. Really nice, but this is also the most expensive option.

What to see and do in Mar del Plata?

Mar del Plata is a beautiful city with lots to see. Here is an overview of the best things to do and see in Mar del Plata.

• Go to the Cultural Centre Villa Victoria Ocampo. It was the summer villa of famous Argentine writer Victoria Ocampo, today it is a UNESCO museum;
• Head over to Torre Tanque, a water tower. You can get a tour through the tower; at the top of the tower you are able to enjoy a panoramic view of Mar del Plata;
• Visit the Puerto de Mar del Plata. It is the work place of many locals. You will also be able to see wild sea lions here. And if you are looking for souvenirs, this it the place to go.
• Walk around Parque Gral San Martin;
• Visit Mar del Plata Cathedral;
• Walk over one of the many beaches (I recommend Playa del Sur);
• Visit the centre of Mar del Plata.

Where to eat in Mar del Plata?

Mar del Plata is home to many good restaurants. Here is an overview of the best restaurants.

• Manolo – Famous for it’s churros and a good place to have breakfast;
• Antares – Good food and artisanal beers;
• El Anticuario – seafood;
• Oceanside – seafood;
• Piazza Ristorante (La Normandina) –seafood;
• La Lucila – Argentine food;
• La Mulita – Argentina food;
• Mandinga – Argentina food;

Where to go out in Mar del Plata?

Head over to Avenida Constitucion and Avenida Martinez de Hoz. Here you will find some of the best bars in Mar del Plata. If you are more into gib clubs and discos, head over to Avenida Costanera. It is a bit further, but still easy to get there with a taxi.

And of course, in the summer you can also find many nice beach parties in Mar del Plata.

Where to stay?

I stayed in Playa Grande during my stay in Plata del Mar and I would definitely recommend it. There are lots of other hostels in the city though. Just have a look on Google or Tripadvisor.

Buenos Aires, November 2015, Davey Emmers

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