El Ateneo Grand Splendid is an absolutely stunning bookstore set inside a grand former opera house…read more While you might see beautiful pictures online, they honestly do not do this place justice. It's so much more breathtaking in real life. The building miraculously retains many of its original theatrical details, including the intricate moldings, grand balconies, heavy curtains, and gorgeous ceiling artwork. The original stage has even been transformed into a Havana café, which is a fantastic touch. Even though I don't read much in Spanish, I absolutely loved just walking around and taking in the sheer scale and beauty of the architecture. You have the freedom to roam around the majority of the space, and you can even grab a spot on one of the many balconies to sit, relax, and read if you wish. If you are visiting Buenos Aires, stopping by to take a look is an absolute must. Highly recommended!

I would love to meet the team that thought of making an old Opera House [Grand Splendid Theatre…read morefrom 1919] into a bookstore with cafe. And then, who would think it can be a 5-star experience for someone who speaks and reads only English? The shop retains the original, ornate balconies, stage curtains, and detailed ceiling paintings. On the old stage is the café. How cool is it to sit with a coffee and pastry and look back at this grand theater [book store.]. Everythng about this place is grand and ornate. A magnificent ceiling overlooks this beautiful venue almost like it standing guard over it. Don't forget, this is a huge bookstore. Every inch of it covered with books and if you go downstairs there is plenty of vinyl. There is lots of buzz and electricity in the air. Obviously, most of the stock is in Spanish but... they do have a small English section. It's nice that you can walk around just about anywhere and explore. That is truly wone of the most fun parts. Make sure you take the elevator to the top and really take in the view... It is breathtakng. It's obvious that the grand theme here is "The 'Grand' Theme." Who would think that a bookstore would turn into a major tourist attraction. It will always remain one of my most memorable Buenos Aires experiences. What will always remain a highlight of this trip is the fact that we ran into frineds who live just a few miles from our house in Long Island. Yes, we did not know that they were here [staying in the same hotel, no less] and we would get the opportunity to spend the day together 5,700 miles from where we live. KUDOs to the many teams of people who maintain El Ateneo.

This building is a stunning example of Brutalist architecture. It genuinely looks like a sci-fi,…read moresteampunk fortress. The exterior is incredibly striking and is definitely the main reason to visit. If you decide to go inside, know that there is quite a bit of security. Entry is free, but you need an ID to get a keycard for the turnstiles (you drop it back in when you leave). The interior layout is a bit odd. There are some art exhibits you can wander through, and a main reading room on the 7th floor filled with students, though you need to request an extra ticket inside which is also free, to access that restricted area. Overall, the inside wasn't super interesting to me, but the exterior architecture alone makes it worth the trip.

The National library of Argentina is massive. Security told us that we could take photographs with…read moreour phones just not cameras. The doors appeared to be locked & we couldn't go inside.