Sports and Recreation

Running

Many porteños have taken up running, but the largest open spaces suitable for it are in the northern suburbs of Palermo [3] and Belgrano [4]. The major exception is the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, the former rubbish tip near Puerto Madero [5].

Cycling and Mountain Biking

Buenos Aires’s densely built city center, ferocious traffic, and monotonous terrain limit recreational cycling, but a surprising number of porteños—even some police officers—get around on bicycles. There is a growing network of paved bicycle trails, and Palermo [3]’s parks and the roads of suburban Buenos Aires Province encourage some riders.

San Telmo’s La Bicicleta Naranja (Pasaje Giuffra 308, tel. 011/4362-1104, www.labicicletanaranja.com.ar [6]) offers bicycle rentals and tours of the city; it has an additional Palermo branch (Nicaragua 4825).

Rental bikes are also available along Avenida de Infanta Isabel in Palermo’s Parque Tres de Febrero [7] (on both sides of the Museo de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Sívori), and at the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur.

Horseback Riding

In addition to tourist-oriented estancias, the city itself offers several riding options: try the Club Hípico Mediterráneo (Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 4800, Palermo, tel. 011/4772-3828), or the Club Alemán de Equitación (Avenida Dorrego 4045, Palermo, tel. 011/4778-7060).

Golf

The 18-hole Golf Club Lagos de Palermo (Avenida Tornquist 1426, tel. 011/4772-7261) is open 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday. Greens fees are low, but reservations are almost essential.

Soccer

Soccer-mad Buenos Aires [1] has six first-division teams, and it seems there’s a match every night. For participants, there are pickup games in Palermo [3]’s parks and elsewhere.

For spectators, entradas populares (standing-room tickets) are cheapest, but plateas (fixed seats) have better security. The most popular clubs are Boca Juniors (Brandsen 805, La Boca, tel. 011/4309-4700, www.bocajuniors.com.ar [8]); River Plate (Avenida Presidente Figueroa Alcorta 7597, Núñez, tel. 011/4789-1200, www.cariverplate.com.ar [9]); and San Lorenzo de Almagro (Avenida Perito Moreno and Varela, tel. 011/4381-8095, www.sanlorenzo.com.ar [10]).

Horse Racing

The country’s major track is the Hipódromo Argentino (Avenida del Libertador 4101, Palermo, tel. 011/4788-2800, www.palermo.com.ar [11]). Races take place any day of the week, but mostly Friday–Monday. General admission costs US$1, with minimum bets about the same.