Step inside a diagonal maze in Argentina’s first planned city, La Plata. Built on a structured grid system, it’s packed with far-reaching streets, leafy green plazas and grand 19th-century buildings. The little sister to Buenos Aires, the city offers travellers a slower pace and time to take in the Latin American culture. There’s a fun side to the city too, with opportunities to party with the university crowd and discover the craft beer scene.
Stay in a La Plata hostel to be within walking distance of the main attractions and the city’s central plaza. You can stay in contemporary hostels with air con and free Wi-Fi, or in the city’s historic buildings where original features like mosaic floors and shuttered balconies add to their charm. Some hostels in La Plata come with facilities like a solarium and a gym – ideal if you have a couple of hours free one morning. You'll also find places with a free breakfast and self-catering options.
La Plata is divided into North/South and East/West districts separated by diagonal streets. In the city centre is Plaza Moreno, the main square. At every six roads, there's an avenue (avenida) which eventually comes to a squared plaza. In each area, you’ll find the city’s attractions, as well as shops and bars. To the east of the centre is the green capital of the city, El Bosque, where there are gardens and mini forests to explore. Most of the nightlife is based around the north.
You'll find different areas to explore in La Plata and thanks to its formulated layout, it's easy to navigate. The best place to start is at the city’s centre, Plaza Moreno, which sits opposite the neo-Gothic Catedral De La Plata, the largest in Argentina. From here, the natural history museum, Museo de La Plata, is a 30-minute walk away. If you're here at the weekend, you can visit local markets selling Argentine handicrafts and textiles in Plaza Italia. By night, check out some of the local bars for different varieties of beer and on-site breweries.
You can reach La Plata by bus: from Buenos Aires, the journey will take roughly an hour and a half. There are also trains from the capital which take about 2 hours. Most places are easy to get to by foot when you’re in town, but if you’re short on time you can always hail a taxi or hop on the bus.
