Recoleta Cemetery (Cementerio de Recoleta) Tours and Tickets

Recoleta Cemetery (Cemiterio de Recoleta) was Buenos Aires’ first public cemetery and was inaugurated in 1822. Originally the gardens of the former Convento de la Recoleta, home to the Recoletos Monks, the cemetery was built by French civil engineer Próspero Catelin on the site of the 18th-century Basílica Nuestra Señora del Pilar.

Visitors come to Recoleta Cemetery from all over the globe to admire the magnificent mausoleums of some of Argentina’s most notable figureheads. A total of 26 Argentine presidents are buried here, alongside Nobel Prize-winner Luis Federico Leloir, poet Carlos Guido y Spano, and former first lady Eva Perón (Evita).

Recoleta Cemetery is a dramatic architectural showcase that spans two centuries and a multitude of styles. Among the more than 6,400 mausoleums—90 of which are national historic monuments—you’ll find examples of neoclassical, art deco, art nouveau, baroque, and neo-Gothic architecture, including intricate ironwork, grand marble statues, and religious iconography.

Yes, many Buenos Aires tours include Recoleta Cemetery, and guided walking tours can be much more interesting than visiting independently. You’ll learn about the diverse architectural styles, see notable mausoleums—including Evita and the Paz family—and hear the fascinating stories of those buried here, such as Rufina Cambaceres.

Beloved by locals for her significant political and philanthropic contributions, Eva Perón was first lady of Argentina from 1946 to 1952. She remains one of Argentina’s most famous historical figures, immortalized in the award-winning musical and movie Evita; her grave is among Recoleta Cemetery’s most visited.

Recoleta Cemetery is located in the neighborhood of the same name in north Buenos Aires and is easily accessible on foot or by bike—it’s about a 30-minute walk from the central Obelisk. Alternatively, several buses run from downtown Buenos Aires, and the nearby subway stops are Callao and Retiro.