Where to Stay in Buenos Aires: A Short-Term Rental Guide Based on Your Type of Trip
Choosing where to stay in Buenos Aires is not a minor decision. The city is large, diverse, and each neighborhood offers a different experience. Coming for studies, work, tourism, medical treatments, or a longer stay is not the same thing—the area you choose can make everyday life easier… or unnecessarily complicated.
With short-term apartment rentals, this choice becomes even more important. Unlike a hotel, you will live the city as a resident: grocery shopping, using public transportation, getting home at night, studying, working, or resting comfortably inside your apartment. That is why, rather than looking for “the best neighborhood,” it makes more sense to think about which area best fits your type of trip.
In this guide, we explain which areas of Buenos Aires tend to work best for temporary apartment rentals, depending on the reason for your stay, so you can make an informed and realistic decision.
Before choosing an area: what you should be clear about your trip
Before looking at maps or photos, there are a few basic questions worth answering:
- Are you coming for studies, work, tourism, or medical reasons?
- Is your stay just a few weeks, or several months?
- Will you need to move around every day or only occasionally?
- Do you value urban activity more, or peace and quiet?
- Will your routine revolve around a university, a workplace, or a medical center?
These variables directly influence the ideal area for a short-term rental in Buenos Aires, often more than budget alone. An apartment that is well located for your daily routine is usually more valuable than one that simply “looks nicer” but is poorly connected.
Palermo: urban life, universities, and constant movement
Palermo has been one of the most sought-after areas for short-term rentals for years, and for good reason. It combines connectivity, services, and an active urban lifestyle.
Living in Palermo means having everything close by. Cafés, supermarkets, gyms, restaurants, and green spaces are part of everyday life. Areas like Palermo Soho or Palermo Hollywood concentrate much of the activity, while Palermo Chico or zones near the parks offer a slightly calmer pace.
For international students, Palermo is often a logical choice due to its proximity to private universities such as the University of Palermo and its strong connection to the rest of the city through Subway Line D (the Subte) and multiple bus routes.
It is an ideal area if you are looking for a short-term apartment rental in Buenos Aires that allows you to walk most places, enjoy an active social life, and quickly adapt to the city’s rhythm. As a trade-off, some nightlife-heavy areas can be noisier on weekends, which is worth considering depending on your profile and daily routine.
Recoleta: central location, academic profile, and health-related stays
Recoleta has a different character. It is more formal, quieter, and highly valued by those who prioritize location and a well-established urban environment.
Staying in Recoleta means being close to key points in the city: hospitals, libraries, museums, and traditional faculties such as Law and Medicine at the University of Buenos Aires. For students, researchers, or people visiting for academic reasons, it is an area that often works very well.
In addition, Recoleta is one of the most chosen neighborhoods for short-term rentals related to medical treatments or health studies, thanks to its proximity to high-complexity medical centers and its quiet, safe environment—ideal for recovery or maintaining a consistent medical routine.
Short-term rentals in Recoleta stand out for spacious apartments, solid buildings, and a sense of an “organized” city. It is a walkable area, well connected by public transportation, with a more traditional dining scene and less nightlife than Palermo.
If you are looking for temporary housing in Buenos Aires for studying, working, or a health-related stay, Recoleta is usually a very safe choice.
Belgrano: balance between calm and connectivity
Belgrano is often chosen by those looking for a middle ground: less tourist activity than Palermo, but excellent connectivity and everyday services.
The neighborhood is crossed by Subway Line D, major avenues such as Cabildo, and a wide network of bus routes, making it easy to reach downtown areas, universities, or business districts. At the same time, many inner streets maintain a quieter, residential feel.
For medium- or long-term stays, Belgrano is highly valued for short-term rentals, especially by students who need to focus, people working remotely, or families who prioritize calm without moving away from the city.
It is an area where the apartment truly becomes a temporary home, designed for a stable routine rather than just a place to sleep.
Is it better to stay close to the action or close to your routine?
A common question with short-term rentals is whether it is better to prioritize proximity to university, work, medical centers, or social life. There is no single answer, but there is a useful guideline: daily routine matters more than occasional plans.
If you need to attend classes, work, or medical appointments every day, living nearby reduces commuting time, stress, and costs. Social activities or sightseeing can be handled once or twice a week. Daily long commutes, on the other hand, tend to take a toll over time.
That is why, in Buenos Aires, areas like Palermo, Recoleta, and Belgrano work so well—they allow a balance between mobility, services, and quality of life during a real short-term stay.
What to consider when choosing a short-term rental in these areas
Beyond the neighborhood itself, there are practical details that make a big difference in a good short-term rental experience.
A well-equipped apartment, with stable internet and comfortable spaces for studying, working, or resting, is usually essential. It is also important to review how utilities are handled: most short-term rentals include everything in a single rate, although in some cases there may be reasonable consumption limits for electricity or gas.
Another key point is contract flexibility. For students or medium-term stays, many property owners prefer rentals that align with a full academic term or scheduled treatments, as this provides predictability for both parties.
In summary: how to choose the right place to stay in Buenos Aires
Choosing where to stay in Buenos Aires is not about finding “the best neighborhood,” but the one that best fits your type of trip. Palermo, Recoleta, and Belgrano concentrate a large portion of the short-term apartment rental supply because they combine location, connectivity, and real services for living in the city—not just visiting it.
Thinking about the area as part of your routine—whether for studies, work, health, or an extended stay—makes the experience simpler, more comfortable, and more sustainable over time.
If you are considering a short-term rental in Buenos Aires and are looking for well-located options in Palermo, Recoleta, or Belgrano, you can check availability based on your type of trip and length of stay. Choosing the right area is the first step toward making your experience in the city truly work.