Sunday Market / Feria de San Telmo
The market started in 1970, and it is still going strong with more than 270 stands offering antiques, phonographs, period clothing, jewelry, old books, crafts items and other knickknacks. It is open on Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. During the fair, Argentine tango and folklore singers and dancers, and other performers, put on outdoor shows throughout the day.
If you only have a casual interest in tango, then Plaza Dorrego on a Sunday is an excellent time and place to enjoy an introductory sampling of the dance, especially if you don’t want to pay 200 pesos plus for a full Tango dinner-show. Also around 5pm, when the stalls begin to pack up, free impromptu outdoor Tango lessons are often given in Plaza Dorrego, which can be quite fun if you are not ashamed of making a fool of yourself in public!
If you don’t want to get that involved, it is nice to just sit outside in one of the bars that surround the Plaza and take in the performances from there, while enjoying a nice snack or refreshment.
Antiques Fair
Initially the outdoor market was antiques only. These days, to cater to visitors, all kinds of other knickknacks and local crafts are available in addition to the more expensive antiques. But despite this small change in the outdoor market away from tradition, this area of San Telmo still remains very much the antiques quarter of Buenos Aires.
