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#55 of 1,135 · Things to do in Buenos Aires Capital Federal District

Obelisco

Landmarks ·Buenos Aires ·Open now
4.6191K
#2Landmarks in Argentina#2Landmarks in Buenos AiresMost reviewed in Buenos Aires
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About

Obelisco (Obelisk) in Buenos Aires: a national historic monument on Plaza de la República, at the Corrientes and 9 de Julio crossing.

Why go

  • The inscriptions on all four sides: the foundings of 1536 and 1580, the 1812 flag-raising and the 1880 naming as capital.
  • The sonnet by Baldomero Fernández Moreno, inscribed at the base of the south face.
  • The view over Avenida 9 de Julio from the monument's base, a good vantage point.

Opening hours

Today00:00 – 23:59Show all
Monday00:00 – 23:59
Tuesday00:00 – 23:59
Wednesday00:00 – 23:59
Thursday00:00 – 23:59
Friday00:00 – 23:59
Saturday00:00 – 23:59
Sunday00:00 – 23:59

Don't miss

  • Plaza de la RepúblicaThe square around the monument, where the Corrientes and 9 de Julio avenues meet.Plaza de la República, around the monument On the map
  • The 'Paris stone' finishThe monument's surface is in a 'Paris stone' hue, instead of its earlier white.The whole monument, in Plaza de la República On the map

Know before you go

  • The monument is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • The inside is not open to the general public.
  • Climbing to the four windows at the top, reached by 206 steps, needs official permission.

Tips for your visit

  • Use Avenida 9 de Julio as the address; the monument has no street number.
  • Stations of Metro Lines B, C and D are near it, linked by underground passages to commercial galleries.
  • Teatro Colón stands 300 m north of the monument.

Best time to visit

  • It is often used as a meeting point for demonstrations and events.
  • LED lights were installed on it in 2010 for light shows and campaigns.

Interesting facts6

1/6

  1. For the 30th anniversary of La Noche de los Lápices it was turned into a giant pencil.

    Obelisco de Buenos Aires - Wikipedia

  2. It was designed by architect Alberto Prebisch, modelled on the Washington Monument.

    Obelisk von Buenos Aires - Wikipedia
  3. 680 cubic

    It used 680 cubic metres of reinforced concrete in its build.

    Obelisco de Buenos Aires - Wikipedia
  4. 67.5 metres

    It stands 67.5 metres tall, on a base of 49 square metres.

    Obelisco de Buenos Aires - Wikipedia
  5. 200,000 pesos

    Its construction cost 200,000 pesos of the time.

    Obélisque de Buenos Aires - Wikipedia

  6. Its nationalist style set off a debate between modernisers and traditionalists.

    Obélisque de Buenos Aires - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The monument stands on the spot of a church of St. Nicholas of Bari, which was demolished to make room for it. The city mayor Mariano de Vedia y Mitre commissioned it. It is now a national historic monument and an icon of Buenos Aires. It has been decorated or covered for campaigns and anniversaries, as the dates below show.

  1. 1812The Argentine flag is first officially raised in a church that stood on this spot.
  2. 1936Built from March to May and inaugurated on 23 May, for the fourth centenary of the city's first founding.
  3. 1939The council approves demolition for economic, aesthetic and safety reasons; the executive vetoes it, citing its status as a national monument.
  4. 1973The obelisk is decorated as a Christmas tree.
  5. 1975A rotating sign with the motto 'El silencio es salud' encircles it; many Argentines read it as equating political silence with safety from state terrorism.
Show all
  1. 1987After an activist group spilled paint from its top windows, a fence went up around its base.
  2. 2005A restoration paid for by the Ceprara industry association is finished. On 1 December a giant pink condom covers it for World AIDS Day.
  3. 2018The opening ceremony of the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics is held here.

Sources: Obelisco de Buenos Aires - Wikipedia · Buenos Aires/Centro - Wikivoyage (see) · Obelisk von Buenos Aires - Wikipedia · Obélisque de Buenos Aires - Wikipedia · checked 19 Oct 2026

Where
Avenida 9 de Julio s/n, Buenos Aires

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Is the Obelisco in Buenos Aires open 24 hours?

Yes. The Obelisco is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. The inside is not open to the general public.

How do I get to the Obelisco in Buenos Aires by metro?

Stations of Metro Lines B, C and D are near the Obelisco. Underground passages link them to commercial galleries.

Can you climb the Obelisco in Buenos Aires?

Only with official permission. The four top windows are reached by climbing a 206-step staircase, and the public cannot go up.

Does the Obelisco in Buenos Aires have a lift to the top?

No. The top windows are reached only by climbing, and climbing needs official permission.

Is there a good view from the Obelisco in Buenos Aires?

Yes. Its base is a good vantage point over Avenida 9 de Julio.

Where is the Obelisco in Buenos Aires?

It stands in the centre of Plaza de la República, at the crossing of the Corrientes and 9 de Julio avenues.

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