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Bombonera or Monumental: which to choose if you only have one day in Buenos Aires
It is one of the most common dilemmas for anyone travelling to Buenos Aires for the football: Bombonera (Chocolate Box) or Monumental (Monumental Stadium)? Both stadiums open every day for visits, with a tour and a museum, but the experience is very different. Here is what each one offers.
La Bombonera: neighbourhood and popular history
Boca Juniors' stadium opened in 1940 and its official name is Alberto José Armando. It is in La Boca, in the south of the city, a few blocks from Caminito, so the visit pairs easily with a stroll around the neighbourhood.
The Museo de la Pasión Boquense opened in 2001 and you explore it without a guide: idols, trophies and a 360-degree cinema. There are two visits. The Estadio Tour is guided and takes in the stands, the edge of the pitch and the away dressing room. The Visita Express shows you the stadium from the south terrace. The museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm.
All the details are in our post on La Bombonera tour and museum.
The Monumental: the biggest stadium and a modern museum
River Plate's stadium opened in 1938 and is the largest in South America. The 1978 World Cup final was played there. It is associated with Núñez, although officially it lies in the neighbouring barrio of Belgrano, in the north of the city.
The Museo River opened in 2009 and is also self-guided. It has a 4D film about match day, a time tunnel called "River Infinito", the trophy room and a space dedicated to the 2018 Copa Libertadores. The Visita Estadio lasts about 45 minutes and takes in one of the stands, the away dressing room and the tunnel out to the pitch. The museum is open from 10 am to 7 pm.
To get there, take Line D of the Subte (underground) to Congreso de Tucumán station and walk from there. The Mitre line train to Núñez station works too.
Do you already know where each one is on the map? Try it for free on GeoFútbol (in Spanish or Portuguese).
Which to choose
- Choose La Bombonera if you are after a neighbourhood atmosphere, one of the best-known grounds in the world and the chance to add Caminito to the same outing.
- Choose the Monumental if you want a modern, interactive museum, to see the biggest stadium on the continent and to get there by Subte or train.
Can you see both in one day?
Yes. Both museums open every day, but they are at opposite ends of the city, so it pays to plan the day. One possible plan: La Bombonera in the morning, when it opens at 10, and the Monumental in the afternoon, as it closes at 7.
Before booking, check whether Boca or River are playing that day and confirm each museum's opening hours. Tickets for the tours are sold on the Museo de la Pasión Boquense website and the River website, which is also the place to confirm prices.
Where to stay
If you are going to see both, Palermo sits in between and is well connected. For La Bombonera, San Telmo and the Centro are closer. For the Monumental, Belgrano and Núñez are just a few blocks away. In the accommodation map, at the end of this post, there are options in Palermo.
Both stadiums can come up in GeoFútbol, along with grounds from all over Latin America. Play GeoFútbol today, it's free (in Spanish or Portuguese).