One of the things Buenos Aires does better than almost any other city is public sitting. That sounds trivial, but it is not. The plaza culture here means that every neighborhood has at least one square with benches, shade trees, and a steady flow of human activity. Plaza Francia in Recoleta fills with artisan vendors and musicians on weekends. Plaza Serrano in Palermo Soho draws a younger crowd and has a cafe-terrace energy even if you are just sitting on a bench with your own mate. The benches along Avenida de Mayo, between Plaza de Mayo and Congreso, offer front-row seats to some of the city's finest Beaux-Arts architecture. Porteños treat sitting in a plaza the way other cultures treat going to a bar — it is a social activity, not a sign of having nothing to do. Bring a thermos of hot water and some yerba mate, and you are doing exactly what the locals do. The warmth of the metal mate cup in your hands, the bitter green taste, the sound of kids kicking a ball across stone — this is the texture of daily life here.

Three walks in particular reward the effort of planning your route. First: the Avenida de Mayo corridor, from Plaza de Mayo to the Palacio del Congreso. This stretch is roughly 1.5 kilometers of continuous architectural grandeur — the Barolo Palace with its Dante-inspired tower, Café Tortoni's worn marble exterior, the Hotel Castelar where Lorca once stayed. Second: the San Telmo to La Boca walk. Start at Plaza Dorrego, head south on Defensa, cut through Parque Lezama, and continue into La Boca toward Caminito. The neighborhood character shifts block by block — antique shops give way to working-class storefronts, then the corrugated-metal houses appear in their loud paint colors. Third: the Palermo parks circuit. Start at the Rosedal, loop around the lake, pass through the Jardín Japonés perimeter (the interior has a small fee), continue to the Planetario, and wind up at the Bosques de Palermo. Each walk takes roughly two to three hours at a comfortable pace with stops. Early morning or late afternoon light is best — the midday sun in Buenos Aires summer can be brutal.

This is not strictly about free things, but it connects to the zero-budget spirit. Buenos Aires currently has some of the best value street food of any major capital. Empanadas from a proper neighborhood spot run a few hundred pesos each — you can eat well on a handful of them. Pizza al paso (standing pizza) at places like Güerrín or El Cuartito costs very little by international standards, and the fugazzeta (onion and cheese) alone is worth the trip. Medialunas — the Argentine croissant, slightly sweet, warm from the oven — come cheap at any corner panadería. If you are staying somewhere with kitchen access, the Feria de Belgrano and other neighborhood ferias sell produce at prices that make supermarkets look like robbery. The quality of Argentine beef, even from modest cuts at the carnicería, tends to surprise visitors. Budget around modest amounts for daily food and you will eat better than you might expect.

Buenos Aires public transport is currently very affordable by global standards, and the SUBE card system covers buses, subte (subway), and commuter trains. The cost per ride has been low enough that transportation rarely dents even the tightest budget. The subte itself is worth experiencing for the old Line A stations — the wooden cars were retired, but the tile work in stations like Perú, Piedras, and Lima dates to 1913 and still has its original art nouveau detailing. Walking remains the best way to experience most neighborhoods. The city is flat except for a few spots in Belgrano and Parque Lezama, so distances that look far on a map often feel manageable on foot. Bike lanes have expanded considerably, and the city's public bike share system, Ecobici, has been free to use with registration — though availability of bikes can be hit-or-miss during peak hours.