Rosario: gay guide to the best bars, clubs and hotels in Rosario

Rosario is famous for being the city where the flag of Argentina was first raised in 1812. And of course, the Argentinians not being the type of people to shy away from a bit of drama created this enormous beautiful monument dedicated to its memory. Argentinians come here from afar to pay their respects to their country's flag and its creator Manuel Belgrano. We were amazed by the immensity of the monument. You can climb to the top of the tower for stunning views over the city and this is also the best spot to experience the National Flag Day celebrations on the 20th of June (see the events section above).

A great way to explore the waterways of the Paraná Delta is via a boat or kayak tour. Kayaks can be rented as part of a group tour or individually, and are a lovely way to explore as you float along keeping an eye out for wildlife. The Paraná River is brown due to silt, not pollution, so you'll be almost guaranteed to see plenty of birds, turtles, lizards, and fish on your excursion, which can also include lunch. Kayak and boat hires can be organized through the city's Estación Fluvial (River Station).

Remember we said that Rosario's ice cream is the best in the country? It's so popular that the Association of Ice Cream makers has its annual conference here every August. At least that's what every Rosarian will tell you. What better excuse than to just test it out for yourself – you won't regret it! If you happen to be here in February there's also an ice cream festival taking place where you'll get to taste lots of delicious flavors for free. Read more about our favorite food of Argentina while you're at it.

Our favorite park in the heart of the city is also the biggest: Parque Independencia. Here you can rent your own paddleboat to ride around in the small lake and make friends with the local ducks. There are various gardens, follies, and fountains to discover as you wander in the park or perhaps relax with a picnic. If you don't feel like a picnic there are plenty of food vendors within the park too, along with the Newell’s Old Boys football club/stadium and a children's playground area. Make sure you also check out the Museo Histórico Provincial here to learn about Rosario's history.

Rosario is the city where famous revolutionary Che Guevara was born before his family moved to Alta Gracia near Córdoba where he grew up. ‘Che' fans can visit a 4-metre-tall statue in his memory at a small park between 27 de Febrero and Laprida. The statue is made out of 75,000 bronze keys donated by Argentines nationwide and weighs 2.7 tons. You can also visit the house where he was born, Entre Ríos 480; although you'll only be able to take photos from outside as it's now privately owned.

It's pretty incredible how close to the city the Paraná River's array of small islands is. During our stay in Rosario, we took a 2-hour boat cruise along the Paraná River, passing by some of those islands with beautiful views of the city. It's a fun way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with a group of friends, nursing a hangover from Fiesta Puerca! You'll also be able to see lots of wildlife and enjoy the sun if you're visiting during the summer. This boat tour through the Paraná Delta is the perfect combination of adrenaline and relaxation.

Argentina is famous for its wines with different growing regions spread throughout the country. In Rosario, we went on a ‘virtual wine tour of the country' by sampling the differences between a variety of wines (and grapes) that come from the high-altitude vineyards of Mendoza to the cooler plains of Patagonia. This wine tasting session is a great way to get to know the best white, red, and sparkling wine varieties of Argentina, paired with some yummy snacks as well!

While Rosario might not be as big and vibrant as Buenos Aires, this port city is filled with interesting historical sites to explore. The main landmarks such as the Old Customs House and National Flag Memorial are well worth a visit, as are the huge murals at the “Arte a la Vista” Urban Museum area. Make sure you take some time to learn about Rosario's most famous former residents as well as discovering the beautiful colonial architecture on an informative walking tour, or by visiting some of the local museums.

Aside from the amazing murals to be seen outdoors in the Arte a la Vista area of Rosario, the city is also home to a couple of very cool art museums. Located in what used to be grain silos (as you can see in the picture) is Rosario’s Museum of Contemporary Art or MACRO. It features ten floors of modern art, mostly by young local artists. The viewing area at the top of the building is also a great spot to see wonderful views over the city and river. If you're more interested in classical art then the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts Juan B. Castagnino is considered to be the best fine arts museum in the country, outside of Buenos Aires.

Even though Rosario is located on a river, there's a surprising number of sandy beaches and small islands that are popular among locals and visitors. From the Estación Fluvial you can catch a ferry 15-minutes north of the city to the main beach areas or islands. The water is only brown because of silt so if you can get past that it's a delightful area for swimming, relaxing, or partaking in fun activities such as kayaking and kite-surfing. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafes and places to rent chairs etc. The most popular island is El Banquito de San Andrés, while the beaches of Catalunya and La Florida are also worth a visit.

Sunderland Bar is one of the city's highly rated restaurants, filled with an eclectic mix of memorabilia covering the walls. It has an old-style (working) telephone box from the early 1900s, which made Sebastien nostalgic for another era. Every table features a sheet telling you all about the history of the place and sometimes one of the staff will play on the piano to provide a truly romantic ambiance. The food is also superb; if you're all steak-ed out they also do a mix of homemade pasta and a delicious goat cheese provoleta.

Escauriza Parilla is one of the best fish restaurants in the city. You should call and book in advance because it gets very busy. Boga fish is the local specialty, which is served like a pizza with lots of melted cheese and tomato on it. A healthy delight! There are also delicious seafood empanadas, paella, and meat dishes available. We loved the views from the open-air gallery looking out over the river. The staff is very attentive and portions are large, so just keep that in mind when ordering.

Negroni Bistro Bar: for something different, try this ‘Sex and the City' style bistro bar, popular for its creative cocktails and gourmet sushi. This place offers a real fusion of cuisines, along with the sushi many dishes are a blend of Italian/American cuisine, such as antipasti and paninis. Come here for a delicious meal or just some fancy drinks before hitting the bars and clubs. On Sundays Negroni also serves up an extensive brunch menu from 12.30 pm until 4.30 pm; a fabulous and delicious way to nurse that hangover from the night before!

With so many meat and fish options in Rosario you'd be forgiven for thinking there's nothing here for vegans and vegetarians but you'd be wrong! Punto Mercado Holistico is a really cool vegetarian restaurant and market with plenty of vegan options. The decor is cute and cozy, sort of a cross between an old-fashioned cafe and your grandma's house. You can purchase lots of organic goods, natural cosmetics, and healthy food products, sit down for a delicious meal or get something to take away. On top of all that Punto is an art gallery as well!

Travel insurance: make sure you have travel insurance for your trip to Rosario, as you can always encounter difficulties like cancelled flights, theft, injury or illness. We always use Heymondo Travel Insurance because we know we will be well looked after in case something goes wrong. It's easy to make a claim online and their coverage is very comprehensive.

How to get there: you can fly to Rosario's International Airport from other parts of South America (you'll probably be changing in Buenos Aires if you're coming from further away). You can also get to the city via car, bus or train from Buenos Aires, Córdoba

Visa requirements: if you're travelling to Argentina from most EU countries, USA, Canada or Australia then you don't need a visa to stay in the country for up to 90 days as a tourist. You'll still need a valid passport, of course, and proof of onward travel if you arrive by plane. Check your personal visa requirements here if you're unsure.

Getting around: the main centre of Rosario is easy to get around by walking and there's a local bus system which can be navigated using the Movi Rosario App. Rosario also has an extensive public bike scheme called Mi Bici Tu Bici if you'd like to explore the city by bicycle. The cycling network is almost as large as the one in Buenos Aires, so cycling is a great (and fun) option for exploring.

Vaccinations: there aren't really any vaccinations that are required when travelling to Argentina but you should be vigilant about using mosquito repellent as mosquitoes can be carriers of many diseases. The CDC does recommend that travellers to Argentina be vaccinated for Typhoid and Hepatitis A though, especially if you will be travelling to rural areas. For more detailed information check out the  CDC website here.

Currency: the currency used in Argentina is the Argentine Peso, which is abbreviated to ARS. €1 is worth around 48.50 Argentine Pesos and $1 is about 43.25 pesos.

Tipping culture: Argentina is not a country with a real tipping culture so don't feel like you need to tip. You can do so if you really want to show appreciation for good service in a restaurant or for your tour guide, for example.

Online privacy: Argentina is one of the most gay-friendly countries with very progressive laws. You will not have to worry about using gay dating apps like Scruff or Grindr when visiting Rosario. If you do prefer to keep your online activities private then we recommend ExpressVPN as it's a reliable and affordable way to get online with privacy.

Accommodation: if you want to see some more accommodation options for Rosario then make sure you check out the Booking.com website. We love to use Booking.com because they have the best prices, excellent customer support (24/7) and it's easy to book online.

Sightseeing and adventure: for more things to do in Rosario check out GetYourGuide which we use to find the best tours and activities whenever we travel. They also have wonderful 24/7 customer support, the booking process is very easy and there are so many choices available.

When to visit: Rosario experiences quite warm summers and fairly cold winters, so if you want to time your visit with summer remember that the summer months are December, January and February in the southern hemisphere. If you want to time your visit to one of the best events in the city, then check back to our events section!