Explore Buenos Aires: The definitive travel guide to Argentina’s capital

The travel guide to Buenos Aires you’ve been waiting for has arrived! See tips on how to get there, where to stay, what to pack, and how to practice sustainable tourism in the city. Discover the charms of this cosmopolitan and vibrant Latin American capital!

Don’t resist the charm of Buenos Aires: let the Argentine capital enchant you with its tree-lined parks, historic buildings, and spectacular cuisine. To help you plan your trip, we have prepared a guide detailing where Buenos Aires is, how to get there, why to visit, what the weather is like, how to exchange currency in Argentina, and tips for staying safe and practicing responsible tourism during your vacation. Discover Buenos Aires with us!

Where is Buenos Aires

Located in Argentina, in the province of the same name, Buenos Aires is one of the largest and most vibrant Latin American capitals.

See on the map where Buenos Aires is:

Why visit Buenos Aires

There are plenty of reasons for you to take a trip to Buenos Aires. As if being beautiful wasn’t enough, the city also has incredible parks, great museums, good restaurants and cuisine, vibrant culture and attractive prices. Argentine people also tend to be welcoming to travelers. If you like soccer, you’ll find it a very popular topic there.

Typical Argentine foods

Argentine cuisine is delicious. For breakfast or afternoon, highlights include medialunas (puff pastry like a croissant), chipá (similar to the Brazilian cheese bread), cheeses and dulce de leche. For quick meals, choripan, empanadas, and pizzas are good options. In fact, the influence of Italian immigration is evident in the delicious pizzas, handmade pasta, and gelatos.

Other notable dishes include tortilla (potato or spinach pie with egg), milanesa and, most importantly, asado – similar to the Brazilian barbecue, but roasted on a parrilla, highlighting the quality of Argentine meats. Vegetarians can enjoy options like grilled vegetables and parrillero cheese; chimichurri with bread is always a great addition.

Medialunas with coffee, super stuffed pizza 😋, parrilla.
Photos: Jade Knorre

What you need to know before traveling to Buenos Aires

Language: Spanish

Voltage: 220 volts

Socket: In Buenos Aires you can find sockets type I (which has two or three flat pins), type C (with only two round pins, European standard) or even standard I with a fitting for C. It is advisable to have adapters compatible with these types of sockets when traveling to Argentina.

Here is the universal travel adapter we recommend!

Population: More than 15.4 million inhabitants.

Time zone: GMT-03:00

Internet access: Internet access is widely available, and most establishments such as restaurants, cafes, hotels and museums have an internet connection available. You can also buy a prepaid chip when you arrive in the city and load it with the amount you want, get an eSim Airalo, or leave your country with an activated international plan.

Drone: according to the Argentine National Civil Aeronautics Administration (ANAC), since January 2024, to operate drones it will be necessary to have a special certificate. To use in filming, users must avoid spaces with crowds of people and assume responsibility for any inconvenience caused by use, in addition to having special insurance.

Tips: Tips are appreciated! In general, 5 to 10% of the value of the service is expected.

Contacts in case of emergency: National Emergency Center – 911; Medical emergencies – 107; Firefighters – 100.

How to get to Buenos Aires

Flights to Buenos Aires

Are you going to travel by plane to Buenos Aires? The Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), despite being smaller, is very well located – you already get off the plane in one of the most tourist neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. Factor this into the ticket price, as when you arrive via the airport, you save time and money on the transfer to your accommodation.

The Ministro Pistarini or Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) is one of the largest hubs in South America and receives flights from the most varied airlines, which can reduce the cost of the ticket. However, it is the furthest away and requires a transfer to the central area.

How to get from Uruguay to Buenos Aires

For those who would like to visit Uruguay and Argentina on the same trip, know that it is possible to reach Buenos Aires by boat from the cities of Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento. There are two companies that make the route: BuqueBus, better known, and Colonia Express, generally cheaper.

How to get around Buenos Aires

Public transport in Buenos Aires works very well and is subsidized by the government, which makes it even cheaper. You can get around the city easily and sustainably by bus and metro. Also consider renting a bike: it’s a delight to cycle there. The city is almost entirely flat, almost always with cycle paths, which makes it easier to get around on two wheels. Walking is also great, making it possible to discover that special corner off the beaten track.

Car is also a possibility, but with this public transport offer, we do not recommend it. Parking is expensive and traffic jams are frequent. If you go by car, the tip is to leave it during your stay in one of the Apart Car underground parking lots, located on the main avenues of Buenos Aires – they are much cheaper than conventional garages.

Taxis and ride-sharing apps can also be an option. For daily use, apps like Uber and Cabify are reliable and competitively priced.

Sustainable tourism🍃: Biking is a delightful way to experience the charm of Buenos Aires while exercising. All this without carbon emissions!

When to go to Buenos Aires

In terms of money, if there is a good time to travel to Argentina, it is now. The Argentine peso is significantly devalued. You can find accommodation for around USD 16* per night for a couple, restaurants offering dishes from USD 5*, and wines (good ones) from USD 1,4* in the markets.

Conscious tourism 💡 Although the country is relatively cheap for foreign tourists, it is definitely not good news for Argentines, who are suffering from hyperinflation and an unrestrained economy. Let’s be respectful by tipping appropriately and avoiding haggling over prices. See more about currency and exchange rates below.

Weather in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires usually has four defined seasons (before global warming, at least), so you can choose the best time to visit according to your preferences.

Buenos Aires in summer: In summer, the heat is intense, but it is delicious to cool off with Argentine artisanal ice cream and enjoy the bars in the late afternoon with good cold drinks or soda.

Buenos Aires in winter: he cold can be daunting, but it rarely snows in the city. This time of year is perfect for a cozy and gastronomic trip, trying all the possible facturas (pastries like medialunas) with coffee or hot chocolate, pasta, and the famous parrillas.

Buenos Aires in spring and autumn: These are great times to visit the city, as temperatures are mild both day and night.

In my opinion, the best time to go to Buenos Aires is in the spring, when the cold weather is going away, people are excited to enjoy outdoor attractions and bars, and it is possible to enjoy the city in lighter clothes and on a bike. Flowers give the parks a special charm, the days are usually sunny and the nights are cooler and windier, which also leads to more cozy activities, with wine and good food.

Fox Tip: 🦊: Regardless of when you will visit Buenos Aires, enjoy open-air tours, such as Parque Rosedal and La Boca neighborhood. Visit museums like MALBA and Centro Cultural Recoleta, and learn from the Argentines by embracing the late afternoons and evenings with a cool gastronomic program. Taste empanadas, pizzas (the best!), and parrillas while enjoying drinks at the various bars spread across the city.”

How many days to spend in Buenos Aires

A great idea would be to spend at least three full days. To enjoy everything more calmly, also enjoying trips off the beaten track and discovering your own pearls in the Argentine capital, stay for a week.

Avoid scams in Argentina

Here are some practical safety tips!

• Book your accommodation on reliable websites and be alert if you come across extremely low prices. Stories about scams, or estafas, as Argentines call them, are quite common in relation to vacation home rentals.
• It’s always advisable to bring a padlock to secure your suitcase at the hostel.
• Taxis can take advantage of the fact that you don’t know the city and make a few extra turns to charge more. Before getting into the car, ask for the estimate price. It’s worth having the route on the map to show that you know where you’re going. To avoid this type of scam, it is also worth using ride-sharing apps.
• When using ride-sharing apps, take a look at the driver’s score and confirm the name of the driver and the car’s plate before getting in.
• Although the central region and more touristy neighborhoods have police – it is common to see police officers patrolling the streets in Buenos Aires – it is worth being aware of pickpockets and cell phone thefts.

Travel insurance for Buenos Aires

Travel insurance is not mandatory to enter Argentina, but it is always recommended to do so. It is important to have insurance to fall back on in case of a health problem, for example, and it can also be useful to have insurance in case of theft of electronic equipment. Even though armed robberies are uncommon, pickpocketing can occur.

Using your cell phone on the street can be risky. I once witnessed a phone being snatched from a car in front of me when the driver held it out the window to film on Avenida Corrientes, and a cyclist grabbed it.

With good insurance you will have coverage and assistance in case of medical emergencies, accidents, or unforeseen events during your trip to Buenos Aires.

Our recommendation

We currently use SafetyWing travel insurance due to its competitive price (in the case of long-term trips) and excellent coverage, including for adventure sports and theft of electronic equipment. See more information about their policy on the website.

Fox tip 🦊: No matter which insurance you get, be sure to read the policy thoroughly to avoid surprises.

Types of currency in Buenos Aires

When it comes to currency and exchange rates in Argentina when traveling for tourism, there are some important considerations. It is recommended to exchange reais, dollars, euros or pounds to Argentine pesos directly in Argentina, but it is essential to be careful when choosing the ideal place to do so, as there are two types of exchange rates: the official one and the so-called “blue exchange rate“, which is informal.

Some exchange offices in Buenos Aires, especially those located at airports, follow the official exchange rate with unfavorable rates (almost half of the amount paid for the blue conversion), while spaces such as cuevas, which deal with the blue exchange, can provide more advantageous rates.

Changing money in Buenos Aires

A convenient alternative is international debit cards, such as those offered by Nomad and Wise. These are widely accepted in Argentina, and the “cambio tarjeta” (card exchange rate) guarantees a quote very close to the blue exchange rate. A third option, and possibly the most financially worthwhile, is to make a transaction via Western Union (WU).

The issue is that WU takes a little more time, as you need to download the app, define the amount, transfer the money and collect it in Argentine pesos at a physical store. There are several Western Union branches in Buenos Aires, but there is a lot of demand for withdrawals and you can end up waiting in line for hours, or sometimes having to come back the next day because the money has run out. So, is Western Union worth it? The quote is great, but it depends on the time and patience you have 😉.

Fox Tip 🦊: Always have some money on hand (whether in dollars, euros, reais…) to exchange when you arrive in the country. You never know if the WU system will work, or if the card will be accepted, so this amount can help. And also about currency exchange in Buenos Aires: avoid exchanging money on the street. It is quite common on busy streets in the Argentine capital, such as Calle Florida, to see people offering currency exchange. However, they are often illegal exchanges and can even give you fake bills.

Shopping in Buenos Aires

The exchange rate devaluation of the Argentine peso against the dollars, euros and reais makes it worth buying some during your trip to Buenos Aires, especially high quality local products, such as woolen clothes and drinks. Street fairs, such as San Telmo and Matadeiros, offer handicrafts, leather, pure wool products, and colonial products at great prices. And for big brand outlets, prefer the Villa Crespo region, close to the trendy Palermo neighborhood.

You can find wines at good prices in supermarkets – even some chains have discounts on weekends – or in specialized boutiques, where they usually have some promotion and also explain the country’s wines very well. The most common grape in Argentina is Malbec, so Malbec wines tend to be great. Among so many wineries, we highlight Bodega Catena Zapata, Rutini, Luigi Bosca, Nieto Serentiner, Norton, Finca las Moras…just to name a few.

The fox answers 🦊: how many bottles of wine can you bring with your in the checked luggage? Each country has specific regulations, so research before transporting these products across borders. If you’re traveling to the US, according to TSA, alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less (wine, for example) are not subject to limitations in checked bags. If you’re traveling to the UK, you can bring 18 litres of wine (not sparkling) according to the government official website.

Attention: when traveling internationally, these bottles must be checked in, as liquids of more than 100ml are not allowed in cabin luggage.

Where to stay in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires has neighborhoods and accommodations for all travelers to feel at home. If you prefer to be close to the main attractions, but in a less busy neighborhood, Palermo Chico, Almagro, Belgrano, Villa Crespo and Retiro are great options. For something more traditional and fancy, Cañitas or Recoleta. If you enjoy cool cafes, bars of all types and excitement especially at night, Palermo Hollywood, Palermo Soho and San Telmo are for you.

See below some options for where to stay in Buenos Aires:

What to pack for your trip to Buenos Aires

Despite being a trip to a big city, it is always recommended to take comfortable shoes and clothes for all types of weather, especially in spring and autumn, when you can experience four seasons in one day. Light and versatile clothes, like those from our partner Columbia, don’t take up space in your suitcase and provide comfort while you’re out and about.

Let’s go to the list?

• Facial and body sunscreen;
• Sunglasses;
• Cap (summer), cap and gloves (winter and autumn);
• Comfortable shoes, such as sneakers, trekking shoes or walking sandals;
• Short/long sleeve t-shirt with UV or thermal protection (winter);
• Waterproof windbreaker jacket;
• Always carry a kit of reusable utensils with you, such as a cup, bottle, cutlery and bag.

Sustainable tourism

In relation to environmental practices, it can be said that in the most central region of Buenos Aires there is waste separation, for example. And in many restaurants you can order house water or ask to fill your reusable bottle, instead of buying another plastic bottle. In fact, Argentines love sparkling water, soda, as they call it, so you might find sparkling water served directly from small reusable siphons, very cool!

To get to know the city better, the tip is the free walking tours. Generally guided by local people, the tours greatly enrich the trip and show much more than the popular tourist attractions. A very unusual and super cool option is the Feminist Tour in Buenos Aires. The tours are in Spanish and English and take place a few times a week, so it’s worth paying attention to the dates published on Instagram.

LGBTQIA+ Tourism🏳️‍🌈

Did you know that Buenos Aires is often listed as one of the most LGBT friendly capitals in the world? In addition to the national law that approved equal marriage in 2010, the city is seen as a welcoming place for LGBTQIA+ people due to its spaces dedicated to the LGBT community and its various inclusive events.

FAQ

🦊 Honest fox informs:

* All values reported in this article were collected in February 2024, may not include taxes, and may change at any time.
** This post contains affiliate links, this means that when you purchase a product/service after clicking on our links, LMTM earns a commission that helps us maintain free content for all traveling foxes in the world ✌🏽🦊.

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