Buenos Aires

You are about to visit La Reina del Plata (the Silver Queen), best known as Buenos Aires. Read about the museums, tango shows you can explore in Buenos Aires and when is the best time to visit the city in this Buenos Aires travel guide. 

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina and it was founded by the Spanish Crown in 1580. The region was originally home to the Querandies, a community of great runners that used to run and hunt deers and guanacos. Buenos Aires sits on the coast of Río de la Plata, the widest in the world. If you cross this immense river it will take you 1 hour to reach the other coast in Uruguay! The city was named after a virgin, Nuestra Señora del Buen Aire, who accompanied the first Spanish explorers. Today, Buenos Aires has a vibrant cultural life, museums, galleries and theaters, and a bussy nightlife that awakes early in the evenings and finishes late in the first morning hours. Buenos Aires was recently declared a “prepared destination” by the WTTC (World Tourism Travel Council) and features many open circuits Let´s discover things to do in Buenos Aires!.  

 

Attractions
Attractions

Attractions

Eating & Drinking
Eating & Drinking

Eating & Drinking

Tips & Advice

Tips & Advice

How many days should I stay in Buenos Aires?

It depends on your interests, but between 3 and 5 days to get the grips of the city.

When is the best time to visit?

Buenos Aires is a city that always offers things to do and that never sleeps. Therefore, any time is a good time to visit it. 

What is the weather like in Buenos Aires?

The weather of the city of Buenos Aires is humid (Pampas climate) with warm summers and cold winters.  

Summer: Hot and very humid. Temperature between 20°C and 35ºC.

Spring: The climate is very changeable, with sunny days but also abundant rains. The temperatures also suffer oscillations between day and night.  The temperature varies between 17° and 25°C. 

Winter: The temperature in Buenos Aires is not too low during the day, although during the night the temperatures drop considerably. The coldest month is July, when average minimum temperatures of 7°C and maximum temperatures do not exceed 15°C.

Autumn: Temperature is from 7°C to 26ºC. The weather is hot at midday, and during the early afternoon, mornings and evenings are cool.

How to get to Buenos Aires?

Flight: Unless you are in Uruguay or in another city of Argentina, the easiest way to get to Buenos Aires City is the Ministro Pistarini International Airport. Better known as Ezeiza International Airport, it is the most important airport in Argentina. It is located 35 kilometers from Buenos Aires. It receives flights from all over the world. Once at the airport, the best way to get to the downtown area will be with a taxi, shuttle or private transfer.  

Bus: The most important bus station in Buenos Aires is Retiro, located in the same neighborhood (Retiro) in the center of the city. There you will find long distance buses to all the country, it has more than 70 platforms and the information is in Spanish. The best is to have an offline translator on your phone.  For long distance buses you can pay in cash or with a card. We recommend that you buy your ticket in advance, especially for travel on weekends or in high season. 

Train: Buenos Aires has urban trains to connect the city with other nearby attractions. From Retiro you can take a train to the north to enjoy a day on the river or even to get to Tigre.  To move within the city you can take  the bus or the subway. For the urban trains, buses and subways you must pay with a transport card (called “sube”) in which you load money and it is useful for all means of transport. 

How ATMs work in Buenos Aires?

ATMs are located in banks, most of them, but are open 24hs. Each bank has a different fee that will charge you to use their system, plus your bank fee. We recommend bringing some dollar bills to exchange, so you have some cash to move around and then pay with Credit cards or use an ATM whenever you run out of money.  

What is the proper tipping?

In restaurants it’s customary to tip about 10% of the bill. Note that tips can’t be added to credit-card bills, so carry cash for this purpose.

Estimate around USD 10/15 per person for the guide, for a full day tour and half of it for the driver.

Tip hotel porters for handling bags. Calculate an amount of currency equal to about $1.00 for every two bags. Same amount is calculated for drivers if they help you with your suitcases.  If you are happy with the housekeeping you may want to consider tipping the maid between US$0.50 – $1.00 per night. You might also tip the concierge staff if you have used them to arrange dinner reservations, transportation or leisure activities.

In Argentina we don’t regularly tip taxi drivers.

How much money can I spend per day in Buenos Aires?

Around USD 50/100 per day, per person for daily expenses like eating, shopping and transportation, depending on how much money you want to spend on these.

Exchange money and using CC

Credit cards and US dollars are widely accepted in main cities. But it will be more convenient for you to exchange pesos rather than using US dollars because the rate that shops or restaurants use might not be the most convenient for you. In Buenos Aires the best rate is at the National Bank, but you can also go to exchange houses in the city. 

 

Pick ups

Pick up at airports will be upon arrival of your flight, that’s why it is so important to have the most accurate and updated flight information. Our guide or driver will be waiting for you, outside baggage claim area, you will only have to look for a sign with your name on it. Pick up for tours will be at the reception desk/lobby of the hotels. At the end of your itinerary you will find the name and telephone number of each of our local representatives and our emergency phone number, where you can call if you have any urgency or a mismatch, so we can assist you during your trip.

Medical attention & Travel insurance

Any foreign consulate can provide a list of area doctors who speak English. If you get sick, consider asking your hotel concierge to recommend a local doctor — even his or her own. You can also try the emergency room at a local hospital. Many hospitals also have walk-in clinics for emergency cases that are not life-threatening; you may not get immediate attention, but you won’t pay the high price of an emergency room visit. For an English-speaking hospital, in Buenos Aires, we recommend The Hospital Británico (4304-1081).

We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance. Travel insurance helps protect against unforeseen emergencies which can occur at any time. It also helps protect you against other circumstances like travel delay, lost or stolen baggage and personal items, missed connections and so much more. 

What to include in your luggage

Everything will depend on the time of year in which you visit the city. 

If you come in the fall or spring, the ideal is to pack fresh clothes and the odd coat, since sometimes the wind coming from the south can generate a sudden change in temperature. Besides that, packing comfortable shoes is vital, since Buenos Aires is a city where you can (and should) walk a lot. 

If you visit in the winter months, remember to bring a warmer coat, some scarves and gloves. Finally, if you choose the summer months, it will be very important that you bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.  

A daily pack to wander the city will be really useful during your trip!

Additional Fees

Right of Urban Use: this is a mandatory tax that you have to pay once you get to your hotel in Buenos Aires. It’s about $1 usd per guest, per night, and it varies according to your hotel category.

How many days should I stay in Buenos Aires?

It depends on your interests, but between 3 and 5 days to get the grips of the city.

What is the weather like in Buenos Aires?

The weather of the city of Buenos Aires is humid (Pampas climate) with warm summers and cold winters.  

Summer: Hot and very humid. Temperature between 20°C and 35ºC.

Spring: The climate is very changeable, with sunny days but also abundant rains. The temperatures also suffer oscillations between day and night.  The temperature varies between 17° and 25°C. 

Winter: The temperature in Buenos Aires is not too low during the day, although during the night the temperatures drop considerably. The coldest month is July, when average minimum temperatures of 7°C and maximum temperatures do not exceed 15°C.

Autumn: Temperature is from 7°C to 26ºC. The weather is hot at midday, and during the early afternoon, mornings and evenings are cool.

How ATMs work in Buenos Aires?

ATMs are located in banks, most of them, but are open 24hs. Each bank has a different fee that will charge you to use their system, plus your bank fee. We recommend bringing some dollar bills to exchange, so you have some cash to move around and then pay with Credit cards or use an ATM whenever you run out of money.  

How much money can I spend per day in Buenos Aires?

Around USD 50/100 per day, per person for daily expenses like eating, shopping and transportation, depending on how much money you want to spend on these.

Pick ups

Pick up at airports will be upon arrival of your flight, that’s why it is so important to have the most accurate and updated flight information. Our guide or driver will be waiting for you, outside baggage claim area, you will only have to look for a sign with your name on it. Pick up for tours will be at the reception desk/lobby of the hotels. At the end of your itinerary you will find the name and telephone number of each of our local representatives and our emergency phone number, where you can call if you have any urgency or a mismatch, so we can assist you during your trip.

What to include in your luggage

Everything will depend on the time of year in which you visit the city. 

If you come in the fall or spring, the ideal is to pack fresh clothes and the odd coat, since sometimes the wind coming from the south can generate a sudden change in temperature. Besides that, packing comfortable shoes is vital, since Buenos Aires is a city where you can (and should) walk a lot. 

If you visit in the winter months, remember to bring a warmer coat, some scarves and gloves. Finally, if you choose the summer months, it will be very important that you bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.  

A daily pack to wander the city will be really useful during your trip!

When is the best time to visit?

Buenos Aires is a city that always offers things to do and that never sleeps. Therefore, any time is a good time to visit it. 

How to get to Buenos Aires?

Flight: Unless you are in Uruguay or in another city of Argentina, the easiest way to get to Buenos Aires City is the Ministro Pistarini International Airport. Better known as Ezeiza International Airport, it is the most important airport in Argentina. It is located 35 kilometers from Buenos Aires. It receives flights from all over the world. Once at the airport, the best way to get to the downtown area will be with a taxi, shuttle or private transfer.  

Bus: The most important bus station in Buenos Aires is Retiro, located in the same neighborhood (Retiro) in the center of the city. There you will find long distance buses to all the country, it has more than 70 platforms and the information is in Spanish. The best is to have an offline translator on your phone.  For long distance buses you can pay in cash or with a card. We recommend that you buy your ticket in advance, especially for travel on weekends or in high season. 

Train: Buenos Aires has urban trains to connect the city with other nearby attractions. From Retiro you can take a train to the north to enjoy a day on the river or even to get to Tigre.  To move within the city you can take  the bus or the subway. For the urban trains, buses and subways you must pay with a transport card (called “sube”) in which you load money and it is useful for all means of transport. 

What is the proper tipping?

In restaurants it’s customary to tip about 10% of the bill. Note that tips can’t be added to credit-card bills, so carry cash for this purpose.

Estimate around USD 10/15 per person for the guide, for a full day tour and half of it for the driver.

Tip hotel porters for handling bags. Calculate an amount of currency equal to about $1.00 for every two bags. Same amount is calculated for drivers if they help you with your suitcases.  If you are happy with the housekeeping you may want to consider tipping the maid between US$0.50 – $1.00 per night. You might also tip the concierge staff if you have used them to arrange dinner reservations, transportation or leisure activities.

In Argentina we don’t regularly tip taxi drivers.

Exchange money and using CC

Credit cards and US dollars are widely accepted in main cities. But it will be more convenient for you to exchange pesos rather than using US dollars because the rate that shops or restaurants use might not be the most convenient for you. In Buenos Aires the best rate is at the National Bank, but you can also go to exchange houses in the city. 

 

Medical attention & Travel insurance

Any foreign consulate can provide a list of area doctors who speak English. If you get sick, consider asking your hotel concierge to recommend a local doctor — even his or her own. You can also try the emergency room at a local hospital. Many hospitals also have walk-in clinics for emergency cases that are not life-threatening; you may not get immediate attention, but you won’t pay the high price of an emergency room visit. For an English-speaking hospital, in Buenos Aires, we recommend The Hospital Británico (4304-1081).

We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance. Travel insurance helps protect against unforeseen emergencies which can occur at any time. It also helps protect you against other circumstances like travel delay, lost or stolen baggage and personal items, missed connections and so much more. 

Additional Fees

Right of Urban Use: this is a mandatory tax that you have to pay once you get to your hotel in Buenos Aires. It’s about $1 usd per guest, per night, and it varies according to your hotel category.

Sustainability

Sustainability

Buenos Aires

Local Businesses

 

 Buenos Aires is a huge city, full of businesses everywhere. The best thing you can do is go to the local fairs, be it Recoleta, San Telmo or Plaza Serrano where a lot of artisans and entrepreneurs exhibit their work. Also, places like Flora Almacén, in Palermo (Av. Dorrego 2082), bring together the work of many natural and eco-friendly entrepreneurs. There you will be able to buy all kinds of cosmetics and sustainable objects.

 

How to help 

 

  • In churches or parishes

Most of the churches in Buenos Aires receive food and clothing for their dining rooms and for the needy people who frequent them.

  • Quieroayudar.org

In Buenos Aires there are a lot of NGOs and canteens that will happily receive your help. As there are so many, perhaps it is better that you use this solidarity search engine and be able to visualize what are the options that you have near your accommodation and so you can specifically target them. In addition, you can filter as needed. You can access the Solidarity search engine here.  

 

Sustainability Tips

 

  • Take your reusable bag with you when you go shopping.
  • Choose the consumption of local products from artisans and small producers.
  • Travel the city by bike or on foot, it is healthy and does not leave a carbon footprint.
  • When you go on an excursion, ask for food without plastic wrap.
  • Don’t leave trash in nature.
  • Take a reusable bottle with you to carry water in restaurants.
  • Don’t feed native fauna.
  • Use rechargeable batteries and batteries.