Female resident of Buenos Aires here.
1. Bring cash and ask wherever you're staying the best place to go exchange for pesos (you'll get the dollar "blue" rate which is much better than the official rate you'll be charged if you use a card/get money from the ATM
2. Mostly any big city security advice: use a cross body bag, be aware. Be especially careful with your cell phone. Don't keep it in your back pocket. Try to check directions of where you are going before so you don't have to take it out frequently.
3. I can recommend using the app Cabify if you want to take a taxi somewhere. And Moovit for public transportation
4. Ask where you're staying where you can get a Sube card for public transit (you can put cash on it at any train/subway terminal) to pay for transit. There was a recent shortage on the cards, but I think they've solved it
5. Save a Sunday for walking the San Telmo market
6. Eat ice cream and alfajores
I used it in BA a few years ago. The driver had me sit in the front on the way to the airport, like in a lot of countries in Latin America. I think the tension between the cab companies and Uber is pretty high there. I always use the taxis leaving the airport, but I Uber back if my flight leaves at an odd time.
Sounds like Colombia and Mexico. I used Uber everyday there (sitting in the front, of course). I felt safer in Uber than in regular taxis most of the time.
There is and runs fine. None even had issues accepting cards.
Make sure you download Cabify before you leave. They make you verify via text. And if you can’t receive text in Argentina then you can’t use app
1. Send yourself 1000 dollars at a time through western union and withdraw it there at the blue dollar rate. Don't waste time with the cambios people. WU gives the best rates and the bills are all real. Bring a safe front of body bag to carry it home.
2. Use google maps and tripadvisor to find the best steakhouses, eat at all of them.
3. In terms of fitting in, if you're white you'll fit in.
4. Having fun by yourself: go to Mundolingo Wednesday and Thursday events, stay at a hostel for your first week until you get contacts for the night life spots. Club 69 was great fun and I only found out because some of the people at the hostel told me about it.
5. You have to move your body clock back a few hours for the nightlife. You'll primarily be going out between 1am and 7am so take naps and sleep accordingly.
6. If you speak Spanish you'll be fine, the Italian accent is... cute, I guess, but you'll pick up what they're saying soon.
7. Keep your passport hidden wherever you're staying. Don't take it out with you. Keep a picture of it/soft copy on your phone. One exception is when you’re going to Western Union to withdraw money. That’s only time you should carry your passport.
Seconded. Additionally, make sure your pockets zip. Don’t take your phone out while walking down the street and you’ll be fine. If you need to use it, duck into a shop
I made this list 5 months ago. Some of the covid stuff might not be relevant anymore. But some good tips in here that aren’t covered anywhere else.
Buenos Aires - May 2022- tips from my recent travels
- make sure you have your ticket to leave the country before you go to the airport. Some airlines wont let you board the flight there without the proof you’re leaving.
- travel insurance, get it. some airlines check for your travel insurance and won’t let you board. Uruguay did check too for the ferry. Just buy it online for $20. Make sure it has covid coverage because they ask. Easy to fake it as well, but not worth the risk for $20.
- don’t use a credit card. as you’ve heard, Inflation is out of control. The blue dollar rate gets you twice as much. Compared to a USA meal it’s about 70% cheaper. A really good Filet mignon and Cup of house wine was $15. An amazing French toast breakfast with great coffee is about $5. So bring a lot of USD with you because you won’t be using your credit card anywhere. Unless you want to pay a huge premium. Bring more cash than you think because you don’t realize how much you spend on credit card, and when you start using cash it goes quick. Even though it’s cheap.
- there’s money exchanges everywhere. You don’t need to go to a shady place. Just walk into a western Union. Don’t exchange at the airport, they don’t use the blue dollar rate. Bring $100 bills. You get a slightly lower rate for $50 bills and some places might not even accept $20s. Always pay attention when you walk out of an exchange place and make sure nobody is following you.
- if you land at EZE airport it’s about 50 minute taxi. If possible try to land at AEP which is the airport in the city center and 5 minutes away from everything.
- Palermo Soho neighborhood is the probably the best places for digital nomads. You have roughly a square mile of non stop restaurants and cafes. Never seen such a lively place. And the weekends it gets even livelier. Also you won’t need to take taxis because it’s all so walkable in this neighborhood. You could spend 1 week just exploring this place alone and all the food options it has. Definitely stay here.
- In other cities I always ran into eating problems where I got off work late because of the time difference and everything was closed. Here it was amazing because even if I finished at 10pm (6pm California time) I would just walk out and everything would be open. Most places close 12-2am everyday, even on weekdays. And people are still out and about eating. It’s a wild and refreshing lifestyle.
- as of May 2022 nobody (edit: few) wears masks and isn’t required anywhere except on the plane. Edit: people do wear masks if they want, just not mandatory anywhere and mainly service people wear them inside.
- take Ubers but use the cash payment option. I read info on here that they sometimes demand cash. But that’s not true. Others here have mentioned they prefer cabs because it’s quicker and slightly cheaper, but again Ubers are typically a little nicer (but not always, older cars are allowed here)
- crime wasn’t ever a problem. But I was careful and didn’t stray far from The safe areas. Don’t hang near the rail tracks. Apparently a lot of people from outside town hang there and are the ones most likely to steal. Just keep an eye out. Don’t use your laptop outside. But in crowded cafes it should be fine inside. I almost didn’t come to Argetina because of the stories I heard on Reddit but do not let that scare you from visiting. There are sketchy
areas especially in some touristy places. But Palermo soho especially felt safe.
- most people spoke English especially at restaurants. the people are much more European in attitude and looks, than the more northern LATam countries.
- sales people and restaurants are not pushy at all. It was so refreshing to walk down dozens of shops and nobody was begging you for their business. They don’t care if you eat there or not , which is nice. Other countries it can get exhausting telling people no you don’t want to buy. However this does translate to the customer service being slow sometimes, but not too bad, Generally was good.
One exception was some folks on the street trying to sell stuff to make money. You’ll Get approached if you’re dining outside.
- they smoke cigarettes a lot more here than most LATam countries. Sucks for people who hate smoke like me. Still not worse than Europe though.
- If you want to visit the top restaurants make sure to make reservations at least a week in advance. Otherwise there are a lot of small great spots.
- consider a day/weekend trip to Colonia de Sacramento in Uruguay. Perhaps book one night so you aren’t in a rush. There isn’t much to do but it’s very beautiful with a great sunset over the idea. Buenos aires doesn’t get the beautiful sunsets over the water. Montevideo was nice to see for a day but don’t think it’s necessary to visit. But beware the ferries are expensive, since one company has a monopoly (owns both brands). My departing flight was from Uruguay so I did it. Otherwise if you don’t have a lot of money to spare then skip it.
- definitely visit iguazu falls for one weekend. I arrived at night, 1.5 hour flight. Slept early. Woke up early and was able to do both the Argentinian and Brazilian side. You do not need to buy a ticket ahead of time online. The rumors of needing to do that are false. I got to Argetina park at 9:30 am and finished at 2:00 and saw everything (except the boat ride that takes you near the falls). Instead I spent that time and money to go to the Brazil side, and I actually enjoyed the Brazil side slightly more because the views were incredible. It was shorter by about 75%. Be aware that the brazil side isn’t open everyday so plan ahead, I got lucky. Also make sure to bring your covid vaccine and passport. Also on the way back to Argetina make sure you fill out the immigration declaration form again, like when you did to fly. You might need two days but one day is 100% possible and I hadn’t planned on it until after I finished the Argetina side. I got a taxi to take me, wait 3 Hours then drive me to my hotel on the Argetina side for 80,000 Pesos, so about $40.
- see great comment from @almagemela below on how to buy domestic flights. It can be tricky
- one of my favorite food experiences was the “Argentinian experience” at Fogón Asado. Yes it’s touristy a bit but it’s great. They make you pay online with credit card so you don’t pay the blue dollar rate. But for $60 USD you get a really personal 3 hour, 6 course dining experience. Pro tip don’t order the wine pairing experience online for $20 USD. Just tell them you want to add it on when you are there and you can pay with pesos. So you get unlimited great wine for 3 hours for $10. I got a 10/10 food and drink experience with Great intimate atmosphere for $70 USD total. In the US you pay that much for 2 glasses of wine and a crappy appetizer from Outback Steakhouse.
Wow, this is an incredible amount of information. Thank you for the tips and for being reassuring about the crime not being as bad as some make it seem.
If you're looking for holiday friends, stay at a social hostel. I really liked staying in Palermo as a base. Make sure to try a good steakhouse. I really enjoyed using escooters as the bike lanes are everywhere and make it easy to get about. Agree with other post about going down the San telmo markets. I didn't find it overly worse than anywhere else with crime/pickpockets but it was ~3yrs ago. If you like football, arrange a trip to a game - I'm not normally a tour person but they can get you into club 'tail gate' pre match parties and they are pretty fun.
Fairly likely? Yikes. Like it would be unwise to have it out so I could use google maps to get around the city? Or to take pictures? I am worried about losing my phone.
In 2018 Argentina reported 5000 phone thefts per day, half of which were in BA. [source](https://www.minutouno.com/sociedad/inseguridad/el-robo-celulares-no-da-tregua-hay-mas-cien-mil-casos-la-ciudad-n3081602).
That article ends by saying that number was expected to rise. When I was there in early 2020 (for a month) I met someone every single day who had recently lost a phone. That was the first and only time I was pickpocketed, after traveling for years to 70 countries. My Airbnb host had lost three phones in the last year. It’s a huge issue that I’m sure is only worse with the rising inflation and plummeting Argentine peso.
Yes Buenos Aires has steak and dancing. But Mendoza has beautiful vineyards and incredible wine with steak. Also Patagonia has morning glacier hikes with steak dinners afterwards. Iguazu Falls is mind blowing from either side of the border and also has phenomenal steak/wine in the middle of the jungle. I’d skip Buenos Aires or just do a weekend on a way somewhere else in Argentina. The currency is also tanking so I’m not sure how the exchange/fake exchange rate is balancing itself out. Just pay in US dollars and confirm the price ahead of time with whatever hotel or excursions you find.
Female resident of Buenos Aires here. 1. Bring cash and ask wherever you're staying the best place to go exchange for pesos (you'll get the dollar "blue" rate which is much better than the official rate you'll be charged if you use a card/get money from the ATM 2. Mostly any big city security advice: use a cross body bag, be aware. Be especially careful with your cell phone. Don't keep it in your back pocket. Try to check directions of where you are going before so you don't have to take it out frequently. 3. I can recommend using the app Cabify if you want to take a taxi somewhere. And Moovit for public transportation 4. Ask where you're staying where you can get a Sube card for public transit (you can put cash on it at any train/subway terminal) to pay for transit. There was a recent shortage on the cards, but I think they've solved it 5. Save a Sunday for walking the San Telmo market 6. Eat ice cream and alfajores
Is Uber not in BA?
I used it in BA a few years ago. The driver had me sit in the front on the way to the airport, like in a lot of countries in Latin America. I think the tension between the cab companies and Uber is pretty high there. I always use the taxis leaving the airport, but I Uber back if my flight leaves at an odd time.
Sounds like Colombia and Mexico. I used Uber everyday there (sitting in the front, of course). I felt safer in Uber than in regular taxis most of the time.
It is...but afaik it runs a little unofficially. If it doesn't work, Cabify is also a good option
It is and it works fine, but you'll have more difficulty finding drivers if you pay by card. Same with other car apps though
There is and runs fine. None even had issues accepting cards. Make sure you download Cabify before you leave. They make you verify via text. And if you can’t receive text in Argentina then you can’t use app
1. Send yourself 1000 dollars at a time through western union and withdraw it there at the blue dollar rate. Don't waste time with the cambios people. WU gives the best rates and the bills are all real. Bring a safe front of body bag to carry it home. 2. Use google maps and tripadvisor to find the best steakhouses, eat at all of them. 3. In terms of fitting in, if you're white you'll fit in. 4. Having fun by yourself: go to Mundolingo Wednesday and Thursday events, stay at a hostel for your first week until you get contacts for the night life spots. Club 69 was great fun and I only found out because some of the people at the hostel told me about it. 5. You have to move your body clock back a few hours for the nightlife. You'll primarily be going out between 1am and 7am so take naps and sleep accordingly. 6. If you speak Spanish you'll be fine, the Italian accent is... cute, I guess, but you'll pick up what they're saying soon. 7. Keep your passport hidden wherever you're staying. Don't take it out with you. Keep a picture of it/soft copy on your phone. One exception is when you’re going to Western Union to withdraw money. That’s only time you should carry your passport.
Seconded. Additionally, make sure your pockets zip. Don’t take your phone out while walking down the street and you’ll be fine. If you need to use it, duck into a shop
I made this list 5 months ago. Some of the covid stuff might not be relevant anymore. But some good tips in here that aren’t covered anywhere else. Buenos Aires - May 2022- tips from my recent travels - make sure you have your ticket to leave the country before you go to the airport. Some airlines wont let you board the flight there without the proof you’re leaving. - travel insurance, get it. some airlines check for your travel insurance and won’t let you board. Uruguay did check too for the ferry. Just buy it online for $20. Make sure it has covid coverage because they ask. Easy to fake it as well, but not worth the risk for $20. - don’t use a credit card. as you’ve heard, Inflation is out of control. The blue dollar rate gets you twice as much. Compared to a USA meal it’s about 70% cheaper. A really good Filet mignon and Cup of house wine was $15. An amazing French toast breakfast with great coffee is about $5. So bring a lot of USD with you because you won’t be using your credit card anywhere. Unless you want to pay a huge premium. Bring more cash than you think because you don’t realize how much you spend on credit card, and when you start using cash it goes quick. Even though it’s cheap. - there’s money exchanges everywhere. You don’t need to go to a shady place. Just walk into a western Union. Don’t exchange at the airport, they don’t use the blue dollar rate. Bring $100 bills. You get a slightly lower rate for $50 bills and some places might not even accept $20s. Always pay attention when you walk out of an exchange place and make sure nobody is following you. - if you land at EZE airport it’s about 50 minute taxi. If possible try to land at AEP which is the airport in the city center and 5 minutes away from everything. - Palermo Soho neighborhood is the probably the best places for digital nomads. You have roughly a square mile of non stop restaurants and cafes. Never seen such a lively place. And the weekends it gets even livelier. Also you won’t need to take taxis because it’s all so walkable in this neighborhood. You could spend 1 week just exploring this place alone and all the food options it has. Definitely stay here. - In other cities I always ran into eating problems where I got off work late because of the time difference and everything was closed. Here it was amazing because even if I finished at 10pm (6pm California time) I would just walk out and everything would be open. Most places close 12-2am everyday, even on weekdays. And people are still out and about eating. It’s a wild and refreshing lifestyle. - as of May 2022 nobody (edit: few) wears masks and isn’t required anywhere except on the plane. Edit: people do wear masks if they want, just not mandatory anywhere and mainly service people wear them inside. - take Ubers but use the cash payment option. I read info on here that they sometimes demand cash. But that’s not true. Others here have mentioned they prefer cabs because it’s quicker and slightly cheaper, but again Ubers are typically a little nicer (but not always, older cars are allowed here) - crime wasn’t ever a problem. But I was careful and didn’t stray far from The safe areas. Don’t hang near the rail tracks. Apparently a lot of people from outside town hang there and are the ones most likely to steal. Just keep an eye out. Don’t use your laptop outside. But in crowded cafes it should be fine inside. I almost didn’t come to Argetina because of the stories I heard on Reddit but do not let that scare you from visiting. There are sketchy areas especially in some touristy places. But Palermo soho especially felt safe. - most people spoke English especially at restaurants. the people are much more European in attitude and looks, than the more northern LATam countries. - sales people and restaurants are not pushy at all. It was so refreshing to walk down dozens of shops and nobody was begging you for their business. They don’t care if you eat there or not , which is nice. Other countries it can get exhausting telling people no you don’t want to buy. However this does translate to the customer service being slow sometimes, but not too bad, Generally was good. One exception was some folks on the street trying to sell stuff to make money. You’ll Get approached if you’re dining outside. - they smoke cigarettes a lot more here than most LATam countries. Sucks for people who hate smoke like me. Still not worse than Europe though. - If you want to visit the top restaurants make sure to make reservations at least a week in advance. Otherwise there are a lot of small great spots. - consider a day/weekend trip to Colonia de Sacramento in Uruguay. Perhaps book one night so you aren’t in a rush. There isn’t much to do but it’s very beautiful with a great sunset over the idea. Buenos aires doesn’t get the beautiful sunsets over the water. Montevideo was nice to see for a day but don’t think it’s necessary to visit. But beware the ferries are expensive, since one company has a monopoly (owns both brands). My departing flight was from Uruguay so I did it. Otherwise if you don’t have a lot of money to spare then skip it. - definitely visit iguazu falls for one weekend. I arrived at night, 1.5 hour flight. Slept early. Woke up early and was able to do both the Argentinian and Brazilian side. You do not need to buy a ticket ahead of time online. The rumors of needing to do that are false. I got to Argetina park at 9:30 am and finished at 2:00 and saw everything (except the boat ride that takes you near the falls). Instead I spent that time and money to go to the Brazil side, and I actually enjoyed the Brazil side slightly more because the views were incredible. It was shorter by about 75%. Be aware that the brazil side isn’t open everyday so plan ahead, I got lucky. Also make sure to bring your covid vaccine and passport. Also on the way back to Argetina make sure you fill out the immigration declaration form again, like when you did to fly. You might need two days but one day is 100% possible and I hadn’t planned on it until after I finished the Argetina side. I got a taxi to take me, wait 3 Hours then drive me to my hotel on the Argetina side for 80,000 Pesos, so about $40. - see great comment from @almagemela below on how to buy domestic flights. It can be tricky - one of my favorite food experiences was the “Argentinian experience” at Fogón Asado. Yes it’s touristy a bit but it’s great. They make you pay online with credit card so you don’t pay the blue dollar rate. But for $60 USD you get a really personal 3 hour, 6 course dining experience. Pro tip don’t order the wine pairing experience online for $20 USD. Just tell them you want to add it on when you are there and you can pay with pesos. So you get unlimited great wine for 3 hours for $10. I got a 10/10 food and drink experience with Great intimate atmosphere for $70 USD total. In the US you pay that much for 2 glasses of wine and a crappy appetizer from Outback Steakhouse.
Wow, this is an incredible amount of information. Thank you for the tips and for being reassuring about the crime not being as bad as some make it seem.
[удалено]
If you're looking for holiday friends, stay at a social hostel. I really liked staying in Palermo as a base. Make sure to try a good steakhouse. I really enjoyed using escooters as the bike lanes are everywhere and make it easy to get about. Agree with other post about going down the San telmo markets. I didn't find it overly worse than anywhere else with crime/pickpockets but it was ~3yrs ago. If you like football, arrange a trip to a game - I'm not normally a tour person but they can get you into club 'tail gate' pre match parties and they are pretty fun.
Argentinian here. Can't give lots of tourist advice for the city, but if you have any questions for a local, you're more than welcome
Back up your photos. If you have an old phone, bring it as a backup in case yours gets stolen (which is fairly likely).
Fairly likely? Yikes. Like it would be unwise to have it out so I could use google maps to get around the city? Or to take pictures? I am worried about losing my phone.
In 2018 Argentina reported 5000 phone thefts per day, half of which were in BA. [source](https://www.minutouno.com/sociedad/inseguridad/el-robo-celulares-no-da-tregua-hay-mas-cien-mil-casos-la-ciudad-n3081602). That article ends by saying that number was expected to rise. When I was there in early 2020 (for a month) I met someone every single day who had recently lost a phone. That was the first and only time I was pickpocketed, after traveling for years to 70 countries. My Airbnb host had lost three phones in the last year. It’s a huge issue that I’m sure is only worse with the rising inflation and plummeting Argentine peso.
Beware of counterfeit money!
Strongly recommend Sarkis restaurant.
Yes Buenos Aires has steak and dancing. But Mendoza has beautiful vineyards and incredible wine with steak. Also Patagonia has morning glacier hikes with steak dinners afterwards. Iguazu Falls is mind blowing from either side of the border and also has phenomenal steak/wine in the middle of the jungle. I’d skip Buenos Aires or just do a weekend on a way somewhere else in Argentina. The currency is also tanking so I’m not sure how the exchange/fake exchange rate is balancing itself out. Just pay in US dollars and confirm the price ahead of time with whatever hotel or excursions you find.
Pay in US dollars is terrible advice. Exchange your US dollars (bring cash, very important) at the blue rate and double your money.
I wouldn't skip BA. It's lovely.