Many locals will recommend you call a remise instead of hailing cabs off the street. A remise looks like a regular car and doesn’t have a meter. It costs a bit more than a street taxi but is considered more secure, since an established company sends them out. Most hotels and restaurants will call a remise for you; expect a short wait for them to show up.
Bicycle
For those comfortable with the trials of cycling in a major city, bicycle is often the fastest and most pleasant way of getting around Buenos Aires. The city is almost completely flat, most streets are one-way, and you can use the 130km network of interconnected bike lanes. Just remember to watch out for traffic (if in doubt, always give way, be prepared for the odd running of a red traffic light and be especially careful of buses – assume they haven't seen you). If you are cycling on one of the main, one-way avenues (eg Av Corrientes), use the lane on the far left (but watch out for motorcycles).
The city government has a free city bike scheme, called EcoBici, which tourists can use. Complete the registration form online or via the app – you'll need to upload a photo of your passport. Once you're registered, you can use the EcoBici app to hire a bike by entering an access code at any of the (unmanned) bike stations. You'll need data on your cell phone to use the app while at the bike stations. The free bike hire period is one hour on weekdays and two hours at weekends.
Ask in any of the city tourist offices for a copy of the city government cycle map (mapa de ciclovías de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires), which shows the bike lanes and location of city bike stations and repair shops (bicicletarías). You can also use http://comollego.ba.gob.ar to plot your route.
You can also join city bike tours – try Biking Buenos Aires or Urban Biking – which include bicycle and guide.
Car & Motorcycle
Anyone considering driving in Buenos Aires should know that driving in the city can be challenging. Problems include aggressive drivers, unpredictable buses, potholes, traffic, difficulty parking and the fact that pedestrians cross the road haphazardly. Reconsider your need to have a car in this city; public transportation will often get you anywhere faster, cheaper and with much less stress.
Rental
If you want to rent a car, expect to pay US$30 to US$50 or more per day. International chains can be more expensive than local rental agencies; call around. You’ll need to be at least 21 years of age and have a valid driver’s license; having an international driver’s license wouldn’t be a bad idea, though you don’t necessarily need one. A credit card and passport are also necessary.
Avis ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4326-5542; www.avis.com.ar; Cerrito 1535; h8am-7:45pm Mon-Sat, to 5:45pm Sun; g130, 62, 93)
Hertz ( GOOGLE MAP ; %0810-222-43789, 011-4816-0899; www.hertz.com.ar; Paraguay 1138; bLínea D Tribunales)
New Way ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4515-0331; www.new-wayrentacar.com; Marcelo T de Alvear 773; bLínea C San Martín)
For motorcycle rentals, head to Motocare ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4761-2696; www.motocare.com.ar/rental; Esteban Echeverría 738, Vicente López). You must be at least 25 years of age; bring your own helmet and riding gear. Crossing into Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil is possible.
Automobile Associations
If you drive in Argentina – especially in your own car – it may be worth joining the Automóvil Club Argentino (ACA; GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4808-4040; www.aca.org.ar; Av del Libertador 1850; h9am-4pm Mon-Fri; g130, 62, 93) (ACA), which has many nationwide offices. ACA recognizes members of overseas affiliates, such as the American Automobile Association (AAA), and often grants them similar privileges, including discounts on maps, accommodations, camping, tours and other services.
Tours
A guided tour is a great way to glimpse beneath the surface and gain an insight into Buenos Aires' turbulent history and distinctive culture. A wealth of stories lie behind every monument and public square and a guided tour can help bring the city's sights to life.
Being compact and flat, Buenos Aires is easily explored on foot, and a walking tour is a good way for first-time visitors to get their bearings in the city. Alternatively, take advantage of BA's growing network of cycle lanes on a bike tour.
Those with specialist interests should sign up for one of the excellent tours focused on a particular theme, including street art, food, photography and tango.
Walking Tours
Buenos ToursWALKING
(www.buenostours.com; full-day/half-day tour for 1-3 people US$235/125)
Well-run private walking tours guided by friendly, knowledgeable and responsible native English speakers living long-term in Buenos Aires.
CultourWALKING
(%011-15-6365-6892, 15-5624-7368; www.cultour.com.ar)
Good tours run by teachers and students from UBA (University of Buenos Aires). Prepare to learn the historical and cultural facets of Buenos Aires.
BA Free TourWALKING
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4495-3832; www.bafreetour.com; cnr Av Rivadavia & Rodríguez Peña; donation recommended; h11am Mon-Sat)
Free (actually, donation) walking tours given by enthusiastic young guides who love their city. Even if you can’t give anything you’re welcome to join.
BA Walking ToursWALKING
(%011-5773-1001; www.ba-walking-tours.com; 2hr group tour per person US$30)
Group and private tours covering all the main sights on day tours, night tours, historic tours and tango tours.
Cycling Tours
Biking Buenos Aires
Urban Biking
Bus Tour
Buenos Aires BusBUS
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4018-0055; www.buenosairesbus.com; Av Diagonal Roque Sáenz Peña 728; 24hr ticket AR$350; h9am-5pm; bLínea C Diagonal Norte)
Hop-on, hop-off bus that runs every 20 minutes to 35 stops, from La Boca to Palermo (see website).
Specialist Tours
GraffitimundoTOURS
(%011-15-3683-3219; www.graffitimundo.com; group tours US$18-30)
Excellent tours of some of BA’s best graffiti are offered by this nonprofit organization that supports the local urban art scene. Learn artists’ history and the local graffiti culture. Several tours available; stencil workshops too.
Buenos Aires Street ArtTOURS
(www.buenosairesstreetart.com; group tours US$20-30)
Group and private walking tours with knowledgeable guides highlighting some of BA’s most interesting street art in the northern and southern city suburbs. Supports local artists too.
Tango TripsDANCING
(%011-5235-4923; http://tangotrips.com/; private tour for 1-3 people from US$170)
Private tours to milongas with experienced and passionate tangueros (tango dancers). The venues visited depend on where the best place to go on any particular night is. Start with a private tango lesson to gain confidence before hitting the salons; if you're not a dancer, just sit back and watch tango danced in its most authentic form.
Foto RutaTOURS
(%011-15-3331-7980; www.foto-ruta.com; streetscape tour per person US$120)
On Foto Ruta's 'streetscape' workshops a professional photographer offers pro tips before sending folks out into neighborhoods with a few ‘themes’ to photograph – afterwards everyone watches the slide show over a glass of wine. The company also offers a number of private tours and photography workshops.
Seriema Nature ToursBIRDWATCHING
(%011-5410-3235; www.seriematours.com)
It does nature tours throughout South America, but around BA the most popular outings are birdwatching tours at the Reserva Ecológica in the Costanera Sur.
Directory A–Z
Discount Cards
Electricity
Embassies & Consulates
Emergency
Gay & Lesbian Travelers
Health
Internet Access
Medical Services
Money
Opening Hours
Post
Public Holidays
Safe Travel
Taxes & Refunds
Telephone
Time
Toilets
Tourist Information
Travel Agencies
Travelers with Disabilities
Visas
Women Travelers
Directory A–Z
Discount Cards
Travelers of any age can obtain a Hostelling International card at any HI Hostel or at the tiny HI office in Retiro. With this card you can obtain discounts at any HI hostel in Argentina, usually 10% to 15% off regular prices. International Student Identity Cards are also sold here; you’ll need current student ID.
For non-HI hostels, check out minihostels (www.minihostels.com), a network of quality, ‘good-vibe’ hostels throughout Argentina and expanding to other places in Central and South America. The HoLa card (www.holahostels.com) works in a similar way for a different network of hostels.
Travelers over the age of 60 can sometimes obtain discounts on museum admissions and the like. Usually a passport with date of birth is sufficient evidence of age.
Electricity
Argentina’s electric current operates on 220V, 50 Hertz. Adapters are readily available from almost any ferretería (hardware store).
Embassies & Consulates
Australian Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4779-3500; www.argentina.embassy.gov.au; Villanueva 1400; h8:30am-5pm Mon-Fri; bLínea D Olleros)
Bolivian Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4394-1463; www.embajadadebolivia.com.ar; Av Corrientes 545; h9:30am-5:30pm Mon-Fri; bLínea B Florida)
Brazilian Consulate ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4515-6500; www.conbrasil.org.ar; Carlos Pellegrini 1363, 5th fl; h9am-1pm Mon-Fri; bLínea C San Martín)
Canadian Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4808-1000; www.embassy-canada.com; Tagle 2828; h8:30am-12:30pm & 1:30-5:30pm Mon-Thu, 8:30am-2pm Fri; g130, 62, 33)
Chilean Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4808-8601; www.chile.gob.cl/argentina; Tagle 2762; h9am-1pm & 2-5pm Mon-Fri; bLínea H Las Heras)
French Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4515-7030; www.embafrancia-argentina.org; Cerrito 1399; h11am-1pm Mon-Fri; bLínea C San Martín)
German Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4778-2500; www.buenosaires.diplo.de; Villanueva 1055; h8:30-11am Mon-Fri; bLínea D Olleros)
Irish Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4808-5700; www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/argentina/; Edificio Bluesky 6th fl, Av del Libertador 1068; h9am-1pm Mon-Fri; g130, 93, 62)
Italian Consulate ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4114-4800; www.consbuenosaires.esteri.it; Reconquista 572; bLínea B Alem)
Netherlands Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4338-0050; http://argentina.nlembajada.org; Olga Cossettini 831, 3rd fl; h9am-5pm Mon-Thu, to 1pm Fri; bLínea B Alem)
New Zealand Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-5070-0700; www.nzembassy.com/argentina; Carlos Pellegrini 1427, 5th fl; h10am-noon Mon-Fri; bLínea C San Martín)
Spanish Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4809-4900; www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/buenosaires; Av Figueroa Alcorta 3102; h9am-2:30pm Mon-Fri; g130, 62, 93)
UK Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4808-2200; www.ukinargentina.fco.gov.uk; Dr Luis Agote 2412; h9am-1pm Mon-Fri; g63, 130, 93)
Uruguayan Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-6009-4020; www.embajadadeluruguay.com.ar; Paraguay 1571; h8:30am-2:30pm Mon-Fri; bLínea D Tribunales)
US Embassy ( GOOGLE MAP ; %011-5777-4533; https://ar.usembassy.gov/; Colombia 4300; h9am-5:30pm Mon-Fri; bLínea D Plaza Italia)
CONCIERGE SERVICE
Madi Lang’s cultural concierge service (%011-15-3876-5937; www.baculturalconcierge.com) helps you plan itineraries, book flights, arrange airport transportation, run errands, get a cell phone, reserve theater tickets, scout out a potential apartment and do a thousand other things that'll help your trip run smoothly. She also offers customized day tours of Buenos Aires, tango tours and outings to Mataderos fair.
Emergency
Argentina's country code %54
International access code %00
Ambulance %107
Police %911
Fire %100
LANGUAGE COURSES
BA has become a major destination for students of Spanish. Good institutes are opening up all the time and private teachers are a dime a dozen. Cultural centers also offer language classes; the Centro Cultural Ricardo Rojas has an especially good range of offerings, from Korean to Russian to Yiddish.
Most private language institutes organize social activities, private classes and (usually) volunteer opportunities. Homestay programs are also available but often cost more than finding a place yourself. Check websites for fees and schedules.
Academia Buenos AiresLANGUAGE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4345-5954; www.academiabuenosaires.com; Hipólito Yrigoyen 571, 4th fl, Microcentro; bLínea A Perú)
Located in an attractive old building near Plaza de Mayo this well-established Spanish-language school offers intensive courses.
DWSLANGUAGE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4963-4415; www.dwsba.com.ar; Billinghurst 1187; bLínea D Agüero)
Spanish language school located in Palermo offering Spanish group and private classes, as well as language and tango class packages.
ExpanishLANGUAGE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %011-5252-3040; www.expanish.com; 25 de Mayo 457, 4th fl; bLínea B Alem)
Centrally located Spanish school offering a range of courses.
RayuelaLANGUAGE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4300-2010; www.spanish-argentina.com.ar; Chacabuco 852, 1st fl, No 11; bLínea C Independencia)
San Telmo–based language school offering a range of courses, with both group and private classes.
University of Buenos AiresLANGUAGE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4343-5981; www.idiomas.filo.uba.ar; 25 de Mayo 221; h10am-7pm; bLínea B Florida)
Offers intensive, long-term classes (one to four months) in Spanish, Italian, German, French, Portuguese and Japanese. It's cheap, and great for serious students, but classrooms can be run-down.
VamosLANGUAGE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %011-5984-2201; www.vamospanish.com; Av Coronel Díaz 1736; h9:30am-5:30pm Mon-Fri; bLínea D Bulnes)
This Spanish language school in Palermo offers a crash course for travelers as well as group and private classes.
VOSLANGUAGE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; %011-4812-1140; www.vosbuenosaires.com; Marcelo T de Alvear 1459; h9am-7pm Mon-Fri; bLínea D Callao)
Offers a range of group and private classes as well as intensive courses and conversation classes.
Gay & Lesbian Travelers
Argentina is a Catholic country with heavy elements of machismo. In Buenos Aires, however, there is a palpable acceptance of homosexuality. In 2010 Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage. In fact, gay tourism has become so popular that BA is now one of the world's top gay destinations.
Argentine men are more physically demonstrative than their North American and European counterparts, so behaviors such as kissing on the cheek in greeting or a vigorous embrace are considered innocuous even to those who express unease with homosexuals. Likewise, lesbians walking hand-in-hand should generally attract little attention.
Health
Recommended Vaccinations
Before visiting Argentina, you should be up to date on routine vaccinations. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are recommended for most travelers.
For more specific information on vaccinations you should consider before traveling to Argentina, see wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/argentina.htm.
Health Insurance
If you develop a life-threatening medical problem, you may want to be evacuated to your home country. Since this may cost thousands of dollars, be sure you have the appropriate insurance before you depart. Your embassy can also recommend medical services.
Availability & Cost of Health Care
Public health care in Buenos Aires is reasonably good and free, even if you’re a foreigner. Waits can be long, however, and quality spotty. Those who can afford it usually opt for the superior private-car
e system, and here most doctors and hospitals will expect payment in cash. Many medical personnel speak English.
Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a viral infection found throughout South America. It is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which prefer to bite during the daytime and breed primarily in artificial water containers. It causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, joint pains, headaches, nausea and vomiting, often followed by a rash. The body aches may be uncomfortable, but most cases resolve uneventfully in a few days.
Tap Water
Tap water in Buenos Aires is generally safe to drink.
Internet Access
Wi-fi is available at nearly all hotels, hostels, restaurants, cafes and bars, and is generally fast and free.
Locutorios (telephone offices) with internet access are common; you can often find one by just walking a few blocks in any direction. Rates are cheap and connections are quick.
Medical Services
Lonely Planet Buenos Aires Page 34
