Buenos Aires Travel Tips

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Getting There By Air:

Ministro Pistarini Airport/Ezeiza (BUE)
Tel: (011) 5480 6111.
Website: www.aa2000.com.ar

Buenos Aires’s airport, commonly referred to as Ezeiza after the neighborhood in which it is located, is the international gateway to Argentina. Situated 35km (22 miles) west of Buenos Aires, it is one of Argentina’s busiest airports and acts as a hub for flights to other South American cities, such as Santiago de Chile and Rio de Janeiro.

Airport facilities: Facilities include a bank and exchange facilities, ATMs (cajeros automaticos), duty-free and general shops, left-luggage, a tourist information desk, a post office and car hire operators. There is also a shuttle bus connection to Jorge Newbery Airport for domestic flights.

Transport to the city: The least stressful way to travel from the airport to Buenos Aires is by bus or taxi. Manuel Tienda Léon (tel: (011) 5480 0374) and Transfer Express (tel: (011) 4852 6776) operate shuttle bus services to the city center, which take around 40 minutes. The local bus no. 86 to the city center is much cheaper but takes up to two hours. Municipal taxis are readily available and private car transfers are provided by Manuel Tienda Léon (tel: (011) 5480 0374), Transfer Express (tel: (011) 4852 6776) and Vip Cars (tel: (011) 5480 4590 or 4594).

Aeroparque Metropolitano Jorge Newbery (AEP)
Tel: (011) 5480 6111.
Website: www.aa2000.com.ar

Situated just 4km (2.5 miles) from Buenos Aires city center, on the Costanera Norte beside the Rio de la Plata, this airport is the pivotal point of the country’s domestic flight system.

Airport facilities: Tourist information, banking and bureau de change, left-luggage and car hire facilities are all available. There are also frequent connections to the International Airport.

Transport to the city: Public urban transport buses nos. 33, 37 and 45 pick up along the Constanera (coast road) at the front of the airport and make various stops as they travel downtown. Manuel Tienda Léon (tel: (011) 5480 0374) and Transfer Express (tel: (011) 4852 6776) operate shuttle bus services to the city center and the International Airport. Municipal taxis are readily available and private car transfers are provided by Manuel Tienda Léon (tel: (011) 5480 0374), Transfer Express (tel: (011) 4852 6776) and Remises Universal (tel: (011) 4776 1117 or 2229).

Approximate flight times to Buenos Aires: From London is 13 hours; from New York is 11 hours; from Los Angeles is 16 hours; from Toronto is 13 hours and from Sydney is 16 hours. From Bariloche is 2 hours 20 minutes; from Córdoba is 1 hour 15 minutes; from Puerto Iguazú is 1 hour 45 minutes; from Salta is 2 hours and from Ushuaia is 3 hours 20 minutes.

Getting There By Road:

Driving in Argentina usually involves long distances and, apart from the main highways, roads are generally in poor condition. Checkpoints exist to prevent meat, vegetables and other food products entering into Mendoza, San Juan, Patagonia, Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta and Tucumán. The ‘A’ roads are the autopistas (motorways) and those labelled ‘R’ are rutas (roads) – tolls exist on all main roads. The maximum speed limit on motorways is 130kph (80mph), on one-lane roads is 80kph (50mph), while the speed limit in built-up areas varies (40-60kph/25-37mph). Traffic drives on the right and regulations, signs and conduct are similar to those in the USA or Europe. Drivers can be impatient and have little regard for lanes or the wearing of seatbelts. The use of seatbelts is, however, compulsory and fines are implemented for failure to comply with the law. The minimum driving age is 18 years, while the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.05%.

Insurance that covers third-party liability is required by law and foreigners require an International Driving Permit, which must be stamped at an office of the Automóvil Club Argentino – ACA (tel: (011) 4808 4610; website: www.aca.org.ar). ACA can also provide maps and information, and offers reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in some other countries.

Emergency breakdown service:
ACA 0800 777 2894 (in Argentina only) or (011) 4803 3333

Routes to the city: From Buenos Aires, Route 3 goes southwest to Bahia Blanca and then along the east coast of Argentina all the way to Rio Gallegos and then to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, via Chile and a ferry ride across the Magellan Straits. Route 7 goes west to Mendoza and then on towards Santiago in Chile. Route 9 goes northwest to Rosario and Córdoba and connects with roads northwards to Salta or Puerto Iguazú. All roads coming into Buenos Aires connect with the A001 or Avenida General Paz, a semicircular autopista that acts as the city’s ring-road. Several main roads run all the way into the heart of the city, such as Autopistas Leopoldo Lugones and 25 Mayo, which both connect with Avenida 9 de Julio in the city center.

Driving times to Buenos Aires: From Córdoba – 9 hours; Mendoza – 17 hours; Puerto Iguazú – 20 hours; Ushuaia – 30 hours.

Coach services: Hundreds of bus companies operate long-distance services from the city’s Retiro Terminal de Omnibus, Avenida Antártida Argentina (tel: (011) 4310 0700/07), which is located next to the Retiro train station. Facilities at the modern and well organized terminal include tourist information, a restaurant, cafés, left-luggage, ATM, shops, pharmacy and Internet facilities. Each bus company has its own desk, above which its destinations are listed. There are coach services to hundreds of national destinations, as well as international services between Buenos Aires and Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Getting There By Rail:

Rail: Trains are no longer a viable option for getting to or around Argentina, as most passenger rail services have ceased. However, there are a number of urban rail services within and around Buenos Aires. Out-of-town services run from three main stations listed below, by various companies including Trenes de Buenos Aires (tel: (011) 4317 4400; website: www.tbanet.com.ar), Metropolitano (tel: (011) 4018 0700/17; website: www.tms.com.ar) and Ferrovias (tel: (011) 4511 8833; website: www.ferrovias.com.ar).

Rail services: In the south of the city, Estación Constitucion, Calle General Hornos 11 (tel: (011) 4304 0028 or 0031), receives trains from Mar del Plata (journey time – 6 hours), Sierra de la Ventana (journey time – 9 hours 30 minutes) and Tandil (journey time – 7 hours 30 minutes). To the west of the city, Estación Once, next to Plaza Miserere on Avenida Pueyrredon and Calle Bartolomé Mitre (tel: (011) 4861 0043), receives trains from Lobos (journey time – 2 hours), Lujan (journey time – 1 hours 45 minutes) and Mercedes (journey time – 2 hours 10 minutes). Estación Retiro, Avenida Ramos Mejia (tel: (011) 4311 8704 or 8264), is where trains from north of the city arrive, including the suburbs of San Isidro (journey time – 22 minutes) and Tigre (journey time – 45 minutes). The twice weekly overnight service from Tucumán (journey time – 22 hours), via Rosario, also arrives at Retiro.

Getting Around:

Public Transport
The best way to get around Buenos Aires is to take the bus or Subte (subway) to an area and then explore it on foot. The city’s transport service is extensive, inexpensive and efficient. It is worth investing in a good street and transportation map if planning to stay more than a few days.

The easiest way to negotiate the area and avoid the motorized madness is to take the Subte (subway). This underground train service is operated by Metrovias (tel: (011) 4959 6800; website: www.metrovias.com.ar) and comprises five lines (A to E) and a premetro system that links the end of Line E. Pre-paid Subtecards or passes can be purchased from the ticket booths (boleterias) at each station in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 or 30 journeys.

Colectivos (local buses) are also useful for traveling within the city limits and many services operate 24 hours a day. No one company is responsible for the bus system in Buenos Aires but routes are detailed on the Los Colectivos website (www.loscolectivos.com.ar). Routes and numbers can be confusing, so it is best to consult a map and ask the advice of locals. Colectivos can be identified by the route number and main destination displayed above the windshield. Having boarded at the front, coins should be inserted in the automatic coin machine, which will print a ticket and give change. To exit, there is a buzzer by the back door, which should be pushed before the stop required. Visitors should watch their belongings in the crowds and be courteous to passengers looking more in need of a seat than themselves.

Urban train services are operated by Trenes de Buenos Aires – TBA (tel: (011) 4317 4400; website: www.tbanet.com.ar), Metropolitano (tel: (011) 4018 0700/17; website: www.tms.com.ar) and Ferrovias (tel: (011) 4511 8833; website: www.ferrovias.com.ar), and can be a useful way of getting to outlying residential districts. TBA runs the most comprehensive service with useful routes to Palermo, Belgrano, San Isidro and Tigre. Tickets are cheap and can be purchased at stations.

Combined public transport passes are not available.

Taxis
Yellow and black taxis are in plentiful supply and can easily be hailed on the streets. Generally, taxis are safe but there are some fake taxis in existence. If unlucky enough to hail one, visitors should not argue fares with the driver as he is likely to be armed. It is safer to telephone a radio taxi in advance. Reputable radio taxi companies include Premium (tel: (011) 5238 0000 or 4374 6666; website: www.taxipremium.com.ar) and Radio Taxi Pidalo (tel: (011) 4956 1200 or 4932 2222).

Remises are fixed-fare taxis or minicabs booked in advance. They can generally offer fixed rates that are cheaper than standard taxis, especially for airport runs. Recommended providers for remises include: ABC (tel: (011) 4315 6070), Remises Universal (011) 4315 6555 and Annie Millet Transfers (tel: (011) 6777 7777).

Driving in the City
There is little point in bringing a car to Buenos Aires. Traffic in the city center (Centro) is hectic by city standards and the roads get heavily congested during the rush hour. The grid system is reasonably easy to master. Arrows indicate the directions on street signs. Drivers are generally determined and have a low tolerance level for hesitant or slow drivers. Accidents are common – one tip is to slow down and flash the vehicle lights when approaching cross intersections without traffic lights at night. The microcentro area (city center) is off limits to traffic between 0700 to 2100.

Parquimetros (parking meters) control parking on streets in the macrocentro area (outer city zones) on weekdays 0700-2100. Tokens (fichas) for their use can be purchased from kiosks or coin machines. Another option is to use the numerous estacionamientos (car parks) or playas (parking bays), which are usually marked by flag-waving dummies. Hotel parking is sometimes available at the more expensive hotels.

Car Hire
Although driving in Buenos Aires is not really recommended, a car may be useful for excursions and there are plenty of car hire companies in the city. Avis (website: www.avis.com) has four offices in Buenos Aires, including downtown at Calle Cerrito 1527 (tel: (011) 4326 5542) and at Ezeiza International Airport (tel: (011) 4480 9387). Car hire is also available from Budget Rent a Car, Avenida Leandro N Alem 1110 (tel: (011) 5031 0199) and Dollar Rent a Car, MT de Alvear 449 (tel: (011) 4315 8800). Hertz (website: www.hertz.com) has a main office on Calle Paraguay 1138 (tel: (011) 4816 8001) and a desk at Ezeiza International Airport (tel: (011) 4480 0054). Localiza (website: www.localiza.com.ar) has eight offices in the Buenos Aires area, including Rivadavia 1126 (tel: (011) 4382 9267) in the Microcentro and Jorge Newbery domestic airport (tel: 0800 999 2999, within Argentina only).

Drivers must be a minimum of 21 years old but some companies state 25 years. A valid driving license is acceptable but an International Driving Permit is recommended. Advance booking is recommended if planning to rent over the weekend or holidays.

Bicycle Hire
Cycling the city center streets of Buenos Aires is generally not a good idea as the traffic is hectic and drivers have little regard for cyclists. Cycle lanes are rare but the number of designated routes is growing and there are some good cycle paths in the city’s parks and alongside some stretches of the river. Three-gear ‘Beach Cruiser’ road bikes can be hired from Bike Tours, 13th floor, Calle Florida 868 (tel: (011) 4311 5199; website: www.biketours.com.ar).

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