Making the most of Buenos Aires
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships can travel up the Rio de la Plata into the city centre. The recently opened Passenger Terminal Benito Quinquela Martín is roughly a ½ mile from downtown. Vessels at outlying port berths receive a complimentary shuttle directly to the ship. City taxis are plentiful, reasonably priced and metered in pesos, although US currency is accepted. Radio taxis at the harbour instead use fixed prices for different neighbourhoods, and free shopping shuttles also depart from the port...
Do not walk independently through streets surrounding the harbour because they are unsafe. Buenos Aires has two airports: Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarni at Ezeiza handles most international services, while Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, or Aeroparque, serves domestic and regional routes.
Local buses connect both airports. Allowing for traffic, Ezeiza lies 35km (22mi) and 1.5 hours south of the centre, while Aeroparque is only 8km (5mi) north. More expensive deluxe coaches operate to both and often provide hotel drop-offs.
Often called the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires displays little of its Spanish inheritance, much of which faded during colonial times. Its 19th-century expansion drew inspiration from Paris. The original Spanish settlement centred on a plaza bordered by a fort and armoury, cathedral and city hall. This space became Plaza de Armas and was later renamed Plaza de Mayo.
Experience tango in the milongas rather than La Boca or Calle Florida. The word milonga describes both a venue hosting tango and a distinct style of the dance.
Getting around
Buenos Aires presents Argentina’s best-known traditions, from compelling tango shows to succulent steaks. Throughout its many distinctive barrios, visitors also encounter remarkable architecture and art, alongside a nightlife culture unfamiliar with the idea of home time. Neoclassical, art nouveau and art deco buildings appear across the capital, with excellent examples along Avenida 9 de Julio, the world’s widest avenue and home to landmarks including the Beaux-Arts French Embassy and Teatro Colón opera house...
City Tour hop-on, hop-off tickets valid for 24 hours cost $ 490 Argentine pesos for adults and $ 260 Argentine pesos for children aged 4-12. Children up to 3 travel free, as do disabled passengers.
Independent visitors will find the underground network easy to understand and the quickest way around downtown congestion, with fares of about 70 cents. Line 1, coloured blue, is itself an attraction: opened in 1913 as South America’s oldest, it has handsome wooden-interior trains and appealing stations. Even travellers using the hop-on, hop-off bus should consider a journey on line 1.
Food and shopping
Buenos Aires is considered Latin America’s finest shopping city, with an exceptional choice and quality of goods made even better value by currency devaluation. Air-conditioned malls occupy old buildings across the capital and remain enjoyable even for reluctant shoppers. Exclusive choices include Galerias Pacifico at Calle Florida and Calle Córdoba, plus Patio Bullrich at Avenida del Libertador 750 and Posadas 1245, both filled with Argentine fashion boutiques and international brands...
Money
The Argentine peso is volatile.
Read the available currency-exchange advice for Argentina.
Staying connected
Spanish is spoken.
Buenos Aires contains dozens of cybercafés and Wi-Fi locations.
Opening Hours and
Check the listed shopping hours.