Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires (official name Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, also called Capital Federal ) is the capital of the Argentine Republic. The name means fair winds in Spanish. It is one of the largest cities in Latin America, with a lot of cultural offerings, and is the point of departure for travelling to the rest of the country. Inhabitants of Buenos Aires are called porteños, "people from the port". Buenos Aires is a singular, open and integrating destination that allows the visitor not only to view the city but also to live an exceptional urban adventure.

Districts

The City of Buenos Aires has 48 districts called barrios. The most important and visited are:

• Microcentro Downtown, an ideal location for visitors to be near to the main historical spots of the Argentinean capital. In there, Florida Street is the most famous pedestrian street of the city, where visitors can do window shopping and buy typical goods.

• San Telmo This district preserves colonial-style houses along narrow cobblestone lanes, illuminated with pretty wrought iron lanterns. In San Telmo , one breathes the history of Buenos Aires.

• La Boca Considered Buenos Aires's most controversial neighborhood with an explosive personality. Tourists favor this picturesque district for its rich history and vibrant colors: greens, yellows, reds and purples highlight the urban scenery.

• Palermo Hip residential neighborhood of tree-lined streets and intersections packed with restaurants and bars.

• Recoleta One of the finest and most expensive areas of the city. It boasts many French style buildings, large green spaces and first class restaurants.

• Belgrano A residential and peaceful neighborhood with silent streets that lead to different shops, restaurants, architectural relics and large green spaces. Belgrano's one of the most distinguished districts, and it's ideal for day walks along the wooded tile sidewalks.

• Almagro An original middle-class neighborhood, unspoiled by tourists, Almagro is a calm barrio located in the very center of the capital, with cheap empanadas, chinese supermarkets, and greengrocer's, the smell of grilled meat from plentiful parillas, and a very big circular park that transforms into a market on sundays.

• Boedo One of the main Tango and historical spots in the city, the streets of Boedo offer to native and tourist public a huge variety of cafes in the best “porteño” style, cultural centers , Tango houses, libraries, theaters and nice pubs and restaurants. Places that please people from all ages and tastes.

• Caballito An average, middle-class neighborhood, the barrio has both plentiful amenities, spacious parks and choice shopping. On the other hand, there are dirty, noisy and unsafe areas of Caballito that should be avoided. Overall, it is a pleasant residential and commercial hub.

• Congresso A dense downtown area that houses the legislative branch of government at the opposite end of Avenida de Mayo from the "pink house" seat of the executive branch.

• San Cristobal

• Puerto Madero Just like the London docklands, the antique port of Buenos Aires have been renewed and represent the latest architectural tendency of the city. The Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buenos_Aires_Ecological_Reserve), an excellent alternative for nature lovers, lies nearby.

• Retiro Literally spanning from shantytown, cardboard homes, to the most luxurious restaurants, shopping, and partying, in the expat-friendly border of Microcentro, Retiro still hasn't really decided what its definitive identity will be.

• Tribunales This part of down has many theater shows, especially on Avenida Corrientes.

Culture and History

The city is geographically contained inside the province of Buenos Aires, but it is politically autonomous. Its coordinates are 34º 36' S, 58º 26' W.

The city extends on a plain covering 19.4 kilometers (12 miles) from north to south and 17.9 kilometers (11 miles) from east to west.

Approximately three million people live in the City of Buenos Aires (the Federal Capital of Argentina with 202 square kilometers equivalent to 78.3 sq miles). The City is divided into 48 districts or barrios. Together with its metropolitan area or Great Buenos Aires (Gran Buenos Aires) this is one of the ten most populated urban centers in the world with over 14 million people. Most of the country's activity is highly concentrated in this single city and its surroundings.

Buenos Aires constantly receives tourists from all over the world and offers a large choice cultural events, nightlife, restaurants and pubs, so you can expect good services and a wide range of options.

Buenos Aires has also one of the largest homosexual communities in Latin America and there is a liberal attitude towards gay society. Within Capital Federal gay couples can form a legal civil partnership. Following the economic recovery, in recent years there has been an increase in gay-friendly businesses such as real estate, apartment rental, travel agents, language classes, tango classes, bars, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses. Year 2007 has seen arrivals of more gay cruise ships, the opening of a gay 5-star hotel and a general increase in gay tourism.

Budget

While no longer the dirt-cheap discount destination it was in the first half of the 2000s (some hotel prices have risen by over 100%), visitors from North America and Europe will still find it a bargain. Food costs range from 2-pesos hot dogs and 20-pesos large pizzas to 40 pesos steak dinners at high-end restaurants. Transportation is equally affordable with metro and bus trips for a little more than a peso and downtown taxi service starting at 6 pesos. Hotels, as anywhere, vary from cheap hostels to full service five stars that can run into the thousands of pesos. The Argentine Peso has slid to it's lowest point against the U.S. Dollar since 2002. One U.S. dollar equals 3.62 pesos as of March 5, 2009. One Euro, 4.56 pesos.

Travel to Buenos Aires - Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Buenos Aires

Ezeiza International Airport (IATA: EZE) (ICAO: SAEZ)

Ricchieri Highway, Km. 22. Tel. 5480-6111 - International and some domestic flights use the Ezeiza International Airport (referred to as Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini), located in the suburban area named Gran Buenos Aires, about 30-45 minutes from downtown by highway. Planes fly to most countries in South America, the United States, and Europe. Non-stop service to the U.S. is available from Atlanta (Delta), Chicago (AA until 03Sep), Dallas (AA), Miami (AA), Houston (Continental),New York (AA, United & AR) and Washington, D.C. (United).

Some flights from Aerolíneas Argentinas to Ushuaia leave from Ezeiza during peak season, so check which airport you fly into or leave from.

There is also a useful Aerolínas Argentinas flight direct to Sydney, with a stop in Auckland and a twice-weekly Malaysian Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur via Cape Town and Johannesburg. Direct flights to Europe are available with British Airways (with a stop in Sao Paulo) [1], Lufthansa [2], Iberia [3], Air France [4], Air Comet [5] and Aerolíneas Argentinas [6]. Also Air Canada flies from Toronto via Santiago. There is a departure tax of $18 USD (about 54 pesos) for all international flights, which can be paid in pesos, US dollars, euros or credit card.

From the airport there are the usual taxis, private cars (remises), buses and minibuses.

The cheapest way to get downtown is to take the 86 bus. The stop is just outside terminal B arrivals, you need to walk 100 meters. the bus will take almost 2 hours to get to the Mayo square, going straight on Rivadavia Avenue and then on Hipolito Yrigoyen street. It will cost less than 2 pesos to get downtown, and be ready to have coins to use them on the bus, you may get some asking for change at the counters where the airport tax is paid or at any shops. If planing to go from downtown to the airport, be sure to ride the 86 bus that says "AEROPUERTO" as there are several 86 buses that go to other places. the bus stops all along Mayo Avenue and then Rivadavia Avenue. However, if you are at all pressed for time, or short on patience, it is highly recommended that you skip this bus and take a taxi or remise. From downtown to the airport takes more than two hours (longer than the trip in from the airport), and the bus can get extremely crowded.

Trips on the comfortable Manuel Tienda León [7] coaches from EZE to Retiro cost 40 pesos (as of October 2008). The coaches leave every half hour - less frequently during evenings. From the Retiro Terminal, a smaller van will deliver you to any downtown address for an additional 5 pesos. Manuel Tienda León also offers transfers between EZE and Aeroparque. Tickets can be purchased from their booth just outside of customs.

Prepaid taxis (remises) from EZE to downtown cost about 85 pesos. Hailing a non-prepaid taxi is not recommended for tourists, but if doing so, be aware that there is a 2 peso toll and a 0.80 peso toll if the driver goes by the autopista; the driver will inform you as you approach the toll booths.

If you do speak some Spanish, you may find it cheaper to walk outside of customs, find a taxi that is dropping someone off, and hop in. You may see the taxi drivers slowly driving through. Put your bags in, and tell the driver "Al reloj" ('to the meter', meaning you want to pay price reflected on the meter instead of negotiating a price for the ride). You may have to pay the aforementioned tolls, but it works out to around 50 to 55 pesos to downtown.

When you wish to return to the airport when you leave, you can talk to any cab driver and tell him that you need a ride to the airport. Frequently you can negotiate. They will come pick you up from your apartment or hotel and drive you to the airport. Some of the best insights about Buenos Aires can be gleaned from taxi drivers. If you are new to the city, it's probably good also to have a map out, so that the driver knows he or she can't go in circles.

Another alternative is that some of the prepaid remises will provide you with a 20% discount coupon for your airport return. If you manage to hold on to this coupon, dial them directly to come and collect you and save yourself 20%. You must also keep the original receipt, as they need reassurance that you used the remise from the airport originally.

Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (IATA: AEP) (ICAO: SABE)

Located in the Ave. Rafael Obligado. 4576-5300 extension 107/122 (Information: 4576-1111). Most domestic flights use the smaller Jorge Newbery Airport (referred to as Aeroparque), 10 minutes away from the downtown area. You can take a taxi (25 pesos) or bus from there.

By train

There are national railways, but they are scarce. The terminal stations are the same from suburban transportation. From Retiro station you can take the train to the Tigre Delta. There you can do a boat cruise and see the wetland and recreational area of the porteños.

There are some long distance domestic services. Buses are usually faster and more comfortable, but also three times as expensive. There are several main stations in the BA area (see below).

Retiro - Córdoba (overnight): departs Mon. & Fri. 20:10, arrives 10:25

Córdoba - Retiro (overnight): departs Thu. & Sun. 16:30, 07:33 (25 pesos - tourist class)

Retiro - Tucumán (overnight): departs Mon. 10:05, arrives 10:40

Tucumán - Retiro (overnight): departs Wed. 18:00, arrives 19:20 (35 pesos - tourist class)

By car

You can get to Buenos Aires from any of the neighboring countries by car, but it is far away from most of the borders. It is only common to travel there from Uruguay and southern Brazil.

There are four main highways entering the city, those permit fast communication with the huge suburban area and access to the national routes. As with the trains, the most important routes are centered in Buenos Aires, so you will have no problem driving to and from the rest of the country.

Heading to Rosario city, you can travel by highway all the way (north access highway, then route 9), from here you can keep going to the north by a good route (Panamericana), or turn right about 150km from Buenos Aires and go to the Mesopotamia region.

To the west, you can drive to the Cuyo region using the north access highway, then the route 8.

Going out with the west access highway, you can follow by routes 7 and 5, heading to the west and southwest, respectively. For visiting western Patagonia, the route 5 is a good choice.

Finally for visiting the Atlantic shore of Buenos Aires (province), you head to the southeast access highway and the the route 2, a very good highway to Mar del Plata city.

Buses to Buenos Aires

There are very good services parting from Retiro bus station, covering the whole country. By buying the most expensive tickets, you can get very comfortable seats with completely reclining back rests and you will be served meals and drinks by an attendant on board.

Almost all the long-distance buses use the huge and well-organised Retiro bus station on the northern edge of the city centre. The buses are mostly modern and the roads are good; there are frequent services to most parts of the country and international bus services to neighbouring countries. A second bus terminal is situated in the Liniers neighborhood, but it is much smaller and not connected to the subway.

You may catch taxis from Retiro bus station, and the subte (underground) also stops there. There are many local buses that stop outside the station as well.

There are numerous operators. The basement level is for cargo and package services. The ground level holds waiting areas, cafes, shops and services including a barber. On the upper level you find a large number (close to 200) of ticket offices, or boleterias. The upper level is conveniently divided by color into geographic areas for companies which serve the place you want to go, including an international area. Look for the signs.

Cama Suites or Dormi Camas lie completely flat and some have dividing curtains. With these services, the seating arrangement is one seat one side and two seats on the other side. Semi-Cama services are laid out two and two, and do not recline as far. Companies usually have photographs of bus interiors. Make sure the journey you choose has the service you want. Most buses are double decker.

Bus travel times to/from Buenos Aires:

• Mendoza: 13-17 hours
• Córdoba: 9 hours
• Bariloche: 22 hours
• Iguazú: 20 hours
• Rosario: 4 hours

Terminal de Omnibus de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires

• Address: Antártida Argentina avenue & Ramos Mejía
• Phone: 4310-0700
• Subte: Retiro (Linea C)

To find out which companies are available for a specific destination you can consult the official webpage of the terminal Retiro [8] and an online information system for buses from Buenos Aires [9] to the main national and international destinations.

By boat

There are daily journeys to and from Colonia and Montevideo in Uruguay.

Two companies operate this service.

• Buquebus - Puerto Madero terminal - Córdoba avenue & Madero avenue. 4316-6400/6500/6550.
• Ferrytour - Dársena Norte terminal - Viamonte & Costanera Sur - 4311-4700

The services are now coordinated by Buquebus. The ferrytour ship is the slower one, used for Colonia. You may still make a fast trip to Colonia, at a higher price.

From the official city site:

The City is an important destination for the maritime and fluvial cruisers industry of South America. The Benito Quinquela Martín Passenger Terminal, a few blocks away from downtown, at Ramón Castillo street between Avenida de los Inmigrantes and Mayor Luisioni street, has a surface of 7,100 square meters, a boarding room for 1,000 passengers and baggage facilities with capacity for 2,500 suitcases. In addition, it provides tourist information, handicrafts shops, snack bars; and Migration, Customs, Interpol and Prefectura (Coast Guard) Offices.

You may also take a boat from nearby Tigre to Nueva Palmira in Uruguay. Trains leave from Retiro Station to Tigre frequently. Boat services to Nueva Palmira also connect to Colonia del Sacramento by bus.

There is also a service from Montevideo-Carmelo-Tigre-Buenos Aires. It costs around 10 dollars one way for the whole shebang. Get the tickets and depart from Tres Cruces in Montevideo. The price includes bus to Carmelo, boat to Tigre and bus to the centre of Buenos Aires. The official website is at [10] and they often have very good special offers that include some nights in hotels in Buenos Aires.

By freighter

From Europe:

Grimaldi Lines - Freighter Travel operates a bi-monthly freighter link from Europe to South-America via Africa. Five freighter ships do the rotation and each accept 12 passengers. The journey lasts about 30 days (60 days for a round trip) and port calls include: Hamburg, Tillbury, Antwerp, Le Havre, Bilbao, Casablanca, Dakar, Banjul, Conakry, Freetown, Salvador de Bahia, Vitoria, Rio de Janeiro, Santos Zarate, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Paranagua, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Dakar, Emden and back to Hamburg. Only the stops in Europe and at Buenos Aires accept embarcation and disembarcation of passengers although all the port cities are accessible to the passengers for visit. All the port calls are subject to change depending on the loading and unloading needs of the ship. Tickets for a cabin on a Europe to BA trip start at 1450 euros/pp for a double cabin and 1890 for a single cabin (more expensive luxury cabins are available).

Tours and Getting around Buenos Aires

The public transport in Buenos Aires is very good, although crowded during rush hour. The metro network is not very large, but reaches most tourist attractions of the city, and there is a large range of bus routes and several suburban railways used by commuters.

Finding your way around is easy. Most of the city grid is divided into equal squares with block number in the hundreds. Most streets are one way with the adjacent parallels going the other way, so beware that the bus or taxi won't follow the same route back. Going by taxi, you simply need to tell the driver the street and block number, eg. "Santa Fe 2100"; or two intersecting streets, eg. "Corrientes y Callao".

City maps are issued by many different publishers (Guía T, LUMI) and the local tourist authority. They are indispensable for those wanting to use public transportation, since they include all bus routes. Be aware that some maps are bottom up (South on the top of the map). This is true for the maps at the official taxi booth at Ezeiza airport.

By taxi

Taxis are not the quickest option for moving around in the most congested areas at rush hours, as traffic jams are common. Still, you will find that taxis are usually rather inexpensive, convenient, and exciting (in a white-knuckled, the roller-coaster-seems-to-have-some-pieces-missing kind of way.)

It is safest to have your hotel or host call for a radio taxi. If you must hail a cab on the street, watch out for private operators disguised as commercial services. Also avoid paying in large bills as there have been cases of counterfeit change.

If a taxi driver says that your money is counterfeit and says that he will take you to an ATM, just tell him you want to get out there. There are many stories of travelers (especially when they spoke little Spanish and were coming from the airport) being robbed under this premise. It also helps if you see a police officer nearby because if they are trying to rob you they will probably be scared off. If you are headed to a hostel or hotel, the receptionist will usually understand the situation if you honestly do have counterfeit money, and will lend you money to pay the cab.

Also, if the cab "breaks down", it is recommended that you just get out and find another cab.

Also recommended is keeping your luggage in the seat with you if possible in case a situation arises in which you want to get out of the taxi.

By bus

The principal means of public transportation within the city, are the buses (colectivos). They have a cheap maximum fixed price as long as you are moving inside the city borders (1 peso). Tickets can only be bought on the bus, through a machine that accept coins only.

There are more than one hundred lines, covering the whole city. They work 24 hours a day, the whole year; but run less frequently on holidays and at late hours. For each route the bus is painted differently to make them easier to distinguish. The best way to figure out the bus system is to buy a Guía "T". It's essentially a little book with a directory of streets, which correspond to map pages, and have a bus listing on the facing page for each map. Once you get your hands on one, it's very easy to figure out, but give yourself fifteen minutes the first few times you use it to plan a route. These can be bought at many kiosks around the city, or subway stations.

Otherwise, visitors who are comfortable with speaking a little Spanish can call 131 toll-free from any phone for help finding which colectivo to take. You just have to tell the corner (or the street and the number) where you're at and the one you want to get to.

On most services, board the bus and tell the driver your destination (or do what Argentines do -- just say "un peso, por favor" meaning you'll be traveling a normal distance and want to pay 1 peso); he will press a button instructing the coin machine to take a certain amount of money for you, which will then appear on the machine as the amount to insert. Step a bit further back into the bus and insert coins into the machine which now knows your destination and has calculated your fare because the driver punched it in. You will receive change and your ticket automatically, collect it at the bottom of the machine.

If you see a little metal knob on the coin machine, it's not for dispensing your ticket like the candy/toy machines in grocery stores in the U.S. ... it's the door to the inside of the machine to change the paper and whatnot. Don't turn it!

You can also use buses to move to and inside the suburban area (Gran Buenos Aires), but the fares are higher (up to 2 pesos, depending on the distance and service). The suburban-only lines (you can differentiate them because their line numbers are above 200) have lower standards of comfort, and many of them don't run after 11 pm.

By metro (subway or underground)

The city has a metro network ("subte", short form of "tren subterráneo", which means "underground train"). It is very efficient - you can gain a lot of time by using it - and very cheap too (1.10 pesos for any combination). If you need to be somewhere by 9 am or 9.30 am on a weekday, however, the Subte will be incredibly crowded and depending on where you are catching it from, you may have to miss several trains in a row before there is space for you. Once on board, during peak hours it can get very crowded. Factor this into your timing arrangements to make sure that you make your meeting on time.

The lines converge to the downtown area and connect the main bus and train terminals.

In the southeast branch (the E line), the service is extended by a trainway known as premetro, but beware, it goes to some of the least secure places in the city. Premetro is 0.60 pesos (approx. 0.15 euros), or 0.70 with a Subte Transfer.

The subte works approximately from 5 am to 10 pm, except on Sundays, when service starts at 8 am.

The A line is a destination on its own because of the old wooden carriages. It was the first subway/underground built in Latin America (1913). The subte article on Wikipedia [11] has some information on this.

Many subte stations have interesting murals, tiles and artwork. Transferring between lines is indicated by combinación signs.

You may purchase magnetic stripe tickets encoded with more than one fare. This saves the time of individual cashier transactions; and you may also buy a rechargeable card at some stations. Tickets are not swiped upon exiting stations, therefore you may use one magnetic stripe ticket for more than one traveller, as long as it has the required number of fares.

The subte and premetro services are under Metrovias S.A. control. You can reach their Customer Service personnel by calling -toll free, within Argentina- to 0800-555-1616 or by sending a fax to 4553-9270.

• Buenos Aires metro map: [12].

By train

There are a good deal of railways connecting the suburban area in a star shape. The quality of the service ranges from excellent to very bad, depending of the line; ask before using them at nighttime.

The main railway terminals are Retiro, Constitución, Once and Federico Lacroze. From all of these you can then use the metro and bus network to get right into the centre. The suburban fares are very cheap.

More information:

• Metrovias [13]: Urquiza trainway and metro
  • Good service, safe for travelling at any hour.
• Metropolitano [14]: San Martín, Roca, Belgrano Sur and other trainways.
  • Usually the worst service, and the least secure one. Used to be an acceptable service, but there are corruption issues.
• TBA [15]: Sarmiento and Mitre trainways
  • Good service and mostly good trains. The Sarmiento line is so far the most used one, is totally overhauled and can be very difficult to use in rush hours; also covers unsafe places. The Mitre line, in one of its branches (which covers the richest zones) has the best trains seen here and in Latin America, featuring air conditioning, internal heating and very comfortable seats. This branch takes you to some really beautiful places like "Tigre", a very picturesque small town with old french-style little houses and a beautiful walkside by the river near a theme park, Parque de la Costa in the north of the suburban area.
• Trenes del Litoral [16]: From Posadas (neighboring Paraguay) to Estacion Frederico Lacroze throught Paso de los Libres (neighboring Brazil) and Concordia (neighboring Uruguay).
  • Fair service, depending on the price. All cars are a little dirty and the train is very slow (20 hours). Tourist Class has bad service, but First Class or the Dormitory Class are fairly comfortable. It is better to go by bus, using the "coche cama" service. About 11 hours from Posadas to Buenos Aires or by plane in 1.5 hours.

By car

If one is truly adventurous (and has a bit of a death-wish), cars are available to rent in Buenos Aires. There are several things to keep in mind before renting a car in Buenos Aires. First, Buenos Aires is such an excellent city for walking that if something is within 20 or 30 blocks, it is often worth the extra effort to go on foot and get to know the city on a more intimate level. The terrain is flat...get out there and put those legs to work! Second, if you aren't (or can't be) much of a walker, the public transportation system in Buenos Aires is cheap and efficient. It can get you anywhere, and fast! Third, and perhaps most important, is that the traffic in Buenos Aires is extremely chaotic. Stoplights, signs, traffic laws...for many porteño drivers, are just suggestions. Picture yourself trying to get several thousand heads of cattle to move down the street and stay inside the lanes, and you have a decent idea of driving in Buenos Aires. The best advice? Take the bus! Otherwise, lots of luck to you. Argentina has one of the highest motor vehicle accident mortality rates in the world.

Buenos Aires tourist attractions and sightseeing

If you are a fan of walking in open green spaces and parks in big cities like Buenos Aires, be sure not to miss a promenade in Palermo, a beautiful area in the eastern part of the city. Here you will not only find open spaces to walk in, but a large lake where you can rent paddle boats and an immense flower garden with free entry!

Another great place to walk along and experience Argentine street life in a safe area (during the day only, folks - interesting characters emerge here at night!) is El Puerto de Buenos Aires.

The National Immigration Museum is not open on the weekends like Moon Guidebooks says. Use the Retiro subte.

La Boca has the Caminito pedestrian street with arts and crafts. There is also a river cruise you can take from there. There is a huge metal structure across the river which is picturesque. Tango dancers are in the cobblestone streets. You may try to catch a rowboat to Avellaneda on the other side of the water for 0.50 pesos (0.125 euros), but the rower may not allow you to if you are a tourist, citing it's dangerous (peligroso). There is no subte to La Boca, but many buses go there. In addition to tango, La Boca is famous for its football, and you may also take a tour of the La Bombonera Stadium. The buildings are painted in bright colors. You can also take pictures with you and a tango dancer for a small price! But if you want a true tango experience that is not put on a sliver platter for a European or American tourist, read below and experience the true Buenos Aires Tango experience.

The prices for most everything in La Boca is 2 to 3 times what it is in the rest of the city. It's been over tourist-ified, but is enjoyable if you just feel like being a tourist. Don't even think about coming here at night. It's safe during daytime in the Caminito neighborhood.

The Cementerio de la Recoleta: This is where all the rich families in Buenos Aires have their final resting places, usually in above the ground tombs. Check out the calico cats who have haunted the cemetary for generations. Be sure to visit the tomb of Eva Perón, the bastard daughter of an aristocrat who, despite having the most visited tomb in the cemetery, is considered by many to be too "low class" for eternal interment in Recoleta.

The Palermo Viejo district: This is a trendy neighborhood with charming cobblestone streets, bookstores, bars and boutiques; definitely better than the touristic San Telmo area for a nightime excursion. The Plaza Italia station is the closest metro stop.

Tigre Islands:[17] Spend a day just outside the busy city on an island in Tigre. Have an authentic Argentine BBQ, have a few beers, enjoy a private swimming pool, rent canoes, play Football or Volleyball, and pretty much enjoy the good life.

More information is available at the Buenos Aires official tourism website [18], including suggested itineraries.

Buenos Aires city tours

Tango A trip to Buenos Aires is not complete without some sort of experience of the Tango, national dance of Argentina. Tango is best experienced not in La Boca and on Calle Florida, but in the Milongas. A milonga is both a place where a Tango dance will take place, as well as a specific type of tango dance.

There is a monthly magazine put out in Buenos Aires called "El Tangauta"[19]. It is the bible of everything Tango going on in Buenos Aires. Every group lesson and milonga is in there. Another source of Tango information is Punto Tango [20], published monthly; it is available for download in pdf format. Vammos [21] is an Buenos Aires Event Community where you will find recommendation by users.

Milongas Milongas take place either during the day or late at night. "Matinée Milongas" usually start in the early afternoon and go until 8-10pm. Made popular by tourists who may struggle staying up until 5am every night, you will find many locals here as well more than willing to show you how to dance. The night Milongas officially start at around 11, but don't fill up until around 1:30. They may go on until 5 or 6 in the morning.

• Confiteria Idéal Suipacha 384 (just off of Corrientes, near Calle Florida). A good place for beginners to check out authentic tango, but skip the overpriced confitéria. Shows start around 30 pesos.
• Salon Canning,
• El Beso
• Porteňo y Bailarin

Lessons You can start learning tango through the group lessons offered at many studios. Some popular schools are at the Centro Bourges Culturel, on the very top floor. It can be very hard to find the actual place as there are some stairs you have to go up, and go through a museum. Ask the security people where the "Escuela de Tango" [22]is. It can be very hot in summers in the room. The Centro is within the Galerias Pacifico, the overpriced American-style mall near Calle Florida on san Martin.

The best way to learn even if you do not have a partner is with private lessons. You can find instructors who charge as little as 50 pesos per hour, all the way up to ones that will charge 100 dollars per hour. Many of the more 'famous' instructors command a premium price. Be warned if you start taking tango lessons: it will seduce and consume your life and you will make many pilgrimages back to Buenos Aires to dance.

Soccer Game Buenos Aires is well known as one of the world's Football capital and for a reason. Buenos Aires is the home town of two of the most appreciate Football teams in the world,Boca Juniors and River Plate. A game between these two legendary teams is called the "Super Clasico." This is by far the hottest ticket in the city, and it is often necessary to buy tickets well in advance [23]. The city breaths football 24 hours a day 365 days a year. The Argentinian fans are well known for their passion to their teams and their songs are practically love songs to the team. The experience is amazing for those who don't enjoy the game as well, this is because the spectacular fans who sing and cheer before during and after the game. While this is an experience you don't want to miss while visiting Buenos Aires, it can also be dangerous to tourists to go on their own. Tourists are often advised to go with large, organized groups with bilingual guides[24]. This ensures that you can watch the game in peace and still have a great time.

Gaucho Party Fiesta Gaucha- Sped a night seeing what it is like to be a real gaucho! Live the life of an Argentine cowboy: ride horses, eat traditional gaucho foods, drink traditional gaucho wines and dance tango like they used to do back in the day. A great way to get out of the city for a day and see another side of Argentine culture[25]. Great for adults, kids, or anybody who ever wanted to be a cowboy when they grew up!

Skydiving Buenos Aires hosts exhilarating skydiving activities within its clear blue skies. You can experience 20 minutes of flight, 35 seconds of freefall and a slow descent of nearly 7 minutes to enjoy a breathtaking view. Discover a unique bird's-eye view of Buenos Aires and its expansive pampas as you dive through 3,000 meters (1,000 feet) of open air. There is no better place to feel the adrenaline of a Tandem Skydiving Jump[26] than Buenos Aires.

Gay travelers We do not want to fail to mention that Buenos Aires has became, in recent years, the favourite gay destination for international gay travelers, turning the "Paris of the South" in the gay capital of South America. For further info refer to Buenos Aires gay guide and activities [27].

• BA Free Tour, Plaza del Congreso, [28]. 11am & 5pm. A great intoduction to the city! Two free walking tours per day!Free!.  

City Tours: as any other metropolis, Buenos Aires has plenty of city tours from walking tours, bus tours, bike tours to thematic tours such as political and tango tours. Buenos aires city is friendly destination, tourist will feel secure and free to walk across its beautiful leafy streets, however, most of the tour operators are professional and bilingual and will help tourist to learn the interesting history of the city while enjoying its eclectic architecture[29].

Helicopter Rides The city of Buenos Aires and its suburban surroundings cover a tremendous expanse of land that cannot be easily and quickly walked, biked or driven. That's what helicopter rides are for. You can discover Buenos Aires from a unique perspective: see the skyline of Puerto Madero's skyscrapers, the grid of concrete streets filled with taxis and colectivos or buses, the tourist attractions including the Obelisco, Casa Rosada, and Cementario Recoleta. Tour the skies above the human traffic on an exciting Helicopter Ride[30]. A different way to explore the city.

Golf You might not think of it as you walk around this big city of skyscrapers, but there is some very good golfing very close by. There are many trips to the areas golf courses that make it easy and relaxing for tourists to enjoy a day on the links[31]. Packages include any greens fees, equipment and caddie to blame when you hook that shot into the woods!

Jewish travelers Buenos Aires, home of one of the biggest Jewish communities in the world and the biggest in South America, has many sights and activities specifically for Jewish people. There are museums, beautiful synagogues, monuments, barrios and histories for all travelers to soak up and enjoy. Tours are given around the city to hit all the major Jewish landmarks[32]. This is a great way to see a different side of Buenos Aires that most people wouldn't think about seeing.

Lujan Just outside the city is a great place called Lujan. It is famous place for to reasons: it's incredible zoo and it's world famous cathedral. Other than that, it is just a great place to go for a day if you want a little bit of time away from the city. There are tours all the time[33] that can help you get there and show you where to go once you arrive.

Tigre Another great place on the outskirts of the city is Tigre. Tigre has a quaint amusement park, a great crafts fair on the weekends, a multi-storied casino, and a beautiful river to walk along. One popular choice is to do a boat ride along the river, the perfect idea on a sunny day. There are many tours that go to Tigre[34], and its a great place to get out of the city for a day and get some fresh air. The most popular day to go is sunday, but there are things to do all week long.

Spas Buenos Aires offers many medical spas for different esthetic surgeries. Recently, more urban spas or day spas have flourished, some of them at large hotels as the Alvear, Hilton, Hyatt among others. Furthermore, some green spas as Aloe-Spa Salute per Aloe [35] have opened here shops and offer a great range of eco-friendly treatments.

Uruguay When you are in Buenos Aires, Uruguay is just a short boat ride away. It is cheap and easy to go over there and experience yet another unique culture. Uruguayans are normally more laid back than Argentines, and they like to take everything just a little slower...Montevideo[36] is a great city to see, with beautiful hotels and beaches, while Colonia[37] is a quiet town that can help you catch your breath after spending so much time in BA! Both are great choices, and are so close that it is silly not to go!

Learn

Attend university. Foreigners have been flocking to Buenos Aires to take advantage of the great deals.

The University of Buenos Aires - School of Agronomy - International Studies Department [38] and The University of Buenos Aires - School of Philosophy and Letters - Spanish Courses at the Language Laboratory [39] offer excellent programs for foreigners who want to learn Spanish.

Work

Employment is available for Spanish-speaking visitors in Buenos Aires. Many foreigners work as translators, or English teachers. There's also a recent trend for technology and recruiting companies hiring English-speaking or bilingual employees.

It is very common for foreigners to work in call-centers. There are companies that provide Customer Care and Technical Support services to many big American and European companies like Microsoft, Verizon, Vodafone, Motorola and others. If you speak just a bit of Spanish you can get this kind of job and earn a decent salary.

Buenos Aires souvenirs and shopping

Opening times

Shops at Shopping Malls and Supermarkets are usually open from 10:00 to 22:00 hs, 7 days a week. Non-chain small stores usually close around 20:00 and stay closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays except on big avenues and touristic areas. All of the main avenues are full with kiosks and very small convenience stores that stay open 24 hours. You will find not less than 2 for each 100 mts you walk. On the Recoleta area several bookstores and record stores close as late as 2:30 am daily.

Money

The Argentinian currency is the peso. A$100 peso bills are notoriously hard to break-- avoid changing round numbers so you get some change (e.g. ask for A$90 instead of A$100). Coins are rare and required for buses, so try not to spend them in stores.

Money can be exchanged at Banco de la Nación Argentina at the airport and at any of the cambios along Florida or Lavalle, but, if you have the time, shop around for the best rate. Traveller's checks are rarely used and may actually be difficult to exchange, but there is an American Express office at San Martin Plaza. ATMs are your best source of cash.

Banks: Banks open from 10 to 3 pm., only on weekdays. Banelco or "Red Link" ATMs can be found around the city, but banks and ATMs are few and far between in residential neighborhoods like Palermo. Try major roads near metro stations. Fees depend on your hometown bank and so there are few hidden surprises because the ATM can switch to English. Sometimes the machines also dispense dollars for international bank cards that are members of the Cirrus and PLUS| networks. Visitors from Brazil can find many Banco Itaú agencies all over the city.

Souvenirs

• The mate: It is a sort of cup made from different materials, commonly from a dessicated vegetal core, sometimes with silver or gold ornaments; which is used to drink mate, the most traditional social non-alcoholic beverage. The mate is drunk in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil.
• Other gaucho items: Traditional clothes, knives, etc.
• Leather items: The cow is totally used here: meat, milk, sausages, and leather; all of that is high quality. You can find excellent coats and other leather products in Murillo street.
• Alfajores: These traditional cake/ cookies, often containing dulce de leche, are delicious.
• Tango Shoes The zona de calzados is just Past Diagonal Norte on Suipacha. You will see many shops grouped together that sell tango shoes. As with many things in Buenos Aires shop around and make sure you are not getting the gringo price. Men can buy excellent hand made leather shoes for around US$50. For those of you with time on your hands you can ask them to make you a pair. They will draw your foot on a piece of paper and you can design your own shoe for the same price. Do be aware that if they tell you that it will be ready in a week, that probably means about 10 days.

Shopping Districts

• Florida Street and Lavalle Street (from 500 up to 1000) are for pedestrians only, are the main tourist's shops in MicroCentro. At the intersection of these two pedestrian streets, there is often some sort of interesting street performance going on, especially at night.

• The Palermo Viejo in Palermo has many shops that will appeal to young or artsy people (think New York's SoHo). Nearby is Murillo Street, a block full of leather houses.

Books

• In the Corrientes Ave. from the Obelisco (big obelisk landed in the intersection with 9 de Julio avenue) up to Callao Ave., you will find a lot of cheap bookstores where you can find many books mostly in Spanish.
• "El Ateneo," a massive bookstore with a reasonable offering of books in English, is at Santa Fe 1860.

Markets and Fairs

There are many artisans' fairs, most notably the weekend Recoleta fair located in the Francia park, near Recoleta cemetery (which is an excellent place for photography) and on Sundays the San Telmo market. In every fair you will find some excellent hand made products, but beware, also there are industrialized products disguised as "hand made".

Saturdays and Sundays are great days for the outdoor markets, especially in the summer. The Feria Recoleta (in Plaza Francia) is an assortment of all sorts of artesania, from jewelry to shawls; and Plaza Serrano in Palermo viejo comes alive in the afternoon with a feria of artesania in the plaza and freelance designer clothes in the bars surrounding the plaza. Another nearby Plaza (in Palermo viejo) between Malabia, Armenia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua streets has stalls with items for sale. Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo offers tango and antiquities. Defensa street on Sunday from Chile to San Juan comes alive performers and vendors. The crowds are thick, watch your pockets.

The Último Taller at Jorge L. Borges 1975 (between Soler and Nicaragua streets) sells funky candles and street address plates and markers; there are charming cats, and photos can be etched onto these plates as well. The shop is open Monday to Saturday 10am-9pm; and its telephone number is 4831-4135. There are other stores that sell nice candles in this area as well.

Buenos Aires Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

In Buenos Aires, and in the rest of the country, beef is king, but it's not your only option in this cosmopolitan city. Italian food is pervasive but in neighborhoods like Palermo pizza joints are seeing heavy competition from sushi, fusion, and even vegetarian bistros. Just about everything can be delivered - including fantastic, gourmet helado (ice cream).

Vegan food is available at these restuarants [40]:

• Artemisia - 3877 Cabrera
• Bio Restaurant - Humboldt 2199
• Bodhi - Chile 1763
• Granix - Florida 165 2nd floor
• Green Life - Paraguay 2743
• Los Sabios - Corrientes 3733
• Lotus - Cordoba 1577
• Prana Cocina Vegetariana - El Salvador 5101
• Sattva - Montevideo 446
• Siempre Verde - Arribeños 2127

If you're not vegetarian, you will want to try asado (beef/steak barbecue) at a parrilla, restaurants specializing in roasted. There are relatively expensive parrillas, and more simple ones. The bife de lomo (tenderloin) is unbelievably tender in comparison to US beef and is more reminiscent of European cuts.

The Italian and Spanish food are almost native here, as the cultural heritage heralds in great part from these two countries. Other popular meals are pizzas and empanadas (small pastries stuffed with combinations of cheese and meats). They are quite a popular home delivery or takeaway/takeout option.

The pizza is excellent in Buenos Aires, due to the Italian immigrant heritage. Pizza comes al molde (cooked in a pan, usually medium to thick crust), a la piedra (baked in a stone oven, usually thin to medium crust), and a la parilla (cooked on a parilla grill, very thin, crispy crust).

One incredible and typical Argentinian kind of "cookie", is the alfajor [41], which consists of two round sweet biscuits joined together with a sweet jam, generally dulce de leche (milk jam, akin to caramel), covered with chocolate, merengue or something similarly sweet.

Budget

There are a lot of al paso (walk through) places to eat; you eat standing up or in high chairs at the bar. Meals vary from hot-dogs (panchos), beef sausages (chorizos, or its sandwich version choripán), pizzas, milanesas (breaded fried cutlets), etc. Don't forget to indulge in the perennially popular mashed squash - it is delicious and often comes with rice and makes a full meal in itself. It is perfect for vegetarians and vegans to fill up on.

Mid-range

You can go to a huge variety of small restaurants, with cheap and generous servings, most notably the ones owned by Spanish and Italian immigrants. There are also many places which offer foreign meals, mostly Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Arabic, Spanish, and Italian.

Siga la Vaca - several locations throughout the city, notably in Puerto Madero and Costanera, offers buffet-style asado fresh off the grill and includes a well-stocked salad bar. Including wine, approximately $100 per person.

• Las Cholas, Arce 306, ☎ 4899-0094. Great parrilla specializing in Northern Argentine found in Las Cañitas. The rooftop seating upstairs is a great environment. Don't expect to see many tourists here, just a lot of Porteños out for a three hour weekend meal. Try the Humita (made with mashed corn, cheese and spices) and Tamales (a sort of flour with minced beef) or anything off of the parrilla is great. Do not skip dessert.$100.  
• Guerrin (pizza), Corrientes 1368, ☎ 4371-8141. Go for a great pizza in a really noisy environment40$.  
• El Farol, Estado de Israel 4488 (y Rocamora), ☎ 4866-3233. "Typical argentinian food": spanish + italian + meat. Very high quality. Really?60$.  
• La Biela, (near the Recoleta cemetery). Very nice cafe just outside of the cemetery, shaded by an enormous rubber tree. In very ancient times, it was a saying: If you are not greeted at La Viela, you do not exists 
• Café Tortoni, Ave. de Mayo. Famous in its own right; it is an old, classic and luxurious cafe. There is also a pool hall; buy a token (ficha) from a waiter for 2 pesos (0.5 euros). Coffee is 4 pesos (1 euro). They also have different tango shows for 60-70 pesos, depending on the show. You must book in advance. 

Splurge

The most expensive and luxurious restaurants are found in the Puerto Madero zone, near downtown, heading to the River Plate. But the nicer places in terms of decoration, food and personality are in Buenos_Aires/Palermo. Another place to visit is The Grill at the Marriott Plaza Hotel, acknowledged as a five star restaurant, offers the finest international cuisine and is considered among the best restaurants in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

The main areas to go out are: Puerto Madero, close to the Casa Rosada, renovated harbour full of restaurants, some hotels and nice for a walk. Safe during the day and night. Recoleta area close to the famous cemetery, restaurants, bars, cinema complex, used to be trendy, now mainly for tourists. Palermo SoHo and Palermo Hollywood, full of trendy stores, restaurants, and bars; young and trendy, nice for a walk, eating and drinking. Palermo Las Cañitas is another nice area close to the Polo stadium.

Buenos Aires has a popular cafe culture.

• Cafe Tortoni Avenida de Mayo 829 between Piedras and Tacuari. Opened in 1858. The hot chocolate is incredible.
• Confiteria Richmond Florida 468 between Lavalle and Corrientes. Mentioned in Graham Greene' The Honorary Consul. Opened in 1913. It has been modified.
• La Biela Quintana 596 nand RM Ortiz. Luxurious. You can sit outside underneath a huge ancient rubber tree for a little bit extra.
• Confiteria Ideal is ancient and less modified. It is located at Suipacha 380.
• The unidentified cafe on the corner of Uriarte and Honduras in Palermo viejo (towards Santa Fe) has an incredible European ambiance with good food and lots of newspapers and magazines to read. Also try the community centre across the street named "Club Eros", after the local football club, that serves great lunches and dinners for ridiculously low prices (expect to pay 16 pesos for a steak).
• Finisterra, 5190 Honduras(Corner of Uriarte), ☎ 15-6728-3621, [42]. 10AM-5AM. Finisterra offers great delights at small prices in the warm and informal atmosphere of the classic Argentinean resto-bar. Reservations for large groups by phone or email at info@finisterra-bar.com . Website: http://www.finisterra-bar.com 
• "Las Violetas" is also a lovely cafe, a bit off the beaten (tourist) path but you can take the oldest subway line in the city, Linea A, to get there. Well worth the trip. Av. Rivadavia 3899 (Esquina Medrano)
• The Plaza Bar: Chosen by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 9 hotel bars in the world, the Plaza Bar is considered amongst the best bars in Buenos Aires. Opened in 1909. Florida 1005

You may want to try lágrima, a "tear" of coffee on a cup of milk.

Try mate: You can buy a mate in any Coto or Carrefour (these are the names for two of the many supermarket chains available, like K-Mart or Wal-Mart; anyway, this last one you can find in Buenos Aires as well) for 3-5 pesos (0.75 to 1.25 euros) and then a metal or bamboo "straw" (called a "bombilla") for around the same. Don't forget the yerba, the actual "tea" you drink; an excellent brand is Nobleza Gaucha, "Taragui", or "Rosamonte". Anyway, ask a local to help you in preparing and drinking the mate, since it's not as easy as it seems. Many visitors take mates as a gift when they go away and they become big fans (locals tend to drink it bitter (amargo), but foreigners generally like it sweet (dulce)). Outside the country, you can find yerba in Argentine stores in big cities like New York, Madrid, London, Paris, Miami, Tel-Aviv, and others.

Clubs & nightlife

For many, Buenos Aires has the best nightlife in the world, a great variety of clubs and discos, that are opened until late hours (6am or 7am) and bars that stay open 24 hours a day.

The Palermo Barrios (SoHo, Hollywood, Las Canita or simply "PalVo") have many hip restaurants that turn into bars as it gets later.

Pacha one of the greatest clubs in the world has a franchise in Buenos Aires

• The Buenos Aires Pub Crawl - [43] A night out with the B.A. pub crawl is always a good nightlife option. You meet tons of people from all over the world, your night is planned out for you, you cover a lot of ground, and it's a great value.

Buenos Aires Event Guide (Spanish)

• Vammos.com.ar [44] Parties, Concerts, Pubs and Discos.

Late Night Tango Late night tango shows are also very popular among tourists and locals alike. They often include dinner, a great show, dance lessons, and a few complimentary drinks[45]. The dancers are all professionals and bent on putting in their best shows every single night. These shows start around dinner time, but can go well into the night, and can also be a great jumping off point for the rest of your crazy night in Buenos Aires.

Rock Concerts

Buenos Aires has a tradition of rock concerts going on all the time. Most of the time top international artist include put several dates on their tour in Buenos Aires. Football stadiums are a frequent place to make the concerts. Unlike other countries the public is likely to sing along all of the songs of english speaking bands. For concert dates check specialzed websites [46]

Buenos Aires cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

In addition to the choice of hotels at bargain prices compared to the US or Europe, there are many apartments available for rent for as little as one week at rates surprisingly low for such a large city. If you are looking for a temporary apartment you will certainly find what you need at Vio Breton Real Estate [47]. Another option for fully furnished temporary apartments in San Telmo, Recoleta or Palermo is ByT Argentina [48]. There are hundred of apartments, ranging from economy to deluxe, and the prices are very good.

Buenos Aires apartments. You can find cheap apartments for rent in Buenos Aires in Desigbuenosaires [49]

Accommodation is scattered around the city. Some places to look include

• San Telmo - budget hotels and hostels on the edge of downtown.
• Palermo - chic boutique hotels on the higher end.
• Recoleta - the fancy residential neighborhood is also home to the four-star and up crowd including the Park Hyatt.

• Che Lagarto, [50].  

• La MeNeSuNdA Hostel, Av. Boedo 742 Boedo Buenos Aires +54 (11) 4957-0946, [51]. This hostel is located in a quiet area, away from the annoying downtown noises, in the traditional tango neighborhood and only 10 minutes away from the Downtown and near to Almagro and Palermo Neighborhoods. It offers a breakfast, free internet facilities and WiFi, shared kitchen, dvd room and free dvd movies, solarium and BBQ, linen included, housekeeping, lockers and security box, transfers, tours and bus-flights tickets.

• Recoleta Guest House [52] - Clean, spacious ensuite rooms in the Recoleta (Shopping) district of Buenos Aires. With hearty breakfast and good advice on where to go and what to do from hosts. Tel +54 (11) 4803-5474.

• Milhouse Hostel, Hipólito Yrigoyen Street 959; tel: +54 (11) 4345-9604 / +54 (11) 4343-5038, [53]. Backpackers' favorite right in the center. This huge hotel has internet facilities, and shared kitchen; also organizes many tours and tango lessons. Definitely a party place though and the atrium reverberates sound, making it very noisy. Dorm: 34/38 pesos members/nonmembers (note that you have to pay your stay in advance and they do not give refunds if you decide to leave earlier than planned).

• Versalles Palace, Dr. E. Finochietto 864 tel: (54 11) 4361-7356 / 4361-7357, [54]. If you're looking for a simple, clean and affordable place, this is the one. Don't expect the services of a full hotel, it's much simpler, but much, much better then a hostel, including private clean bathrooms. It's not far away from downtown, with easy bus, cab or subte(subway) access.

• The Clan, Alsina 912 (San Nicolas); tel: +54 (11) 4334-3401, [55]. A lively YMCA youth hostel. If you're looking to see the nightlife of Buenos Aires this is the place for you. The parties last all night in this international environment. Very affordable with a very laid back staff. Full breakfast provided. Information on excursions and spanish classes can be found. Located 1 block from 9 de Julio and 2 blocks from Avenida de Mayo it is in the center of all the action.

• Teresita B&B, Charming brick wall ground floor unit with exposed cypress beam high-ceilings and Mexican terracotta-tile flooring. Rustic furnishings with South American indigenous art accents. Antique bathrooms fixtures. Designed to provide the ultimate in privacy, blending rustic beauty with modern amenities for a truly comfortable experience while in Buenos Aires.

• Arahaus hostel, Calle Mexico 1482 (second floor), Congreso, Tel +54 11 4382 8375 (email: arahaus@yahoo.com), [56]. A sweet hostel located on Calle Mexico, Congreso (at the south end of centro). This is a converted apartment with nice rooms. There is a great lounge room and free internet and a TV in the front room. It is run by a really nice chica called Hebe, who will make you feel at home, and it is cheap (current prices are: US$7 for dorm US$17 for a single room). Anyway - its definitely worth checking out for a tranquil stay in Buenos Aires.

• El Firulete (Downtown), [57]. Great spacious hostel in the Microcenter (Maipu 208). Large lounge with TV and projector, Free internet, helpful staff, average breakfast. $14 USD for a private room.

• La Posta del Barto, [58]. A rather calm hostel in a nice old house. free internet, kitchen, breakfast included. dorm: 18 pesos.

• Gran Hotel Espaňa (not to be confused with the Hispano), Tacuari 80. Across from there is Hotel Uruguay. 45 to 50 pesos for a single room. Rooms are nice, but typically will not have air conditioning.

• Avenue Hostel, Avenida de Mayo 950, [59]. Air conditioning in every room. In the first floor of the same building there is a company who rent furnished apartments for short and long terms: DeptosTemporarios [60].

• Venite a Casa!, Costa Rica 5791, ☎ 4776-2380, [61]. checkin: 11; checkout: 10. Located in the chic neighborhood of Palermo Hollywood offers Air conditioner in every room, breakfast and most important is a place were you can rest at night to be able to keep having fun in the city the next morning.10.  

• Hostel Belgrano(your home in Buenos Aires), Moldes 1785((int. La Pampa)), ☎ +54 (11) 4789-9416, [62]. New hostel with official government certification opened in 2008. Clean, comfortable private and shared rooms available for short term and long term stays. Airport transportation (check schedules), WiFi and breakfast included in price. Spanish classes and City Tours also available. Moldes 1785 1º piso, just 3 blocks from Cabildo, close to the subway and train.$25.00.  

• Bait Hostel(Palermo Soho), El Salvador 5115 (y Uriarte)(Nearest Subte Line D 'Plaza Italia'), ☎ +54 (11) 4774 2859, [63]. checkin: 1pm; checkout: 11am. This is a cozy, funky little place right in the heart of Palermo Soho, just a couple of blocks from Plaza Serrano. On a quiet side street, it has 9 comfortable rooms, private and dormitory and is well priced. It has internet (WiFi and fixed), a kitchen, a TV area, 24 hour bar and a relaxing patio area which hosts the weekly asado (BBQ). The friendly, helpful (and bilingual) staff can arrange trips, tours and classes and are present 24 hours a day. From US$10.  

Mid-range

• Spot BNB Boutique Hotel, Guardia Vieja 3532, (1192), Buenos Aires, Argentina, ☎ (011) 48676797, [64]. Spot BNB Boutique Hotel is located in the heart of the lively Abasto neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Situated in the vibrant Abasto neighborhood, just 10 minutes from the Casa Rosada, this boutique hotel enjoys access to many of the city’s key places. These include the famous Florida Street and the nearby shopping mall. Ease into the snug confines of cozy guestrooms as each room is aptly equipped with modern amenities for a most pleasurable stay. 

• BA City Residencial Hotel, Besares 1840, Nuñez, Cod, Postal C1429DIB, ☎ (0054) (11) 47025823, [65]. BA City Residencial Hotel is located in Nuñez, a commercial neighborhood on the banks of Rio de la Plata, north of Buenos Aires. The area is known for its bustling activities, especially along Libertador Avenue and Cabildo Avenue. Due to its close proximity to the commercialized avenues surrounding Nuñez and the rest of Northern Buenos Aires, this bed and breakfast type of inn is an ideal spot for tourists who want to witness more of the city's active life. 

• The Gran Hotel Hispano on Avenida de Mayo, near Cafe Tortoni is AR$ 75 per night. It is pleasant, although mattresses are not so comfortable, the sheets are nice. Rooms are arranged around an interior courtyard and there are three floors of rooms. You may use a gym on nearby Piedras if you stay here. There are also in-room safes for which you keep a key. There are some triples available, which overlook the Avenida de Mayo. Other rooms will have doors overlooking the interior courtyard. You have the option of closing and locking your shutters so the air can still come through an open door yet maintain privacy. Shutters also block the light and allow you to sleep in late if you wish. Have showers and not bathtubs (common for this price range).

• Hostel San Telmo At only 14peso per person per night...its a bit cramped but because of this there is a real family atmosphere..located in the middle of San Telmo close to restaurants its a cheap place to hangout and get to know some interesting people!

• La Acacia [66]. In the middle of beautiful Belgrano, a very nice B&B, with nice owners who home made breakfast. Close to metro (green line) and divers bus lines.

• LoiSuiteS Arenales Hotel [67].
• LoiSuiteS Esmeralda [68].

• Microtel Inn & Suites [69]. Enjoy consistency, quality, reasonable prices and great service each time you stay with Microtel Inns & Suites.

• NH Jousten Hotel [70]. Avda. Corrientes, 280, C1043AAP, E-mail: nhjousten@nh-hotels.com Tel.: +54 11 43216750 Fax: +54 11 43216775. A great location in the middle of the city's historic and shopping district. There are five other NH hotels in Buenos Aires [71].

• The Cocker [72] From the look of their website, you'd think it would sit in the 'splurge' section, but at US$80-105 per room they're definitely mid-range. The place has been getting rave reviews everywhere, is right in the middle of San Telmo and run by a male English couple!

• Atlas Tower Hotel [73] Modern hotel, well situated in Corientes/Callao, almost in front of Callao underground station. Rooms: 65-70$. Staff is very kind and helpful. Free internet access from hotel's PC.

• Ayacucho Palace Hotel [74] Three stars hotel with an excellent location, on a relatively quiet street in upscale Recoleta, three blocks from cemetery, and walking distance from several of the city's best museums. Very helpful staff. Rooms: US$ 50-70

• Hotel Goya [75] Located at Suipacha 748, in the heart of the microcentro this three-star hotel is a few blocks from the Florida pedestrian mall, a short walk from the central Retiro railway station and gives ready access to passing taxis offering a cheap ride to surrounding suburbs. The superior rooms (AR$120) are worth the AR$30 premium over the classic rooms by virtue of a larger, newly renovated bathroom. Friendly and helpful staff. Breakfast offers a large selection of very good pastries and cakes.

• Livian Guest House [76] Located in Palermo, sister hotel to the defunct Youkali Boutique Hotel. Breakfast and wifi, and significant focus on helping tourists get around.

• Art Hotel [77] Award winning and well-decorated yet simple hotel located at Azcuenaga 1268 in Recoleta. Prices from US$ 85-125. The neighborhood is safe and Subte less than five minutes away. Internet terminal and free WiFi are available in the lobby. Staff is kind and helpful but the breakfast is only average.

Splurge

The InterContinental is on Piedras and Moreno streets, close to the San Telmo and Montserrat areas. Other international-class hotels are the Alvear Palace Hotel (said to be the most luxurious hotel in South America) in Recoleta, the Hilton, the Marriott-Plaza, the Sheraton in Retiro, and the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires - Palacio Duhau in Recoleta. There are also many suites-only hotels like the Broadway Suites very close to the Obelisk which have very reasonable rates.

• Espacia Suites, 1135 Amenabar St., ZIP (C1426AJS), Buenos Aires, Argentina, ☎ +54114786 8687, [78]. Espacia Suites is located in the residential neighborhood of Belgrano. Some of its services includes conditioned swimming pool and solarium, Wi-Fi in public areas, Cable TV, electronic locks with chip technology cards, safety box in all suites (laptop size), bilingual personnel, and luggage room. Room rates starts at US $110++. 

• HOTEL COLÓN Buenos Aires, Carlos Pellegrini 507, C1009ABK Buenos Aires, ☎ +54 11 4320 3500(reservas@hotelcolon.com.ar, fax: +54 11 4320 3507), [79].  

• Marriott Plaza Hotel Buenos Aires, Discover one of Argentina's most celebrated hotels, the Marriott Plaza Hotel Buenos Aires is located on Florida St, known for its fantastic shops and boutiques. Considered a historic landmark, the Marriott Plaza Buenos Aires is recognized internationally for its elegance and outstanding service., ☎ Reservations: 0054 11 4318-3069, [80].  

• Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, Avenida Alvear 1661, C1014AAD Buenos Aires, ☎ +54 11 5171 1234(buenosaires.park@hyattintl.com, fax: +54 11 5171 1235), [81]. Opened in 2006, Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires is 5 star luxury hotel, situated in a restored Palacio (built in 1934) on the famous Avenida Alvear in Buenos Aires upscale district Recoleta. The hotel is also home to the Ahin Spa, one of the leading spas in Buenos Aires.  

• Pestana Buenos Aires, Carlos Pellegrini, nº 877, C1009ABQ Buenos Aires, ☎ +54 11 5239 1000(reservas@pestanabuenosaires.com, fax: +54 11 5239 1141), [82]. Butler service. 

• Alvear Palace, in Recoleta, [83]. Butler service. 

• Faena Hotel, in the Puerto Madero district, [84]. Brand-new hotel with lots of bars in the lobby and a pool at the front. 

• Four Seasons Hotel, [85]. Has a walled garden. 

• Hotel de Diseño, Marcelo T. de Alvear 1695 - C1060AAE Buenos Aires Argentina, ☎ +5411 5237 3100, [86]. Designed by renowned architect Ernesto Goransky, this spectacular new 28-suite hotel offers stunning amenities and facilities along with patio and plaza rooms, plaza and balcony suites, and balcony lofts.Best rates on official website start at US$110.  

• Design Suites Hotel, Marcelo T. de Alvear 1683 - C1060AAE Buenos Aires Argentinia. Luxury boutique hotel with the ultimate expression of design, blending magically with the green spaces of Buenos Aires. Located near the Obelisco close to all the most important places.Best rates on official website start at US$115.  

• Hotel 562 Nogaro, Avenida Julio A. Roca 562, Capital Federal Argentinia. The Hotel Nogaró Plaza de Mayo is located in the historical, commercial and financial heart of Buenos Aires. It was originally built in 1930 and it has been recently renovated in keeping with its classic French style. Many of the city's major attractions are within 200 meters, and a ten-minute walk will bring guests to shopping areas and entertainment venues. The Hotel Nogaro Plaza de Mayo is convenient to the business, as well as the leisure traveller.Best rates on official website start at US$110.  

• 725 Continental Hotel, Av.Roque Saenz Peña 725, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentinia. The building, built in 1927 with a distinguished French style became a symbol of Buenos Aires architecture. Today the Hotel Continental is reborn under a new name and a modern and contemporaneous style.Best rates on official website start at US$230.  

• Luxury Apartments for Rent, Av. de Mayo 950, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentinia, [87]. Luxury apartments for temprary rental in Buenos Aires. All areas: Recoleta, Palermo, Puerto Madero, Downtown and more.From U$S 240 per Week!.  

• Tailor Made Hotel, Arce 385, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentinia, [88]. . Idea: A Hotel in the city of Buenos Aires to suit the functional and esthetic needs of world travelers who know how to seek and find small places with a distinctive charm. The hotel: 5 cleaned-lined, comfortable rooms + common and private terraces + "Salon" on the ground floor. Offering drinks, bites & a delicious agenda. TMH is an Apple friendly hotel, it uses Apple technology for it own management and for the guest's use and recreation. </sleep>

Also, individuals rent their upscale apartments by the day, week, or month. Many times these apartments are 3 times the size of a hotel at 1/2 the price.

Stay safe

• General Emergencies Line - Toll free call 911
• Tourist Police Station - Corrientes 436. 0800 999 5000 (toll free)/4346 5748 (turista@policiafederal.gov.ar). Provides information in English, Italian, French, Portuguese and Ukrainian.
• Tourist Ombudsman - Communicate with the Tourist Ombudsman, phone number: 4302 7816. To contact personally, can go to Ave. Pedro de Mendoza 1835 ("Benito Quinquela Martin" Museum) in the neighborhood of La Boca. From Monday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM.
• Emergency - Ambulance emergency service SAME (Immediate Health Emergency Service)

Toll free call. 107

• The public water supply is reliable.
• Public hospitals - available for tourists, offer a 24-hour emergency service, without charge.

Crime: Crime has generally risen around november 2008 due to the higher temperatures, increased tourism and the economic downturn. It is recommended you be very discreet with cameras or other electronics or valuables. San Telmo and La Boca are especially prevalent in pick-pockets and while violence is not often used, there have been numerous tourist muggings and robberies during the day and in crowded places. If possible, only use cameras and other valuables in areas with a high police presence or around tour guides or groups. It is not rare to get robbed at gunpoint in Buenos Aires in the daytime even with people around. Don't carry a camera visibly, and be aware of what is going on around you. Smaller towns in Argentina aren't as bad. See the following links for more information:

• fco.gov.uk
• travel.state.gov
• voyage.gc.ca

Money: Be careful of counterfeit money; even the ATM's may hand out fake bills. Also be careful of using large bills, as many merchants or taxi drivers will claim to not have change or not have enough change, or something like "you are in a mistake, you have just given me 10 pesos not 100".

Taxis: If you have to flag one down on the street, pay attention; there have been robberies taking place by illegal cab drivers. When in doubt, play it safer, and call a Radio Taxi; these are generally a lot safer: you call by phone and a cab is quickly dispatched (3 to 15 minutes depending on time and day). There is no extra charge for this service. Also you can ask when you order a cab for the car number so you know the cab that comes to pick you up is legitimate and actually the one that was dispatched. Also be careful that the "taxistas" do not give you fake bills (you can usually tell by the texture and color if they are real); if you need a bill, you better ask for a cab with receipt emitting taximeter when you call for one. What the taximeter shows, is the actual fare in local currency.

Ezeiza International Airport Security Warning

On July of 2007, Argentina's Canal 13 conducted an investigation revealing that a group of security operators at the airport are stealing valuable objects such as iPods, digital cameras, cellular phones, sun glasses, jewelry and laptops while scanning the checked luggage of passengers. According to the special report, security operators at the airport should check each bag before putting it into the plane; however, some operators take advantage of the scanner machine to detect valuable objects and steal them. The report states that this event occurs every day and that the stolen items include anything from electronic devices to perfumes and chocolates.

Travelers and residents using the Ezeiza airport are strongly encouraged to place high-value items in their carry-on luggage to prevent any incidents.

Cope

Spanish in Buenos Aires--people pronounce things differently there. "Calle" and "pollo" sound very different and the double l´s sound like sh´s instead of y´s or j's. The difference in pronunciation probably reflects the influence of Portuguese traders in the port in the 19th century...many of the words that Porteños pronounce differently from the rest of the Spanish-speaking world are pronounced identically to a Portuguese word for the same thing. Much has been written on Spanish language in Buenos Aires. It was influenced by the many Italians who immigrated here as well. If you have studied Spanish you'll find these differences enormous. Also vocabulary differs a lot from Iberian Spanish or other Latin American varieties of Spanish, so may be useful to get an Argentinian dictionary or take some lessons of Argentinian Spanish before getting there. Despite these differences, any person who is fluent in Spanish should have no difficulty navigating through conversations with Porteños or with any other Argentinians. Anyway, most of "Porteños" (inhabitants of Buenos Aires City) speak a little English but it is very easy to find people who are very fluent, especially if you stay near the tourist areas.

Using Credit Cards Credit Card use is not as prevalent in Argentina as it is in the US or Europe. Often times you will need a form of ID, like your passport or driver's license to pay with a card. You sometimes may be able to use a copy of your passport, but not always. Also, using a credit card online is not yet very popular, but is gaining popularity, especially in the tourism industry[89].

Haircuts are available at nice places for around 50 pesos. A luxurious super-stylish could be anywhere from 75 pesos to 200 but make sure you know what you're getting before you sit down.

Media

Newspapers

• The Buenos Aires Herald [90], the local English language newspaper, is available online and at newsstands downtown. If you'll be in town for a few weeks, you can ask at your local newsstand and they can probably get a copy delivered to your home or hotel free of charge every morning.

• The Argentimes [91] a free, fortnightly English language aimed at the young traveler and expatriate market. Has information for tourists as well as economic, political,and environmental news. The current issue and back issues are available for download in PDF format at the website.

• The Nose [92], a free English language city paper, presents concrete recommendations and new perspectives to self-oriented travelers. Each issue blends alternative and mainstream reporting with feature articles on local themes, quick travels tips and day-by-day event listings, including film, music, and the fine arts. Distribution is done through a 75 key locations network of hostels, Spanish language institutes, specialized travel agencies, bars and restaurants.

Get out

• Capilla del Señor - a country town that can be visited on a day trip in an old historic steam train

• El Tigre - a town up the river delta where people can go shopping or take boats to go further up river to explore the habitat. It is an easy 45 minute train ride from the Retiro train station in the north east of Buenos Aires.

• San Antonio de Areco

• Montevideo - a major city in Uruguay across the Rio Plata. You can get there by ferry that departs from the ferry terminal in Puerto Madero, at the bottom of Avenida Cordoba.

• Colonia_del_Sacramento - a historic town in Uruguay that can be reached from the same ferry terminal.

Destinations in Buenos Aires:

• Buenos Aires - Belgrano
• Buenos Aires - Boedo
• Buenos Aires - Caballito
• Buenos Aires - La Boca
• Buenos Aires - Microcentro
• Buenos Aires - Palermo
• Buenos Aires - Puerto Madero
• Buenos Aires - Recoleta
• Buenos Aires - Retiro
• Buenos Aires - San Cristobal
• Buenos Aires - San Telmo

This page was last edited by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by fefulin@yahoo.com and Peter Fitzgerald, Wikitravel user(s) Backinba and Sababa, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license