Buenos Aires

Currency

Argentina’s currency situation changes frequently and parallel exchange rates have historically differed sharply from the official one. Check the current situation immediately before travelling rather than relying on any guide — this is the single most important piece of trip research for Argentina.

ATMs & cards

Argentine ATMs have low withdrawal limits and high fees, which makes them a poor option. Many travellers bring foreign cash or use international transfer services instead. Check current conditions before departure.

Argentine ATMs combine very low per-withdrawal limits with high fixed fees, which makes them a poor option. Check the current currency situation before travelling — it changes often.

Wherever you are: if the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is set by the ATM's operator, not your bank.

Safety

Reasonably safe in Palermo, Recoleta and Puerto Madero, less so elsewhere. Phone snatching is common — do not walk with your phone out. La Boca is fine on the tourist street by day but not beyond it, and not after dark.

Our own assessment, not a sourced index.

Entry & visa

Health & emergencies

Required to enter

No vaccinations are required for entry from Europe or North America.

Worth having

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Tetanus up to date

Getting treated

Public hospitals treat everyone free of charge, foreigners included, and the standard in Buenos Aires is decent. Private clinics are fast and inexpensive by European standards. Pharmacies are well stocked and pharmacists give real advice.

Orientation, not medical advice. Entry rules change and what you need depends on your own history and where you have been — check with a travel clinic or your national health service four to six weeks before you go.

Food tip

Parrilla steak is the institution — order bife de chorizo and ask for jugoso if you want it rare. Dinner starts at 21:30 at the earliest. Empanadas and dulce de leche everything.

Getting around

• Subte — the metro, 6 lines, cheap, requires a SUBE card
• Bus (colectivo) — huge network covering everywhere, also needs a SUBE card
• Walking — Palermo, Recoleta and San Telmo are very walkable and full of cafes
• Taxi and Cabify — inexpensive, use apps rather than hailing where possible
• Airport: Tienda León bus from Ezeiza to the centre (45 min)

Must-see

Things to do

• Wander Recoleta Cemetery
• See a tango show, or better, a milonga
• Browse San Telmo market on Sunday
• Catch a performance at Teatro Colón
• Eat at a traditional parrilla
• Watch a Boca or River football match

Nearby day trips

Say a few words

Spanish (Latin American)

• HelloHolaOH-la
• PleasePor favorpor fa-VOR
• Thank youGraciasGRA-syas
• Yes / NoSí / Nosee / no
• Excuse meDisculpedees-KOOL-peh
• How much is it?¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-to KWES-ta
• The bill, pleaseLa cuenta, por favorla KWEN-ta
• Cheers!¡Salud!sa-LOOD

The c and z are said as an s here, not the Spanish "th" — gracias is GRA-syas.

Religion

Catholic

Catholic by tradition and increasingly secular in practice. Pope Francis was Argentine, which is still a source of national pride.

Do's and don'ts

Do

• Greet with a single kiss on the right cheek, including between men
• Eat dinner at 21:30 or later; anything earlier marks you out
• Accept mate if it is passed to you, and pass it back without saying gracias unless you have finished
• Expect to be interrupted in conversation; it signals engagement rather than rudeness

Don't

• Do not stir the mate straw or wipe it — both are minor insults to the person who prepared it
• Do not bring up the Falklands, or use that name for them
• Do not confuse Argentine Spanish with the Spanish of Spain; the pronoun and pronunciation differ
• Do not ask for your steak well done without accepting the disappointment you will cause