travel tips | buenos aires (eng.)
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BUENOS AIRES
OVERVIEW ATTRACTIONS TRANSPORTATION SHOPPING WHERE TO EAT WHERE TO STAY
TRAVEL TIPS
OVERVIEW
Known as the world capital of tango, the
modern Buenos Aires entices even more
tourist each day, not only for due to the
characteristic rhythm, but also for its var-
ious attractions. The capital of Argentina
has an intense nightlife with bars and pubs
that begin their activities at 2am. The cozy
cafes, the irresistible alfajor (small round
cookie, filled with dulce de leche and
covered by chocolate), the great gastro-
nomic variety, the rich cultural life and
the boasting architecture make the city
even more charming!
Visiting Buenos Aires is to reach different
cultures and leisure options to please all
distinctive tastes. The flat, tree-lined streets
and the proximity between neighborhoods
are an invitation to explore the city on foot.
The colorful windows and walls of the Cam-
inito give the tourists the impression that
they are inside an actual roofless museum. As
for the cozy cafes scattered all over the city,
they mix sophistication and nostalgia. The city
lights reflected in Rio de la Plata turns any
dinner into a romantic set in Puerto Madero.
The intensity of the passionate fans of
teams River Plate and Boca Juniors, the
dedication of the dancers on stages and
streets and the crowded parties that start
late at night show the intensity of the citi-
zens of Buenos Aires.
With about 2.8 million inhabitants, Buenos
Aires is the largest city in Argentina. Its offi-
cial language is Spanish, or, as the Argentin-
ians say, Castilian.
As the city has well-defined seasons, a
good time to go to Buenos Aires is during
Spring (September to December) or Au-
tumn (March to June). In these seasons, the
temperature tends to have more balance:
the weather is pleasant during the day and
the nights are frisky.
Summer (December to March) is usually
hot, with temperatures oscillating between
23° C and 25°C. As for the Winter (June
to September), the days are cold and the
temperature can drop even more during the
night, varying from 14° C to 11° C. There-
fore, if you choose to travel at this time,
you should not forget to take your coats in
the suitcase.
If you plan on traveling during high season,
from July to the second half of January, you
should make hotel reservations in advance,
since the capital is one of the major touris-
tic highlights in Latin America.
PASSPORT AND VISAA visa is not required from Brazilians and
from residents in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia,
Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela,
only a passport or an ID card in good con-
ditions is required. Tourists from countries
other than the above need a valid passport.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSBUENOS AIRES
ATTRACTIONS
Considered one of the best touristic destina-
tions in both South and Central America, the
Argentinian capital abound attractions and
options of things to do, whether during the
day or at night. Whether for those who enjoy
activities during the day or for the nightlife
lovers, there are many options: the streets of
Buenos Aires are busy almost 24 hours a day.
In order to know a little bit about the histo-
ry of Buenos Aires, the visitor cannot leave
without paying a visit to Plaza de Mayo.
The center of Argentina’s political life, its
name was given in honor of the May Revo-
lution of 1810, which started the process of
independence of some of the South America
colonies. From the 1970s to the present
day, mothers whose children were missing
during the dictatorship gather at the location
to claim their rights, and are known as the
Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo.
Located across from the Plaza de Mayo, the
Metropolitan Cathedral is also worth vis-
iting. It is the headquarters of the Catholic
Church in Argentina, has a collection of per-
sonal and liturgical objects of Pope Francis,
who has been in command and conducting
the Archdiocese until he was consecrated as
Pope in 2013.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSBUENOS AIRES
Also in central Buenos Aires, tourists can
see the Casa Rosada, headquarters of the
Argentinian government, and the Obelisk,
the city’s emblematic monument, which is
67.5 meters high, near the 9 de Julio Ave-
nue. Late in the afternoon, a great option is
to try the delicacies of Café Tortoni, located
in the Montserrat neighborhood, watching a
beautiful tango show. The El Viejo Almacé
and the Esquina Homero Manzi cafe are
also quite sought after by those who want
to know this traditional dance form and
have fun with it.
Buenos Aires also has a large variety of mu-
seums. The Latin American Art Museum of
Buenos Aires, (in Spanish: Museo de Arte
Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, MALBA),
has a collection of works by major artists
such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Tarsila do
Amaral, among others.
Travelers who want to know more about
the works of Argentinian artists must visit
the Museum of Fine Arts. However, if
you are traveling with children, a very cool
activity is visiting the Science Museum.
Despite being intended for niños (children,
in Spanish), it appeals to visitors of all ages.
With many interactive rooms, its doors
were open in 1988 and, since then, has
already been visited by more than 2 million
people. Both are located in the Recoleta
neighborhood.
Another option for a cultural tour is to
walk by the famous El Caminito. Located
in the La Boca neighborhood, this street
has gained great cultural significance for
inspiring Juan de Dios Filiberto to write the
famous tango “Caminito”. As well as several
bars and restaurants, visitors will also find
the “Caminito Visual Artists Fair” in which
many contemporary artists exhibit and sell
their works.
A few steps away, there is the Ecological
Reserve, the largest green space in the city
of Buenos Aires. With 864 acres, it is ideal for
long walks, cycling, running or spending the
day with the family. Along the trails leading
to the river, there are several species of birds,
mammals, amphibians and reptiles.
Known as the “street that never sleeps”,
Corrientes Avenue has the highest con-
centration of bookstores, theaters, pizza
parlors and bars in Buenos Aires. The place
is ideal for those who want to enjoy a good
tango night. In December, the location has
a “Night of the Libraries”, an event in
which every bookstore remains open until
dawn offering discounted prices, Round Ta-
bles and books presentations by writers.
Those who want to know Buenos Aires’s
busy nightlife must go to Puerto Madero.
Located at the riverbank, this formerly
abandoned neighborhood now attracts par-
tygoers from everywhere. Pubs and night-
clubs and host international DJs and promise
to close only when the sun is up. The best
parties that go on all night in the Argentini-
an capital happen there.
Anyone who likes soccer must check out a
match at the Boca Juniors stadium, near El
Caminito, or at the famous River Plate sta-
dium, which holds the greatest capacity in
Argentina, which can accommodate a public
of 76 thousand people.
Another must-go tour is San Telmo, more
precisely on the corner of Chile and Defensa
streets. The place has the statue of Ma-
falda, the famous character immortalized
by cartoonist Quino. You will take great
pictures there!
Travelers who have some extra time in
their hands can also visit the city of Tigre,
35 km north of Buenos Aires. The citizens
of Buenos Aires usually go there during the
weekends and relax taking a pleasant boat
ride along the Paraná River delta. There
are many streams and islands in the area.
The flower-adorned streets, parks, several
picnic areas and delicious restaurants charm
any visitor.
Another very interesting place to visit is the
Lujan Zoo, the only one of its kind, located
in Buenos Aires Province, 75 km away
from the Argentinian capital. There, visitors
can interact with tigers, enter a cage with
a lion, feed elephants and take a ride on
dromedaries. To preserve the nocturnal hab-
its of the animals and so that they can rest
too, the zoo does not open at night.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSBUENOS AIRES
TRANSPORT
In Buenos Aires, there are several options for
you to explore the city without spending too
much: subway, bus, train, bicycle and taxi.
The public transportation is efficient and serves
both the population and the visitors very well.
A convenient and affordable way to get
around Buenos Aires and the nearby cities
is to acquire the SUBE: a prepaid ticket
accepted in buses, trains and subways. With
this card, the visitor pays half the cost of
the bus ticket, has discounts on subway
tickets and partner stores. Check out for
more information and points of sale at the
website: http://www.sube.gob.ar.
BUSWith more than 180 routes, it is a quick
and affordable option for getting around the
Argentinian capital and its surrounding cities.
Most buses operate regularly until midnight.
From this time on, the frequency is reduced.
SUBWAYIt is the quickest and easiest way of get-
ting around the capital. The six routes are
connected to the main avenues and train
and bus stations. The service operates from
Monday to Saturday, from5 am to 10:30pm
and on Sundays and holidays from 8 a.m. to
10 p.m. The ticket can be purchased inside
the subway stations.
TRAINIt is the best option for those who want to
visit neighborhoods farther from downtown
or nearby cities, such as Tigre and Delta. The
price varies, according to the distance.
TAXIWith affordable prices, taxis tend to be
widely used by visitors. You can easily call
one from restaurants, hotels and hostels.
The official taxis are painted yellow and
black.
BICYCLECycling is a pleasant way to get to know
the city. The “Ecobici” program is free and
operates 24 hours a day. On weekdays,
the maximum use time is one hour, and
on weekends and holidays, two hours. To
use the service, simply register online and
search for a bicycle in the nearest station.
SHOPPING
Buenos Aires is a shopping paradise! The
Argentinian capital offers the most diverse
shopping centers, from the most remote
areas to downtown. Most stores are open
during the weekends and the busiest ones
stay open until 10pm. The many outlets
offer items for very cheap prices. In Buenos
Aires, there are many options and different
schedules in which to go shopping.
One of the main shopping centers in the
city is located in Palermo Viejo. There,
tourists can find a wide variety of luxurious
clothing, household appliances, leather
goods and the irresistible Argentinian alfa-
jor at very affordable prices. Fashion lovers
must visit the surroundings of Plaza Serra-
no, in which there are cool clothes and that
hosts the Urban Fair, where visitors can find
items with a great cost/benefit ratio.
Those who want to save money should also
visit the Cordoba Avenue. Considered the
“outlets” avenue, it features a hall almost
1 km long with a wide range of products
and designs. In Villa Crespo’s outlets, tour-
ists will also find various types of stores.
Another very popular place to go shopping
is Calle Florida. Located in one of the cen-
tral spots of Buenos Aires, it has all kinds of
shops, especially leather shoes shops. The
charming El Ateneo, one of the most tradi-
tional bookstores of Buenos Aires, and the
sophisticated Galerias Pacífico mall, filled
with famous stores, are also located on this
street. Due to its beautiful architecture, the mall
is considered a National Historic Monument.
Travelers will also find many markets and
craft fairs in the city, which are usually
open on weekends and holidays. One of the
most famous is the Feira de San Telmo, a
great place to buy souvenirs and gift for rel-
atives and friends, as well as antiques, and
is very busy on Sundays.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSBUENOS AIRES
LOCAL CURRENCY AND TAXThe currency is the Argentinian peso, rep-
resented by ARS$. There are 2, 5, 10, 20,
50 and 100 pesos bills and of 5, 10, 25 and
50 cents coins and 1 peso coins. Despite
not being the official currency, dollars are
widely accepted in most commercial estab-
lishments.
Walking the streets of Buenos Aires, the
presence of several scalpers, known as “ar-
bolitos” (small trees), can be noticed. They
exchange money at the parallel market
(illegal) price. Tourists must be careful not
to accept counterfeit bills; therefore, we
recommend that you exchange your money
only in official currency exchange houses
and in banks.
Foreign tourists can request a refund for
the Value Added Tax in purchases equal to
or above 70 pesos held in the country. For
receiving this refund, you need to shop in
one of the stores that have the “TAX FREE
SHOPPING” identification. Along with the
purchase billing, request the Global Refund
Check (refund check).
Before leaving the country, tourists must go
to Customs, present the purchased items,
billings and the check so it can be stamped.
With the refund check stamped, just go to
one of the Reintegration Stations, located
in airports or terminals, and choose to re-
ceive your refund in different forms: cash,
credit on your card or a bank check to be
sent to an address of your choice.
WHERE TO EAT
With huge gastronomic variety, Buenos Aires
has several sophisticated restaurants and
cuisines from many different countries. You
can find specialties from India, France, Viet-
nam, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Armenia,
the United States and several other countries
can be found in Buenos Aires. However, the
city’s specialty is meat. That is why the cho-
rizo steak, often served with papas (potato
chips), is a must. The parilla, a traditional
dish that combines chunks of meat roasted
on charcoal or wood and the choripan, a type
of sausage served on bread, usually please
the most demanding palates.
When it is time to pay the bill, it is com-
mon to find a charge for the “cubiertos”,
referring to cutlery and napkins used during
the meal. In Buenos Aires, it is unusual for
restaurants to charge 10% for service as in
Brazil, but many customers leave a tip for
the waiter in the tipping box. The restau-
rants are usually rather crowded at 10pm.
Therefore, ideally, you should make a res-
ervation or arrive a bit earlier. Before that
time, they are usually not busy.
The Palermo neighborhood is one of the
main gastronomic centers of the city.
Known as Palermo Hollywood, the area
delimited by Avenues Juan Justo, Santa
Fé and Córdoba brings together the most
sophisticated restaurants in Buenos Aires.
In the famous fashion center Palermo Soho,
there are also many options of good places
to eat.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSBUENOS AIRES
Another place that features good restau-
rants is Las Cañitas. The most traditional
gastronomic area of Buenos Aires gathers
several restaurants, bars and pubs that stay
open all night until dawn, especially on
weekends. It is perfect for those who like to
go out at night and enjoy the Buenos Aires
nightlife.
With an impressive architecture, Puerto
Madero is one of the nicest places to have
meals outdoors. Located along the river-
sides, the revitalized neighborhood has
plenty of options of restaurants, bars and
cafes. It is a place worth visiting at night as
well, as its nightlife is quite busy.
Known for the famous cemetery where the
tomb of Eva Perón is located, Recoleta is
the first and the oldest gastronomic center
of Buenos Aires. With belle époque-style
buildings, the tree-lined avenues are an
invitation to take a nice walk during the day
followed by a delicious lunch.
Those who look for an afternoon stroll must
visit San Telmo. Apart from the restaurants,
the visitors will also find the Notable Cafes,
known as the best cafes in town. The grace-
ful architecture and the cozy atmosphere
attract several tourists.
WHERE TO STAY
In Buenos Aires, tourists can find lodgings
to suit every budget. The city is prepared
to accommodate 10 million visitors a year.
Therefore, there are numerous options:
from major international 4 and 5 star-hotel
chains to humble apartments and hostels.
Located between Downtown and Palermo
neighborhood, Recoleta neighborhood is
a good option for those looking for peace
and quiet, those who wish to escape the
downtown hustle, have more comfort and
a closer contact with the daily life of the Ar-
gentinians. The residential neighborhood
has a refined ambiance and quite charming
streets, which are perfect for walks. Those
looking for a beautiful, well located and
with good lodging options can stay in Re-
coleta. Highly sought after by tourists, the
neighborhood accommodations are cozy
and sophisticated. There, it is located one
of the city’s most famous hotels: the Hotel
Alvenar, which is quite luxurious and has
unique architecture.
With a high number of hotels, Buenos Ai-
res’s Downtown is one of the locations that
are sought after the most by those visiting
the city for the first time. As it is located
very close to the main sightseeing spots, it
is possible to know the capital of Buenos
Aires on foot. Downtown there are many
options for lodging, from the cheapest to
the most expensive.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
54 COUNTRY CODE
POLICE
FIRE BRIGADE
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
(TOLL-FREE)
CITY CODE
911100
107
11
MINISTRO PISTARINI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
4480-0224
5480-6111
Located close to downtown, Puerto
Madero features some of the best hotels in
Buenos Aires. With higher daily rates, they
are perfect for those looking for luxury,
sophistication and good food, since there
are many options of restaurants in the
surroundings.
A great option for those looking for more
affordable lodging is Palermo. With many
options of hostels, it is a neighborhood
filled with stores, restaurants, bars and is
really sought after by backpackers who
visit the city. It is also ideal for those have
more of a bohemian lifestyle and like to
stay out all night. Palermo Soho is the area
where most of the hostels are located.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSBUENOS AIRES