Travel Tips | Buenos Aires (Eng.)

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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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Travel Tips | Buenos Aires (Eng.)