Visa
The countries in this list DO NOT require tourist visa when visiting Argentina.
Up to 90 days: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Estado Ciudad del Vaticano, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong (with Passport R.A.E.H.K.), Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Suriname; Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay.
Up to 60 days: Venezuela.
Up to 30 days: Grenada, Hong Kong (with British Passport B.N.O.), Jamaica, Republic of Kazakhstan and Malaysia.
Currency exchange
The Argentine currency is the peso ($). Currency can be exchanged at banks and exchange offices, simply by showing your passport. Banks are open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, while exchange offices operate from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. When exchanging money, it is recommended to use only an authorized exchange office, rather than informal traders.
Electricity
Electric power in Argentina is 220 volts, 50 cycles, alternating current.
Telephone calls to Buenos Aires
The country code for Argentina is 54 and the area code for Buenos Aires is 11. For example, to call 4555-5555 from outside the country, you should dial: 0054-11-4555-5555. For cell phones from abroad 54 9 11 + number MOBILE PHONES. The sound and flashlights of cell phones must be turned off during all sessions.
Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)
Banks open at 10:00 am and close at 3:00 pm. Cash withdrawals and other transactions can be made at ATMs 24 hours a day. ATMs are located throughout the city. You can withdraw pesos. They can also be used for cash advances on major credit cards such as MasterCard, VISA or Amex.
Tourist Information
The Subsecretariat of Tourism has a toll free line for tourist assistance in several languages: 0800-999-2838. It operates daily from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Transportation in the city
Buenos Aires is organized in blocks, so it is easy to get around knowing the most essential things. The city has a large and constantly expanding public transportation network, and almost 40,000 licensed cabs (that's 3 times more than New York). The hop-off tour bus is ideal if you are short on time and want to see the highlights. Bike lanes and pedestrian streets in the city center make cycling and walking a good alternative in different districts of Buenos Aires.
Bus: Known locally as "colectivos" or "bondis," buses are an economical and efficient way to get around the city. More than 180 numbered lines run regularly, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and you will rarely find yourself more than a couple of blocks from a stop.
Fares within the city range from $13 to $15.75 pesos and must be paid with a rechargeable SUBE card (details below). Tell the bus driver where you are going (most passengers give him the name of the intersection closest to where they want to get off) and he will tell you the fare.
Metrobus is a system of bus-only lanes designed to reduce travel times on several of the city's major arteries. Several Metrobus stations have free WiFi access. Be sure to stand in line (the bus queue is respected in Buenos Aires), and note that people queue to the right of the bus stop, not to the left.
Subway (Subte): The subway is the oldest in Latin America (the first line opened in 1913; click here for a timeline), but it is still the fastest way to get around the city. Four lines (líneas), A, B, D and E, run parallel from downtown to the west and north, while line C runs north-south, connecting the two main train stations of Retiro and Constitución. Line H, the newest line, runs from Las Heras avenues south to the hospitals.
To ride the Subte, you will need a rechargeable SUBE card (see below). SUBE cards can be recharged at subway station counters.
Trains operate every three to ten minutes, depending on the line, from 5 am to 10.30 pm Monday to Saturday, and from 8 am to 10 pm on Sundays and holidays. As in all major cities, trains can be very crowded during rush hours (8 am-9.30 am and 5 pm-7 pm). Many subway stations have free WiFi access.
Cycling in BA: Buenos Aires has more than 130 km of bicycle lanes, and public bicycles are available for residents and tourists to rent at more than 80 stations throughout the city. This public bike-sharing system, known as Ecobici, allows registered users to borrow bicycles for free.
Users can take bicycles for up to one hour. If they wish to continue using the system, they must wait 15 minutes before picking up a new bike.
Register as a user here: www.buenosaires.gob.ar/ecobici/registro-sistema-ecobici or download the BA Ecobici application on your cell phone (www.buenosaires.gob.ar/ecobici). You can also scan the QR barcode at the bike pick-up station to download the app. Once you have validated your details by receiving a confirmation email from Ecobici, you are fully registered and can use the scheme.
Real-time updates on bike availability at bike stations, along with pick-up station addresses and bike route maps, can be found here: www.buenosaires.gob.ar/ecobici/sistema-ecobici/mapa-bicis. More information, including discounts and promotions for cycling equipment, can be found on the EcoBici website: www.buenosaires.gob.ar/ecobici.
Cabs: BA has a large network of licensed black and yellow cabs, and in crowded areas you are unlikely to wait for one for more than a couple of minutes. Cabs can be waited for on the street (on the right hand side). You will be able to tell if it is available if the "libre" (free) sign is illuminated in red or white on the windshield of the car on the passenger side. It is common to give an address using the cross street, for example, instead of saying "Corrientes 585" you would say "Corrientes y Florida". Licensed cabs are metered and fares are exclusively in pesos ($ ARS). Fares go up 20% at night. If you wish to order a cab from a specific location, there are several radio cab companies from which you can order in advance. You can ask your hotel to recommend one. If you wish to file a complaint against a cab driver, call 0800-999-2838 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Useful Apps
Maps and other useful applications can be downloaded to help you navigate the city:
-BA How do I get there? (¿Cómo llego?): This interactive online map will help you get from A to B in the city, whether by public transport, car or on foot. More information here.
-EcoBici: This mobile application is for all bicycle users in the city. It maps bike lanes and shows the locations and availability of city bikes for rent. More information here. For a map of bike lanes in the city, click here.
-BA WiFi: Free WiFi is available at hundreds of central hotspots. To find out where here.
If you are interested in finding out about other free apps in the city, visit this website.
Safety: reduce your risks
Buenos Aires is a safe city, but as in any other big city, precautions should be taken. Practice the same precaution you would practice when visiting a major metropolitan destination in your country. Follow these recommendations and we are sure that your stay in Buenos Aires will be a very pleasant one.
-Move around only with a photocopy of your identification documents. Photocopies of valuables such as passport, tickets, driver's license and traveler's checks should be kept separately from the originals.
-Carry only the minimum amount of cash you need for the day. Men should keep their wallets in their inside pockets. It is best to keep small bills in your pants pockets and not take out your wallet more than necessary. Women carrying a purse should try to keep it next to their bodies. In case they carry shoulder bags, they should make sure not to let them hang freely over their shoulder.
-Do not carry all your cards with you; leave at least one in the hotel safe. If your credit card is lost or stolen, you can cancel it immediately by calling the appropriate 24-hour emergency number.
-It is best not to bring valuables to meetings unless absolutely necessary. Expensive jewelry, cameras and similar items should never be left in the hotel room, but should be kept in the hotel safe.
-Do not wear your credentials outside the congress venue or carry your congress bag with you. Both identify you as a foreigner. Do not walk on deserted or poorly lit streets after dark.
-Do not change money on the street; do it in banks or exchange houses. The "Comisaría del Turista" (Tourist Police Station) of the Argentine Federal Police protects, assists and guides visitors. It offers in-house telephone, fax and e-mail services. In addition, it acts as a liaison with diplomatic offices and consulates within the country, to attend to documentation and other police-related matters. Simply call 0800 999 5000, free of charge. Its staff speaks English, Italian, French, Portuguese and Japanese.
Tourist Police Station
436 Corrientes Av.
Tel: 4346-5748/4346-5700 Ext 5748.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
