Getting Around Buenos Aires
Getting Around Buenos Aires - The Neighborhoods (Barrios)
Getting around Buenos Aires can be difficult as it is one of Latin America’s largest cities. The city is divided into many different neighborhoods, or barrios. Before you decide on how to get around Buenos Aires you must know what neighborhood you are traveling to. Certain neighborhoods are unsafe to walk around in and others are not on the subway route. Below is a map of the various barrios in Buenos Aires.
Getting Around Buenos Aires - Table of Contents
- The Neighborhoods (Barrios)
- Getting Around Buenos Aires by Subway (Subte)
- Getting Around Buenos Aires by Walking
- Getting Around Buenos Aires by Taxi
- Getting Around Buenos Aires by Uber
- Getting Around Buenos Aires by Bus
- Getting Around Buenos Aires by Train
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Getting Around Buenos Aires by Subway (Subte)
The Subway, or “Subte,” as it is called consists of six lines lettered A, B, C, D, E, and H. Each letter also is assigned a color. Stations are clearly marked by both letter and color.
To use the subway, it is necessary to purchase a “Sube” Card. To purchase, visit the ticket booth near the turnstiles of each station. The process of purchasing is slightly confusing, as the card comes preloaded with two rides at a cost of ARS 90. Each additional ride costs ARS 19. Adding money to the Sube card is easy as well. Simply present the money to the cashier and hold the card up against the square marked “Sube.” The money will automatically be added to the card.
Once you have a Sube card you can go through the turnstile. To enter, hold the card against the blue Sube sign. There will be a beeping sound, and then the display above will show the fare and the balance left on your card.
Unlike many of the subways around the world, you do not have to swipe your card when you exit the subway. Simply, walk through the turnstile and find the exit.
To transfer, find the station where the two stations intersect. Once you get off the train, it will be easy to find the line you want to transfer to by following the signs.
The trains come about every five minutes and can be very crowded during peak times. During most of my subway journeys, I stood as there were no seats available.
I felt extremely safe on the Buenos Aries Subway. There was never a situation that concerned me even the slightest bit. I was impressed with the great service the Buenos Aires Subte provided.
Getting Around Buenos Aires by Walking
My first day in Buenos Aires I walked 13 miles. Walking is one of my favorite ways to get around as it allows me to observe the locals and see additional sights. On my first day, I walked the entire length of Avenue 9 de Julio as well as the Avenue de Mayo.
I highly recommend walking from the Plaza de Republica’s Obelisco to the Plaza de Mayo’s Casa Rosada. Also, be sure to walk the Puerto Maderno Area and cross the Puente de la Mujer (Woman’s Bridge). While in Puerto Maderno, I highly suggest using the restrooms at the Hilton Hotel. They are the cleanest in Buenos Aires and are free.
When walking, be sure to research the safety of the neighborhood ahead of time. While walking in the Caminito Area of La Boca is safe, other areas around La Boca should be avoided. If unsure of the safety of the area, always take a taxi. The last thing anyone wants to do is end up in an unsafe neighborhood.
If you want to walk with an expert, you can purchase a walking tour. Below are four walking tours that caught my eyes. As an affiliate of Viator, I receive a small commission if you purchase using my link. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Prices are accurate as of May 2023.
 Buenos Aires Walking Tour Including Colon Theater and MALBA - $69.00 In this tour you will go to the most classic neighborhoods of the city and visit two of the most representative places of Buenos Aires' culture: the Colón Theater and the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA). You will walk with our guide to get to know the most representative corners of the districts of San Telmo and Puerto Madero. We will visit the historic Plaza de Mayo and we will be located at the foot of the Obelisk of Buenos Aires. You can choose if you want to visit the Colón Theater, the MALBA, or both. |
 Walking Tour of the Recoleta Neighborhood in Buenos Aires - $40.00 Experience this walking tour of the Recoleta, Buenos Aires most aristocratic neighborhood. With french style buildings and sumptuous facades, it will remind you at every corner that you are in the "Paris of South America." This walking tour begins at 10am outside the Etoile Hotel where you will meet your guide, on Roberto M. Ortiz street. On this 2-hour tour, you will visit Recoleta Cemetery, the tomb of Eva Perón, the Belle Epoque building and more. |
Getting Around Buenos Aires by Taxi
I arrived in Buenos Aires on Christmas Eve at 10:30 pm. After clearing customs and immigration and exchanging money, I waited to request a taxi for over an hour. When I got to the front of the queue, I was told there was at least a two-hour wait. Rather than wait, I walked out of the airport and booked an Uber.
The rest of the time taxis were easy to find. Each taxi has a sign in the window that lights up with the word “Libre” displayed. Libre means “free” in Spanish. If the sign is not lit, it means that the taxi is occupied. To request a taxi, raise your hand and the taxi driver will pull to the side.
Before my trip, I read about negotiating a price ahead of time. Throughout my trip, all of the taxis used a meter. The meter started at around ARS 80 and went up based on miles driven. Most of my taxi rides were around ARS 400.
If you plan to visit the Caminito Area in La Boca, be sure to take a taxi. While Caminito itself is safe, the surrounding areas are not.
When riding in a taxi be sure to put your seatbelt on. Driving in Buenos Aires is not for the faint of heart, and there were many times I thought we were for sure going to get into an accident.
Getting Around Buenos Aires by Uber
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, I was faced with a wait of over two hours for a taxi. The wait was because I arrived on Christmas Eve, and many of the taxi drivers were home celebrating with their families. When I realized all of the shuttles were full as well, I fired up my Uber App. I was thrilled when I realized that Buenos Aires did have Uber.
I filled my destination in the App, and within a few minutes, I was matched with a very friendly man named Leonardo. Leonardo texted me in the Uber App in Spanish. Through my broken Spanish and Google Translate we decided to meet in Parking Lot B. Leonardo found me about five minutes later and we were on our way.
Throughout the drive, Leonardo asked me about my trip and showed me places of interest that we were passing by. I must say that I felt much safer in his car than in the taxi. Leonardo was a much more cautious driver.
Due to it being Christmas Eve, there was major surge pricing. The cost of my Uber was over USD$50, but it was much better than waiting two hours for a taxi.
A similar option to Uber would be to arrange transportation ahead of time. If you want to purchase your airport transportation ahead of time, you can do so by clicking on the link to the right. As an affiliate of Viator, I receive a small commission if you purchase using my link. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Getting Around Buenos Aires by Bus
I never took the bus while I was in Buenos Aires but did notice that the busses have their own lanes. Many of the buses are air-conditioned, although some are not. It is easy to tell if the bus has air conditioning by looking at the windows. If the windows are open, the bus is not air-conditioned.
Getting Around Buenos Aires by Train
For those interested in taking an actual train, Buenos Aires’ main train station is Retiro Station. Long distance and commuter trains arrive frequently on the stations 19 platforms. I never took a train that wasn’t part of the Suite during my visit to Buenos Aires.
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