Christmas in Buenos Aires: What’s Open & How to Get Around
This page is based on my own experience spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Buenos Aires in December 2019. Things in Argentina—especially money rules, prices, and opening hours—can change quickly, so be sure to double-check current information before your trip.
Christmas in Buenos Aires at a Glance
Airport ATMs might not work or may be out of cash, so be prepared for long lines at the Banco de la Nación or bring a backup plan for getting pesos.
Book your Buenos Aires Ezeiza airport transfer in advance, especially if you land on Christmas Eve when taxis and shuttles can be limited.
Uber and other ride apps may be available, but expect higher prices on Christmas Eve and be ready to meet drivers in specific pickup zones.
The Subte (Buenos Aires subway) runs on a reduced holiday schedule on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so trains can take longer than usual.
Many sights are closed inside but open outside on Christmas Day, making it a great time for crowd-free photos around the main plazas and landmarks.
Christmas in Buenos Aires: Spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the City - Table of Contents
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Arriving at Buenos Aires–Ezeiza Airport on Christmas Eve
I typically like to travel on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day as the airfare is almost always cheaper than the days around Christmas. On Christmas Eve of 2019, I flew from Chicago O’Hare to Buenos Aires–Ezeiza (EZE) Airport via Mexico City. I had tried to do some research ahead of time but could not find a page dedicated to Christmas in Buenos Aires or Buenos Aires at Christmas. Upon arrival, I knew there would be limited services, but I was surprised by how limited the services actually were.
Deplaning, getting through passport control, and then customs was routine, but that was where I experienced my first problem. I had planned on taking a taxi to my hotel but was unsure if they would take credit cards. The currency of Argentina, the Argentinian Peso, can be difficult to obtain outside of Argentina due to high inflation and currency rules. I had hoped to visit an ATM as soon as I arrived. To my surprise, none of the three ATMs near the customs exit were working when I landed. As a result, the only place to get pesos was to visit the National Bank of Argentina branch outside the arrivals hall.
I found the bank and joined a line that stretched around multiple bends. Only one teller was working, and it took close to 90-minutes to get to the window. I exchanged the maximum USD$200 and received a wad of 500 peso bills that wouldn’t fit in my wallet. A few minutes later, I looked for a place to eat. Every restaurant and shop was closed, including what was usually a 24-hour McDonald’s, which happened to be closed that night. I figured I could find something to eat closer to my hotel and headed to the taxi stand.
Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport Transfer: Ezeiza to Buenos Aires Taxi or Uber on Christmas Eve
It was now close to midnight, and I just wanted to find a cab and get to my hotel. At Buenos Aires EZE Airport, there was a taxi queue inside the terminal, and I waited in that taxi line for about 30-minutes. When it was finally my turn, the agent told me that my taxi would arrive between 3:00 am and 3:30 am. That was at least two hours from the current time.
I decided I would look for alternate transportation and visited the kiosks for other shuttle options. All of them were booked, closed, or had a wait of at least two hours.
Finally, I got back in the taxi line and figured that my only option was to wait until 3:00 am. Out of boredom, I took out my phone and started browsing the Internet. I then remembered that I had the Uber App. I opened my Uber app and noticed that despite it being Christmas Eve in Buenos Aires, Uber showed cars available. As this was my first time in Argentina, I had no idea where I was and how safe the surrounding area was. I decided to take my chances and typed in my hotel location. Uber found a driver, and it said he would be there within 10-minutes. The pick-up location was near parking lot “B,” and I texted my description and location to my Uber driver in both Spanish and English.
My Uber driver called me on my phone, and through my limited Spanish, he was able to find me. The ride took about 45-minutes, and the driver was friendly and drove very safe. There was major surge pricing as it was Christmas Eve in Buenos Aires, and the ride ended up costing close to USD$50 with the tip. I did not mind, as it was worth the extra money to not wait until 3:00 am. Check-in to my hotel was quick, and by 1:30 am, I was in my room. I ate a few snacks from the minibar and went to sleep.
If you are arriving on Christmas Eve in Buenos Aires, I would highly recommend booking your Buenos Aires Ezeiza airport transfer in advance. Below is a link for one possible transportation option. Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you purchase using my link. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Spending Christmas Day in Buenos Aires: Visiting Buenos Aires in December
Tourist Sights in Buenos Aires on Christmas Day
In planning to visit Buenos Aires on Christmas Day, I assumed that most tourist sights would be closed. As a result, I planned to visit places that I wanted to see from the outside. These places included Plaza de Mayo, Plaza de la Republica, and Puerto Madero. I had a few worries about visiting Buenos Aires at Christmas, but the main sights of the above-mentioned places could all be seen without going inside. I spent the morning enjoying looking at the Casa Rosada, Obelisco, and Puente de la Mujer (woman’s bridge) without any crowds. It was great for sightseeing as no one got in the way during my pictures.
Where to Eat in Buenos Aires on Christmas Day
One of my worries was, where would I eat in Buenos Aires on Christmas Day? If Buenos Aires was at all like EZE Airport, I would be stuck eating snacks from the minibar. Thankfully, around the main tourist sights, many restaurants were open. I chose to eat at the burger place Mostaza as it was something we did not have in the United States.
Other open options included: Subway, Burger King, and McDonald’s. In addition, a few local cafes were open as well as convenience stores.
In the evening, many of the sit-down restaurants opened up. There were plenty of options for dining in Buenos Aires on Christmas Day, and I chose to eat at a cafe near the Plaza de la Republica and had steak kabobs.
Services and What Is Open in Buenos Aires on Christmas Day
For those spending Christmas Day in Buenos Aires, don’t worry too much about a lack of services. I still found plenty of places to eat, and many of the gift shops were open. All of the tourist destinations I wanted to see were easy to enjoy from the outside. On my visit, the interiors of the sights I was most interested in were closed, since Christmas is a national holiday. From what I saw, most of the celebration happens on Christmas Eve and early on Christmas Day.
The hardest thing to find were open restrooms. If you are desperate, go into any major hotel. The hotel will have a bathroom that you can use.
By 6:00 pm, many places were completely reopened. I was even able to see inside the Cathedral de Buenos Aires.
Transportation in Buenos Aires on Christmas Day
One important note, the Subte (Buenos Aires Subway) does run on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but runs on a limited schedule. There were a few times I waited for more than 15-minutes for a train. As experienced at the airport, the taxi service can be extremely limited on Christmas Eve. I would suggest making transportation plans ahead of time if you are not walking or taking the Subte.
Buenos Aires Tours
A tour is a great way to explore Buenos Aires at Christmas. I am not sure how many of these tours operate on Christmas Day, but I thought I’d link them anyway. I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a tour using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
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