A city of passion, porteƱos and parrilla! This blog provides valuable information for people visiting or planning to live in Buenos Aires


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Transport

In the city, public transport is heavily relied upon to get around. There are 100s of colectivos (buses) which take you to every corner of the city, an subterraneo or subte (underground) system which covers the major areas, and if you want a bit more of a private service, taxis are everywhere!

Subte


Like with any major city, Buenos Aires has a LOT of traffic, predominantly colectivos and taxis and a few of those brave enough to drive their own car in this complex maze of one way streets and 5-lane avenues. The subte costs AR$2.50 per journey, and in many ways is the quickest as you don't need to worry about the tons of traffic above ground. So if you happen to be staying, or living, near a subte station then consider yourself lucky, however, if you can, avoid using the subte at rush hour (08:00 - 10:00 and 17:00 - 19:00) as it gets incredibly crowded, and you will feel like a sardine in a sauna! So avoid taking the subte in summer! There are in total 5 main lineas (lines): A, B, C, D and E which all go to, or through, downtown and stretch out to various areas of the city, like Palermo, Flores and Belgrano.

Colectivo


These quirky buses cover a lot more of the city, and there are hundreds of different routes which serve Capital Federal and the neighbouring suburbs. These cost as little as AR$1.10 per journey if you're going only a short distance, and up to AR$1.20, AR$1.25 and AR$1.75, with AR$1.25 being the most common cost. However, if you happen to be going to or coming from a suburb outside of Capital Federal a journey could cost AR$3 or more.
One important thing to consider is that colectivos have machines inside where you pay for your ticket, and they only accept monedas (coins), which are sometimes hard to come by and they're not exactly abundent here. So when you get some monedas as change when you buy something, make sure you save them for colectivo journeys, it's better than waiting 30 minutes at a bank to get change! Although, if you happen to be at a major parada (bus stop) then there may be a man there who you can by tickets from, and he'll have change for notes.
One more piece of advice for colectivos: hold on! It may seem obvious, but the colectivos here are pretty quick and some of the drivers think they're racing in Formula 1, so at times they will accelerate fast and break suddenly. I have often struggled to keep my balance, just like other locals!

Taxi



Taxis are very reliable, inexpensive and everywhere! Flag down a taxi, which are black and yellow, and the taxista (taxi driver) will take you to where you're going in usually the quickest route possible. When you get in, the meter starts at around AR$2.50, and a typical 10 minute journey will cost a maximum of between AR$20 and AR$30. Be aware of where you are going though, as taxistas will know straight away that you are not a local, and some may go round the block a few times to charge you more. You may get out a map or a Guia "T" and follow the way he is going, if he sees you monitoring which route he is taking he may not take you round the block. However most taxistas are reliable and friendly. Overall, taxis are the quickest mode of transport in the city, best if you need or want to get somewhere quick, it is also the most expensive, but even that isn't breaking the bank.

Walking


Busnos Aires is a great city to just walk around, and many places you will want to see will be within walking distance. The centre and most places of interest are all quite close together, and on a beautiful sunny day it's very pleasant to walk at your own leisure. In downtown be aware of the pedestrianised avenues: Florida, Lavalle and Reconquista, where, although there will be a lot of people, there won't be any cars or traffic polluting the air.


Cycling



There are many places to rent bicicles in the city  (La Bicicleta Naranja tel: 4362-1104), and it is a good, fun and cheap way to get around, especially if you use them to explore some of the city's amazing parques. Just be careful if you're cycling on the main roads; drivers in cars and busses won't give you much (if any) consideration.

Driving



Before considering driving in Buenos Aires, you should know that the traffic is appalling and most of the local drivers are aggressive, reckless and sometimes willfully dangerous! Some driver traits include: tailgating, honking the horn before the light has a chance to turn green and ignoring lanes and speed limits.
If you still want to give driving a try, then to hire a car you have to be at least 21 years old and have a valid driving licence. Having an International driving licence isn't crucial. At the desk you will have to present your passport and a credit card, and hiring costs around AR$150-170 per day, with a minimum 4-day rental.

Here are some agencies:


Avis Cerrito 1527; 4326-5542
Hertz Paraguay 1138; 4816-8001
New Way MT de Alvear 773; 4515-0331

 

Guia "T"


I mentioned Guia "T" above, this is a small guide displaying all the roads of Capital Federal, all the colectivo routes and where all the subte stations are. You can buy a small pocket-sized Guia "T" for just AR$5-10, and I really recommend it for finding your way around the city. You can get them in small kioscos (kiosks), or sometimes there are men who get on the subte and sell them to you there.

Happy Traveling!


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