Getting Around Buenos Aires — Transport, Barrios & Daily Life

Buenos Aires is a city you move through, not just look at. You’ll walk, ride el subte, hop a colectivo, grab a taxi late at night, and slowly start thinking like a porteño instead of following a map.

This is how getting around Buenos Aires actually works — calmly, practically, and without fuss.

Airport to City — Airport Shuttles & Transfers (Traslados)

Buenos Aires has two airports:

• Ezeiza (EZE) — international arrivals, about 30–40 km from the city

• Aeroparque (AEP) — domestic and regional flights, much closer to the centre

Transport Options from the Airport

• Airport shuttles & airport transfers (traslados): Pre-booked shuttles and private drivers are reliable, especially after long flights or late arrivals.

• Taxis / Remises: Official airport taxis operate on fixed or semi-fixed fares. From EZE to central Buenos Aires, costs are higher than city taxis but predictable.

• Ride-hailing (Uber, Cabify, DiDi): Widely used, clear pricing in-app, and often easier if Spanish is limited.

For early flights or heavy luggage, airport transfers or private drivers are usually the least stressful option.

El Subte — Moving Around Buenos Aires Like a Porteño

The subte (Buenos Aires metro) is fast, affordable, and practical for everyday movement.

What You Need

• A SUBE card — used for the subte, buses, and trains
  Buy it at kioscos or subte stations and top it up as needed.

How It Works

• Tap your SUBE card at the gate to enter

• Lines are identified by letters (A, B, D, etc.)

• Stations connect neighbourhoods like Palermo, Recoleta, Centro, San Telmo, and Microcentro

Practical Tips

• Rush hour (weekday mornings and early evenings) can be crowded

• Keep bags in front of you on busy trains

• Stations are well signposted once you’re inside

Buses (Colectivos) — The City at Street Level

Buenos Aires buses run everywhere, all day and night.

• You signal the bus with your hand to stop it

• Pay with your SUBE card when boarding

• Routes are extensive but not always intuitive at first

Navigation apps help, but once you get the rhythm, colectivos become second nature — very porteño, very practical.

Taxis & Private Drivers

• Taxis: Metered, plentiful, and easy to hail in most areas. Ride-hailing apps offer price visibility and convenience.

• Private drivers: Useful for airport transfers, late-night returns, or when you want door-to-door ease without thinking.

Costs are reasonable by international standards, especially with current exchange rates.

Day Trip by Boat — Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay)

From the port near Puerto Madero, ferries cross the Río de la Plata to Colonia del Sacramento.

• Travel time: around 1 hour 15 minutes

• Passport required (you clear immigration both ways)

• Ideal for a relaxed day wandering cobblestone streets, cafés, and the historic old town

It’s an easy escape that feels worlds away, then you’re back in Buenos Aires by evening.

Neighbourhoods You’ll Move Through

Recoleta

Elegant streets, cafés, and green spaces.
Visit La Recoleta Cemetery for Evita’s tomb and the famously resident cats. Walking works best here.

San Telmo

Cobblestones, antiques, tango, and old bars.
Slow movement suits San Telmo — walk, pause, sit.

La Boca

Bright houses along Caminito and deep football culture.
Reach it by taxi or colectivo. Nearby is La Bombonera, Boca Juniors’ iconic stadium.

Palermo

Large, leafy, and social. Divided into Palermo Soho, Hollywood, and Chico.
Well connected by subte and buses, and easy to explore on foot.

Tango, Cafés & Street Life

Tango appears where you least expect it — a street corner, a small plaza, a late-night milonga.
For something polished, there are traditional cena y tango shows with dinner.

Historic cafés invite you to sit, order a cortado, and watch Buenos Aires move at its own pace.

Food & Everyday Rituals

• Empanadas: Quick, warm, everywhere

• Mate: The shared herbal tea you’ll see passed hand to hand

• Parrillas: Steak, grilled slowly, taken seriously

Eating and drinking are unhurried here — transport follows the same rhythm.

Exchange Rate Snapshot

As a general reference:
1 USD ≈ 1,440–1,450 Argentine pesos (ARS)
Rates fluctuate, and official and informal rates may differ.

Move around Buenos Aires using the subte for distance, buses for texture, taxis when it makes sense, and your feet whenever possible. Before long, the city stops feeling big — and starts feeling familiar.