1) BUS
Study the map before you go. It’s fun to explore the city by bus. 🙂
Have some coins ready. Get on the bus, tell the bus driver where you want to go. Feed the coin machine and get the ticket. There’s no need to feed in exact coins. The machine will give you change. To get off, stand up and go to the door one block before your destination. You usually wouldn’t have to ring the bell (near the door), the driver would know you want to get down at the next stop.
Buenos Aires Bus - Coins / Card
Buenos Aires Bus - Coins
A new card system has been introduced lately. You have to buy the card in advance.
Buenos Aires Bus - Card
When to use?
– When you wallet is getting very thin after spoiled by using taxi to go everywhere.
– When you are in no rush.
Pros:
– Cheap. 1.25 pesos can get you to most places in the city since the bus system is highly subsidized by the government.
– It’s like an alternative “city tour”
– I love their multi-level seatings
– Available 24 x 7
Cons:
– Obviously, you’ll have to walk to the bus station (every other block).
– During rush hours and peak season, bus can be PACKED.
– Pickpocket
– Traffic / take long time (so plan ahead)
Video 1: In Buenos Aires Bus
2) Subte
Buenos Aires Subte
Buenos Aires Subte
Pros:
– Cheap. 1.25 pesos can get you to most places in the city since the subte (pronounced as “soup-teh”) system is highly subsidized by the government.
– Faster than bus
Cons:
– Have to travel to subte station (available one every few blocks)
– Pickpocket
– No service after 11:30pm
Video 2: Buenos Aires Subte
3) Taxi
When to use?
– When your wallet is fat.
– When you have friends to share the fare.
– When it’s late at night, and you don’t feel safe to use bus or subte.
– You are in a rush.
– You just want comfort and you can afford it.
How to stop a taxi in Buenos Aires?
– Check if the the “libre” (means free) sign on the top left corner is lit in red. If it is, just put your arm up to stop the taxi.
Do taxi drives speak English?
– Based on my experience, most of them don’t speak English. Not even a little English.
Pros:
– Comfortable
– Private
– Safer than bus and subte
Cons:
– Expensive (For example, from Palermo to San Telmo, it could cost you 45 pesos, while it’s only 1.25 pesos by bus.)
Other Tips?
– I always have a pen and a notepad with me in order to communicate with the taxi drivers.
– To avoid cheating, always check the map and know where you are going before jumping in the taxi.
– Be confident.
– The friendliest taxi driver can be the one who charges you more. I got charged 20 pesos more because the taxi driver used the smaller roads instead of the main road.
– If you want to be super safe, call Radio Taxi.
– You could also rent a bike. The city center is not very bike-able. But it should be no problem in smaller, quieter neighborhoods.
– Bike lanes were introduced in Buenos Aires last year and are not available on all roads. Argentineans are still not used to the bike lanes and might walk on it. So, watch out.
Enjoy. Explore. Smile.