Travel tips · Buenos Aires · Argentina
Buenos Aires travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Porteños are direct, sociable and proud of their city's café, theatre and bookshop culture, much of it shaped by Italian and Spanish immigration. Life runs late — dinner at 10pm, clubs after 2am — and conversation and football are national pastimes. Local Spanish uses vos instead of tú and pronounces ll and y with a 'sh' sound.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish
- Currency
- ARS
- Plugs
- Type I (and older Type C) sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water in Buenos Aires is treated and generally drinkable, though many…
- Emergency
- 911 police, 107 ambulance (SAME)
Things to know
- Friends and new acquaintances greet with a single kiss on the right cheek, including men who know each other.
- If someone offers you mate, drink the whole gourd and hand it back; saying 'gracias' means you don't want any more.
- Arriving 20–30 minutes late for dinner at someone's home is normal and expected.
- Football loyalties run deep; avoid wearing a Boca Juniors or River Plate shirt in the rival club's neighbourhood.
- At a milonga, don't cross the dance floor while couples are dancing, and accept or decline invitations with a nod.
- Book Teatro Colón ahead: Tours often sell out at busy times; book a slot online a few days ahead.
- Book Palacio Barolo ahead: Visits are by guided tour only; reserve online, especially for sunset and evening slots.
- Peso prices change quickly, so the ranges above are rough US-dollar equivalents.
Tipping
Leave about 10% in restaurants and cafés, ideally in cash, as card machines often cannot add a tip; the cubierto on the bill is not a tip. Round up taxi fares.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hola, ¿cómo andás? | Hi, how are you? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| ¿Me cobrás? | Can I pay? (to a waiter) |
| Un cortado, por favor | An espresso with a dash of milk, please |
| Dale | OK / sure / go ahead |
| Che | Hey (informal way to address someone) |
What to wear
Porteños dress neatly and fashionably; smart-casual clothes suit restaurants and theatres, and comfortable shoes help on broken pavements and cobbles.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type I (and older Type C) sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water in Buenos Aires is treated and generally drinkable, though many locals prefer bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency number
- 911 police, 107 ambulance (SAME)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, hotels and many public squares, and local SIM cards and eSIMs are easy to buy.
- Time zone
- America/Argentina/Buenos Aires
Pickpocketing and bag or phone snatching, sometimes by thieves on motorbikes, are the main risks, especially on the Subte, around Florida street, in San Telmo and at La Boca. A common trick involves a stranger 'helping' after someone spills mustard or another liquid on you; walk away and keep hold of your bag.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Argentina's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Buenos Aires?
Leave about 10% in restaurants and cafés, ideally in cash, as card machines often cannot add a tip; the cubierto on the bill is not a tip. Round up taxi fares.
+Can you drink the tap water in Buenos Aires?
Tap water in Buenos Aires is treated and generally drinkable, though many locals prefer bottled or filtered water.
+What plugs are used in Buenos Aires?
Type I (and older Type C) sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Buenos Aires?
Spanish.