Welcome to Buenos Aires! On your first day in Buenos Aires city, things can feel a bit overwhelming. Questions like “How do I get from the airport to the city?”, “Where can I exchange money?”, “Where do I buy a subway ticket?”, and “What activities should I plan?” often come up—along with so much more.
In this article, I’ll help you get ready for your first day in Buenos Aires so you can start enjoying the city from the very first minute. After all, your holiday time is precious!
Read more: complete guide about how getting from/to the airport
Your First Day in Buenos Aires
Your arrival in Buenos Aires by airplane
One crucial detail to know in advance: where does your flight land—Ezeiza (EZE) or Jorge Newbery (AEP) airport? Buenos Aires has two airports. Ezeiza (EZE) handles more international flights, including those from the USA, Europe, and Oceania, but it also accommodates some domestic flights. Jorge Newbery (AEP), often regarded as the domestic airport, also serves international destinations like Brazil and Chile.
From experience, I can tell you that domestic airlines in Argentina sometimes change the airport, even after you’ve booked your flight, so double-check your itinerary before traveling.
Taking a taxi or private transfer from the airports to the city
Taxi
Taxis from the airport to the city should typically operate with a fixed rate. However, during peak hours in the high season (October to March), waiting times and queues can be quite long at the taxi stand and exchange office. Because you need to have CASH, Argentine Pesos before taking the taxi! As mentioned in my article “best way to exchange money in Argentina” do not exchange money in your country but do it in Buenos Aires. Be sure to read the article!
Make sure to clearly communicate your destination to the taxi driver and double-check the fare before starting your journey.
Private airport transfer
A private airport transfer is another excellent option—and, in my opinion, the best way to get from Ezeiza (EZE) or Jorge Newbery (AEP) to the city. After a long flight, a smooth and hassle-free transfer is a welcome relief. It’s also the fastest and most convenient choice for connections between the two airports. You can check the private airport transfer service HERE.
Uber or Cabify
Taking an Uber or Cabify is a good option as well. However, be prepared for possible delays, especially during peak hours. It’s not uncommon in Buenos Aires for the app to take up to 15 minutes to find a driver, or for your request to be canceled at the last minute. Additionally, there is no dedicated Uber parking at the airport. You’ll need to locate your driver outside the terminal and communicate your exact location via text.
Exchange Money in Buenos Aires
Don’t exchange money in your home country; wait until you arrive in Argentina. The larger the value of your banknotes, the better the exchange rate you’ll get. Since this topic requires more explanation, I’ve written a detailed article about it.
> Where to exchange money in Buenos Aires
> The best places to exchange money in Buenos Aires
But I sure want to tell you that you need to get to the place to exchange your money. Count on it that you need to take a taxi that you can pay in advance or get a public transport card (SUBE) to get around by subway or bus. The issue is that you can’t pay for a taxi or buy a SUBE card if you don’t have cash yet.
Get a SUBE card
A SUBE card is a public transport card widely used in Argentina for taking the bus, subway, and suburban trains. However, SUBE cards are not everywhere available and you cannot pay for one ride at the bus driver. For the subway, you can use now your credit card!
The locations to have the most luck to get a SUBE card are the subway stations around Obelico, the train stations Retiro, and Constitución.
Read the full article about the SUBE card for more information and tips
Going out for dinner
Restaurants in Buenos Aires are opening from 20:00 (08:00 PM). It is also best to go for dinner around 21:00 (09:00 PM) for the best atmosphere in the restaurant.
There are some earlier options available such as traditional cafes/bars such as Bar Federal, Pizzarias or fast-food restaurants.
Discover here the top foods to try when visiting Buenos Aires
Prepare your visits and activities
To have the smoothest experiences I recommend booking your activities before you arrive in Buenos Aires. Especially when you are visiting Buenos Aires between October and March. Many activities are quickly sold out and best to avoid that.
