After living in Buenos Aires for over five years walking the streets of San Telmo every day, helping travelers plan their visits, and guiding friends and family around. Iโve seen all the classic tourist mistakes in Buenos Aires. Some are small, like paying too much for a taxi. Others can cost real money or worse, waste your precious time in one of the most fascinating cities in South America.
I created Secrets of Buenos Aires not just to tell you where to go, but how to experience the city smartly and safely. So in this guide, Iโll walk you through the most common tourist mistakes and how to avoid them like a local.
Read more: top 25 things to do in Buenos Airesย
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The tourist mistakes in Buenos Aires
Some mistakes are laughable but others are very serious. I give you an insight into what the locals think of the most common mistakes tourists make in Buenos Aires.
Taking the First Exchange Rate You Hear
On Calle Florida, youโll hear it: โCambio, cambio.โ Donโt rush. These are street-level brokers working for someone else. The first rate is rarely the best and youโre expected to negotiate. A bit of walking, a confident โยฟcuรกnto?โ and knowing todayโs blue dollar rate will help. If they change the deal once inside the office, just walk out. No shame in it.
Pro tip: bring $100 or โฌ100 notes, they get you a better rate. Thatโs not a myth. Itโs how the system works here. One of the easy-to-avoid tourist mistakes in Buenos Aires is arriving with small denominations or only relying on your card. Bigger bills mean better deals, especially when exchanging cash in places like Calle Florida.
Want to get know more about the Dollar Blue? Click on the link to read the post.
Jumping in a Random Taxi Without a Plan
Taxis in Buenos Aires arenโt as shady as the internet might make you think. Most drivers are honest and just want to get you where you’re going. But confusion happens when tourists donโt clearly state their destination, or worse, donโt follow along. Thatโs when mistakes or โcreative routesโ can pop up.
Hereโs what I recommend: always have your phone connected to mobile data, and follow the route on Google Maps or Waze. It helps you stay in control, and most drivers appreciate it when you know where you’re headed. Not sure how to do this? Iโve got a full taxi guide in Buenos Aires to walk you through it.
Now, taxis around the airports AEP and EZE are a different story. Thatโs where Iโd avoid the line of โofficial-lookingโ drivers offering rides inside the terminal. Instead, prebook a trusted transfer, or arrange a Cabify once youโre outside. Thatโs where scams or price surprises still happen. You can prebook your airport transfer here.
Relying Only on Credit Cards
Argentinaโs economy runs on a two-tier exchange system. Your foreign card uses the MEP rate, which is better than the official one โ but still worse than the street cash rate. Thatโs why locals and experienced travelers carry dollars or euros and exchange them for pesos. Some restaurants even give 10โ15% off for cash. Just ask: โยฟHay descuento en efectivo?โ It adds up fast.
One of the costliest tourist mistakes in Buenos Aires is relying only on your card. Iโve seen travelers lose $100+ over a week by just tapping away. A little planning and street smarts go a long way here.
Thinking Dulce de Leche Is Just Caramel
Iโve heard it more times than I can count: โOh, itโs like caramel.โ No. Dulce de leche is its own religion here. Itโs thicker, creamier, and made by slowly heating milk and sugar until it becomes magic. Try it in ice cream, on toast, inside pastries like alfajores. But donโt call it caramel in front of locals unless you want a gentle lecture. Respect the dulce. Itโs part of Argentine identity not just a topping.
Not Speaking a Word of Spanish
You donโt need to be fluent, but knowing just a few key Spanish phrases makes your life easier and earns you respect. Many Argentines understand some English, but menus, taxis, and signs often donโt. Try learning basics like โgraciasโ, โla cuenta, por favorโ, or โยฟcuรกnto cuesta?โ.
Bonus tip: โvosโ is used instead of โtรบโ here, and Argentine Spanish has its own sound the double โllโ sounds like โshโ. Iโve seen travelers connect instantly just by trying. Locals love it when you make the effort.
Going to the Restaurant at 18:00
Youโre hungry. Itโs 18:00 (06:00 PM). You go to a restaurant… and itโs empty. Thatโs because locals eat dinner around 21:00 (09:00 PM) or even later. Many kitchens donโt even open before 20:00. Showing up early? It marks you instantly as a tourist. One of the classic tourist mistakes in Buenos Aires.
If you’re starving, do as the locals do โ go for a merienda around 18:00. Think coffee with medialunas or a slice of cake. Then, head out for dinner when the city really comes alive. That small cultural shift makes all the difference in how you experience Buenos Aires.
Read also: the best steakhouses in Buenos Aires where locals actually go toย
Leaving Your Phone on the Cafรฉ Table
It feels safe. People are friendly. But like any big city, petty theft exists especially in touristy areas or crowded buses. Iโve seen travelers lose phones, wallets, even passports just by being a bit too relaxed. Leaving your phone on a cafรฉ table outside? Thatโs an open invitation. A backpack half-zipped on the Subte? Same story.
You donโt need to be paranoid, just aware. Use a crossbody bag, keep valuables zipped away, and always keep your phone in your pocket when not using it. Want a full breakdown? I wrote a detailed guide on this โ Is Buenos Aires Safe? โ with real tips to help you avoid these classic tourist mistakes.
Not Looking Down While Walking โ A Classic Tourist Mistake in Buenos Aires
Oh yes, you have to watch carefully where you walk in Buenos Aires. One of the most unexpected tourist mistakes in Buenos Aires is tripping over a loose tileโฆ or stepping right into dog poo.
Sidewalks here arenโt exactly smooth. Youโll find a wild mix of tile types, potholes, and spots where workers didnโt quite put the sidewalk back together after some repair job. Some streets are better than others, but you never know.
And the dog poo? Donโt get me started. Itโs everywhere. Seriously, count them and send us the record ๐.
Booking the First Tango Show You See
You want to see tango, good choice. But not all tango shows are created equal. Some are tourist factories with average dancing and cold food. Others? Intimate venues with live orchestras and stunning performances. Iโve personally visited most of them, and I can tell you: itโs worth digging deeper. Book in advance, read real reviews (not just the shiny ads), and decide if you want dinner included. Want help choosing? Thatโs what Secrets of Buenos Aires is here for. Click on this link to see all reviews of tango shows in Buenos Aires.
Not trying the ice cream or wine
It is incredibly delicious. Ice cream after dinner or on a hot afternoon? A must. Or a glass of Argentine wine with your meal? Absolutely. Buenos Aires is the place to enjoy both. The amazing ice cream comes from strong Italian roots, and the wine from Mendoza is world-class.
One of the most underrated tourist mistakes in Buenos Aires is skipping these local delights. We even wrote an article about where to get the best ice cream in the cityย and yes, we personally tested them (many times) ๐.
Read also: find the best ice cream in Buenos Aires
This concludes our list of “Mistakes tourists make in Buenos Aires”. We hope you will have a fantastic time in the city.
4 Comments
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We will be arriving on 1/05/2024 for a cruise on 1/06/2024 at the EZE airport.
Can you recommend a hotel. I thought we would take the hop on hop of bus the first day and then just walk around on the second before boarding our ship at 5PM.
Hi Barry, I wrote an article about the favorite hotels in Buenos Aires ๐
https://secretsofbuenosaires.com/best-hotels-in-buenos-aires/
Hello Glenn,
Just found your site! Flying Friday night and in on Saturday. Staying in Recolta? area of the city near the cemetery. Flying in a day early and would like to schedule a cemetery tour. Also exploring ways to get to hotel upon my arrival. Just wanted to say thanks and glad to find your site. Must get back yo work and hope to get my airport transfer/English cemetery tour figured out by Thursday night, for Saturday morning pick up and cemetery tour. Hotel is walking distance to cemetery. Connect with tour group on Sunday, so Saturday I explore….. Will explore your site tonight, but I’m heading to Argentina! Helpful suggestions appreciated. Kind regards, Lynn
Great! Thanks!