Getting Around
Buenos Aires is a huge city. When you’re staying in a single neighborhood, you can rely on your feet. But if you want to explore other neighborhoods, you’ll almost certainly need to take advantage of another form of transportation.
Subte
The Buenos Aires subway system is relatively efficient and reliable, but it is not always an option. There are four main lines that all converge around the Plaza de Mayo and branch outwards. If you are lucky enough to be going somewhere that is located on those lines, then you are all set. (For instance, the green D line goes directly between the Plaza de Mayo and Palermo, so it’s a great option.) Just get your ticket at the booth inside, and you’re on your way. But the reach of the subway is limited, so oftentimes a cab or a bus (colectivo) are better options.
Colectivos
The buses of Buenos Aires are called colectivos because each individual bus line is run by its own separate collective. Because of this, some lines are better than others. Some buses may be air conditioned, while others are not. Also because of this, there are many buses that all take the exact same routes except for maybe a few stops. It’s a strange, difficult system to understand. Furthermore, bus drivers in Buenos Aires drive like crazy people. If you are not able to get a seat, hold on for dear life. And if you are a pedestrian, the buses will NOT stop for you. Do not cross the street in front of a bus or you will probably die. That said, it is sort of a quintessential experience in the city, and we’ve grown to really love the colectivos.
One important thing: you have to pay in change (coins only) to ride the bus, and right now it’s somewhere around 6 pesos per ride (we think…it changes often). So make sure you have plenty of change. When you get on, tell the driver where you are going, and he will set the machine to accept your fare. Don’t try to ask him for change. It won’t work.
To figure out which bus routes to take, go to this website: http://comollego.ba.gob.ar/.
Taxis
When all else fails, just hail a taxi. The drivers will try to talk your ears off, more often than not. And every once in a while you will run into a driver who realizes you are a tourist and takes you on the longest route possible. But as you see the pesos racking up on the meter, try to remember that one dollar is more than 14 pesos. You will never have a ride that costs more than 100 pesos, and most often they will be much less. So that’s still just a bit over seven bucks.
Also, a note of caution: it’s best not to pay cab drivers with really large bills ($50s and $100s). There is some precedent of them looking at the bills, doing a sly swap, and handing you back a fake bill, saying that he can’t take it. So, if you can, pay in smaller bills. It is not customary to tip in a taxi.
Subte
The Buenos Aires subway system is relatively efficient and reliable, but it is not always an option. There are four main lines that all converge around the Plaza de Mayo and branch outwards. If you are lucky enough to be going somewhere that is located on those lines, then you are all set. (For instance, the green D line goes directly between the Plaza de Mayo and Palermo, so it’s a great option.) Just get your ticket at the booth inside, and you’re on your way. But the reach of the subway is limited, so oftentimes a cab or a bus (colectivo) are better options.
Colectivos
The buses of Buenos Aires are called colectivos because each individual bus line is run by its own separate collective. Because of this, some lines are better than others. Some buses may be air conditioned, while others are not. Also because of this, there are many buses that all take the exact same routes except for maybe a few stops. It’s a strange, difficult system to understand. Furthermore, bus drivers in Buenos Aires drive like crazy people. If you are not able to get a seat, hold on for dear life. And if you are a pedestrian, the buses will NOT stop for you. Do not cross the street in front of a bus or you will probably die. That said, it is sort of a quintessential experience in the city, and we’ve grown to really love the colectivos.
One important thing: you have to pay in change (coins only) to ride the bus, and right now it’s somewhere around 6 pesos per ride (we think…it changes often). So make sure you have plenty of change. When you get on, tell the driver where you are going, and he will set the machine to accept your fare. Don’t try to ask him for change. It won’t work.
To figure out which bus routes to take, go to this website: http://comollego.ba.gob.ar/.
Taxis
When all else fails, just hail a taxi. The drivers will try to talk your ears off, more often than not. And every once in a while you will run into a driver who realizes you are a tourist and takes you on the longest route possible. But as you see the pesos racking up on the meter, try to remember that one dollar is more than 14 pesos. You will never have a ride that costs more than 100 pesos, and most often they will be much less. So that’s still just a bit over seven bucks.
Also, a note of caution: it’s best not to pay cab drivers with really large bills ($50s and $100s). There is some precedent of them looking at the bills, doing a sly swap, and handing you back a fake bill, saying that he can’t take it. So, if you can, pay in smaller bills. It is not customary to tip in a taxi.