Buenos Aires Travel Tips: What to Know Before You Go

Practical tips for Buenos Aires

• Foreign Visa/Mastercard now automatically use tourist rate (≈ MEP) since Nov 2023 — no more Western Union pilgrimage.

• Argentines eat late — 9pm is early, 10pm normal, midnight standard weekend dinner.

• 10% propina (tip) at restaurants; small bills for taxi rounding.

Staying safe and comfortable

Local emergency number: 911.

• Palermo, Recoleta, Puerto Madero, Microcentro (day), San Telmo (day + main tango streets night) safe.

• Avoid Retiro shantytown edges, La Boca outside Caminito, Constitución at night.

• Watch phone/bag in crowded metro + Calle Florida; distraction thefts common.

• Emergency 911 or 101 (police), 107 (medical).

Visas and entry

Entry policy: mixed, typically up to 90 days. US, UK, EU, Canadian, Japanese, Australian, NZ + most Latin American passports enter visa-free for 90 days. Passport valid 6+ months. Others require eVisa via migraciones.gob.ar. Customs declaration at arrival.

Budgeting your trip

Accommodation is the largest controllable cost in Buenos Aires. Compare live rates for your dates and neighbourhood shortlist before locking in flights — the difference between areas is often larger than the difference between travel weeks.