Before arriving to a new city, especially a big one, it’s always good to know how to get around ahead of time. Or at least know what options you have and how much they cost as it could save you time, headache, and money.

Below is a quick guide on getting around the city of Buenos Aires.

Subway (Subte)

The subway, known to the locals as the subte(short for subterraneo), is the quickest way to get around the city during the day. If you’re arriving to Buenos Aires by bus, there’s a subway station (Retiro) right next to the bus station to take you to the downtown area or any popular tourist site.

The cost to use the subway is $2.50 ARS each time you enter the station. You can purchase a card which you can recharge or buy individual tickets at each station. No extra charge to switch subway lines as long as you don’t exit the station. You normally wouldn’t have to wait more than 5 minutes for the train.

Be aware, however, that the subway is not open 24 hours a day. The lines are closed by 11PM. Here’s the schedule for all the lines: http://www.subte.com.ar/horarios/horarios.asp

Here’s a detailed subway map that shows all the lines and stations:

Bus (Colectivo)

The local buses, known as a colectivo, is the cheapest way to get around. These buses run 24/7 and pretty much cover the entire city. If you’re not near a subway line or going out late at night and wanted a cheap way to get around, the buses are the way to go.

The routes are a bit complex. You can purchase a Guia “T” or a Multiguia guide from a newsstand for about $12 ARS which shows you which bus number to take and where the bus stop is.

Another option is to use this website, which lets you enter your current location and destination and it will tell you which buses you can take and where the bus stop is.

When you enter the bus, tell the driver where you’re going so he can enter it to his device to determine how much the fare will be. A 30-minute or so bus ride costs around $2 ARS.

Note that the buses don’t accept cash, only coins (they have a payment machine inside), so make sure you have some coins available. You can also purchase a card, in which you can load credit to, to pay for your fare.

Taxi

I usually only use the taxi as a last resort as it’s a lot more expensive than the subway and buses. Make sure that the driver turns on the meter. The minimum fare is $9.80 ARS at night. A 5 km ride would cost around $35 ARS.

Taxis are everywhere and run 24/7 in Buenos Aires, so if you find yourself completely lost in the early morning hours after a good night of partying, you shouldn’t have a problem getting back to your hotel.

Here’s a good website for estimating the taxi fare: http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Buenos-Aires-Argentina

Buenos Aires is a very nice city with plenty of things to see and do and a very good nightlife. Knowing how to use the different transportation options available will make your stay here more enjoyable.