• Geographic information

• Maps

• Weather

• Currency, Exchange Rate, Prices

• Phones, Internet, Postal Service, TV, Power

• Transportation (buses, subway, trains, taxi cabs, 'remises', car rental). Airports

• Food

• Buenos Aires boroughs and places to visit

• Entertainment, newspapers, radio, TV

The 'Autonomous City of Buenos Aires' (the official name) es the federal capital of Argentina and the site of the Federal Government.
It is located on the right margin of the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver), at about 34º 30' South Latitude and 58º 30' West Longitude. The General Paz Avenue and the 'Riachuelo' river are the limits with the Buenos Aires Province.
The population is about 3,000,000 inhabitants on about 100 Sq. Km., and about 10,000,000 in the 'Great Buenos Aires' area, including the nearby counties in the Buenos Aires province. It is the area with the highest population density in the country, about one quarter of all Argentina population in about 1,000 Sq. Km.

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The streets in Buenos Aires follow a near regular grid, particularly in downtown, in approximately N-S and E-W directions.
The Rivadavia Avenue (E-W) splits the city in 'northern' and 'southern' areas. The streets name changes when crossing Rivadavia Ave. This name change happens also at some other Avenues. At most corners there are indication poles with street name and block numbers.
City blocks are numbered from East to West, and away Av. Rivadavia to the North and to the South.

Warnings!
Paralell streets not always have the same numbers.
Some streets change name for several blocks due to peculiar city government decisions.

You may buy one of the many Transport and Streets Guides available at newspapers stands and book stores for ARG$ 5 ~ 10 (pocket editions of Guia-T, Guía Lumi, Guía Filcar...)

At your Hotel and at stands of Tourism Secretary (Florida and Roque Saenz Peña streets) you may get free downton streets including tourist information.

In Internet many maps are available.

http://www.metrovias.com.ar (site in Spanish)
=> [Información del servicio]
==> [Mapas]
==> [Mapa de Recorridos (Subte)]
Subway map. Select Depart and Destination stations and press [BUSCAR] to see your trip on the screen.
==> [Mapa Red de Subte - Mapa de Superficie] Useful to locate destinations all over the city.

http://www.mapcity.com/baires
Allows to find an address and also services and stores nearby, also your trip between two locations within the city.

www.gcba.gov.ar/areas/com_social/mapasint/
The official sity of the City Government. Interactive Maps showing Parks, Museums, Shopping places, Boroughs...)

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The Climate

March is still a southern summer month and the climate during the Regional Meeting could be warm and even hot.
Maximum summer temperatures in Buenos Aires may reach 30ºC (86 ºF) during the day, falling in the night to 25ºC (77ºF), with 70~80% humidity.

You may have at hand a light coat for an occasional decresease in temperature or to stay in air-conditioned rooms.

During and after rains be careful when walking because many sidewalks are in poor conditions.

Weather information

You may check the Weather Channel in your Hotel.
In Internet:

http://www.weather.com Select Buenos Aires City

http://www.clarin.com Clarín Newspaper, see 'El Tiempo / información meteorológic'

Clock Time

All year the time in Argentina is GMT-3.
During March it is 2 hours ahead of the US East Coast time (New York, Washington, Miami, GMT-5). In Buenos Aires, 9 AM is 7 AM in New York.

Social Time

The major difference with the USA is that work time continues until near the night (7 or 8 PM), with dinner at 9 PM or even later. Shows and entertaining activities may start at 9 or 10 PM and even near midnight on weekends (Friday and Saturday night).
Many stores, shopping malls and food places are open during weekends (Saturdays, Sundays).

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The Argentinean Currency

The Argentinean currency nowadays is the PESO.
There are bills of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 PESOS, all having the same size similar to the US Dollar.
There are coins of 1 PESO, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 CENTAVO(s) [cent(s)]. All have different sizes and the 50, 25 and 5 cents may have silver or gold look.
The 1 cent coint is not used in real life (except in MacDonalds' stores). Your change will be rounded 'up' (to the benefit of the store) to the nearest 5 or 10 cents. To see pictures of Argentinean bills and coin, please see the site of the Banco Central de la República Argentina.

http://bcra.gov.ar
==> [Billetes y Monedas]
==> [Emisiones vigentes] <<<=== current
==> [Emisiones anteriores] <<<=== old ones

You may read there about the hazardous history of our currency. Due to inflation it changed names and was devaluated up to a total factor of 10,000,000,000,000 (Yes, 10**13!!!). A brief summary follows here.

Peso Moneda Nacional ($ m/n), since 5/11/1881 (d/m/y)
Peso Ley 18188, since 1/1/1970 (1 Peso Ley 18188 = 100 $m/n)
Peso Argentino, since 1/6/1983 (1 Peso Argentina = 10.000 Pesos Ley 18188)
Austral, since 15/6/1985 (1 Austral = 1000 Pesos Argentinos)
Peso, since 1/1/1992 (1 Peso = 10.000 Australes)

Warning!
Old bills are no longer valid since several years ago. However, make sure that you receive current PESOS. In the latest years we have also 'Bonos' (named LECOPs, Patacones...) --sort of IOUs issued by the federal and provincial governments as payment of their dues-- accepted at most stores at that time and looking similar to PESOS. Do NOT take them. They are no longet valid.

Exchange rate and exchange places

By the end of Febrary 2004 the exchange rate PESO/US DOLLAR was about 1 USD = 3 PESOS, with no major changes expected in the near future. The exchange rate for EUROs follows the rate EURO/USD.

You are free to buy and sell foreign currency (mostly USD and EUROS) at Banks and Money Exchange stores (Casas de Cambio). Personal Identificacion may be required.
USD and also EURO are frequently accepted at stores as payment. Sometimes, as sale promotion, at a most convenient rate.

International Credit Cards (Master Card, Visa, American Express, Diners) and Bank 'debit' cards (Cirrus, Visa... ) are accepted at stores and automatic teller machines (local BANELCO, LINK and other ATM networks).
Warning! Keep your PINs (Personal Id Numbers) secret.

When paying cahs, try to have bills for the approximate amount. The clerks frequently claim not having enough bills for the change.
Sometimes there is a bonus for paying 'cash' and not with Cards.

Prices

Current Argentinean prices for many goods and services (food, clothes, entertainment...) are very convenient for visitors, particularly those coming from the USA and Europe.
However, some services (lodging, air travel tickets) may be charged higher for foreigners, a practice being tried to be dismissed.

Some goods like photo, video and audio equipments anytime have been and are much more expensive than in the USA, even in our Airports 'Free Shops'. Check prices before buying.

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Phones

Also here, hotels may overcharge your phone calls. As elsewhere, you may buy Prepaid phone cards, available at newstands and many stores.
Warning: The access numbers (0-800-... ) might be locked at your hotel.
There are many public telephones and also 'locutorios' (talk rooms) offering phone services at official rates.

Public Phones operate with prepaid cards and/or coins, giving no change. They only give back the unused coins. Local reverse charge service is also available (dial 19).

Phone numbers

Argentinean national phone numbers are 10 digits long (city code plus local number). Domestic Direct Dial prefix is 0 (zero).
Examples for Buenos Aires city.
8 digit Local number. Example: 4123 4567
2 digit BA city code: 11

To call this number from within the Buenos Aires area, dial 4123 4567

To call this number from elsewhere in the country, dial
0 + city code + local number ===>>> 0 11 4123 4567

To call this number from outside Argentina, add our Country Code (54) and your International Direct Dial Prefix to the Argentinean national number.
Dial: (prefix) 54 11 4123 4567

To call to an Argentinean Cellular phone from outside Argentina, add 9 after the Country Code
Dial: (prefix) 54 9 11 NNNN NNNN

To call to an Argentinean Cellular phone from inside Argentina, add 15 before the cellular local number (Calling Party Pays prefix)
Local call to a cellular, dial 15 NNNN NNNN
Long distance call to a cellular in Buenos Aires, dial 011 15 NNNN NNNN

Internet

Major hotels offer wideband Internet access (cablemodem or ADSL). Check for extra charges for the service. Check technical requirements against your computer equipment.

If you carry no computer, there are many 'Cybercafes' and also the phone service 'Locutorios' (talk rooms) where you may have a computer with an Internet fast connection for about 35 ~ 70 cents of USD per hour.

If you have a computer and modem and a phone line available, you may access Internet through several 'Internet Free' service providers. There are no need to subscribe and no extra charges in addition to the regular phone call cost.

To offer the service, these ISPs share the money charged during the phone call with the Telephone Service Operators.
Here are some Internet Free service providers at Buenos Aires:

Alternativa Gratis - 5555 5555 - User: alternativa - Password: gratis
Uyuyuy - 5093 5093 - User: uyuyuy - Password: uyuyuy
Platano - 5444 4333 - User: platano - Password: platano
DeArriba - 5444 4444 - User: deArriba - Password: deArriba

Postal Service

Correo Argentino is the official national postal service (national and international). For offices location, check
http://www.correoargentino.com.ar.

There are many other authorized companies for national and international service, like OCA, Andreani, DHL, FedEx, UPS.

TV, DVD, Audio

Our color TV standard is PAL-N (european origin, adapted to our local electrical and black and white TV standards).
If you buy recorded VHS videocassettes check if the recording standard will be acceptable for your videocassette player at home. USA standard is NTSC, other PAL formats (PAL-M...) are in use in Europe.

For DVDs, Argentina is in Zone 4. If you buy a DVD, make sure your DVD player will be able to reproduce it. USA is Zone 1.

For audio CDs or cassettes there are no standards compatibility problems.

Power

Electric power is 220 VAC, 50 Hz (It is 110VAC/60Hz in the USA).

The standard plug has 3 flat pronges (Live, Neutral, Earth) and it looks like the Australian one. However, many old style plugs with 2 round pronges are still in use in old equipment. See PICTURES.

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Airports

Buenos Aires is served by two airports:
* Aeroparque, within the city limits, for national flights and to Uruguay.
* Ezeiza International Airport, 30 Km away.

Warning!
When you arrive to Ezeiza, after passing through Customs and walking into the Ariport public area, you will face many people offering transport you to Buenos Aires at cheap prices. IGNORE THEM!!!
If you need transportation, go to one of the stands of the authorized companies located nearby the Customs exit. You may have Charter Bus service (cheaper but departs ar certain hours and with fixed routes) or 'Remise Car' service (door to door car with driver for you alone).

The public service bus Nr. 86 travels between Ezeiza and Buenos Aires city, but it is not recommended, because it takes much time and buses don't have facilities for baggage.

If someone who you do not know in persos will be waiting for you, confirm the identity of the person who appears to take care of you.

When leaving Buenos Aires, ask at your Hotel to get a dependable 'remise' to take you to Ezeiza.

Transportarion in BA and surrounding area (bus, subway, trains, taxis, remises)

BA has a good public transportation system, with frequent services between dawn and up to midnight. Night service (~00 to 05 hr) may be (very) scarse.

Within the city, the Subway (called 'el Subte' by local citizens) is the best option for the visitor and avoids you street traffic congestion delays. Even if you need to walk a few extra blocks, you will save time with the Subte.

There are many Bus Lines available.
More comfortable and not very expensive options are taxis (taxicabs, most may be called by phone - radiotaxis -) or remises (cars with driver).

Suburban Trains service connect BA City with its neigboor cities in the Buenos Aires Province. Service quality varies, from acceptable to very poor. The Subte and many bus lines reach the Trains Terminals: Retiro, Constitución, Once (Plaza Miserere) and Federico Lacroze (Chacarita).

Some extra information on transportation follows.

Subte

There are 5 interconnected lines, A, B, C, D and E. Their track roughly follows under some Avenues.
The ticket price is ARG$ 0,70 (~USD 0,25) and allows to make any combination within the Subte lines to reach your destination.
Tickets are sold at Subte stations, mostly by clecks. There are disposable magnetic cards valid for 1, 2, 5 and 10 trips (SubtePass) of rechargeable plastic cards (SubteCard) from ARG$ 20 (trips cost a little less with SubteCard).
Each of the five lines has a characteristic color at the stations entrance, but users identify each of them by the name of the terminal or relevant stations and/or the name of the Avenue they travel under. For example, the A-line goes from 'Plaza de Mayo' to 'Primera Junta' under 'Rivadavia Avenue'.

Warning!
Not all station entrances allow access to trains in both directions. Check before going in and using your ticket.

At http://www.metrovias.com.ar
=> Información del servicio
==> Mapas

you will find detailed information on routes, a point-to-point locator map showing you where to change trains, and also an excelent interactive map covering all BA City, including location of various services (Banks, Hospitals, ...)

Buses

An ARG$ 0,80 (~ USD 0,30) bus ticket will allow you a full trip on any of the BACity bus lines. There are a few 'Premium services' at higher cost (faster and/or air conditioned and more comfortable). The minimum ticket is ARG$ 0,75 for short trips. The cost is higher to go to and within the Buenos Aires Province.

Most (not all!) bus stops have indicator signs and are located at about two blocks one from another.

Ticket is paid on the bus with coins at the ticketing machine. You must have coins available. And try to have some extra coins to replace the ones the machine might refuse to accept! The machine will print a paper ticket and also return change if you insert coins in excess.

Each ticket is valid only for one trip in the same bus. There are not comibnation or prepaid tickets. At some busy stops, there might be a cleck selling paper tickets to save time on the bus ticketing machine.

Passengers go into the bus through the front door and leave the bus through the rear door(s), which open automatically. Near the rear door there is a button to ring the driver to stop. Do not expect the driver to stop exactly at the bus stop near the curb. He (the big majority are men) will decide where to stop nearby!

Lines are identified by numbers (i.e. 1, 5, 26, 60, 132...) and bus models and painting varies according to their owner company.

Warnings!
Line number: Some companies took over certain lines and use their own coaches, painted with the original colors and line numbers. The real line number appears at the front windshield bottom, and might read like <21 x 108>, which means a bus labeled '21' but now going by (X) route 108.
Branches: Some lines have 'Branches' travelling partially different routes. Again, look at the front windshield bottom for the name/color of the route you need (i.e. 21 with green sign/LINIERS, 176 with yellow sign/PUERTA4).
Partial Route: There might be also sobre coaches travelling only on part of the full route. As before, look at the front windshield bottom sign.

You will find information on several bus lines routes at
http://www.loscolectivos.com.ar

Taxis, Radiotaxis and Remises

BA City taxis are yellow and black and travel through the city. A small red sign "LIBRE" on the front windshield is lighted when 'available'. Just stop them. There are also some fixed stops where they wait for passengers.

At your destination you should pay in ARG$ the amount shown in the meter. There might be some extra cost per big piece of luggage.
The rate is unique and fixed by the city government, according to the value of 'one token' (ficha). Up to February 2004, 1 FICHA = ARG$ 0,14. An increase in value is under discussion, starting sometime in March (about 10 ~ 15%).
The cost of your trip will be:
* A fixed amount of 8 FICHAs, currently ARG$ 1,12, plus
* One FICHA each 180 meter, amounting about ARG$ 0,80 per Km, plus
* One FICHA for each minute waiting (not moving), be it for traffic congestion or because you asked for.
A short trip within downtown may cost about ARG$ 5.
For ARG$ 20 you may go across the city, from one end to another.

It is not mandatory the 'tip' to the driver (but it will be accepted).

Warning:
The driver may ask you ' which route do you prefer?', so it is better for you to be roughly aware of your route or you might end doing a very long trip throuhg the city. At least, know the distance, and say 'Oh, is a 10 blocks trip so you may decide' the route'. Be also aware that sometimes the driver might be a colleague engineer trying to survive as a novel taxi driver, and really don't knows how to reach your destination.

When in need for a taxi you may phone for a radiotaxi. Radiotaxis are deemed to be safer, because the request, route and driver data are registered by the dispatcher.

Remises' offer a service similar to radiotaxis with car and driver, but without standard colors or labels or meters. Check the cost of your trip when asking for the service.Rates are comparable to taxis, but not uniform for different companies. Roughly they are cheaper than taxis for longer trips, higher for short trips.

Remises are a good option for tourism trips, if a car is shared by several persons.
You may also check the cost 'per hour' or 'per day'.

Car rental

Several international and local companies offer car rental. However, for tourism purposes driving a car by yourself might be a nuisance. Traffic is wild and parking is difficult. It might be cheaper and certainly much more convenient to hire a 'remise' and let the driver take care.

Trains

There are several lines of suburban trains with stations inside the city and in the neigboor cities in Buenos Aires province. Tickets are cheap but also is service quality at many lines. As as option, there are buses going to the same locations (though the trip takes much more time). If you need to travel outside BA City check with your local acquaintances the best way to reach your destination.

Long Distance trains are practically inexistant. The few available serice are very poor. Long distance buses (there are very comfortable sleep buses) and airplanes are the real options to travel within Argentina.

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At any time, at any placeand at the cost you decide is a good summary of the foor offer at Buenos Aires.
You may get a simple ham and cheese sandiwch with a soft drink for about one US Dollar. You may have an international level dinner at places like TOMO I (one of the Restaurantes at the Crowne Plaza Panamericano Hotel, where the Regional Meeting is hosted). Between these ends, you may select between pizzerias, bares, cafeterias, quick-food, parrillas (meat cooked argentine style), food squares at shoping centers and restaurants offering a variety of foods (ethnic, regional, european, etc. etc).
Your only care about food in Buenos Aires will be to decide how much do you want to spend and to check calories!

At same zones like Puerto Madero (on the river side), Las Cañitas (Palermo) and Recoleta there are many good restaurants.

Additional information:
* TANGO, the newspaper for tourists distributed at hotels. Participants at RRBA2004 will get a copy.
* The Guide to Restaurants compiled by Clarín newspaper, available at
http://www.restaurantes.clarin.com

Notes:
At many restaurantes portions are generous and may be shared. It is a common practice and it is not mandatory to buy one plate per person. However, it is not common to drink only tap water. You should buy at least one small bottled water.
It is not usual to bring along your own wine.
The bill might include a fixed amount per person, labeled 'table service', in addition to the cost of the food and drinks ordered.

If you smoke, ask if smoking is accepted. If so, by law smokers must have some special area (frequently part of the same saloon).

Tips are usual, but leave cash. It is not usual to include them in the bill when paying with cards. About 10% might be reasonable.

It is safe to drink tap water at Buenos Aires City. You may check at your Hotel, but in general it is not a must to drink bottled water.

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BA offers many activities to tourists.
Here we offer some ideas, particularly to those who want to move by themselves. Each place may receive a fast look while passing nearby or deserve some time for a deeper look. Those looking for professional help may check with the official travel agency for RRBA2004, PROVITUR.

RRBA2004 participants may also check their copy of TANGO, a printed weekly newspaper listing in English and Spanish useful information for tourists.

At newspapers stands and book stores visitors will find many Guides and other publications on Buenos Aires and Argentina. The ones published by Clarín Newspaper for Buenos Aires and other places in Argentina are good and low cost.

Clarín. Guías Visuales de la Argentina
Available also at Clarín, Av. Corrientes 526. Tel 4510-4545
* Buenos Aires. Centro Histórico.
* Buenos Aires. Los Barrios.
* Buenos Aires. Miniturismo.

We wish to our visitors a pleasant stay in our city. Nevertheless we let you know that the city police (Policía Federal Argentina) has a specialized service and place where tourists get needed advice and help.
Comisaría del Turista de la Policía Federal Argentina
Corrientes 436 (between San Martín and Reconquista streets)
Phones:
0-800-999-5000
4346-5748; 4346-7000, internos 1801 y 5748

For your safety just follow the usual rules in every big city in the world. Do not show expensive belongings (cameras, recorders, jewelry...), hold on your bag or attache to avoid snatchs, have at hand a few bills and documents and the remaining ones safe in inner pockets or at your Hotel, do not disclose personal information (like bank cards PINs/passwords).

Be very careful with traffic. It is wild. BA has many traffic lights, but many drivers and pedestrians do not care about. Look araound and look again when crossing a street, some vehicle might appear from the side street. Bikes and small 'delivery' motorbikes may even travel wrong way.

Many sidewalks are in bad shape and soiled. Look carefully where and what you step onto, particularly in rainy days.

There are few facilities for persons with disabilities, both in public and private buildings and in public transportation services.

Here follows a brief list of places in BA you may want to know.
(Temporarily, please check locations and contact data in our similar Spanish pages)

Buenos Aires City boroughs (Barrios de Buenos Aires)
Sites to see in some BA boroughs (Algunos Barrios de Buenos Aires y sus lugares de interés)

Downton and nearby (Zona céntrica y alrededores)
Teatro Colón (Guided visits); Teatro y Centro Cultural San Martín; Tango Lessons in Auditorio Konex; Centro Cultural Borges y Galerías Pacífico (Shopping Center), Colegio Nacional Buenos Aires y túneles del siglo XVIII, Museo de la Ciudad, Feria del Convento, Feria del Mercado de las Luces, Museo del Cine, Guided Visits to Cementerio de Recoleta y el Casco Histórico and to Santa Casa de Ejercicios Espirituales, Subway Line A (oldest in Latinamerica, still using vintage trains)

Palermo borough (El Barrio de Palermo)
Feria de Arte de Palermo Viejo, Planetario Galileo Galilei de la Ciudad deBuenos Aires, MALBA - Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, Zoológico, Jardín Botánico, Parque 3 de Febrero.

Caballito borougn, Rivadavia and Centenario parks (El Barrio de Caballito, Parques Rivadavia y Centenario)
Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia, Asociación Amigos de la Astronomía, Feria de Libros (new and old book fair) y Feria Artesanal, Tranvía Histórico de Caballito (historic streetcars).

Abasto borough (El Barrio del Abasto)
Ciudad Cultural Konex en Abasto y Festival Verano Porteño, Los caminos de Gardel en el Abasto (guided visit), Museo Casa Carlos Gardel (Abasto), Shopping Center Abasto.

Recoleta borough and neighboorhood, Centro Cultural Recoleta (Barrio de Recoleta y alrededores, Centro Cultural Recoleta)
Centro Municipal de Exposiciones, Palais de Glace y Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Feria Artesanal, Cemeterio de la Recoleta, Hotel Alvear Palace, Zona gastronómica y moda de primer nivel, Biblioteca Nacional, Museo de Automóviles Antiguos del Automóvil Club Argentino, Parque Thays, Flor Gigante.

Big Clocks in City Buildings (Grandes relojes de la ciudad)

Remarkable buildings in the historic area and Avenida de Mayo (Edificios significativos en el casco histórico y Avenida de Mayo)

Specialized commercial areas (Areas comerciales por rubros)

Fairs (Ferias)
Artesanos de Argentina (San Telmo), Artesanías Argentinas, Feria de San Pedro Telmo, Mercado de las Luces, Plaza Francia (Recoleta), Paseo de la Ribera (La Boca), Plaza Vuelta de Rocha (La Boca)

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BA offers a huge variety of cultural, arts and entertaining activities every day.You will need to choose between a full dress Opera performance at Teatro Colón, a musical comedy, theater performances both at professional and amateur and underground circuits, a variety of music and dance performances (classis, pop, even street performers), paintings and sculpture exhibitions, conferences and literature workshops, just to name a few.

Please check in the specialized sections in the city newspapers, also available at Internet. Also in tourist publications like TANGO, available free at hotels and stores.

Newspapers
Clarín http://www.clarin.com.ar
La Nación http://www.lanacion.com.ar
Página 12 http://www.pagina12.com.ar

AM and FM Radio

AM stations broadcast in the 560/1600 KHz band, with a variety of programs (news, music, talk, sports...).
FM stations broadcast in the 88/108 MHz, most of them in Stereo. They tend to specialize, mostly in music (rock, pop, classic, tango...). There are many low power stations serving boroughs.
Música Clásica: FM 100.3 Cultura Musical; FM 97.9 Cultura; FM 96.7 Nacional Clásica
FM 98.7 Nacional de Folklore
FM 92.7 Tango/La Dos Por Cuatro.

TV

There are 5 air channels in the area: 2, 7, 9, 11 and 13. Four of them in BA and channel 2 in La Plata (capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, about 60 Km away from BA).
There are several paid services of cable and satellite TV.
Cable TV reachs about 50% of homes in Argentina. However the highest ratings are for air channels, mainly 11 and 13, also available through the paid services.

Some radio and tv programs are available through Internet

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