Which means of transport to use en Argentine?

Organize your stay en Argentine

From the airport to the city centre From the airport to the city centre en Argentine

Getting to Argentina from Europe or North Americais relatively easy. In Buenos Aires, there are two airports for international flights: Ezeiza airport, some 22 km southwest of the capital, and Jorge Newbery airport, close to the Palermo district. From Paris, several airlines offer direct flights or flights with stopovers. These include Air France, British Airways, Iberia and Latam Airlines. It should be noted that price variations depend on the airline used and, above all, on the booking deadline. To get the best fares, it's essential to book well in advance.

Once you've set foot on terra firma, there are a number of options for getting to the city center. Shuttles, buses, cabs and VTCs (such as Uber) offer fast, efficient transfers in under 45 minutes. In Buenos Aires, you'll most likely land at Ezeiza airport if you're flying from Paris. If you're feeling fit and patient and are arriving during the day (we don't recommend this option at night), opt for the 8 bus (AR$560), which will take around 2 hours to reach downtown and Avenida 9 de Julio. There are also regular transfers from the airport (about every 15 minutes), so all you have to do is wait for the vehicle to fill up and you'll be dropped off 45 minutes later at the Retiro station in the city center, all for around AR$15,000. The other comfortable option is to choose a cab or VTC. Expect to pay around AR$30,000. If you choose a cab, avoid those that charge "by the meter" and ask for a package price, around AR$30,000.

Arrival by train Arrival by train en Argentine

Like all major modern capitals, Buenos Aires has an extensive rail network with seven lines running throughout the city and its suburbs. Three lines depart from Retiro station: Mitre (which connects with Tigre), San Martín and Belgrano Norte. You can pay for your ticket with the Sube card or buy a ticket at one of the station ticket offices.

From the capital, you can take the train to many of the country's cities, including Mar del Plata, Córdoba, Rosario and Tucumán. The journey to Córdoba takes around 20 hours.

Departing from Maipú station in Buenos Aires, the tren de la Costa (www.trendelacosta.com.ar), a small blue-and-white tourist train, passes through pretty residential districts along the Río de la Plata, on a 15.5 km route. In all, it serves 11 stations up to Tigre, including Vicente López, San Isidro and San Fernando.

The Tren a las Nubes is undoubtedly Argentina's most famous train. The third-highest train in the world, it crosses very high mountains, sometimes over 4,200 m high. Today, the train covers only a short, hour-long stretch between San Antonio de los Cobres and the Polvorilla viaduct, offering breathtaking views of the foothills of the Andes.

Since July 2024, the Tren Solar de la Quebrada (trensolar.com.ar) offers an original journey through the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Powered by solar energy, it travels 42 km between the villages of Volcán and Tilcara, passing through authentic villages (Tumbaya, Purmamarca and Maimará) and the Humahuaca Gorge.

Patagonia is not the land of locomotives, apart from a few old train lines rehabilitated as tourist circuits, such as the Tren patagónico (https://trenpatagonicosa.com.ar/), which links Bariloche to Viedma through the province of Río Negro, La Trochita (or Viejo Expreso Patagónico) from Esquel, or the Tren del Fin del Mundo between Ushuaïa and the Parque nacional Tierra del Fuego.

Arrival by boat Arrival by boat en Argentine

To reach Uruguay by boat, Buquebus (www.buquebus.com) offers two shipping lines, one to Colonia and the other to Montevideo. Journey time to Uruguay's capital is around 3 hours. Good to know: the company organizes themed day trips to Colonia.

With over 350 canals stretching over more than 220 km2, the Tigre delta invites you to take a boat trip. At the port, several companies offer trips through this labyrinth of canals. For more freedom, you can hire a boat and get lost until you drop anchor at the mouth and enjoy a panoramic view of the capital.

A trip to Patagonia gives you the chance to explore islands, canals and fjords. Numerous cruises invite you to contemplate the horizon from ferries and boats offering spectacular scenery. To accompany you on this maritime odyssey, many companies offer cruises lasting from a few days to several weeks. Sail on Lake Nahuel Huapi, take a lake crossing between Chile (Puerto Varas) and Argentina (Bariloche) with Cruce Andino (www.crucedelagos.com), embark among the glaciers to Tierra del Fuego or attempt the great crossing to Antarctica... One of the most popular cruises is the one from Punta Arenas in Chile to Ushuaïa in Argentina. Lasting an average of 5 days and 4 nights, it allows you to admire the Beagle Channel and Cabo de Hornos National Park (the famous Cape Horn!). Cruceros Australis (www.australis.com) offers this expedition.

Public transport Public transport en Argentine

If you are a fan of train travel, conducive to daydreaming and contemplating the landscape, you should know that Argentina and South America in general are not the land of locomotives! Only Buenos Aires has a fairly well-developed network of regional trains. Apart from a few old train lines that have been rehabilitated as tourist circuits, such as the Tren Patagonico near Bariloche or the Tren a las Nubes in Salta, Argentina functions more like a huge network of national and international buses. More direct, faster and cheaper, the buses even offer different levels of comfort: "semi-cama", half-sleeper, or "cama", sleeper. Take into consideration that the distances to be covered are long, really long... it will take you at least 24 hours to reach Salta, Puerto Iguazú or Bariloche from Buenos Aires.

With a driver With a driver en Argentine

In Buenos Aires, Salta, Bariloche or Puerto Madryn, you can easily find taxis that can provide you with a transfer or even a day tour. Of course, the further off the beaten track you go, the fewer drivers you'll encounter, but the taxi network is still very present throughout the country. In Patagonia, drivers are becoming rarer: it must be said that they would quickly go out of business if they had to rely on the number of trips! As far as VTC applications are concerned, you should know that Uber is not officially authorized, as the trips are often discreet, but you will be able to order easily in the big cities and pay online or in cash.

By car By car en Argentine

If you want to travel the length and breadth of the country, don't use a car: it's expensive and you'll tire of the distances you'll have to cover. On the other hand, it's the ideal way to visit a region or organize your own excursion: you don't have to rent a car for the whole duration of your stay, but rather choose a particular area so that you can wander freely. Rates are more or less the same as in Europe. For several people, it can be more interesting to rent a vehicle than to leave with a tourist agency. The bad surprise is Patagonia, where prices jump south of the Bariloche-Puerto Madryn geographical line. Argentina's road network is fairly well-developed, but when visiting certain regions, you may find yourself venturing onto dirt roads. Find out before you set off what kind of road you're planning to take (condition, paved or unpaved, etc.). Renting a 4x4 is rarely essential, except to tackle some of Patagonia's most remote corners. In fact, it's in this region that rain or snow often makes certain access roads impassable. It's also possible to rent a converted van for several weeks at a time. The practice is becoming increasingly widespread in Patagonia, to offset hotel costs and enjoy greater freedom. Even if this offers greater flexibility, you should still budget for gas, and don't forget your driver's license (an international license is preferable).

Apart from the fact that you must be over 21 years of age, there's nothing very complicated about the road: it's pretty much the same as in Europe. In town, the speed limit is 50 km/h, and on the freeway 100 km/h. Don't forget to wear your seatbelt. In Argentina, wearing a seatbelt is not a random occurrence Fines are expensive, and so is your life... Small details that are also important: traffic lights are located after the crossing, crossing lights are compulsory outside towns, even during the day, and the right-of-way rule is rather ambivalent: in general, it's the law of the strongest! Finally, make sure you never run out of fuel: the further south you go, the fewer petrol stations you'll find. Our advice: if in doubt, refuel as soon as you get close to one. If you're planning to cross the border and explore neighbouring Chile, be sure to empty your vehicle of all "high-risk foods" (i.e. fruit, vegetables, animal products (meat, fish, eggs, dairy products), etc.).

Tourist traps Tourist traps en Argentine

Police checks are frequent, and beware: they can be unpredictable. Benevolent, indulgent, scrupulous or even charming (yes, yes), the control is completely random, no matter who you run into! Some are content to do their job, while others take advantage of their authority. In fact, some try to take advantage of tourists to obtain bribes, and are quick to fine you without justification. There is no such thing as a fine payable on the spot (the authorities issue a receipt in the event of an offence so that you can pay later at a police station or bank), so it's a scam if anyone tries to make you believe otherwise! In this case, remain calm and polite, and try to contact your embassy or consulate.