Buenos Aires is still in recovery from a financial crisis in 2001 that wrecked Argentina's economy and devalued the peso. On the plus side, the turmoil made the once-pricey city a truly affordable destination, and it remains so today. Still, you can easily spend more money than necessary to have a good time. Here are some smart ways to see this beautiful city without blowing your budget.
When to Visit:
December through February is Argentina's summer, when the weather is hot and sticky and tourists descend. Spring and fall are ideal times to visit: Spring is warm and less humid, and fall temperatures are more moderate, with nights beginning to cool. Winter is perfectly pleasant, too, with warm days and cool nights. Find flights to Buenos Aires
Where to Eat:
Budget travelers should have no problem eating well while also eating affordably. Argentina is known for its superb beef, fed on the grassy plains known as the pampas and herded by cowboys called "gauchos." Meat - large, tender, buttery slabs of it - is the main event at the city's numerous neighborhood "parrillas," or grills, and you won't pay big-city prices for it. Be sure to also have a meal in one of the city's European-style cafes, or "confiterias," many decorated in elegant Art Deco or Art Nouveau trappings. A number of classic old restaurants are so valued by the Argentines that they are protected by law. And if you're looking for good street food, head to one of the city's popular street fairs, such as the Sunday San Telmo Antiques Fair, where vendors sell grilled meats and street performers entertain the crowd.
Where to Stay:
Accommodations in Buenos Aires continue to be a bargain. You can find a good hotel for less than $100 a night and spend even less by renting a complete apartment with a kitchen and maybe even a pool. Cheaper still are the city's scores of reputable hostels.
Getting Around:
Buenos Aires has a fast and efficient subway system known as the "subte." Stock up on inexpensive subway passes at 7 pesos for 10 trips. Line A, which started running in 1913, still has vintage wooden cars. Taxis are cheap and widely available, but keep in mind that taking "remises," or minicabs, and radio taxis is considered safer than hailing one on the street. Getting around on foot is highly recommended; with its wide, leafy boulevards, plazas and parks, Buenos Aires is a beautiful place to stroll.
Buenos Aires Sights and Attractions:
It's no accident that Buenos Aires looks much like an elegant European city: Immigrants who traveled there in the late 19th century from Europe inspired the creation of wide boulevards and grand buildings. Buenos Aires has a number of worthwhile museums and attractions, including the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, which holds a top collection of Latin American art. For many travelers, though, strolling the streets of this beautiful city is what sightseeing is all about. You'll want to start in the historic heart of the city, the Plaza de Mayo, which faces the Metropolitan Cathedral and the presidential palace. Wandering through the streets, you can also witness the burgeoning arts and culture scene, fed in large part by ex-pats from the U.S. and Europe who are taking advantage of Buenos Aires' fashionable lifestyle and relatively inexpensive cost of living. Art galleries are mushrooming all over the city; ask your concierge where the latest ones have opened and take a leisurely gallery tour. It's free, as long as you don't pull out your checkbook.
More Buenos Aires Tips:
- Gear up for late-night dining. When in Buenos Aires, do as the locals do: Eat dinner late, with meals often starting after 10 pm. To get from lunch to dinner without passing out, build in time for a late-afternoon snack.
- Look like a local. Crime has taken a dip since 2001, when the country's money crisis brought out a host of unsavory types. Still, petty theft does happen, so you'll want to take the same precautions you would in any metropolitan area: Leave your valuables at home and don't flash wads of money around. Avoid the obvious trappings of a tourist; try to look like you know what you're doing and where you're going. In other words, blend in with the "porteños" -- the "people of the port."
- Do the tango! It's fun, seductive and great exercise. And in Buenos Aires, it's everywhere.
