Surviving Public Transport in Buenos Aires

Whether it is the proposed rise in bus prices if you don’t own a Sube Card by the end of next week or, the chaos caused by the closure of Subte yesterday due to a strike, the subject of public transport in Buenos Aires always makes front page news and is an ever present hot discussion topic. Porteño culture has a number of similarities to the public transport in Buenos Aires in that one minute everything seems to be working well and the next minute, everything grinds to a halt causing absolute chaos.

Surviving Public Transport in Buenos Aires

Upon your arrival in Buenos Aires, you might think that getting taxis everywhere is the safest, quickest and most reliable option. However, if you want a true Porteño experience and to be enveloped by a special part of the Buenos Aires culture, public transport in Buenos Aires is the way to sightsee, enjoy and experience the city.

Bus: The buses or ‘‘colectivos’’ cover the whole of Buenos Aires making it easy to get from one end of the city to the other however; it is not necessarily as easy as your hometown’s bus system! Here is your step by step guide to become a Buenos Aires Colectivo Pro!

Before you begin your journey on public transport in Buenos Aires, you need to know how to get yourself from A to B. Simple…visit Mapa Buenos Aires and click on the ‘‘Cómo Llegar’’ tab. Type into the ‘‘Desde’’ box your starting point followed by filling in the ‘‘Hasta’’ box with your destination. This life-saving website will plan and show you the route and possible journeys you can take to arrive at your destination helping you to survive public transport in Buenos Aires.

The buses of Buenos Aires

Wait calmly in the line, no matter how long it is! Although Porteño’s are extremely passionate and enjoy voicing their own opinions, it seems that they almost enjoy queuing calmly and even try to look for the longest line.

Once the bus has arrived make sure you have coins! If you are only carrying notes, you will need to go to a bank to get it changed for some coins like a true Porteño. With your coins in one hand, get on the bus and tell the driver the price of the journey you would like to take before continuing to the coin machine to pay for your ticket:

- AR$ 1.25(£0.18; 0.21€; USD$0.28) = Across the city
- AR$ 1.20 (£0.17; 0.20€; USD$0.27) = To the next neighbourhood
- AR$ 1.10 (£0.15; 0.19€; USD$0.25) = A few short blocks

If you are nervous about being questioned about your price choice or unsure about the distances you will be travelling, cut your losses and settle for the ARS$1.25 tariff!

Travelling by bus in Buenos Aires

Make sure you try and stand near the windows so you can see passing street names as a reference as well as using this opportunity to tick a few tourist landmarks off your list.

Subte: Use one of the 6 lines (A, B, C, D, E and H) for the easiest and quickest way to get around using public transport in Buenos Aires, unless, the station is flooded, the workers are on strike or it is rush hour! Go to the attendant in the ‘‘Boletería’’ (ticket booth) and ask for ‘‘un viaje’’ which will set you back ARS$2.50 (£0.36; 0.43€; USD$0.57). Make sure you pay the attendant with a note as this will give you the change you need to get a bus on the way back or on another day of your vacation in Buenos Aires. Use the Subte maps on the station wall to make sure you know you are heading in the right direction. Try to stand at the centre of the carriage as this is where you will find the much needed and fought after air conditioning system, a necessity whilst using public transport in Buenos Aires on a hot, humid summer’s day!

Waiting to get on the Subte

When using public transport in Buenos Aires, take care and follow this simple tip.

Be careful with your pockets, personal belongings and your bags. Wear your bag on your front, keeping your personal belongings locked up in your bag or keeping your hands in your pockets to make sure you don’t give an opportunistic thief the excuse to relieve you of your camera, phone or wallet.

Learn these useful words to familiarise yourself with before taking public transport in Buenos Aires:

- En piquete – On strike
- Protestar – To protest
- Inundar con agua – To flood with water
- Retrasado – Delayed
- Cancelar – To cancel
- Camino cerrado – Closed road

Subte Map: Know where you are going before you travel / source

If you are looking for tours and activities in Buenos Aires during the summer, visit our official website www.bsas4u.com

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