Just arrived? Here’s what you need to do to get set up in Buenos Aires

It’s always exciting arriving in a city like Buenos Aires for the first time, but usually there’s a bit of setting up to do before the fun can begin. Here to help you on your way, we’ve drawn up a one-look guide to Argentina’s capital, so that you can find your bearings, tick the first annoying tasks off your list and devote yourself to exploring one of the gems of Latin America.

Where to stay
Described as the ‘Paris of South America’, Buenos Aires has a bit of everything to offer newcomers to town, with a distinct mix of Latin and European flavors. For the trendy area, look no further than Palermo, a swanky district flush with divine spots for dining, drinking and dancing.

For something a little more old-school, the beautiful San Telmo is a perfect mix of rustic architecture and modern ideas, with a wide range of excellent restaurants, some of the city’s best bars and a ton of great art.

If you’re wanting something a bit more central, Recoleta or Centro both come with excellent links to almost everywhere you’ll want to visit, although the two districts do come at a little bit of a premium, and lack the night-time sparkle of Palermo and San Telmo.

Look here if you want to find out more about BA’s most interesting districts.

Finding a room
Ok, so maybe this is one you’ll want to deal with before getting on the plane, but sometimes it’s nice to get a feel for the city before settling on a place to live. In either case, AirBNB offers the easiest choice for finding apartments, Craigslist is quite active as well although if you want to find somewhere with locals, roomgo.com.ar offers some excellent value rooms across the city. If you’re only looking for somewhere for a few nights, there are of course an abundance of groovy hostels and boutique hotels that you should check out too.

Getting around
You get to the airport after a grueling flight, eyes full of sleep but excited to get stuck into a brand-new city. The only thing is, you haven’t thought about getting to your hostel from the airport. Oops.

Luckily for you, Buenos Aires is a fairly easy city to navigate, and as you made sure to sign up for Uber before getting on the plane, getting to your new home will be a walk in the park. Remember to sit in the front though, as the app’s not strictly legal here, and don’t be surprised if you’re waiting ten minutes or more whilst your driver tries to find you.
Of course, not everyone’s a fan of Uber, and though it’s not difficult to flag down a standard taxi, you’ll probably want to try out the city’s convenient Subte (metro) service before too long. Get yourself a SUBE card by going to any of the kioscos (convenience stores), post offices or the Subte stations themselves, and you can also use it on the colectivos (buses), if you feel like a challenge…

If you’re staying a little longer and fancy adding some exercise to your routine, Ecobicis could also be a good shout for getting around, but the application process takes a little while. Find out more about getting around in Buenos Aires here.

Getting your SIM card
The worst thing is being lost in a new place with no means of communication, and in a city this big you can bet you’ll want to have some mobile data for google maps. Getting a SIM card is fairly easy, though, as you only need to head to one of the convenience stores (kioscos) to get your prepaid card. Claro seems to be the expat pick of choice, but Movistar will also do the job nicely. Topping up is fairly easy too; just head to any supermarket, convenience store or phone shop that has the recargar machine outside.

Easier still, the tourist office also offers a free welcome kit including the SIM, Sube and an Eco Bici card, which you can apply for here. Pickup is possible from the airport, so if you apply ahead of time it can even be waiting for you upon arrival.

Getting cash

Getting cash can be tricky in Buenos Aires if you’re not prepared, but that’s where we come in. Plan ahead and you’ll be fine, so here’s what you need to do.

Cash points (ATMs) are expensive in Argentina, with high fees and low limits on how much you can take out. You might not feel it too much if you’re planning on staying frugal during your trip, but if you’re looking to spend hundreds of dollars it’s worth doing an Azimo or Xoom transfer, ensuring you get a good exchange rate as well as a relatively easy to use service. Western Union also operate, but in our experience Azimo is just a little bit more accessible, with a good number of branches around the city.

Check out our comprehensive guide to money in Argentina for further details.

And then the rest…
With the boring bits out of the way, you’ll be free to float about Buenos Aires and enjoy the wealth of cafes, bars, restaurants, galleries and more on offer. Where to start? That’s up to you, but if you need a few pointers don’t forget to check out our guides to the best in tango, football and steak for the authentic BA experience. Have fun, amigos!