Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General:

Argentina is generally safe for tourists, but it's always best to err on the side of caution.

The first destination for most in Argentina will be Buenos Aires, and like with any capital city, you should always be aware of your surroundings. Many pickpockets operate in popular tourist zones and there are certain areas of the city that you should avoid completely.

For more information, see our article on staying safe as a tourist in Argentina!

The primary language of Argentina is Spanish, although the Spanish spoken in Argentina is quite different to that of other Hispanic countries. Aside from having a different accent, Argentines use lots of different words that you might not have seen before.

Check out our article on 10 Words you Need to Know before Going to Argentina.

Argentina experiences summer from December to March, and winter from June to September. The best time of year to go depends on your personal preference, but unless you're looking to go to the beach or go skiing, the ideal time is probably during Spring or Autumn.

Check out our guide on When is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Argentina?

Money:

The official currency of Argentina is the Argentine peso (ARS).

While US dollars and euros are accepted in many tourist areas, it's recommended to exchange money into pesos once you're in Argentina for better rates, particularly using the unofficial "blue dollar" rate.

See our article on the blue dollar to learn more about how to get the most from your money in Argentina!

Yes, you can usually use your credit/debit cards without problem, although many places prefer payments in cash. It also works out cheaper to pay in cash if you take advantage of the unofficial exchange rates.

When using ATMs, be wary as many charge very high fees and only allow for small withdrawals to be made.

It's always important to ask vendors if there is an extra cost for paying with card too, as it's often the case in many shops and restaurants.

The blue dollar is an unofficial exchange rate used in Argentina, parallel to the official rate with the US dollar. The unofficial rate usually offers a much higher value for US dollars, and means that both residents and tourists can get the most out of their money.

For tourists, there is also another unofficial exchange rate that exists, known as the "tourist dollar", which provides an even better rate than the blue dollar. For more information, click here.

You can visit https://www.cronista.com/MercadosOnline/dolar.html to see all the different exchange rates available in Argentina.

When it comes to exchanging your money once you're in the country, you should search for "casas de cambio". You can find more information about where to find these places here.

Haggling isn't generally common in Argentina, but you should be wary of the prices you're being charged, especially in popular tourist areas. If in doubt, politely decline offers and compare with prices elsewhere before buying!

Tipping isn't obligatory, but it's definitely appreciated. In restaurants, it's customary to leave a 10% tip, and in taxis it's common to round up the fare.

Argentina is generally a really affordable destination for tourists, although prices can vary quite a lot. Check out our post on this topic here!

Visas:

Many countries don't require a visa to visit Argentina as a tourist - you only need your passport. If you're travelling from the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany or Italy, it's not necessary to have a visa.

For a full list of countries which require a visa, visit this page: https://www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesible/indexdnm.php?visas

Tourists can generally stay in Argentina for a maximum of 90 days.

Yes! Usually after 90 days it's possible to extend your stay. It requires going in person to the immigration office. Visit this page for more info: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/interior/migraciones/turistas.

It's also possible to extend your 90-day stay by "border hopping". This means that once your 90 days are up, you simply leave the country for a day or two, before returning to "reset" your tourist visa. Many people do this by visiting neighbouring countries, such as Uruguay and Chile. Whilst it's completely legal to do this, you may be denied entry if you try it too many times.