Getting Around Buenos Aires: Transport Apps & Your First 48 Hours
Buenos Aires is a huge, grand, late-night city — and one of the cheapest major capitals in the world to move around, once you hold the one card that everything runs on. Here's what actually works.
The best default: Subte + colectivos with a SUBE card
The Subte (six lines) is the fast way through the centre, and the colectivos — hundreds of bus routes running 24/7 — cover absolutely everything else. Both take only the rechargeable SUBE card; there's no cash or tap-to-pay on board.
Get a SUBE card first, everything else follows
Buy a SUBE at a kiosk or Subte station and load it with pesos. Fares are genuinely cheap — well under a dollar a ride — and one card can tap for a companion too. Without it, you're not riding.
Getting in from the airport
From Ezeiza (EZE), order an Uber, Cabify, or DiDi from the app (follow pickup signs), or use an official prepaid remise counter inside arrivals. The Tienda León coach is the dependable budget route to its downtown terminal.
Skip the arrivals-hall hustle
Politely ignore anyone offering a "taxi" in the arrivals hall — book through an app or an official counter only. From the closer city airport Aeroparque (AEP), you're a short, cheap ride from Palermo and Recoleta.
Ride-hailing: cheap, but compare
Uber, Cabify, and DiDi all run city-wide. Prices are low by global standards but swing between apps by the hour — locals cross-check two before booking. Late at night, a ride-hail beats walking empty blocks.
Apps you can reuse
- Moovit — the colectivo whisperer; it untangles hundreds of bus routes with live arrivals
- Uber, Cabify, and DiDi — all three operate; keep two installed and compare
- Google Maps — solid Subte routing and walking directions
Arrived launches soon. Get the right transport setup the moment you land.
Join the waitlistYour first 48 hours
- At Ezeiza, book a ride through an app or an official counter — never the arrivals-hall offers.
- Buy a SUBE card at a kiosk and load a few thousand pesos.
- Use the Subte for the centre and colectivos (via Moovit) for everything else.
- Keep two ride-hailing apps installed; compare prices, especially late at night.
Do those four things and Buenos Aires' transport is sorted from the moment you land. Knowing which colectivo runs all night and when DiDi undercuts Uber is exactly what Arrived works out for you.
Frequently asked questions
- Which transport app is best in Buenos Aires?
- Moovit and Google Maps both route the Subte and the sprawling colectivo bus network well. For rides, Uber, Cabify, and DiDi all operate — install two and compare, since prices and wait times swing.
- Do I need a SUBE card in Buenos Aires?
- Yes — the rechargeable SUBE card is the only way to pay on the Subte and colectivos (no cash on board). Buy one at kiosks or Subte stations, top it up with pesos, and one card can pay for travel companions too.
- How do I get from Ezeiza Airport (EZE) to the city?
- Book a ride through Uber, Cabify, or DiDi, or use an official prepaid remise counter (like Taxi Ezeiza) inside the terminal. Avoid unsolicited drivers in arrivals. The Tienda León coach is the reliable budget option to its downtown terminal.
- How much does the Subte cost?
- Fares are low by international standards but change frequently with inflation — think of a ride as costing well under a dollar. Keep a few thousand pesos of credit on your SUBE and you're covered for days.
- What are colectivos?
- Buenos Aires' city buses — hundreds of routes running 24/7, reaching everywhere the Subte doesn't. Pay with SUBE and tell the driver your destination (or just name the fare zone). Moovit handles the route-finding.
- Does Uber work in Buenos Aires?
- Yes — Uber, Cabify, and DiDi all operate widely and are affordable by global standards. Cabify has a strong local reputation; DiDi is often the cheapest. Cross-check two apps before booking.
- Is Buenos Aires safe to get around at night?
- The main neighbourhoods (Palermo, Recoleta, San Telmo's centre) are lively late, but take a ride-hail rather than walking empty streets after midnight, and keep your phone off the curb side of the sidewalk.