Navigating Argentina requires careful planning due to its vast size and diverse geography. From the bustling streets of Buenos Aires to the remote landscapes of Patagonia, understanding the best transport options—whether by bus, air, or rail—is essential for optimizing your travel budget and time.
This guide breaks down the most efficient ways to get around the country, offering practical tips on public transit, long-distance travel, and car rentals to ensure your Argentine adventure is as seamless as possible.
Argentina is a large country, in fact the 8th largest country in the world! Distances are massive in Argentina, and you are likely to spend a considerable part of your holiday budget on travel. Ground transport (mostly bus) is best for giving a true impression of the scale of the country and for appreciating the landscape. However, you may want to cover some big legs, particularly in the Patagonia region, with domestic flights that can often save a day or more.
Metro and Subway
Buenos Aires is the only city in Argentina with a subway system, called the Subte. The subway runs from 5:30am-11:30pm on weekdays, 6am-midnight on Saturdays, and 8am-10:30pm on Sundays. Public buses are the most common way to travel within the cities. In Buenos Aires, a one-way fare is around 30 ARS per trip. In Mendoza, fares start at 20 ARS. In Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Mar del Plata you need a transit card to use the public transit, while smaller areas take cash. You can find these cards at kiosks all over the place.
Taxi
Taxis are very affordable in Argentina. Prices start around 100 ARS and go up by around 81 ARS per km. That said, public transportation can usually get you anywhere you need to be so you can likely skip the taxis here, unless its really late at night.
Bus
Argentina boasts an outstanding short and long-distance bus network. It is common to have food served on board as well as Wi-Fi and alcohol on long-distance buses. The inter-city bus network is extensive but services in remote areas can be poor and infrequent; in these places, it is worth considering car rental. The ride from Buenos Aires to Mendoza takes about 14.5 hours and tickets begin at 3,650 ARS. A 10-hour trip from Bariloche to El Calafate, starts from 2,700 ARS, while the bus from Buenos Aires to El Calafate is 10,400 ARS. A relatively “shorter” journey like Mendoza to Salta in 7 hours costs about 2,580 ARS. You can take the overnight bus and then save on accommodation since you’ll be sleeping on the bus.
Air
Flying around South America isn’t very cheap, and Argentina is no exception as fares are taxed highly for foreigners. However, it might be worth it for you if you’re short on time as those 14-hour bus rides are not an efficient way to travel. Argentina’s two most popular airlines are Aerolíneas Argentinas (the domestic carrier), and LATAM. You can fly from Argentina to El Calafate for 27,000 ARS return, or Buenos Aires to Bariloche for 17,000 ARS return. You’ll get better deals the further out that you book your tickets.
Train
Train services are somewhat run-down and limited and not generally a viable method of getting around. Argentina’s rail system only goes to three places: Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and Rosario. The train from Buenos Aires to Cordoba costs about 1,800 ARS. There are also train journeys aimed specifically at travelers, like the epic Train to the Clouds that begins in Salta and passes through the Andes. It’s one of the highest railways in the world. There’s also La Trochita, the Old Patagonian Express between Esquel and El Maiten for 4,260 ARS.
Car rental
Car rentals start at around 5,500-7,300 ARS per day. Drivers need to be at least 21 years old. Drivers here can be aggressive and the road conditions are sometimes hectic so prepare accordingly.
