Arriving in Buenos Aires: Getting from the Airport to the City
Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by Alan Seabright
For most first-time visitors, the simplest Buenos Aires airport transfer is a pre-booked private car, an official taxi or remis arranged inside the terminal, or a ride requested through an app using its designated pickup point. A shuttle can cost less if its schedule and city drop-off suit you. Public buses are best left to travelers with light luggage, time and confidence using the local system.
Before choosing, confirm which airport is printed on your booking. EZE is Ministro Pistarini International Airport, usually called Ezeiza, outside the city. AEP is Jorge Newbery Airport, usually called Aeroparque, beside the city. Both handle passenger flights, and an airport change is not a simple walk between terminals. The linked official English-language pages are useful for live flight information, airport services and current passenger notices.
[Top photo credit: Flickr//CC BY-NC-SA 2.0]
Your Buenos Aires arrival plan in 60 seconds
- Check whether your flight arrives at EZE or AEP.
- Save your accommodation’s full street address and contact details offline.
- Choose your transfer before landing, especially after a long flight or late at night.
- Keep your phone charged and make sure you can access mobile data or airport Wi-Fi.
- Use an official counter, marked taxi system or the pickup instructions inside your ride app.
- Ignore unsolicited ride offers in the arrivals hall.
- Keep one payment card and a small cash backup accessible, but not openly displayed.
Check Argentina’s entry requirements before flying
Entry rules depend on your nationality and can change. Check the Argentine immigration guidance for tourists and your airline’s requirements shortly before departure.
At the time of this fact check, US tourists can normally visit for up to 90 days without a tourist visa and need a valid passport. Travelers of other nationalities should not assume the same rules apply. Your airline and the relevant Argentine consulate are the right places to confirm a case that is not straightforward.
On arrival, follow the airport signs through immigration, baggage collection and customs. Declare goods, regulated items or large amounts of currency when required. Do not carry important medication, travel documents or the only copy of an accommodation address in checked luggage. Our Buenos Aires packing guide has the fuller pre-departure checklist.
Getting from Ezeiza Airport to Buenos Aires
Ezeiza is the principal long-haul international airport and sits outside the city. Road traffic varies substantially, so do not build the start of your trip around one guaranteed transfer time.
Pre-booked private transfer
This is usually the lowest-stress option after a long flight, for a family or group, or when carrying substantial luggage. Confirm the meeting instructions, total price, payment method, vehicle size, luggage capacity and what happens if the flight is delayed. Save the driver’s or company’s contact details before takeoff.
Official taxi or remis
An official taxi or remis, meaning a private hire car, can be arranged at authorized counters as you leave the arrivals area. BuenosTours’ usual recommendation at EZE is Taxi Ezeiza, a prepaid service with airport stands where you arrange a fixed-price journey before leaving the terminal. This is a practical first choice, not a suggestion that the airport’s other authorized services are unsuitable.
Whichever authorized operator you choose, confirm the total fare to your exact destination and whether tolls are included before paying or accepting the ride. Use the counter or signed official system rather than accepting an offer from someone approaching passengers.
Ride apps: Uber, Cabify and BA Taxi
Uber is currently available for pickups at both EZE and AEP, while Cabify publishes specific pickup instructions for EZE. At Aeroparque, BA Taxi is another useful option: it is the City of Buenos Aires’ official taxi app, and the airport has a designated waiting point for its passengers. Availability, prices and pickup zones can change, so check the app after collecting your luggage rather than relying on an old meeting-point description.
A ride app is most practical when your phone has data and your account and card already work abroad. Request the car only through the app, follow its live directions to the assigned pickup area and contact the driver through the app if needed. Before getting in, match the driver’s name, vehicle registration and car details to the booking. Do not accept a driver who approaches you outside the app or asks you to cancel the trip and pay privately.
Airport shuttle
Manuel Tienda León operates airport transfer services, including bus connections between Ezeiza, Aeroparque and its central Terminal Pellegrini. Check the current routes, timetable, luggage conditions and final stop on the company’s own site. This link is provided for practical information, not as a BuenosTours endorsement. A shuttle may be good value for one traveler with manageable luggage, but remember to plan the last part of the journey from its city terminal to your accommodation.
Public bus
Public buses are the lowest-cost option but usually the least convenient after an international flight. They take longer, are awkward with large bags and depend on the current local payment system. Consider them only if you are traveling light and are comfortable navigating public transport. See our Getting Around Buenos Aires guide for the fuller city transport advice.
Getting from Aeroparque to your accommodation
Aeroparque is much closer to central neighborhoods than Ezeiza. An official airport taxi, remis or ride app is normally straightforward. Use the marked airport system or your app’s current pickup instructions and give the driver the full street address, not just the hotel or apartment name.
Public transport may be practical for a traveler with light luggage, but it is not automatically the best choice after a flight. Choose based on your destination, arrival time, mobility and bags rather than distance alone.
If your itinerary changes airports
EZE and AEP are in different parts of the metropolitan area. An itinerary that lands at one and departs from the other requires a road transfer, and traffic can be unpredictable. Allow for immigration, baggage collection, the drive, check-in and security at the second airport. If your airline has sold the itinerary on one ticket, confirm whether the transfer and checked baggage are your responsibility.
For an airport change, a direct private transfer, official taxi or remis is usually easier than combining public transport with luggage. Do not rely on the shortest journey estimate shown by a map app.
Money, phones and luggage on arrival
You do not need to exchange your entire travel budget at the airport. Have a working card and a modest cash backup, then make a calmer decision after reaching your accommodation. Our maintained guide to money, cards and exchange rates in Argentina explains the current options.
Airport Wi-Fi can help you contact a driver, but do not make it your only plan. Save the address, booking confirmation and transfer instructions offline. Keep your luggage with you until it is placed in the vehicle, and do not hand a bag to an unsolicited helper.
Arriving by ferry, cruise ship or long-distance bus
Ferry and cruise terminals and the Retiro long-distance bus station place you closer to central Buenos Aires than Ezeiza, but they are still busy arrival points. Keep your bags close, use the official taxi area or a ride booked through your app, and have the exact destination ready. For onward travel after checking in, use our Getting Around Buenos Aires guide.
Our Buenos Aires safety guide covers bags, phones, taxis, late-night transport and other practical city precautions.
What should you book for your first full day?
Your airport transfer solves the first hour. The next challenge is understanding how Buenos Aires fits together. BuenosTours has been helping visitors do that since 2006. The small-group Buenos Aires Essentials Tour is designed as first-day orientation, with Half Day, Full Day and Full Day with La Boca options.
Choose an arrival day that leaves room for flight delays, sleep and an unhurried start. A tour should make the city easier to enjoy, not become another connection to race toward.
Frequently asked questions
Which Buenos Aires airport will I arrive at?
Check the three-letter code on the booking. EZE means Ezeiza or Ministro Pistarini International Airport. AEP means Aeroparque or Jorge Newbery Airport. Do not assume every international flight uses EZE.
What is the safest way to leave Ezeiza Airport?
Use a pre-booked transfer, an authorized airport taxi or remis counter, or a ride app with a confirmed driver and designated pickup point. BuenosTours normally recommends the prepaid Taxi Ezeiza counter as a straightforward EZE option. Do not accept unsolicited transport offers in the terminal.
Do I need Argentine pesos at the airport?
Not necessarily. A working foreign card plus a small backup is enough for many travelers, but payment methods vary by service. Confirm how your chosen transfer accepts payment before the trip.
Should I rent a car at the airport?
Usually not if you are staying in Buenos Aires. Traffic and parking add work without much benefit inside the city. A rental car makes more sense when the next part of the trip requires driving outside Buenos Aires.