13 Things to Know About Argentina Before Visiting

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If you are planning a trip to Argentina you are probably researching the best places to visit in Argentina and how to fit all the wonders of the country in your itinerary. An Argentina trip can include varying landscapes, from the breathtaking desert scenery in the northern Salta and Jujuy provinces to the lakes, glaciers and mountains of southern Patagonia. In between you can experience everything from Buenos Aires, the cultural capital, to Mendoza, the wine region.

When traveling to Argentina you may become overwhelmed with all there is to see and do. In addition to deciding where to go, there are some things to know about Argentina before visiting.

#1 Slow Pace of Life

Be prepared for slow service and people to arrive when they decide to arrive. If you grew up in a society that values punctuality, this may seem frustrating at first. To me I really found the value in the slow way of life. There is nothing I hate more than sitting down for a nice meal and everyone is scarfing down their food. I had some of my most enjoyable meals in Buenos Aires. I love the relaxed atmosphere of slowly savoring a meal with great company.

#2 Late Eating Times

Those slow dinners I am talking about, when do they take place? Late! Most restaurants do not open for the evening meal until at least 7pm or 8pm. At that time you will mostly find tourists in the restaurants. Locals don’t start eating until 9pm. Going out for dinner at 10pm or 11pm is the norm. Lunch is usually around 1 – 3pm. The majority of restaurants are closed late afternoon and early evening.

In the late afternoon or early evening many people have a snack. It might consist of medialunes (similar to a sweet croissant) or alfajores (cookie type treat) with mate (an Argentinean caffeine drink). You will see people drinking mate all day, every day though!

#3 Vibrant Nightlife

Argentinians love to stay up late. You won’t find anyone at the bar until at least midnight and the clubs will be empty until 1am. At 7am though the clubs will still be going strong.

#4 Daily Siestas

You might be thinking, if the Argentinians are starting dinner at 11pm and returning from the nightclubs at 7am do they sleep in late? You would think so, but their work days start around 8am or 9am like many people around the world. How do they do it? They take siestas (naps) of course! Many businesses shut down in the afternoons between 1 – 5pm. In Buenos Aires most places stay open, but in smaller towns like Purmamarca this is quite common.

#5 Bottled Water

Whether the water is safe to drink or not depends on who you ask. Most people in Buenos Aires told me there was a high level of chlorine in the water and they wouldn’t recommend drinking it. At restaurants you won’t be served water and they will be confused if you want tap water. They will ask you if you want water with or without gas (‘agua con gas’ or ‘agua sin gas’).

#6 Steak and More Steak

Love steak? Book your ticket to Argentina today. There is no better place for quality steak at reasonable prices. Vegetarians be prepared. The food is very meat based. You can go into any restaurant and find great meat, but for vegan or vegetarian meals you will have to search much harder. Check out my steak post if you want to know where to eat the best steak in Buenos Aires.

#7 Fluctuating Economy

The economy in Argentina fluctuates often. In the last couple of years it has been hard financially on many citizens. While Argentina isn’t as cheap to visit as other South American countries, for most foreigners it is very inexpensive to visit. The flight will most likely be expensive, but once you are there the costs of visiting or staying for the short term are very low. The US dollar gives a favorable exchange rate with the Argentine peso.

#8 Exchanging Money

Getting money in Argentina can be a challenge. There are many issues with getting counterfeit bills. The safest way to get cash in Argentina is through an ATM. The problem with using ATM’s is that they often run out of cash or have daily limits. It’s best if you have a debit card that offers a no fee ATM service. You always want to have some small bills on you, but try to use a credit card whenever possible. Then you don’t need to worry about ATM fees or getting cash frequently. Just make sure you have a good travel credit card that doesn’t have foreign exchange fees.

Be aware that many restaurants in Argentina only accept Visa Card or they only accept Master Card. They also might only accept a credit card or only accept a debit card. Have several different options with you and don’t carry them all on you at once. You won’t be able to leave a tip on your card. You can tip around 10% if the service is good.

Taxis are really cheap and easy to use in the big cities. The taxi app, Cabify is the safest option. You pay ahead of time and don’t have to deal with cash or cards, same as with Uber.

#9 Strikes = Cancelled Flights

Argentina’s history is full of political turbulence. I’m not going to pretend to know enough to give an explanation on the politics of the country or disregard all the hardships individuals have faced. As a foreigner the biggest concern you will face is demonstrations, protests or strikes. Strikes often cause delayed or cancelled flights. My first time in Argentina when I was with a group of remote workers, several of them encountered being stuck somewhere in the country for several days because there were no flights.  My second time in Argentina I got to the Salta airport to fly back to Buenos Aires, just to discover my flight was cancelled. I had to stay in Salta for two more days.

This is a good example of keeping up with local politics. Although the airlines don’t cancel the flights ahead of time, most people know when the strikes will be and that flights will be cancelled. I don’t exactly understand how they plan strikes and cancellations, yet they don’t let airline passengers know.

Obviously a cancelled flight is a small price to pay compared to the heart of whatever issue is causing the current strike, but it is a common enough occurrence to be prepared for.

#10 Dogs Everywhere

Dogs are everywhere! Occasionally there are some unruly street dogs, but for the most part they are the most well-behaved dogs you will ever meet. Dogs often walk the streets with their owners without leashes. It’s fascinating to me how they stop at intersections and run around on their own in parks and then return to their owners when called. Seriously, sit in a park and watch the dogs!

There are also dog walkers that have an absurd number of dogs they are walking at a time. Those ones are usually on leashes. How the leashes don’t get tangled up is a mystery to me!

Then there are the street dogs. This is more common in smaller cities and towns. No-one owns the dogs, but often people help to take care of them. Sometimes someone will own a dog that they feed daily, but it roams the streets freely during the day. In Salta there are a couple of dogs that join the free walking tour everyday!

Do you know what goes along with dogs? Dog poop! Whether owners aren’t too fond of picking up their dog’s business, the dog walker’s can’t keep up with the job or there are just too many stray dogs, there is a lot of dog poop on the sidewalks. Watch where you are walking!

#11 Hazards in the Streets

Speaking of sidewalks…..when I arrived in Buenos Aires I couldn’t believe how uneven the sidewalks were. Many people I knew went on runs. To me that was a sprained ankle waiting to happen. Ironically I did end up spraining my ankle in Buenos Aires, but at the gym instead. Not all cities and definitely not all neighborhoods have crumbly, broken sidewalks, but it is something to be aware of.

Also, wires, hanging from who knows where, occasionally dangle over the streets. If you are coming from the United States you will quickly discover that the acceptable standards are quite different. Watch where you are walking!

#12 Keeping Safe

Other than falling on the sidewalk or stepping in dog poop, your biggest safety concern in Argentina is petty theft. Many people worry about safety in Argentina, but most of it is due to small crimes and not violent ones. Be aware of your surroundings and belongings like you would when you travel anywhere.

That being said, be a little extra vigilant in Buenos Aires than you might in other big cities around the world. Don’t walk with your smartphone in your hand. At restaurants hold your bag or purse in your lap. When walking wear your backpack in front of you and keep your arm around your bag or purse. Avoid walking around La Boca neighborhood, except for el Caminito area.

There are a few common scams like someone getting a liquid on you and trying to ‘help’ clean it up. Anyone suddenly doing anything to distract you might be a cause for concern.

As mentioned above use Cabify, the taxi ride service app, or a radio taxi on the street. Make sure any taxi you are getting into on the street has a ‘radio taxi’ sign. For taxi apps, locals recommend Cabify over Uber. There have been some conflicts with Uber in Argentina.

#13 Argentine Spanish

Yes, the national language of the country is Spanish and everyone speaks Spanish. It might not sound like Spanish to you. Although I minored in Spanish in college, I struggle quite a bit with the language in Argentina. Especially in Buenos Aires, they talk so fast and have numerous slang terms, words and variations. For example, the double L (ll) makes a different sound in Argentine Spanish than in other dialects of Spanish.

In Buenos Aires you will find many people that speak a little English, but don’t expect them to. In smaller towns the number of English speakers are limited. Learning some basic Spanish and having a translation app on your phone will be helpful.

Argentina is one of my favorite countries in the world. Every-time I visit I feel completely at home in the country and always feel welcomed by the warmth and friendliness of the Argentinians. Keep these 13 things to know about Argentina in mind before visiting and you will be sure to enjoy the country as much as I do!

Let me know in the comments below if there is anything else you think travelers should know before traveling to Argentina. 

More About Argentina

• Buenos Aires: Where to Stay
• Buenos Aires: Tango – where to watch and dance tango in Buenos Aires
• Buenos Aires: Fútbol – how to get tickets to a Boca Juniors game
• Buenos Aires: Steak – the best places to eat steak in the Palermo neighborhood
• Buenos Aires: Restaurants – where to eat in Palermo
• Buenos Aires: MALBA – The Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires
• Buenos Aires: Evita Museum – museum dedicated to the life of Eva Perón
• Buenos Aires: Medical Care – where to go in Buenos Aires for medical care (plus pharmacies!)
• Buenos Aires Day Trip: Tigre
• Salta: What to Do in Salta
• Salta Day Trips: Salinas Grandes and la Quebrada de Humahuaca, Rafting & Zip-lining, Cachi

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