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	Buenos Aires
	Buenos Aires is a singular, open and integrating destination that allows the visitor not only to view the city but also to live an exceptional urban adventure. Because Buenos Aires combines varied experiences and this variety may suit all tastes - Bue is really close to any visitor.
	Location Weather Customs Language Religion Sanitary Information Useful Information
	Location
	The City of Buenos Aires is the capital of the Argentine Republic and is located in the southern hemisphere, latitude 34º 36’ and longitude 58º 26’. The city extends on a plain and has 202 square kilometers (78.3 sq miles). Approximately 3 million people live in this city. Including the metropolitan area, the total population of Buenos Aires is above ten millions, making it one of the 10 most populated urban centers in the world.
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	Weather
	The climate of Buenos Aires is mild all year round. The mean annual temperature is 18º C (64.4º F), making extremely hot and cold days very infrequent. Thus, visitors can enjoy walking around the city in any season. July is the coldest month. Although frosts are rare, a woollen coat, a jacket or an overcoat and a scarf will be required when going out. In winter, cold is moderate during the day, but temperature considerably drops at night. In summer, the weather is hot and humid. Mornings are warm and during midday and the first hours of the afternoon, the temperature rises. At night, temperature goes down slightly, so people may wear light clothes; coats are not needed. Rains are more frequent in autumn and spring (from March to June and from September to December, respectively). They are mild or last a short time, thus activities are not hampered and people usually go out with an umbrella or a raincoat. In the sunny days of autumn and spring, mornings are slightly cold; the temperature rises at midday and drops again at night.
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	Customs
	Buenos Aires has always been an open-door city. Its inhabitants are called porteños, which makes reference to the fact that the city is a port. The inhabitant of the province of Buenos Aires is called bonaerense. Porteños are warm and hospitable: they usually invite tourists for lunch or dinner at their homes and prepare typical food. The characteristic infusion is the mate. It is prepared by pouring warm water into a gourd, also called mate that contains yerba mate. Some people add sugar, but most prefer "un amargo" (a mate without sugar).
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	Language
	The official language is Spanish. Something to note is the use of vos (you) instead of the Spanish tú for informal treatment, and the use of che to address a person. Currently, Buenos Aires receives tourists from varied nationalities that come for different purposes. Some come to shop, others to enjoy the night life and some others to taste the porteños bohemian lifestyle. Also, there are those who engage in an educational tour and want to study the Spanish language. Several entities, academies, institutions and universities (among them the language Laboratory at the University of Buenos Aires) teach Spanish to foreign people, from beginner to advanced levels, or provide specialization on a specific field. The porteños easily understand persons who speak Italian and Portuguese. Most people involved in tourist activities speak English.
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	Religion
	Argentina recognizes the freedom of worship. The official religion is that of the Roman Catholic Church, represented by an important number of churches. There are also other places of public worship, such as the Jewish central synagogue, the only site providing training to rabbis from all around the world, and the Mosque of Palermo neighborhood, the largest Islamic temple in Latin America.
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	Sanitary Information
	Vaccination is neither obligatory nor necessary to visit Buenos Aires since the city is safe from the sanitary viewpoint. The public water supply is reliable. Public hospitals - available for tourists - offer a 24-hour emergency service, without charge. Argentine physicians are considered excellent professionals worldwide. The ambulance emergency service (SAME) is also for free. Safety Buenos Aires is a safe city, but as in any other big city in the world, the tourist should take some precautions. For example, avoid leaving your purse or bag hanging from chairs in public places, as well as walking at night along poorly lit areas. Tourist Ombudsman If, during your visit, suffer some kind of abuse or discrimination, communicate whit the Tourist Ombudsman, phone number: 4302-7816. To contact personally, can go to Ave. Pedro de Mendoza 1835 ("Benito Quinquela Martin" Museum) in the neighborhood of La Boca. From Monday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM. Urban Guard Throughout the whole city, especially all tourist areas, the Urban Guard is at hand so as to inform, help and take care of people in risky or emergency situations. This official body works in coordination with the security forces, firemen, medical urgency service and some other State organisms. The urban guard performs their tasks throughout Buenos Aires city 24 hours a day during the whole year.
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	Useful Information
	Hours The time zone corresponds to GMT-3 and currently no change is made in the summer months. Activity in Buenos Aires starts in the first hours of the day and extends until late at night. This city has lost the habit of siesta - a nap after midday -, which is still the custom in the interior of the country. Shops Shops are open Monday through Fridays, from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm; however, shops located in important avenues are open on Saturday afternoon. In shopping centers, hours usually extend until 10 pm, including Saturdays and Sundays. Banks Banks open at 10 am and close at 3 pm (some banks extend their closing time to 4 pm). Cash extractions and other transactions may be made in ATMs, 24 hours a day. Meals The hours in which porteños have their four meals are variable, since this is accommodated according to their activities. Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 in the morning. In coffee houses and confiterías (patisseries), it is possible to find special offers for the typical coffee and milk with medialunas (croissants), both for breakfast and merienda (tea) time. Telephones - Telephones calling from Buenos Aires Buenos Aires has many public telephone booths. Public phones operate with: 5, 10, 25, 50-cent and 1-peso coins. Phone cards that may be bought at any quiosco (sweet and tobacco stalls).These phones support urban, national and international calls. In addition to public phones, there are many communications centers (locutorios and telecentros) offering telephone, fax and internet services. For international calls, dial: 00 + country code + area code + local number. - Telephones calling to Buenos Aires The country code for Argentina is 54, and the area code for Buenos Aires is 11. For example, to call to 4555-5555 from outside the country, you should dial: 54-11-4555-5555. Currency The Argentine currency is the peso ($). There are $ 100, $ 50, $ 20, $ 10, $ 5 and $ 2 notes, and 1, 0.50, 0.25, 0.10 and 0.05 cent coins. The U.S. dollar is the most common foreign currency. Banks and casas de cambio (currency exchange offices), where you must present your passport, exchange foreign currency. Shops accept credit cards and dollars. Rate of exchange The exchange rate in Argentina is convenient for the foreign tourist. The main banking area is located in the so-called “city”. This area comprises the first five blocks (numbered 100 to 500) of San Martín, Reconquista, 25 de Mayo, Sarmiento, Presidente Juan Domingo Perón and Mitre streets. The U.S. dollar is accepted in most shops, but it is convenient to exchange them for pesos in casas de cambio or banks. Prices - Bank subsidiary for tourists The Banco Ciudad bank has a tourist subsidiary where you can buy and sell dollars, euros and travelers checks, after the usual working hours. Client Service Hours: Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 am to 5 pm; Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm; Mondays from 10 am to 6 pm. Cashier desks are exclusively working for tourists service. Requirement: Bear your passport. Tourist Service Place: Banco Ciudad. Address: Subsidiary Nº 53, Córdoba 675, Capital Federal. Estimated price list This is a general list (in pesos), intended for informational purposes, since the price range is wide and the offer varied. - Meals Pizza (8 servings): $ 5 to $ 30. Pasta: $ 5 to $ 20. Parrillada (barbecue) for two persons: from $ 15. Empanadas (small meat pies): from $ 1 (per unit). Ice creams: from $ 2; 1 kilo (2.2 pounds) between $ 8 and $ 20. Tenedor libre (all-you-can-eat restaurants): from $ 12 (per person). Breakfast at a confitería (patisserie): from $ 3.50. - Transportation Bus: $ 0.75 (minimum fare) and $ 0.80, within city limits Subway: $ 0.70 (flat fare). Taxi: basic fare of $ 1.60 + 0.20 each 200 meters (220 yards). Average trip lasting 8 minutes: $ 5 to $ 6. Trains: $ 0.50 (minimum fare). Remise (limo service) (from Ezeiza airport to the Obelisk, down town): $ 60. Minibus (from Ezeiza airport to the Obelisk): $ 19. Car rental per day: $ 90 to $ 200. 1 litre of gasoline (0.2 gallons): $ 1.84. - Going out Movies: $ 7.50 to $ 11. On Wednesdays, all through the day and in all theaters, tickets cost half the price. Some theaters offer reduced prices on other days as well, and there also special theaters with tickets at around $ 5. Concerts and music shows: $ 6 to $ 50 or more for performances by internationally acclaimed artists. Fee for Colón Theater: $ 5 to $ 140. Admission to museums: free or fee ranging from $ 1 to $ 3. Electric power Electric power in Argentina is 220 volt, 50-cycle alternating current. Power outlets have 2 cylindrical holes or 2 flat holes with ground connection. It is convenient to bring an adaptor for these outlets to use your electric devices without problems. To obtain information on tour circuits within the country There are three National Tourist Information Centers, depending from the National Secretariat of Tourism: 1. Av. Santa Fe 883, ground floor. Tel.: 4312-2232 / 5550 // 0800-555-0016. 2. Jorge Newbery airport, Costanera Norte. Tel.: 4771-0104. 3. Ministro Pistarini International Airport, International terminal, Ezeiza, Province of Buenos Aires. Tel.: 4480-0224. To obtain information about Tourist Ombudsman If, during your visit, suffer some kind of abuse or discrimination, communicate whit the Tourist Ombudsman, phone number: 4302-7816. To contact personally, can go to Ave. Pedro de Mendoza 1835 ("Benito Quinquela Martin" Museum) in the neighborhood of La Boca. From Monday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM. To obtain information about Tourist Police Station Provides information in English, Italian, French, Portuguese and Ukrainian. Corrientes 436. Tel.: 4346-5748 / 0800-999-5000. Information about the Urban Guard Throughout the city, specially in tourist areas, the urban guard is present to provide advise, information and help, as well as to take measures in cases of risk and emergencies. This body operates coordinately with the security forces, firemen, medical emergency service and other State organisms. The urban guard acts within the whole city territory and during 24 hours every day of the year. Source: Portal de Turismo, Subsecretaría de Turismo del Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires www.bue.gov.ar
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