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.

The Río de la Plata and the Riachuelo are the natural borders of the city on the east and south, respectively. The rest of the metropolitan perimeter is surrounded by the General Paz Avenue from north to west. This avenue provides a fast connection between the city and the Greater Buenos Aires, a densely populated area with important business and industrial activity.

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.

HISTORY

Buenos Aires was founded twice:

The first foundation was in 1536. Don Pedro de Mendoza, a Spanish colonizer, established the first settlement. He named it Ciudad del Espíritu Santo y Puerto Santa María del Buen Ayre. The second, and final, foundation was in 1580. Juan de Garay called the site Ciudad de Trinidad.

In the 19th. century, the port was the arrival point for the great migratory wave promoted by the Argentine State to populate the nation. Spanish, Italian, Syrian-Lebanese, Polish and Russian immigrants provided Buenos Aires with the cultural eclecticism that is so characteristic of the city.

During the 20th. century, successive immigrations - from the provinces, other Latin American countries and Eastern countries – completed the picture of Buenos Aires as a cosmopolitan city in which people with different cultures and religions live together.

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).

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.

“che”: this expression is used to attract a person’s attention and allows addressing someone without using his or her name: “Che, ¿me podés decir la hora” (Che, could you tell me the time?). It expresses familiarity.

The porteños easily understand persons who speak Italian and Portuguese. Most people involved in tourist activities speak English.
 

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.

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.
Mail: turista@defensoria.org.ar

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.

TOURIST POLICE STATION

This police station headquarters receives any formal complaints from tourists in cases of offenses, thefts, petty steal, losses, whereabouts and failed meetings.
It also works on crime prevention. You can here also receive help in the case of extraordinary procedures before embassies or consulates.

You will get information from people speaking in English, Italian, French, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Japanese.
Address: Avenida Corrientes 436
telephone: 0800 999 5000 / 4346 5748
mail: turista@policiafederal.gov.ar

TOLL-FREE TOURIST ASSISTANCE LINE
0800 999 2838

An easy telephone for a difficult situation. Call from any public telephone tooth. You can call to make a complaint about:

- Commercial abuse cases.
- Thefts, offences, petty steals, losses, whereabouts and failed meetings.
- Breach of services transactions.

In theses cases, Tourism Police Station, Tourism Ombudsman and the Bureau of Consumer Protection are involved to work.

Toll – Free Tourism Assistance Line, every day from 9 AM. to 8 PM. You will get assistance from people speaking Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian and French.