With lots of useful public transportation options, it is easy for remote workers to get around Buenos Aires. The city has a well-established and mostly modern transport infrastructure which is well-designed to deal with everyday demand as well as the need of tourists visiting the city. In general, the public transportation system is affordable, easy to use and safe for all types of individuals in the city. A complex network of buses and underground rail lines make up the cityโs system and the center of the city, as well as all main neighborhoods and even suburban areas, are well-connected.
๏ปฟBelow, we highlight the main ways remote workers get around Buenos Aires, and some tips to make your trip pleasant and easy.
In order for remote workers to get around Buenos Aires, a SUBE card will be essential. This rechargeable card can be used to ride the cityโs underground rail network (Subte), as well as buses and even the suburban rail service. You can purchase a card for 90ARS at any station and the process is quick, without the need for ID or any additional documentation. You can then recharge your card again at stations, kiosks around the city and even online. By registering your card, you can save your balance if you lose your card and check your balance on your phone. Another advantage of the SUBE card is that it lets you go negative with up to 74ARS in grace credit, for those days when you might forget to recharge your card. As of January 2020, SUBE Cards are the only accepted payment method on Buenos Airesโ public transport.
The cityโs underground rail network, or Subte, is certainly one of the best ways for remote workers to get around Buenos Aires. With six lines, this network offers lots of connections to the center of the city and all neighborhoods around Buenos Aires. Line D, green on the map, will be hugely useful to remote workers who live in Belgrano and Palermo to get across the city easily. Other lines also serve major neighborhoods and five of them intersect in the center of the city at 9 de Julio Station. The system operates between the hours of 5am and 10pm, and you will often find street vendors and performers inside carriages. It is recommended to avoid peak times as trains can get packed.
Another convenient way for remote workers to get around Buenos Aires is certainly the cityโs extensive bus, or colectivo, network. Buses in the city function 24/7 and will be really useful when you return home from dinner later at night or if you need to get around for less after the Subte closes at 10pm. Indeed, with so many routes available, buses are a great way of getting around Buenos Aires without having to cross through the busy city center. To ride the buses here, go to the correct designated bus stop and hail the bus to stop with your hand. Once aboard, place your SUBE Card on the reader and let the driver know where you will get off - this is important because it determines the fare charged, and providing the intersection name will usually suffice. A good idea is to use Google Maps to find your closest bus stop and check its destination before boarding. Remote workers should note buses also become packed during peak hours.
There are a few suburban rail service which might be useful to remote workers in Buenos Aires looking to get out of the city into some of the more authentic and quaint towns in the greater Province of Buenos Aires. Most services depart from Retiro Train Station and serve popular towns such as Pilar and Tigre. You can ride by buying a ticket at the station or with your SUBE Card.
Taxis and Uber provide another useful alternative for remote workers to get around Buenos Aires. Both of these services are easy and safe to use in the city, with prices coming out to be cheap in comparison to taxi costs in major European and North American cities. Before boarding a licensed taxi, always make sure the taxi meter is on or establish a fare before starting the journey.
For more information about living in Buenos Aires as a remote worker, check out our complete Buenos Aires guide.