Language

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Spanish is the official language and is spoken by all the Argentines.
English, French and Italian languages are also spoken but to a lesser extent within the country.
In some areas people speak Guarani and other aboriginal languages.

Currency

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The Argentine peso is the official currency.
Bills come in 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos. One peso is equivalent to one hundred cents.

The 2 pesos bills are blue (with the figure of Bartolomé Mitre 1821-1906), the 5 pesos bills are greenish (with the figure of José de San Martín 1778-1850), the 10 pesos bills are brown (with the figure of Manuel Belgrano 1770 -1820), the 20 pesos bills are red (with the figure of Juan Manuel de Rosas 1793-1877), the 50 pesos bills are gray (with the figure of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento 1811-1888) and 100 pesos bills are purple (with the figure of Julio Argentino Roca 1843-1914).

There are coins of 1 peso and 50, 25, 10 and 5 cents.

The peso coins are golden and silver; 50-cent coins are gold, the coins of 25, 10 and 5 cents can be gold or silver and there are 1 cent coins which are copper, but they are rarely used.

To see pictures of banknotes and coins, click here.

Money Management

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The legal currency in Argentina is the Argentine peso. Many shops accept dollars, but it s better if you exchange them at banks and exchange booths ("casas de cambio") licensed for that purpose.

Banking hours are Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM until 3 PM.

Credit cards are widely used and accepted: American Express, Master Card, Visa and Diners.

There are plenty of ATMs throughout the city. They can be used to obtain money through major credit cards like MasterCard and Visa.

There may be difficulties in changing traveler's checks outside Buenos Aires.

Tax Refund

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At the airport you can recover 21% of the amount paid as Value Added Tax (VAT), if you have purchased national products over AR$70 (per invoice) and in shops working with this system (which display the logo shown here on the front).
The benefits of the system are granted in all the stores adhered to it, which are identified the Global Refund logo displayed on their windows. When tourists make the purchase they should ask the seller to deliver a refund check in addition to the invoice. When leaving the country, simply show your purchases' invoices and your passport to Customs personnel and to stamp your Global Refund Check.

The ways to obtain the tax return are: cash out, a credit to your credit card or bank account, get a check at home or pick it up at any refund offices that the company Global Refund has around the world.

Tips

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It is customary to tip a 10% of the bill at restaurants and cafes. It is also customary to tip taxi drivers, doormen, bell captains, ushers and porters.

Business Hours

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Security

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The Police can be found walking on the streets, riding patrol cars and sometimes on horseback. They wear blue uniforms. The Coast Guard is responsible for the port area, and they wear brown uniforms.
Buenos Aires is generally a safe city, but it is a big city, so we suggest you take the following precautions:

• Leave safe passport, airline ticket at the hotel safe deposit box and do not carry large sums of cash.
• Do not walk on lonely streets or parks at night.
• After 10 pm avoid taking taxis from the street. Call a Radio-taxi or a limo instead.

Useful Numbers

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911
Attention 24 hours.
Emergency care and accidents.

101
Attention 24 hours.
Direct line to the Radio Command of the Federal Police.

*31416 (from mobile)
Subway Alert Plan: Allegations related to crimes on the underground transportation

102
Children's phone

100
Attention 24 hours.
Answers related to floods, road accidents, toxic spills, etc.

107
Health Emergencies (SAME)
Attention 24 hours.
Free ambulance service and emergency medical care that covers the entire City.