Overview
Buenos Aires is served by the Subte (Spanish: Subterráneo de Buenos Aires), a rapid transit system that opened its first section in 1913, making it the 13th earliest subway network in the world and the first underground railway in Latin America, the Southern Hemisphere and the Spanish-speaking world. As of 2026, Buenos Aires is the only Argentine city with a metro system.
For a visitor, riding the network end to end is straightforward once you have a SUBE card. You tap the card at the turnstile to enter a Subte station, ride to your stop, and tap out where required. The Subte connects the main avenues, the city's train stations and the long-distance coach station, so you can use it as the backbone of a trip and switch to buses, trains or the light rail for the last leg. Trains run roughly every 3 to 10 minutes depending on the line, and stations have free WiFi.
Subte hours are approximately 5:30am to 11:30pm Monday to Friday, 6:00am to midnight on Saturday, and 8:00am to 10:30pm on Sundays and public holidays. Expect the heaviest crowding during the morning peak of about 8:00–9:30am and the evening peak of about 5:00–7:00pm.
The network
The system combines an underground metro, a light rail line, suburban rail, an extensive bus network, bus rapid transit corridors and river ferries.
- Subte (metro): Six lines — A, B, C, D, E and H — covering 56.7 km (35.2 mi) and 90 stations. Lines A, B, C, D and E converge in the city centre. Line A, the oldest, opened in 1913 between Plaza de Mayo and Plaza Miserere; Line B opened in 1930; Line C in 1934; Line D in 1937; Line E in 1944; and Line H is the newest, added as late as 2007. Traffic on the subterranean lines moves on the left, a legacy of Argentina driving on the left when the system opened.
- Premetro (light rail): Line P, a 7.4-kilometre (4.6 mi) light rail line with 18 stations, complements the underground network.
- Suburban rail: The commuter rail network connects the city with outer neighbourhoods and Buenos Aires Province destinations such as Tigre and the river delta. Trains to Tigre depart from Retiro Train Station and pass through Belgrano C. Long-distance trains also use the main terminals: Retiro (Estación Retiro) in the centre and Constitución (Estación Plaza Constitución).
- Buses (colectivo, locally also bondi): Buses run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and cover the whole city, with stops usually within a few blocks. The Metrobus is a bus rapid transit system with dedicated lanes on several main arteries; some stops have free WiFi.
- Ferries: Daily boat services cross the Río de la Plata to Colonia and Montevideo in Uruguay, operated by Buquebus, Seacat Colonia and Colonia Express, departing from the Dársena Norte/Puerto Madero terminal area.
The network is complemented by connections with the city's extensive commuter rail and bus rapid transport networks, and over a million passengers use it. Expansion has not kept pace with demand, and the system is described as overcrowded; since 2019 there have been no expansions under construction. The network has been operated under a concession since the mid-1990s, most recently by Emova Movilidad S.A. from December 2021 under a 12-year concession, while the network and rolling stock remain the property of the City of Buenos Aires.
Tickets & fares
You need a SUBE card to travel on both the Subte and the buses. It is a rechargeable travel card that must be loaded with credit before you ride. Buses no longer accept coins or bills — payment is by SUBE smart card only, and card readers are installed on board.
- Where to buy: SUBE cards are available at Subte stations, eight Tourist Assistance Centers, and many kioskos (corner shops). At Ezeiza airport there is a kiosk that sells them, though stock can be scarce. Lottery outlets and subway stations in the city are supposed to stock them, but availability is inconsistent and you may need to visit several locations.
- Where to recharge: You can top up at all Subte stations, national lottery outlets, and some kioskos with automated terminals. The SUBE website has a map of vendors.
- Fares: Fares are low and change over time, so treat any figure as approximate. The basic bus fare for the general population has been reported at under US$0.25 in peso equivalent, with shorter-distance fares (3–6 km) at less than US$0.20, increasing with distance. On buses, passengers typically tell the driver their destination or the fare amount to be charged, and the driver selects the fare.
- Trains: Rail tickets can be purchased at stations with cash, or you can pay with your SUBE card.
- If you have no card: Passengers without a card sometimes give cash to another rider to pay via their card.
No dedicated tourist travel pass is described in the available sources; the SUBE card itself is the standard, reloadable option for visitors and residents alike.
From the airport
Three airports serve the metropolitan area: Ezeiza International Airport (EZE), about 35 km south of the city centre and the main airport for international flights; Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), a short distance from downtown and used by most domestic flights; and the smaller El Palomar Airport (EPA), about 18 km west of the city, with a limited range of domestic flights.
- From Ezeiza: Count about an hour by car, more in heavy traffic, which is not rare, particularly on Fridays or when it is raining. For something cheaper, there are private coach and public transport connections. A kiosk at Ezeiza sells SUBE cards, though stock can be scarce.
- From Aeroparque: The airport is about 20 minutes from downtown by car. For budget-conscious travellers, regular bus line 33 stops a few metres from the main gate at Av. Costanera Rafael Obligado and goes to Retiro–Plaza de Mayo–San Telmo. Since December 2023, some branches of bus line 8 also connect Aeroparque with Retiro and onwards. Fares are very low (under AR$2000), but you need a SUBE card or a contactless credit card.
Car hire companies operate in the city centre and at both Ezeiza (Pistarini) and Aeroparque (Jorge Newbery) airports.
Etiquette & customs
- Queuing for buses: There is usually a single line for all buses at a stop; join the back of the line. You must flag the bus with your hand, or it may pass by.
- Boarding: State your destination to the driver or conductor (for example, "hasta Córdoba, por favor") or the fare amount, then pay by holding your SUBE card to the reader next to the driver.
- Priority seating: Seats are reserved for the elderly, pregnant women and passengers with children.
- Exiting: Press the button on the pole by the back door to signal your stop. Buses may not pull fully to the curb, so take care when stepping into the street and watch for bicycles and motorbikes.
- Rush hour: The Subte is busiest around 8:00–9:30am and 5:00–7:00pm; the network is described as overcrowded, so allow extra time and expect packed cars at those hours.
- Finding stops: On major streets such as Corrientes and 9 de Julio, stops are well marked with line numbers and major destinations. In residential areas stops may be poorly marked, and asking locals — store or newsstand owners, or people in line — is common. Buses are identified by the number displayed above the windshield.
Official links
Survival terms
- Subte (Subterráneo) — subway/metro
- Boleto — ticket
- Línea — line
- Entrada — entrance
- Salida — exit
- Combinación / transbordo — transfer
- Tarifa — single fare
- Pase diario — day pass
Buy and load a SUBE card early in your trip, because it is the only way to pay on both the Subte and the buses and card stock can be inconsistent.