Taxis in Argentina, and which apps work

Uber, Cabify and DiDi all operate in Buenos Aires, showing the fare and the driver before you get in, and settling in the app. The local equivalent is a radio taxi, a licensed firm you order by phone or app, identifiable by the company sign on the roof or door. Argentina's own tourism board points visitors to radio taxi services and official apps as the safe way to ride.

Most street taxis are perfectly fine, but a cold hail is the one option with no record of your trip, which is why the sensible default is to order rather than flag. If you do hail one, check that the meter is on from the start and that the driver's license is displayed inside. App coverage is best in Buenos Aires and thinner in smaller cities, where a phone-ordered taxi or a remis arranged through your hotel is the normal way to travel.

Fares run on a regulated meter and are quoted in pesos, with a higher tariff late at night. There is nothing to negotiate in an ordinary taxi, and a driver who wants to agree a price up front instead of using the meter is the moment to find another cab.

Pay with small notes where you can. Change is genuinely scarce, a large note is the usual source of a fare dispute, and while more drivers now take cards, plenty still do not, so ask before you set off if that matters. Count what you are handed back. To tip, round the fare up, and add a little if the driver handles your bags.

At Ezeiza (EZE) and Aeroparque (AEP), the clean options are the official taxi or remis counter inside the terminal, where the fare is arranged before you leave the building, or the signposted pickup area for Uber and Cabify outside. Anyone who approaches you in the arrivals hall offering a ride is the one to walk past.

A pre-booked remis, a private car at a fixed price, is the other normal way to do the airport run and is often what a hotel will arrange for you. This guide is written for US travelers departing the US. For the wider picture, see cash or card in Argentina, tipping in Argentina, and the Argentina money guide.

Common questions

Quick answers.

More on Argentina

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