Getting around Argentina: trains, buses, driving and domestic flights

Argentina is long and thin: Buenos Aires to Ushuaia is roughly the distance from London to Cairo, so the mode you pick changes the trip. Flights cover the big gaps, buses cover the 6–12 hour legs well, and a car is worth it only where the roads are the point.

Start with the shape of the trip. Most first visits are Buenos Aires plus one or two regions, and every region is a flight, not a bus ride. Build the route around AEP for domestic departures and leave EZE for international arrivals; the two airports are on opposite sides of the city, so allow a generous transfer window between them (check current road times).

For flights, book early for the busiest periods and check the fare rules: low-cost carriers such as Flybondi and JetSMART charge for cabin bags, and Patagonian wind regularly delays El Calafate and Ushuaia flights. Build a buffer day before an international connection.

For buses, choose the overnight cama (lie-flat) class when the leg is 10–14 hours and you would otherwise pay for a hotel night. Buy online on Plataforma 10 or the operator's own site; turning up at Retiro in Buenos Aires works mainly in low season. Keep valuables with you rather than in the overhead rack.

For a car, pick it up where the driving is the attraction: the Northwest around Salta and Cafayate, or the Lakes District around Bariloche and Villa La Angostura. Gravel roads break windscreens and tyres, and standard insurance excludes some of that damage, so photograph the car and read the excess. Crossing into Chile needs a permit arranged with the rental firm in advance.

In Buenos Aires, the Subte and the colectivo bus network reach everywhere for very little; pay with a SUBE card or a contactless bank card on many lines (check current rules). Apps such as Uber and Cabify show the price before you ride, and black-and-yellow taxis use meters. At EZE, skip unlicensed drivers in the arrivals hall and use the official remis desks or an app.

Distances are the main planning error. A map makes Mendoza look close to Buenos Aires; it is a 14-hour bus or a 2-hour flight. Anything over about 12 hours by road is usually better flown unless the overnight bus is the point.

Second error: assuming trains. Long-distance rail is slow and infrequent, and the two famous services — Tren a las Nubes from Salta and the End of the World Train from Ushuaia — are tourist experiences, not ways to reach the next town.

Third: cash and cards on the road. Small bus terminals, rural petrol stations and some tolls are easier with cash, so carry some pesos even if you mostly pay by card. See the money page for the current picture.

Finally, timing. Patagonian flights and Bariloche buses can fill in the busiest weeks (check), so book early if your dates are fixed. Shoulder months are cheaper and calmer. Check the best-time page before locking dates.