Taxes

Sales Tax (IVA) in Argentina is 21%. The tax is usually included in the price on your receipt. Keep your receipts: the IVA tax is entirely refundable for purchases exceeding $200 dollars at stores displaying a duty free sign. When you depart, plan enough time to visit the return desk at the airport to obtain your refund.

Car Rental

Renting a car in Argentina is expensive. Extras such as car seats and air-conditioning drive the fee even higher. Keep in mind that almost all cars have manual transmission rather than automatic.

All cities and most areas that attract tourists have car rental agencies. You can also rent cars from airports and some hotels. If the rental agency has a branch in another town, arrangements can usually be made for a one-way drop off. Offices in Buenos Aires can make reservations in other locations; provincial government tourist offices also have information on car rental agencies.

An alternative to renting a car is to hire a remis, a car with a driver, especially for day outings. Remises are most comfortable and cheaper than taxis for long rides. They are also usually less expensive for rides within cities, especially on round trip journeys because there is no return fare.

Business Hours

Banks and Offices

Official business hours are weekdays 9am to noon and 2pm to 7pm for offices and 9am to 3pm for banks; some currency exchange offices remain open until 7pm.

Museums and Sights

Museums are usually closed on Tuesday. Many close for one month during the summer.

Post Offices & Telephone Centers

Post offices are open weekdays from around 9am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. Telephone centers generally stay open daily 8am to 8pm.

Shops

In Buenos Aires street shops are open weekdays 10am to 8pm to compete with the malls, which remain open until 10pm daily. On Saturday, street shops remain open until 1pm, and almost all are closed on Sunday. The larger, more modern supermarket chains are open daily until 9pm.

Airports & Transfers

The major gateway to Argentina is Buenos Aires's Ezeiza International Airport, 47km (29 mi) and a 45 minute drive from the city center. Ezeiza, also known as Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini, is served by a variety of foreign airlines, along with domestic airlines running international routes. Though Argentina has other international airports, they generally only serve flights from other South American countries.

Flights from Buenos Aires to other points within Argentina depart from the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, a 15 minute cab ride from downtown.

Airport Transfers

Bus, van, taxi, and remis (car service charging a fixed, prearranged price) service is available at Buenos Aires's Ezeiza International Airport. There are several round-the-clock private bus and remis services run by licensed companies; buses depart from the airport at scheduled intervals while taxis and remises are readily available.

Transportation tickets can be purchased from the well-marked service counters right outside the customs area.