“BUENOS AIRES AIRPORTS " KNOW HOW TO CHOOSE” is locked BUENOS AIRES AIRPORTS. KNOW HOW TO CHOOSE
The European air, culture, cuisine and the original fort have transformed the city into the main destination for the tourists who leave the country – and come back here marveling at the charms of the land of tango.
As many metropolises, the choice of the airport is a common question for travelers to the capital of Buenos Aires. To arrive in Buenos Aires, two airports are available: Ezeiza and Aeroparque. The differences, advantages, and disadvantages between them are the themes of this post, which gives sequence to the series on which airport to choose in their trip.
Equal but different
Buenos Aires looks quite similar, regarding airports, with São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte – cities that we have already covered in this series. There is a smaller and better-located airport, in this case, the Aeroparque, and a giant with more structure but farther away, the Ezeiza Airport.
Both airports receive flights from Brazil, but unlike the larger Brazilian cities, flights to the more central Aeroparque are usually not more expensive than Ezeiza. Hardly the difference between the two destinations by the same company exceeds 10%, and sometimes it becomes cheaper to fly to the smaller airport.
Another interesting difference about our capitals is that the two terminals were built at about the same time, with the Aeroparque inaugurated in 1947 and Ezeiza only two years later.
Airport
Aeroparque Jorge Newbery is located on Avenida Costanera Norte, in the neighborhood of Palermo, on the banks of the River Plate. Since its inauguration, the terminal has been designed to meet especially the national lines. In 2010, however, it became international, taking care of flights from neighboring countries, including Brazil.
The main advantage for those who land or take off for it is the location, just two kilometers from the center of Buenos Aires. In a few minutes by taxi, you will get to any hotel in the central area, without complication and pay little. That makes it the best option for those who make short trips, such as a weekend or even an extended holiday to the Argentine capital.
Another significant advantage is the connection with practically all lines to the interior of the country. Thus, if your final destination is Bariloche, Cordoba, Mendoza or any other Argentine region, this airport is ideal.
The airport itself is small but charming. Some people adore him for being more relaxed, and others detest him – this being more a matter of personal taste. There are ATMs, snack bars, and a small free shop. There are also executive bus options to Ezeiza by the company Tienda León and several bus lines to the center, which cost 1.25 pesos.
More information on the official website (select from the menu).
Ezeiza
The official name is Ministro Pistarini International Airport, in honor of the military man who idealized it at the time of Perón’s first presidency. But everyone knows him by Ezeiza, which is the name of the small town where it is located, about 35 kilometers from the center Of Buenos Aires. The terminal concentrates 85% of all the international flights to the country, with traffic 8.7 million passengers per year – the majority coming from Brazil.
The significant advantage of Ezeiza is the infrastructure, with much more options of food and services, including an agency of Banco de la Nación Argentina, where you can exchange weights at attractive rates. It is also the right choice for anyone wanting to shop in the Free Shop – for some of the great attractions of the trip, by a large variety and inviting prices.
There are several transportation options to the city center. By taxi, the route takes less than an hour outside of rush hours and costs about 160 pesos. The tip is to hire a company at the airport, like the Ezeiza Taxi, and get away from the vendors, who approach you at the exit of the lobby. Also, always demand that the meter is turned on – this applies to your entire stay in Buenos Aires. It is also worth scheduling the race back, getting good discounts.
A more easy option is the remises – cars rented with drivers. There are also executive bus lines, also from Loja León, to the Aeroparque or to the center of Buenos Aires (120 pesos) and even nearby cities such as Mar del Plata and Rosario.
Tips and curiosities
The two airports in Buenos Aires are managed by the company Argentina 2000. Their concession in 2008 was considered a milestone in the privatization of public services in the country. Altogether the company operates 33 airports throughout the country.
If you are going to take any bus in Buenos Aires always have coins in your hands: most of the lines do not accept bills or give change to the ticket, which usually costs little more than one peso.
The City of Buenos Aires has a website with all the information for tourists, including interactive maps with attractions and public transportation.