Buenos Aires

Where to stay

Most hostels cluster in San Telmo, around Defensa and Avenida Independencia, which puts you a short walk from Subte C and the Sunday street market on the same street. Palermo Soho, around Thames and Honduras, costs a bit more but keeps you inside the restaurant strip without a late-night commute.

Getting around

• Pick up a SUBE card at any kiosco near a Subte entrance and load it with pesos. All six subway lines and most city buses accept it, and the per-ride cost is a fraction of what a taxi runs.
• Skip the private transfers from Ezeiza. The Manuel Tienda León shuttle drops at Retiro bus terminal for a fixed fare, or take bus 8 all the way into the center for even less.
• Tenedor libre lunch spots along Avenida Corrientes let you eat as much as you want for a set price. Look for the signs in the window rather than a menu, and go at noon before the queues form.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest June through August when locals chase sun elsewhere. They fill fast in January and February during Argentine summer holidays.