Argentina
Argentina has unique currency dynamics — most travelers use a foreign card + cash, since Mercado Pago needs a local DNI. Cabify and Uber both work in Buenos Aires.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
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Strong in Spain and Latin America. Often more reliable in mid-size cities.
Reliable in Buenos Aires.
The most widely available rideshare service globally. Works in 70+ countries.
Works city-wide.
💳Payments & Wallets
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Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile mobile wallet — handles QR pay and transfers.
Local mobile wallet taken at most small businesses, but sign-up needs an Argentine DNI.
🗺️Navigation & Maps
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Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
Solid for Buenos Aires.
📱Messaging
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The dominant messenger in Europe, Latin America, India, Middle East, Africa.
Universal for any communication.
🍱Food Delivery
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Latin America super-app: food, groceries, pharmacy, cash withdrawal.
Food and grocery delivery in the big cities; PedidosYa is the dominant app.
Latin America's home-grown delivery app — the most used in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and several Central American and Caribbean countries.
Dominant food delivery in Argentina — restaurants, groceries and pharmacy.
Is Argentina one stop of several?
Add your other destinations and get one combined app list, with the adapters and currencies for the whole trip.
The practical basics
Power & plugs
- Plug type
- C / I
- Voltage
- 220V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
- Type C: Two round pins. Used across most of Europe, South America, parts of Asia and Africa.
- Type I: Two flat slanted pins + grounding. Used in Australia, NZ, China, Argentina.
Type I is reversed from Australia — check polarity.
Tipping
A tip ('propina') of around 10% is customary in restaurants and is usually given in cash, even when paying the bill by card. Round up for taxis and tip porters and tour guides modestly.
CurrencyARS
Spanish you'll actually use
Etiquette and scams to know
✓ Do
- Greet with a single kiss on the right cheek, even between men who know each other
- Meals and nightlife run late; dinner often starts at 9-10pm or later
- If offered mate (the shared herbal tea), accept graciously; don't say 'thank you' until you're finished, as it signals you want no more
- Argentines are warm and stand close when talking; backing away can seem cold
- Dress neatly, as appearance and presentation are valued
- Be prepared for relaxed timekeeping in social settings
✕Don't
- Don't bring up the Falklands/Malvinas dispute casually; it is a sensitive national topic
- Don't compare Argentina unfavorably to neighboring countries, especially Brazil or Chile
- Don't make jokes about the 'Dirty War' or the political disappearances of the 1970s-80s
- Don't assume tango or football clichés define everyone; avoid stereotyping
⚠️ Common scams to know
- The 'mustard' or ketchup trick, where someone sprays you then offers to help clean up while an accomplice steals your bag
- Counterfeit peso notes given as change; learn to recognize genuine bills
- Unfavorable currency exchange and fake 'blue dollar' street changers who short-change tourists
- Overcharging taxis that take long routes or claim a broken meter; use radio taxis or apps
This page was last reviewed in September 2026. Apps launch, rebrand and pull out of countries all the time, so confirm anything your trip depends on. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — here's how we check.