Subways in BA
 

Are the subways safe in BA? We are a 50-ish couple, well traveled, cautious and physically active. Just wondering if the subways are safe for tourist, given general precautions. Thanks much!

Assuming you adopt the "general precautions" required in any large town, our "subtes" are safe. I worry much more when I take the subway in NY. However, they are VERY warm, during our summer and extremely crowded at peak hours.

Have a great time in our town.

As a 50-ish tourist who has used the subte in Bs As, I agree with what AV says.
Just be prudent and watchful and you will be fine.

A few things - the subways stop running relatively early - at about 10.30 PM. Also, the coverage of the various lines is not that extensive. You might find that there are places you want to visit that are not that convenient. For example it does not go into the parts of Recoleta that are not close to Santa Fe.. If you want to stick to public transportation, you also have to consider the colectivos (public buses) Also Bs As is a great city for walking and taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

I think that to get around in Bs As you will end up using a combination of all of the above..
enjoy,
raquel

Thank you. Great info.

From my good friend Raquel and yours truly, thank you for saying thank you, which is something we don't always get.

We are a 50ish couple who just got back from BA last week. We used the subways during the day and found them quite safe. They were (as previously stated) quite warm, especially the "A" line. Frankly the cost of taxis is so reasonable that taxi travel was preferable. We never spent more than $2.75 for a cab ride anywhere in BA. The best tip I can suggest is to always have an ample supply of 10 peso ban notes. This way you do not run the risk of falling prey to any of the taxi scams that you may have read about. We were in BA for a week and took many, many taxi rides with no problems.

Definitely try to carry small bills.

If you cannot get them, enter any supermarket, buy a small bottle of mineral water, or whatever and pay with a large bill. If necessary, do it more than once.

We took the subte almost everyday during our 5 week trip to BA last July and August. We are in our late 50s and early 60s. The only problem we encountered were crowded trains at peak hours. We were told to be careful with our wallets and in a crowded train car anywhere you would need to watch your belongings. I, actually preferred the subte to using taxis. We also purchased the bus transport guide (can't remember the title, but AV can help you out with the name please!) which showed us which bus to use. We enjoyed navigating the city like a native. We frequently ended up talking to locals while waiting for the bus or subte and continued the converations along the way. True, taxis are cheap, but the more you use public transport the easier it is. And for about 25 cents a ride, you can't find a better deal anywhere! Good luck. You will have a wonderful time in BA; it is impossible not to enjoy your time there.

I believe the name for the bus transport book sold around the city at newspaper kiosks is called the Guia T. It has maps in it which are very helpful, too. We used it a lot and though it seems complicated the first time you look at it, it is amazingly easy to use. Everyone carries them and whenever we asked for bus directions, someone usually pulled one out to consult.

Guia T de Bolsillo is pocket sized and contains very detailed maps as well route maps for the subway and buses. I carry one with me everywhere. It is very helpful to have along even if you are not using public transportation.

I forgot to mention that you can purchase the Guia T at newsstands. I do not know the current price. My 2004 version cost &2.50 pesos or about US 75cents.

Thank you for getting me off the hook, annetti and Doc!

Hi, I'm from BA and live in the US. When I go back home, I just take taxis. The taxi fare is so reasonable it makes no sense to me to use the subway or public buses.
Safety-wise BA is OK for as long as you try to take some precautions: 1) No expensive jewelry or watches; 2) Whenever possible, try to get a radio taxi from your hotel--there can be some issues with taxis taken straight from the street, too; 3) Find out at the hotel what areas you should avoid after dark.
The subway is safe for as long as there are people around. During the last word cup a girl was raped during one of Argentina's games; it was during the day, and at a station in a good neighborhood, but there was nobody around...
A.