Ezeiza Airport to Buenos Aires City: Four Ways, Compared
目次
Ezeiza (EZE) sits about 35 kilometres south-west of Buenos Aires. Depending on traffic, the journey is between 45 minutes and an hour and a half.
There are four ways in. The cheapest is not the best value, and the most convenient is not the most expensive.
The one thing to avoid
Inside the arrivals hall, people will approach and offer you a car. Do not accept.
The offers are not always a scam, but there is no way to tell which are and the price is decided after you are in the vehicle. Every legitimate option below has a counter or an app. Walk past anyone who approaches you.
1. Shuttle bus (Tienda León)
A scheduled coach service with its own counter in arrivals.
It runs to a terminal in Retiro, near the centre, and from there onward transfers to hotels in the main districts are included on some tickets. Departures are frequent through the day and the vehicles have luggage space and air conditioning.
This is the option most first-time visitors should take. It is a fraction of the cost of a private car, the counter is visible before you leave the building, and the price is fixed and paid in advance.
The drawback is the transfer at Retiro. If you have several bags or arrive very late, that changes the calculation.
2. Official taxi from the counter
There are taxi and remis counters in arrivals. You pay at the counter, receive a receipt, and are directed to a car.
The price is fixed before you get in. It is considerably more than the shuttle and considerably less than pre-booked private transfers from abroad.
This is the right choice if you arrive at night, have a lot of luggage, or are travelling with children. Door to door, no transfer.
3. App-based car
Ride-hailing apps operate at Ezeiza. The price is shown before you confirm, which removes the negotiation problem entirely.
The complication is the pickup point, which is not always where you expect and moves from time to time. You also need a working data connection the moment you land, which means arranging that before you leave home.
If you have data and are comfortable with the apps, this is often the best combination of price and directness.
4. Public bus
There is a city bus that serves the airport. It costs almost nothing.
It also takes around two hours, requires a SUBE card that you do not yet have, and has no luggage space. Nobody arriving with suitcases should consider this. It is included here only because people ask.
If you are leaving the country and have a full day and one small bag, it becomes possible. See the SUBE card guide for how the fare works.
Aeroparque is different
Domestic flights and some regional ones use Aeroparque (AEP), which is inside the city on the waterfront.
From there, a taxi to Recoleta or Palermo takes fifteen minutes. Several city bus routes stop outside. The airport-to-city problem essentially does not exist at Aeroparque.
Note that a connection between the two airports takes over an hour and is not something to attempt with a short layover.
Money on arrival
You will want some Argentine pesos before leaving the airport, but not many.
The rate you get at the airport is poor. Change a small amount for the journey and handle the rest in the city, where the difference between the official rate and the street rate is significant. How that works is explained in the peso guide.
Card payment works at the shuttle and taxi counters, which reduces how much cash you need immediately.
Once you are in the city
Buenos Aires is walkable in the centre and well served by buses and the Subte beyond it.
Our map shows every bus in the city moving in real time, the six Subte lines, official crime data by area, and the sights with photos. It runs in a browser with nothing to install, which matters when you have just arrived and do not want to set up an app.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Ezeiza airport from Buenos Aires?
About 35 kilometres to the south-west. The journey takes between 45 minutes and an hour and a half depending on traffic.
What is the cheapest way from Ezeiza to the city?
The public bus, but it takes around two hours, needs a SUBE card you will not have on arrival, and has no luggage space. For most arrivals the shuttle bus is the sensible low-cost option.
Should I take a taxi from Ezeiza?
Use the official counters inside arrivals, where the price is fixed before you get in. Do not accept rides from people who approach you in the hall.
Do ride-hailing apps work at Ezeiza?
Yes, and the price is shown before you confirm. You need a working data connection on landing, and the pickup point is not always obvious.
Should I change money at the airport?
Change only a small amount for the journey. Airport rates are poor and the difference in the city is significant.
Is Aeroparque easier than Ezeiza?
Much. Aeroparque is inside the city on the waterfront, fifteen minutes from Recoleta by taxi. It handles domestic and some regional flights.
How long between Ezeiza and Aeroparque?
Over an hour. Do not plan a short connection between the two airports.