South America > Argentina > Buenos Aires (EZE)

The Car or no Car advice for Buenos Aires can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Buenos Aires ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Buenos Aires ?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.

🇦🇷 Mode	Score
🚆 Non-car score

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Buenos Aires?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

🇦🇷 Factor	Score
🚗 Car Score

🚗Do we need a car in Buenos Aires? Is it worth it? Should we rent one? | Comment

Buenos Aires is a magnificent city: theatrical, European in style, proudly Latin at heart, and endlessly fascinating to explore on foot. Because the capital has dense public transport, compact historic districts, and affordable taxis, travellers often ask: should you rent a car in Buenos Aires? The honest answer is that driving inside the city is rarely needed. However, the choice becomes more interesting when you start looking at day trips, estancias and longer journeys into the interior.

🚇 Getting Around the Capital Without a Car

The Subte metro is quick, reliable and cheap. It connects Palermo, Recoleta, Microcentro, Retiro and San Telmo. Meanwhile, buses cover even more ground, running frequently to cultural sites, music venues, parks and markets. Because taxis and ride-hail apps are inexpensive, you can reach theatres, tango halls or riverfront areas late at night without needing to drive. In most cases, it simply makes far more sense to stay car-free while inside Buenos Aires.

🚆 Easy Day Trips Without Renting a Car

One of the capital’s biggest advantages is its rail and bus network, which opens the door to excellent day trips:

Tigre & The Paraná Delta (train + boat)
From Retiro, suburban trains reach Tigre in under an hour. Once there, river launches explore the maze of waterways, wooden houses and quiet islands. It’s a classic no-car excursion.
San Antonio de Areco (intercity buses)
This charming Pampas town is known for gaucho heritage, leather workshops and peaceful squares. Regular buses run from Buenos Aires, so renting a car isn’t necessary.
La Plata (train or bus)
The provincial capital offers grand boulevards, museums and one of Argentina’s most impressive cathedrals. You can reach it by commuter rail or coach.

Because these short trips are so well connected, you rarely need a car for them.

🚗 When a Car Becomes Useful

A rental car becomes relevant once you leave the commuter belt behind. For example, travellers who want to stay at a rural estancia or visit out-of-the-way Pampas villages may prefer the freedom of driving. Roads are generally good, and distances feel surprisingly long. A car can save time if you’re venturing across the countryside.

However, if your ambitions stretch toward the Andes, a car from Buenos Aires isn’t the best starting point. The Andes lie far to the west. The most dramatic scenery — national parks, wine valleys, high-altitude passes and desert landscapes — sits closer to Mendoza in western Argentina or Salta in the northwest. Both cities are far better launchpads for Andean road trips. You can fly from Buenos Aires, pick up a car there, and immediately be surrounded by mountains. Trying to cover that distance by road from the capital usually turns into a long, flat drive rather than a scenic journey.

🎯 Conclusion: Should You Rent a Car in Buenos Aires?

❌ Skip the car if your plans centre on the city itself and classic day trips to Tigre, La Plata, San Antonio de Areco or nearby estancias accessible by bus.
❔ Consider renting a car in Buenos Aires only for deeper countryside touring across the Pampas. Or fly onward to Mendoza or Salta if your goal is an Andean road trip.