How do I get to Buenos Aires?

Ezeiza — formally Ministro Pistarini (EZE) — sits 35 km southwest of the city center, and the ride in takes 40-70 minutes depending on traffic on the Autopista Riccheri. This is where you'll land coming from anywhere outside South America. The terminal is functional, not fancy — expect long immigration queues during peak arrivals between 6 and 9 AM when the overnight flights from North America all touch down at once. The whole place smells like industrial floor cleaner and empanadas from the food court, which is a weird first impression but an honest one. Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) is a different story: it's 2 km from downtown, right on the Río de la Plata shoreline, with planes landing low enough that you can hear the engines from the Costanera walking path. If you're connecting from Santiago, São Paulo, Montevideo, or anywhere domestic, you'll likely land here. A taxi to Palermo or Recoleta takes 15 minutes.

From the US East Coast, Miami is the workhorse route: American, Aerolíneas Argentinas, and LATAM run daily nonstops, 9-10 hours, for $700-1,100 round-trip. JFK and Houston have nonstop options on Delta and United, though frequencies drop outside the December-March high season. From the West Coast, you're stopping somewhere — Lima, Bogotá, or São Paulo — and looking at 14-18 hours total for $900-1,400. Worth noting: Aerolíneas Argentinas tends to price $100-200 below US carriers on the same routes, and their economy cabin is decent for a red-eye. The catch is their frequent-flyer program has limited partner options if you're collecting miles elsewhere.

From Europe, Madrid is the main gateway. Iberia and Aerolíneas Argentinas both run daily nonstops, about 12 hours, for €500-900 round-trip. Rome has a nonstop on ITA Airways a few times weekly. London requires a connection — usually through Madrid or São Paulo — at £600-1,000, adding 3-4 hours. Air France routes through Paris-CDG work too, though the layover at CDG tends to be the kind you endure rather than enjoy. From within South America, Santiago is a 2-hour hop, São Paulo about 3 hours, Lima around 4.5 hours. Budget carriers JetSMART and Flybondi have pushed regional fares down to $150-300 round-trip on those shorter routes, which changes the math if you're building a multi-city South American trip.

Timing matters more than most people realize. Buenos Aires peaks December through February — Southern Hemisphere summer — when flights from North America and Europe jump 30-50% above baseline. The sweet spot for cheaper fares is May through September, the city's autumn and winter. Mind you, winter here means 8-15°C and a damp cold that cuts right through a light jacket, so pack layers. That said, the city is at its most atmospheric in those cooler months: café windows fogged up, the smell of roasting chestnuts drifting near Plaza de Mayo, tango halls warm and crowded because nobody wants to be outside. If you can trade beach weather for lower fares and thinner crowds, book April or September — shoulder-season fares from Miami run $650-800 round-trip.