Argentina, officially known as the Argentine Republic, is a large and diverse country located in the southern part of South America. It is the second-largest nation on the continent and the eighth-largest in the world. The nation is known for its rich cultural heritage, influenced by Indigenous peoples, Spanish colonization, and waves of European immigration. The country is famous for tango, Patagonian landscapes (such as the Andes Mountains), wine regions like Mendoza, and its strong traditions in literature, music, and football.
Its capital, Buenos Aires, is the largest city of Argentina. Often called the 'Paris of South America', it is known for its elegant European-influenced architecture, vibrant cultural life, and distinctive neighbourhoods such as La Boca, Recoleta, and Palermo. The city is a major centre for arts, literature, theatre, and gastronomy. Buenos Aires is also the birthplace of the tango, which remains an iconic symbol of the city.
UTC-3.
Floods, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, earthquakes, and landslides.
Traffic fines can be quite high in Argentina. These include:
other violations to keep in mind are:
The official language of Argentina is Spanish, but English, Italian, Guarani, Quechua, Wichi, Portuñol and many more are also spoken.
In Argentina, vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. The minimum age to drive is 18, but the renting age is 21, though some rental companies would require drivers who have held their licence for at least 1 - 2 years, allow those at least 23 - 25 to drive specific vehicles, and add an 'young driver surcharge' to drivers under 25. UK drivers must have an International Driving Permit (IDP) (specifically the 1949 version) along with their valid licence to drive in Argentina.
On rural or lesser-maintained roads, be cautious as many roads have potholes or rough surfaces (especially outside major cities). Also, keep windows up and doors locked in cities due to risk of opportunistic crime (especially at traffic lights or in congested areas).
Fuel stations in Argentina generally sell regular unleaded petrol (usually 95 RON), higher-octane petrol (97 – 99 RON) and diesel (both standard and high-quality low-sulphur). Most stations are full service, and many accept card except for older stations. In the Buenos Aires, Rosario, Córdoba areas, stations are abundant, where in Patagonia, there are long stretches between stations, and in the northwest; generally okay, but remote areas can be limited. It is important to top up whenever you can Patagonia or mountain routes, even if the tank is half full.
Zero Tolerance (0.00%) but a few places (e.g.: City of Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Santa Fe) maintain the older limit, 0.05% BAC, for private car drivers.
Mandatory for all occupants.
Children under 10 must be in the back seat and require proper safety seats/boosters.