VISA REQUIREMENTS

Not required for Tourists with Irish or UK passports for stays of up to 90 days.  All other passport holders must check with the embassy.

CURRENCY

Argentine Peso. Most major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are available in most cities but it is still best to carry alternative forms of payment.

LANGUAGE

The official language in Argentina is Spanish (Castellano).

TIME DIFFERENCE

Central European Time (CET) – 4 hours (during the European summertime – 5 hours)
Greenwich Time (GMT) – 3 hours (during the European summertime – 4 hours)

VOLTAGE

220 V alternating current. It is recommendable to bring a multi-adapter because of the often different sockets.

OPENING HOURS

The opening hours are not regulated by law. Banks are open from Monday till Friday, 10 a.m. to 15 p.m., shops between 9 a.m. and approximately 20.00 p.m., on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 13/14 p.m. During the siesta, from around 13 to 17 p.m. many shops are closed in the provinces, in Buenos Aires city shops don`t close for siesta.
Big supermarkets and shopping malls are opened on Saturdays and Sundays, during the whole day.

HEALTH ADVICE & VACCINATIONS

www.cdc.gov/travel

www.tmb.ie

TIPPING

Tipping is largely discretionary. A guideline for tipping is 10% in restaurants.

FOOD - NATIONAL SPECIALITIES

• Churrasco Argentino - a large juicy gaucho steak
• Empanadas - tasty little pastry stuffed with meat
• Alfajores - shortbread type biscuits sandwiched with dulce de leche

NIGHTLIFE

Argentines like to party and even the smallest of towns in rural areas have late night bars and discos. Nightlife in Buenos Aires is particularly vibrant and the city has become a centre for South American clubbing, boasting line-ups of world famous visiting and home-grown DJs. Things rarely get going until midnight and the music keeps pumping until well after daylight.

Tango is the traditional music and dance of Argentina and each night performers showcase this heartfelt art form in clubs in most major cities. People who want to dance themselves can learn and practise the tango at lively milongas (tango nightclubs). There are many theatres and concert halls, which put on plays and performances by Argentine and international groups and orchestras. There are casinos throughout Argentina.

SHOPPING

Buenos Aires has traditionally enjoyed a reputation as a shopper’s paradise, possibly of even being the best shopping city in Latin America. Plush shopping centres are lined with boutique shops selling local and international fashions. Leather goods are a good buy and can be made to measure in a few days. Native arts and handicrafts are also popular and can be purchased in special markets in most tourist areas.

sOUVENIRS

Argentine quality items include leather goods, woven and knitted garments, silverware and wine. Excellent quality and original designs can be found: shoes, purses, jackets, handbags, wallets are the most liked souvenirs. Craft industry (pottery, masks and cloth, wall hangings), mostly bought in the North are also good options. Moreover the mate receptacle with the bombilla is a typical souvenir, as well as great Malbec wine from Mendoza area or a Torrontes wine from the Northwest.