Buenos Aires City Guide - Tours of the City

The Buenos Aires tourist office (website: www.bue.gov.ar) can supply a map (also available online) detailing 17 self-guided tours around the city's most appealing neighbourhoods. It also organises a programme of free, guided cultural walks in key areas of the city including those devoted to locations and attractions associated with Evita and local writer Jorge Luis Borges. The walking tours may be cancelled due to bad weather. The schedule and meeting points of these tours is available directly from the tourist office and booths or online.

Cicerones de Buenos Aires (tel: (011) 4330 0800; website: www.cicerones.org.ar) is a not-for-profit greeter programme allowing tourists to explore the city with a local resident. The guides are all volunteers who know and love their city, who give visitors a chance to see a different side of Buenos Aires. They can also tailor visits to cater for special interests. The service is free.

Bus Tours
Day and night bus tours of Buenos Aires and its surrounds visit cultural areas, passengers disembarking to take guided walks in English. Travel Line Argentina (tel: (011) 4393 9000; website: www.travelline.com.ar) provides a wide range of tours. Buenos Aires Tur (tel: (011) 4371 2304; website: www.buenosairestur.com) and Buenos Aires Vision (tel: (011) 4394 4682; website: www.buenosaires-vision.com.ar) offer a tour of the city as well as explorations outside.

Bicycle Tours
Guided English or Spanish pedal tours of Buenos Aires are available from Bike Tours (tel: (011) 4311 5199; website: www.biketours.com.ar). The three-and-a-half to four-hour informative ride through key districts, including Puerto Madero, La Boca, San Telmo, and the Plaza de Mayo, includes the use of a three-gear bike, a helmet, a bottle of water and rain gear if necessary. Child seats are available.