How can you enjoy Buenos Aires’ dynamic culture and nightlife while ensuring your safety? Welcome to “Tips to Stay Safe in Buenos Aires,” a comprehensive guide from ExpatPathways designed for digital nomads, travelers, and expats.
This article provides essential strategies to safeguard yourself from common urban hazards, whether you’re navigating public transport, dining out, or simply walking through its lively barrios.
Are you prepared to explore Buenos Aires with peace of mind and full awareness of your surroundings?
7 Tips to Stay Safe in Buenos Aires
1. Keep your eyes wide open!
While Buenos Aires is not among the most dangerous cities in Latin America, and is indeed considered one of the safer large cities in the region, it’s essential to stay vigilant.
Both locals and foreigners have fallen victim to thefts, snatchings, and other criminal acts on the streets, where such incidents are most prevalent.
Not all areas of Buenos Aires are perilous, but it is crucial to keep your eyes wide open and remain alert at all times.
Thieves often target the unwary, particularly foreigners, eager to grab any possessions they can, no matter how trivial. Always keep your guard up and closely watch over your valuables when navigating the streets of Buenos Aires.
2. Be careful on railway platforms and bus stations
Platforms for trains and subways, as well as bus stops, are prime spots for thieves in Buenos Aires. People waiting for public transport, often distracted by their mobile devices, are easy targets for opportunistic criminals.
While statistics do not necessarily indicate that these locations are inherently dangerous, it is better to be safe than sorry.
When waiting for your train or subway, stay within the marked waiting areas on platforms, keep distractions like mobile phones to a minimum, and secure your backpack or purse to prevent unnoticed thefts.
On Public Buses
Bus stops, scattered along various streets and avenues throughout Buenos Aires, demand your vigilance regardless of their location or the time of day you choose to travel.
Maintain high levels of alertness when boarding and disembarking from buses, especially during peak travel hours, to avoid becoming a victim of theft or snatching.
3. Avoid contact with strangers on public roads
Navigating the streets of Buenos Aires, you’ll encounter a wide array of individuals, not all of whom have benign intentions. While many people you meet are not inherently suspicious or dangerous, some may use an “innocent” appearance as a cover for committing crimes such as scams, thefts, and snatchings.
Both foreigners and local residents advise avoiding any form of contact, even eye contact, with street-dwellers, itinerant vendors, or anyone exhibiting unusual behavior.
For instance, seemingly friendly street vendors may offer items like pens, headphones, or sweets, but interactions can quickly turn hostile or aggressive, and there’s a risk they might be planning a theft.
To steer clear of such complications, it’s wise to adopt a somewhat “anti-social” stance and decline any engagement or offers from these individuals.
4. Do not neglect your belongings and valuable items
The theft of mobile phones in public areas has become an increasingly common crime in Buenos Aires, fueled by the economic crisis and a judicial system slow to penalize such offenses effectively.
Many thefts occur without violence, often through surprise snatchings while victims are walking or waiting for public transport. To minimize risk, it’s advisable to avoid using your phone in public spaces, especially for calls, until you are inside a secure place like a bar, a bus, or your home.
If you notice any suspicious activity around you, don’t hesitate to step into a nearby store or safe space. Furthermore, when using public transport, ensure that your backpack or bag is carried in front where you can always see it, rather than behind you, to prevent theft.
5. Avoid parking your bicycle on public roads
Bicycle theft is a common crime in Buenos Aires, typically occurring when bikes are parked in public spaces and their owners are not around.
Many expats and locals use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation, but it’s crucial not to underestimate the risk of theft.
If you must park your bicycle on the street, ensure it remains within your line of sight and easy reach at all times.
The best practice, however, is to avoid parking in public areas altogether. If there’s no alternative, try to keep your bike as close to you as possible or within a visible range to deter potential thieves.
6. Identify where dangerous areas and neighborhoods are located
Understanding the urban layout and geographical boundaries of Buenos Aires is vital for identifying areas that are potentially dangerous.
The city borders the Buenos Aires Province, with the General Paz Highway marking its boundary to the south, west, and north, and the Rio de la Plata to the east.
While petty crimes can occur anywhere in the city, the risk significantly increases near emergency villas or marginal settlements, predominantly located in the outskirts, particularly in the south and west.
Neighborhoods such as La Boca, Barracas, Villa Soldati, Villa Lugano, Constitución, and Parque Avellaneda should be approached with caution unless necessary.
Additionally, be extra vigilant near parks and plazas during nighttime hours, as these are often used as sleeping areas by homeless individuals. While not all homeless people are criminals, recent years have seen an increase in violent incidents involving street-dwellers.
7. Restaurants, bars and cafés: Table inside or table outside?
When visiting bars and restaurants in Buenos Aires, you’ll notice that many establishments offer both indoor and outdoor seating.
While the allure of sitting outside to enjoy a drink or a meal is strong, particularly in pedestrian areas and sidewalks, this setting can increase your vulnerability to theft.
Crimes targeting diners at outdoor tables are more common in neighborhoods with high tourist traffic and vibrant nightlife.
Thieves, sometimes posing as street vendors, can execute either violent, sudden thefts or meticulously planned distractions to steal anything from your mobile phone to your backpack.
The aim is not to deter you from enjoying Buenos Aires’ culinary and social scene but to heighten awareness about potential criminal activities that could mar your experience.
If you plan to go out with a group of friends or your partner, sitting at outdoor tables generally poses fewer risks. However, individuals dining alone, especially if distracted by their phone, are more frequently targeted by thieves.
Additionally, if you intend to work on your laptop at a café or bar, it is strongly advised to choose an indoor table. Seeing people working on their laptops at sidewalk tables is quite rare in Buenos Aires, underscoring the heightened risk of theft in outdoor dining areas.
(Featured Image Source: aykut gebes/flickr.com)
