Is Buenos Aires Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Buenos Aires, as a bustling city, possesses both safe and unsafe areas. Daytime travel is generally safe in most parts while some neighborhoods require extra caution, especially after dark. Street crime like pickpocketing, purse snatching, petty theft are potential risks, and as a solo female traveler, it's crucial to stay vigilant. Nevertheless, locals are friendly and ready to help. Always trust your intuition and use common sense when you feel uncomfortable about a situation or a place.

Safety rating

4.2 /5

Based on 19 experiences

3.5 /5

Based on research and crime data

Safety overview

Safety at night:Moderate

Buenos Aires has areas that are well-lit and crowded even at night, such as Palermo and Recoleta, where you may feel quite safe. Nonetheless, as a female solo traveler, it is recommended to exercise general caution. Certain parts of the city, like La Boca or San Telmo, should be avoided at night. Always use a reliable taxi service rather than walking alone especially in deserted or less touristy areas. Personal safety varies greatly by neighborhood and time of day.

Public transportation: Moderate

Public transportation in Buenos Aires, such as buses and the subway system, is generally reliable and used by many local residents. However, as a solo female traveler, it is important to stay alert due to the risk of pickpocketing and unwanted attention, particularly during peak hours. Late at night, it might be better to opt for a taxi or rideshare service. Also, knowing some Spanish will be helpful in navigating the system.

Street harassment: Moderate

Buenos Aires is relatively safe for solo female travelers, but like most major cities, there can be incidents of street harassment. The locals are typically warm and welcoming, yet it's not uncommon for women to receive unsolicited attention on the streets in the form of catcalling or persistent compliments. Always stay vigilant, especially at night or in lesser populated areas.

Petty crimes:Moderate

Buenos Aires, like many large cities, has a certain level of petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching. Tourists, particularly those who stand out and look lost or distracted, can be targets. However, by being cautious and aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded public places and tourist areas, you can significantly reduce the risk of being a victim.

Tap water:Safe

In Buenos Aires, tap water is generally considered safe to drink. The city’s water treatment system is highly regulated and extensive. However, taste and quality may vary depending on the area, and some travelers might take a bit of time to adjust to the mineral content of the water. As comfort and personal tolerance can be subjective, it could be beneficial to have bottled water at hand.

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Travel experiences

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 19 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4.7/5

Safety

4.2/5

Food

4.8/5

Budget-friendly

4/5

Solo travel experience

I'm from Argentina and in my opinion, Buenos Aires is safe, just beware of your belongings in public transportation and crowded areas. I suggest visiting the San Telmo Market and its neighborhood, Puerto Madero, Recoleta cemetery, Ateneo library, and Palermo neighborhood. Buenos Aires is huge and there's so much to do.

Posted: September 27, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

Went to Buenos Aires in December and had a great time. I only know a few words of Spanish but managed to get by. I used the hop-on hop-off tour bus as an easy way to get around all the main sightseeing spots. I had a travel-safe bag that I kept close to me at all times, as I would in any big city, but didn't have any issues. There's loads to see and do, and great food and drink!

Posted: September 25, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I was in Buenos Aires for a month solo and loved it. I stayed in the Recoleta neighborhood and wandered around on my own and felt safe. I highly recommend learning some Spanish especially if you’ll be using Uber or taxi as I found the drivers did not speak English.

Posted: September 11, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

I visited Buenos Aires last year in June and felt safe. The weather was perfect. I stayed near the Obelisco so everything was within walking distance. I enjoyed the city very much, especially the wine and food. I also enjoyed watching the tango (my favorite dance).

Posted: July 30, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Group travel experience

I mostly stayed in Micro Centro, Belgrano, and Palermo so I can only really speak to these areas. Palermo was the most walkable and had many work friendly cafes. Amazing options for restaurants, nightlife. Plaza Serrano and San Telmo have great markets during the weekends. In my experience very safe but as the case with all major cities safe keep an eye on petty crime. A friend of mine had their phone swiped from their hand while navigating late at night.

Posted: June 27, 2023Experienced: May, 2022
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I traveled for three months around South America, and spent a week in Buenos Aires - the only place I felt unsafe. All of the taxi drivers were absolute scumbags and swapped our money for fake money on numerous occasions.

Posted: April 17, 2023
Things to do: 4/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 2/5
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Solo travel experience

Buenos Aires is safe for a solo traveler. I spent the month of February there and stayed in Palermo Hollywood. So much to do, great food and bars, easy to get around, and cheap.

Posted: April 13, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Group travel experience

I was there in February and stayed five days - we walked around at night by ourselves to various restaurants and had a wonderful time and felt completely safe. We took taxis everywhere and never had a single problem. We stayed in the Palermo district. We were definitely warned though to not hold your cell phone out in public places and you make sure that your purse is close to your body so nobody can grab it and run.

Posted: April 10, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I took a solo trip to Buenos Aires and had an excellent time. The food was great and reasonably priced, and there were many neighborhoods to explore. Must-See: San Telmo Market, La Boca with a tango show, Palermo, and Recoleta.

Posted: April 10, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I liked the different barrios, the variety in food, things to do/see, the atmosphere. Very intersting history and friendly people!

Posted: April 3, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Local experiences

I’m a foodie, so here’s a list of all my favorite food places. Best restaurants in Buenos Aires: Hierbabuena (a bit expensive, but sooo good and many vegetarian and vegan options) Artemisia (vegetarian) Tandoor (Indian) Loving Hut (vegan) - the one in the center has good burgers, but the one in Palermo is better for dinner Saigon (Vietnamese) Che Taco (Mexican) Best cafes: Obrador (bakery with good coffee) Le Blé (French) Casa Telma Best burgers: El Banco Rojo (burger of the week usually the best) Loving hut Burger Joint (have to try!!) La Puerta Roja Best pizzas: Cosi mi Piace The Pizza Only one true love Sr. Telmo Pizza vegana Also I’m a vegetarian, and I know that Argentine steak is a big part of the experience, so a lot of these places serve meat too. Encuentro Nativo in La Boca (caminito) serves meat so tender you can cut it with a spoon.

Posted: October 2, 2022
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Meet locals in Buenos Aires

Lorena

Lorena

Speaking

About Me

Hi!, I'm Lorena and I'm interested in solo travel, nightlife, languages, food & cuisine, history and events & social

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇻🇦 Vatican City, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇨🇺 Cuba

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Mara

Mara

Speaking

About Me

I’m Mara, I’m a very active, social and curious person. I like to travel and get to know the city like a local, meet new people and experience that I can learn from

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇫🇷 France, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇺🇾 Uruguay

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Renata

Renata

Speaking

About Me

Hey! My name is Renata, Im a flight attendant and would love to meet different cultures. I like meeting people and I’m super outgoing. Also I love to have fun with things in life but I can also be a serious person if it is necessary. I speak Spanish (native), English (fluent) and French (Intermediate)

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇫🇯 Fiji, 🇫🇷 France, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇺🇸 United States

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Stay with locals in Buenos Aires

Renata

Renata

Speaking

You can stay for:

6 days

About me

Hey! My name is Renata, Im a flight attendant and would love to meet different cultures. I like meeting people and I’m super outgoing. Also I love to have fun with things in life but I can also be a serious person if it is necessary. I speak Spanish (native), English (fluent) and French (Intermediate)

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇫🇯 Fiji, 🇫🇷 France, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇺🇸 United States

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Iara

Iara

Speaking

You can stay for:

2 days

About me

Soy una persona curiosa, exploradora y apasionada por la vida, me fascina el conocer gente, culturas, lugares. Soy una fanática de los animales, de la vida lenta, de la naturaleza y del arte.

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇺🇾 Uruguay, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇵🇹 Portugal

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Agus

Agus

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina I love travel, music, beach, sea, nature, summer, bike

Countries I’ve Visited

🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇦🇷 Argentina

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Upcoming visitors to Buenos Aires

Jemima

Jemima

Speaking

About Me

Hello. I'm new to solo travelling and would like to team up with others on my travels. I just feel life is stalled waiting for others to be free, can afford or to go to the same places. I look forward to hearing from you 🎉

Countries I’ve Visited

🇺🇸 United States, 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France

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Local discussions

TravelCan anyone recommend a good, safe, budget-friendly hotel in Buenos Aires?

Can anyone recommend lovely hotel in Buenos Aires in a good safe area that won't break the bank please?

Posted: October 9, 2022
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Safety in Argentina