Experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina by Zoé

What is it like to live in Buenos Aires? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I really love it, but it can be a little bit difficult if you don't like big cities and their issues: noise, crowds, traffic, buses that won't show up... etc.

But of course, that is downtown and on peak hours especially, in the suburbs or neighbourhoods life is quiet and enjoyable, friendly and with a lot of beautiful parks and cafes.

What is the student lifestyle like in Buenos Aires?

Quite good, universities aren't all together but you have a wide variety of options and many courses to take.

How much does it cost to live in Buenos Aires?

It depends on the region and it depends what for. Clothes and objects are fairly unexpensive, renting an appartment can be cheap or regular if you look for it really hard.

The neighbourhoods of Palermo are known for being expensive, it's meant for tourist so things will cost you more than normal.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Buenos Aires? Is there any advice you can give?

Difficult as everywhere, but, luckily, easier than couple of years ago. You need a guarantee of other property (it can be from a relative or a friend) and if you don't have one, you can pay to a bank or company to provide it for you.

It's a lot of money when you first rent a place: 1 month worth deposit (refundable), 1 month worth in advance, 2 months worth for the guarantee company if you don't have your own guarantee and 1 or 2 months worth for the real state agency if you are not dealing with the owner of the place. Sorry, mates.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

You have a world variety of food here, since it's the capital. Empanadas are really good, asado is a must-eat.

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What places would you recommend visiting in Buenos Aires?

• Palermo woods

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• Serrano Square

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• The metalic flower in front of Recoleta's French Square

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Museums:

• Malba

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• Mamba

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• Bellas Arte Museum

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• The Planetarium

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• San Telmo

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So many things!

Is it good to eat out in Buenos Aires? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Yes, sure. There is a lot of night life, especially in the summer. Palermo's little bars are the best, I always go to one called "Sans". There are some traditional tea houses like Las Violetas, El Gato Negro and El Tortoni.

Is the nightlife good in Buenos Aires? Where is good to go?

As I said before, nightlife is amazing here. The vibe, it's contagious! What can be weird for some tourists is that it starts very late, usually from 1 to 2 am and ends reeeeally late, from 6 to 8 and sometimes 10 am.

What advice would you give future students heading to Buenos Aires?

You can go to places like Mundo Lingo to get to know local people... Try to mix up with locals as well, don't frequent just the foreigners' places (Like Pub crawl for example).

Don't flash your cellphone or valuables everywhere, especially on certain neighbourhoods, and be careful at night.