10 Must-Have Apps for Exploring Argentina

Forget texting – everyone in Argentina uses WhatsApp. The popular messaging service allows you to connect with people free of charge as long as you’re connected to WiFi (speaking of which, download the BA Wifi app to connect with the city’s free signal) or have a data plan. As soon as you share your number in Argentina, the next question you’ll be asked is “Tenés WhatsApp?” (“Do you have WhatsApp?”). Be ready to say yes by downloading it here.

There’s been a lot of drama in Argentina over Uber, the popular ride-sharing app, with taxi drivers lobbying hard to keep the service out of the country (you can still Uber around Buenos Aires, it just might not be 100% legal). The city government has just launched BA Taxi, a new app that allows drivers to take passengers (hmm, exactly like Uber!). While only available for Android at present, keep an eye on it because they seem intent on replacing Uber – which should involve the development of a pretty badass app. More here.

Pedidos Ya is a food delivery app you’ll be needing after a long day walking around Buenos Aires (maybe doing this nice architecturally-rich stroll). The app, which is used all over South America, is in Spanish, so have GoogleTranslate at the ready. Also be warned that Argentina has a different interpretation of ‘quick delivery’ sometimes, so be sure you ask how long it will be before you confirm your order. Get the app here.

Cómo Llego, which is Spanish for “How to arrive,” is the government’s transit app. When it comes to getting around the sprawling city of Buenos Aires – with its mind-bending nexus of buses – it’s usually more helpful than GoogleMaps. You can use it in English or Spanish – get it here.

Well, you are in the land of wine, so there should be an app for that. The Argentina Wine App, developed by Approach Guides, gives you in-depth information on the country’s wine. It comes in handy when you’re standing in wine store in Buenos Aires totally overwhelmed and the guy who works there only speaks Spanish, and you only understand half of what he’s saying. In that moment, just use the app. Nod nicely to the wine dude, look up your wines, choose well, and head to your party – or more likely, open it alongside a picada.

Yes, the AirBnB craze has hit Buenos Aires hard. There are no end of lovely neoclassical buildings to stay in, all prepared for you with the love of a truly dedicated Argentine host. If you’re looking for the best places to stay in the city, AirBnB’s where it’s at. Get it here.

Buenos Aires has its own government-funded tourist app that’s useful to have. It gives you information (in English) about tours, museums, places to experience tango, information about the tourist bus, sights to see, and more. Scroll it when you’re looking for things to do in Buenos Aires (or just read this). Get the app here.

Restorando allows you to book your table in advance in Buenos Aires for free, 24 hours a day. It’s also a good place to scroll, Yelp-style, for ideas on where to eat out, because Buenos Aires’ food scene is a beautiful thing. Also, when in doubt, reserve: restaurants will hold tables for people for hours on end in Buenos Aires. Literally, there will be a line out the door of people waiting, and five empty tables that the restaurant will not turn over because they’ve been reserved. Make sure you use Restorando – get the app here – to ensure one of those tables will be yours.

If you’ve been using popular language-learning apps such as DuoLingo to prepare for your trip, hate to break it to you, but that will only take you so far in Argentina. There are pretty big differences between the Spanish spoken in, say, Mexico, and the Spanish you’ll hear in Argentina. For starters, the conjugation of verbs in the second person (it’s not tu tienes in Argentina, it’s vos tenés). If that already has your heart racing, the app Porteño Spanish is at the rescue. The word Porteño denotes people born in Buenos Aires, and this app will help you speak just like them. Get it here.

LightsOut is the nightlife app for Buenos Aires. Have you heard that this city has a crazy party scene? You have. Well, this app is your portal to it. Click here to download – Android-only at the moment.