Biking is an excellent way to see Buenos Aires.
La Boca, Recoleta, Puerto Madero or Palermo — many of the city’s neighborhoods are perfectly suited for bike riding.
Buenos Aires is a flat, pretty city, so peddle power is a fast and easy way to get around town.
There’s a good reason that so many Buenos Aires food delivery services and couriers get around by bike — it’s often the fastest mode of transport in a sometimes cluttered city that can get choked with car traffic.
No one would recommend mimicking the bike delivers’ behavior, hopping up onto sidewalks to avoid traffic congestion and sending pedestrians scurrying out of the way, or riding nonchalantly the wrong way down a one-way street.
But everyone agrees that bikes mean less traffic and less pollution for everyone.
Bike Lanes & Cycling Safety
The number of bike commuters in Buenos Aires has increased exponentially in recent years, as the city government created bike lanes covering 130km through the city and even set up a bike-sharing program called EcoBici.
During the pandemic, Buenos Aires’ need for more biking infrastructure became apparent, as many were relying on bike messengers and home delivery of groceries and meals.
In 2020 the city approved 17km of additional lanes connecting the neighborhoods of Villa Crespo and Chacarita with Microcentro (downtown).
More streets were altered to be pedestrian and bike priority, including important Avenues such as Corrientes (famous for its theaters, pizzerias and bookstores) and Córdoba.
Thanks to these efforts, biking is safer than ever in Buenos Aires.
With the city encouraging biking with the bike sharing program and bike lanes throughout the city, bike tours have become a popular way for visitors to become acquainted with Buenos Aires more intimately.
Hotels are getting on the bike bandwagon as well, such as ‘Ecohotel’ Casa Calma which provides cool-looking bamboo bicycles for guests.
Digital nomads might want to purchase a used bike if staying for a while.
A used playera (cruiser bike) will cost about US$80.
Best Bike Tours in Buenos Aires
If you’re only in town for a short while and want to check out the city on two wheels, taking a bike tour in English or Spanish provides a fun and economical way to be guided through the city.
Four-hour tours take place twice a day and are conducted using the cool-looking playeras (‘cruisers’) bikes seen around town.
Helmets are provided.
A Southside tour covers areas closer to downtown such as San Telmo, La Boca, Puerto Madero and the Ecological Reserve for a yerba mate break of Argentina’s favorite hot beverage and a snack.
The Northside tour explores leafy Recoleta, including a stop at the city’s most prestigious cemetery, Palermo, including the Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Forest) for a mate pit-stop.
Both tours are pretty easy-going, so those who are a bit out of shape don’t need to worry they will be left behind.
On weekends and holidays, visit the peaceful suburb of Tigre for some bike riding and check out the islands of the Delta Tigre for lunch.
Bikes are permitted on the train to Tigre from central Buenos Aires
Upon return to the mainland, take a leisurely ride by local attractions, including a visit to the Puerto de Frutas.
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Buenos Aires Bike Tour
• Reservations recommended
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⇒ The five-star reviewed premium bike tour with lunch promises visitors many of the city’s highlights
Common Stops on Buenos Aires Bike Tours
- Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Forest)
- Avenida del Libertador – swanky main corridor with bike lanes
- Palermo Chico area
- Facultad de Derecho, UBA – Historic Building of the Buenos Aires Law School
- Floralis Generica – a public art piece that is a flower that opens and closes with the sun
- Yerba Mate tasting stop
- Microcentro – downtown Buenos Aires
- Plaza de Mayo
- Puerto Madero – the newest, shiniest area in Buenos Aires
- Costanera Sur – the old riverside
- Lunch at a traditional food truck
- La Boca and Caminito – open air street museum
- La Bombonera – Boca Juniors Soccer Stadium
- San Telmo – one of the oldest areas in BA
- Plaza Dorrego – a famous square for its bars and street market
- Recoleta – Buenos Aires’ old money neighborhood
- Recoleta Cemetery – one of the world’s most historic cemeteries
