Historically, the airport was the site of the 1973 Ezeiza Massacre, a bloody clash between two camps of Peron supporters prompted by Peron's return from Spain. The violence left at least 13 dead.
Ministro Pistarini International Airport has three runways, although one was closed in 1997 and is now used only for airplane parking. It also has three terminals, A, B, and C. Terminal C is a new addition, having opened in July 2011 as part of an ongoing expansion and improvement project that includes a new control tower, repairs to the runways, and enlarged parking facilities.
Terminal A handles most of the international arrivals and departures at the airport, while B is dedicated to some international flights to and from Europe. Some airlines are in the process of transferring international operations to terminal C to relieve crowding in terminal A. Terminal C also services all local flights. There are no transport links between the terminals, but they are located within walking distance of each other.
Most of the airport's amenities are located in Terminal A, including a 24-hour information desk, a bank, a pharmacy, the left luggage and lost property office and storage lockers, and a medical facility. Bureaux de change, restaurants, and bars are available in all terminals. Terminal C also offers free Wi-Fi.
The airport is located approximately 14 miles (22 km) from downtown Buenos Aires along the Ricchieri TGP Autopista. There are no rail links between Ministro Pistarini and the city, but buses run from the airport to destinations in Ezeiza and Buenos Aires, and shuttle buses and taxis into Buenos Aires are also available. Several car rental companies have offices in Terminal A, and each terminal has extensive parking available, although there is no distinction made between long- and short-term parking.
Attractions
The Obelisk of Buenos Aires
The Obelisk of Buenos Aires is a national historic monument of Argentina, and is probably the most iconic landmark in the city of Buenos Aires. The Obelisk was originally built in 1936, but was restored in 2005 to better preserve for future generations. While it is well worth the trip to just see The Obelisk, there are also several special events that occur at or near The Obelisk of Buenos Aires throughout the year.
Buenos Aires Zoo
While most large cities have great zoos there are not many that date back as far as the Buenos Aires Zoo. The Buenos Aires zoo was first opened in 1875, and is nearly 45 acres large. The zoo features over 2500 different animals that come from 350 different species. There are also several different types of local birds that roam the zoo that are not included in these numbers. The most popular exhibits at the Buenos Aires zoo include the petting zoo, tropical rainforest, aquarium and reptile house.
Buenos Aires Botanical Garden
The Buenos Aires Botanical Garden became a national monument of Argentina in 1996, and features over 5500 species of plants and trees. There are also several sculptures and greenhouses located in the Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens on top of all of the plants. The roman garden, french garden and oriental garden are the tree primary sections of the park. The names of these gardens refer to the plants located there and the landscape gardening style on display.
La Recoleta Cemetery
While it may seem odd to think of a cemetery as an attraction, but La Recoleta Cemetery is one of the most beautiful places in the city of Buenos Aires. La Recoleta Cemetery dates back to the early 18th century, and is the resting place for many presidents of Argentina. There are nearly 4700 above ground vaults across the 14 acres of the cemetery, and many of them are some of the best pieces of architecture and sculpture work that you can find in Argentina.
National Historical Museum of Argentina
The National Historical Museum was established in 1889, and is dedicated to the preservation of Argentinian history. Most of the historical items on display revolve around the May Revolution and the Argentine War of Independence. There are currently over 50,000 items on display at the National Historical Museum. Some of the most popular items include history paintings and the personal belongings of key figures in the Argentine War of Independence.
Getting Around
When coming into Buenos Aires, the best way to get into the city would be to fly through Ministro Pistarini International Airport. This airport is located about thirty minutes outside of the Buenos Aires central business district. The airport is one of the busiest in all of Argentina as it handles close to 100,000 flights each year, which bring around nine million passengers through the airport. Over two-dozen airlines operate flights out the airport. Daily flights are available to a wide range of cities across South America, North America, Europe, and Asia.
Another option for getting into Buenos Aires is to take a train. Several high-speed train lines run directly into the city, which provides travelers convenient and quick access to the city from anywhere else in South America. Several national bus lines also run throughout the county, which make daily stops in the central business district.
Once a traveler has arrived in Buenos Aires, they will have several public transportation options to choose from. One option is the Buenos Aires commuter rail. This train system is an above ground rail network that can be used to connect some of the suburban communities to downtown Buenos Aires. The rail system has a total of seven different lines, which are used by more than 1.3 million people on a daily basis.
Another public transportation option is the Buenos Aires Metro, which is an underground subway system. This rail system largely runs only within the city limits and provides access to millions of people across the city. The Buenos Aires Metro has a total of five different lines and 75 different stops, which are located throughout the city. The city government controls the prices of the subway system, which has helped to keep prices low. Over 1.7 million people ride the subway system on a daily basis.
The third option is to take a bus. Within the city, there are over 150 different bus lines, which are called "Colectivos." Each of the bus lines operates as its own private entity that serves its own route. Because of this, buses directly compete with each other for customers, which has helped to keep prices low. While these buses do not receive public financial support, the city has recently started a public bus service called the Metro Bus. The service is still growing and has approximately 25 stations located across the city.
Shopping
Alto Palermo
One of the most popular shopping destinations in Buenos Aires is Alto Palermo. This shopping center originally opened its doors in 1990 and went through a major renovation in 2008. Here, visitors from around the world will find a wide range of name-brand stores including Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, Zara, Timberland and more. For those traveling with a different currency, your money can easily be exchanged right inside the shopping center to make purchases immediately. While shopping, enjoy a delicious iced coffee from Starbucks located right inside Alto Palermo.
Paseo Alcorta
Shopping at Paseo Alcorta is a whole new shopping mall experience. This is an ideal place to find some of the area's trendiest apparel that is popular this season. Many of the stores located here are not found in other locations around the world. Some popular stores include 47 Street, Aerolineas Argentinas, Las Penelope and La Martina. Visitors will find everything from affordable fashions to books and beauty shops at Paseo Alcorta.
Patio Bullrich
Patio Bullrich is located in a more upscale area of Buenos Aires. This mall is home to many high-end designers and is one of the most expensive malls in the city. If looking for designer fashions, Patio Bullrich is the place to be. Some stores that you will find here are Christian Dior, Lacoste, Armani Exchange and Max Mara. There are also many specialty retail stores that each carries unique items, cafes, restaurants and a movie theater showing the latest films.
Galerías Pacífico
Galerías Pacífico is one of the most visited malls due to its prime location. Visitors from around the world shop at Galerías Pacífico on a daily basis. Not only is this a great place to shop, but also it is actually known as a National Historic Landmark due to its beautiful architecture and murals that can be found throughout. This is one of the most idyllic shopping experiences that visitors can enjoy in Buenos Aires. There are more than 150 retail stores, a food court and a variety of restaurants located at Galerías Pacífico. Tiffany's, Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger are a few stores among many that can be found here.
Abasto
There are over 230 specialty retail shops, an arcade, children's museum, food court and movie theaters all located within Abasto. When looking to spend the entire day shopping, this is the perfect place to visit. From high-end designer stores to more affordable shopping, it can all be found Abasto.
Special Events
Be sure to attend the Buenos Aires Tango Festival to dance the night away. The Buenos Aires Tango Festival is a summer celebration that pays homage to Argentina's obsession with the tango. It takes place in popular neighborhoods including Palmero, Recoleta and Caballito. It features tango concerts, dancing exhibitions, tango lessons and amazing food served by local restaurants. It also features a group tango dance that encourages active participation from the audience. Be sure to attend the festival to tango to some of Argentina's best dance music!
Art lovers will enjoy visiting the city's Contemporary Art Fair. The Buenos Aires Contemporary Art Fair takes place at La Rural Exhibition Complex. It celebrates modern artists' contributions to society. It features the best works of more 200-juried artists from around the world who are selected by a selection committee based on merit and ability. Some of the most popular attractions at the Buenos Aires Contemporary Art Fair include art auctions and artist demonstrations. Be sure to attend these forums to meet some of the artists who are selected to display their works at the fair. You might just meet some of the world's most talented artists who are willing to share their love of art with the public.
Book lovers will enjoy attending the Buenos Aires International Book Fair. The Buenos Aires International Book Fair is South America's largest book fair. It takes place at Predio La Rura. It features over 200 book dealers and 250 authors who bring with them a great fondness for books.
Some of the most popular events that take place during the book fair include book signings, book displays and a rare book auction that attracts book collectors from around the world. Be sure to visit the book displays to see some of the world's more rare books in person.
Enjoy fine wines at La Feria de Vinos y Bodegas. La Feria de Vinos y Bodegas is an annual wine and vineyard festival that celebrates Argentina's wine industry. It showcases the wines produced by more than 90 of Argentina's best vineyards. It includes wine tastings, food tastings and demonstrations that can help you learn how to pair wines with food. Be sure to attend the wine tastings to see why Argentina is one of the world's underrated wine producers.
Finally, attend El Dia de la Tradición to learn about Argentina's love of horses. El Dia de la Tradición takes place during the Buenos Aires Horse Fair. It is a fair that celebrates Argentina's love of horses. It features horse riding displays, matador competitions and great food. Be sure to get to the fair early to get the best views of the horse riding displays.
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