Subte (subway)

The oldest subway system in South America, the first line was opened to the public in 1913. You can still ride cars dating from that era on the original line (Linea A). Fares are $0.70 ARS and allow unlimited transfers between lines. Pre-paid Subte cards are purchased at the ticket booth (boleteria) or self service dispensers located at the entrance to the station. You can purchase these cards for multiple journeys, but there will be no savings.

Assorted Subte cards:
 

Street entrances to the system are well marked and very visible. There are usually various entrances from nearby points that lead to the same station.

A typical Subte entrance:
 

A typical carriage at Catedral Station on Linea D:
 

Retiro Railway Station is accessed by the Subte station of the same name on Linea C:
 

Subway service on most lines begins at 5 AM and ends before 11 PM. Sunday service begins only at 8 AM.
 
Lines A, B, D, E roughly follow a north-south trajectory that begins in Centro and spreads out to the outer barrios. Line C follows Av. 9 de Julio and serves as a connector to the others. Line H is soon to be completed and will serve as an additional connector line further uptown and allow passengers to do a limited circle trip without having to travel back downtown to connect with line C.

The Buenos Aires Subte system was privatized in the early 1990's and is now run more efficiently by Metrovías. Their website can be viewed in English and they have useful features such as maps and schedules interspersed with a lot of information not particularly useful to most commuters. The map page has some interactive features that are very useful in helping plan a trip within the city.

Some useful stations:

Plaza de Mayo (Linea A): Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Parque Colon.

Saenz Peña (Linea A): Shopping on Av de Mayo, Edificio Barolo, Plaza de los Congresos, Madres de Plaza de Mayo.

Congreso (Linea A): Congreso Nacional, shopping on Av Callao and/or Rivadavia.

Retiro (Linea C): Retiro Train Station, Omnibus Terminal, Torre de los Ingleses, Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

San Martin (Linea C): Plaza San Martin, shopping on Av Santa Fe and Florida, Marriott Plaza Hotel, American Express office.

San Juan (Linea C): Closest (6 blocks) to San Telmo's Plaza Dorrego.

Tribunales (Linea D): Teatro Colon, Palacio de Justicia.

Pueyrredon (Linea D): Shopping on Av Santa Fe and/or Pueyrredon, German Hospital, and closest (10 blocks) to Recoleta Cemetary.

Plaza Italia (Linea D): Plaza Italia, Buenos Aires Zoo, Botanical Garden, Sociedad Rural, shopping on Av Santa Fe and/or Las Heras.

Carlos Pellegrini (Linea B): Obelisco, shopping on Av Corrientes, 9 de Julio and/or Carlos Pelligrini.

Alem (Linea B): Puerto Madero, Luna Park, shopping on Av Corrientes.

Carlos Gardel (Linea B): Abasto Shopping Centre, shopping on Av Corrientes.

Federico Lacroze (Linea B): Chacarita Cemetary