Argentina stretches more than 3,500 kilometres from the subtropical north to Tierra del Fuego, so most trips combine Buenos Aires with one or two regions reached by plane: Iguazú Falls, the wine country of Mendoza, the valleys of Salta and Jujuy, or the glaciers and peaks of Patagonia. Argentina is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and plans from Europe and North America often charge roaming by the day.
Key facts for Argentina
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Movistar, Personal (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 911; police 101; ambulance 107
- Embassies: in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Coverage is strong across Buenos Aires. The Subte (metro) accepts contactless bank cards and phones at the gates, and a growing number of bus lines do too; on the rest you need a SUBE card, sold at kiosks and stations. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Cabify work in the city. As in any large city, keep your phone out of sight on busy streets and at outdoor café tables, where snatch thefts are common.
Patagonia
In El Calafate, El Chaltén and Ushuaia, coverage is good in town but drops quickly on the trails and on long roads such as Ruta 40, where there can be no signal for hours. Download maps and trail notes, carry cash for places that do not take cards, and tell someone your route before a trek. Patagonian wind can be fierce, so check the forecast before hiking or driving.
Iguazú Falls and the Triple Frontier
Iguazú Falls lie on the border with Brazil, close to Paraguay, and around Puerto Iguazú phones can switch to Brazilian or Paraguayan networks without warning. A plan for Argentina alone does not cover them, so select an Argentine network manually if that happens, or choose a Latin America or Americas plan if you will visit the Brazilian side of the falls.
Mendoza, Salta and Jujuy
Coverage is good in Mendoza and in the cities of the north-west, and patchier in the high valleys. Roads there climb above 4,000 metres in places, such as the route to the Salinas Grandes salt flats, so take it slowly and watch for signs of altitude sickness.
Paying
Cards and phone payments are widely accepted in the cities. Carry some cash in pesos for small towns, markets and taxis that do not take cards.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM goes on your phone before departure and starts with its first connection in Argentina, so you can book a ride or check your transfer the moment you land. Your usual number keeps receiving texts and bank codes.
Argentine prepaid SIMs from Claro, Movistar or Personal are sold in kiosks and phone shops, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in Argentina
- 911 is the main emergency number in Buenos Aires and most provinces; you can also dial 101 for the police, 107 for an ambulance and 100 for the fire service.
- Embassies are in Buenos Aires, and some countries also have consulates in Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario or Bariloche. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Argentina, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- The app has emergency phrases in Spanish, ready to show on screen.
Argentina travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Argentina
Does my EU plan work in Argentina?
Not under Roam Like at Home; check your operator's daily rate.
Will an Argentina plan work on the Brazilian side of Iguazú?
No. Choose a Latin America or Americas plan if you will cross.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Argentina?
Movistar and Personal, with 4G and 5G where available.
What is the emergency number?
911 in most of the country; 107 for an ambulance.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, keep your phone out of sight on busy streets, download maps for Patagonia, choose a regional plan for Iguazú, and save 911.
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