The Ushuaia- Malvinas Argentinas International Airport is located about 3 miles from the center of town.  How do I get from the airport to my hotel?

There are car rentals and taxis at the airport. A taxi ride downtown costs around AR$300. Taxis can be found right outside of baggage claim. There are several rental car companies available at the airport.  How do I get around the city using public transportation?

There is no public transportation in Ushuaia it is small enough to get around on foot. There are some buses to get to outer attractions and explore the region. There is no bus station in the city, buses usually stop at the port (Maipu and Fadul). Bus lines are labeled with letters and a single bus fare costs around AR$8, the SUBE card is used to pay.  There are minibuses that travel to Parque Nacional Tierra Del Fuego that leave every hour from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm from the corner of Av Maipu and Fadul.  How do I get around by train in Ushuaia?

You can take a train ride to the “end of the world” sign. A toy train runs on a narrow gauge line a fun activity for families with kids, it chugs along the incredible scenery of Tierra del Fuego with a narrator covering a brief tragic history of how it was used in the past to transport prisoners to the forest to gather lumber. 

Ushuaia is the key access point to the Southern Ocean which includes the subarctic islands like the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands, and to the Antarctic islands like the South Orkney Islands and the South Shetland Islands. Ushuaia’s commercial pier is the major port of departure in the world for tourists and scientific expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula. The port is a stopover for several major cruise ships. 

There are many boat tours offered in Ushuaia to see the stunning scenery and wildlife, many of the tours of the Beagle Channel last 3-5 hours visiting different islands and surrounding attractions. There are catamaran trips from the Ushuaia harbor to the island of Martillo, which enters the Beagle Channel which is bustling with wild marine life and birds. The journey by catamaran is quite relaxing. 

There is no need to rent a car if staying in Ushuaia as it's easy to navigate on foot and there are taxis and some buses to take journeys to the main attractions. Renting a car would be necessary if you plan to explore the region and attractions farther away. There are rental car companies at the airport and some in town. 

Taxis are one of the main ways to get around Ushuaia with plenty available throughout the town. Taxis use a meter and can be hailed from several taxi stands throughout town where they wait for passengers. The most convenient taxi stand is right near the tourist pier. 

Ushuaia is easy to navigate on foot with a grid-like compact layout for the town center. There are two main streets Avenue San Martin and Avenue Maipu where most of the town’s shops, restaurants, and museums are located. There are many great hikes in and around town through the stunning landscapes of Ushuaia. 

There are plenty of bike rentals available in Ushuaia with some great locations to ride to. Mountain biking is also popular in the hilly terrain. 

Ushuaia is considered a very safe destination to visit. However, due to its increased population and visitors over the recent years crimes against tourists are becoming more common with petty theft and muggings. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, use common sense, and keep your valuables out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like markets, and tourist attractions. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers.

Ushuaia is surprisingly a shopper's dream destination offering tax-free shopping and excellent deals from top-quality outdoor gear to souvenir shopping and leather goods. The main shopping district in the city is near the waterfront mainly on San Martin, as well as a small area west of the city center and north of the airport. Some of the popular souvenir shops are La Abuela Oma, La Ultima Vita, and Fin del Mundo. The Paseo del Fuego Shopping Center is a larger modern shopping mall that features a cineplex, and more. 

The official languages spoken in Ushuaia are Spanish and English. Many people speak fluent English, especially in hotels and restaurants. We recommend getting a good Spanish guidebook and learning the basic questions like please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

The city of Ushuaia features a significant ocean-moderated mild tundra climate with cool conditions throughout the year. The average temperatures are around 34 F degrees in July, the coolest month, and 49 F in January, the warmest month. A record low in July was -5.8F and a record high was 85F degrees. The summer months are cloudy and windy with highs around 57F. In winter there is frequent snow, sleet, and rain.  What is the currency? Can I pay/tip in US dollars?

The currency of Ushuaia is the Argentine peso. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for Argentine pesos upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city.

There is a great variety of diverse dining options to choose from in Ushuaia. The town at the end of the world attracts visitors from across the globe and offers a great deal of international cuisine as well as Argentinian-style cuisine, haute cuisine, and Fuegian cuisine. There are some great restaurants and other establishments many serving up delicious freshly caught Antarctic snow crab, and king crab leg (centolla) which is a popular dish. There’s plenty of fresh catch of the day including fresh fish, and seafood like mussels, sea bass, and scallops on the menus, as well as burgers, pizza, barbecued meat like lamb, and salads. Ushuaia also offers great wine and chocolate, there are several great chocolate shops that are quite legendary such as Honecker El Chocolate de Ushuaia. Many of the town’s restaurants can be found in the center of town around Sand Martin and Maipu, there are also a lot of restaurants on the outskirts of the city. There are some restaurants dotted around the harbor with waterfront views. 

Some other Argentine favorites are the Empanadas con carne (fried or baked), Milanesa a la Napolitana (breaded and fried meat covered with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and ham), Chimichurri (Argentine pesto used to marinate meat or as a dipping sauce), and Choripan (sausage). If you want to try something different, the Pacu fish is delicious as long as the human-like teeth don't unnerve you. According to National Geographic, Argentina is one of the 5 places in the world to have the best hilado (Ice cream). We suggest you try the dulce de leche or the tiramisu. Alfajor de Maicena (dulce de leche cookies) is another Argentine favorite. Malbec wine makes a great complement to every steak meal. If you're looking for something softer, Yerba Mate the national drink of Argentina is a herb placed in a mate pot - it is a focal point for social gatherings.

Ushuaia offers visitors a great selection of nightlife venues with pubs, bars, clubs, and casinos. It can get pretty lively here in the summer months with some charming intimate cafes dotted around town and some upscale cocktail bars. Surprisingly there is an immense variety of things to do at night in this small town where partygoers can sip on some excellent cocktails and sit back and relax in a unique atmosphere.

In case of an emergency dial 911 or 107

Hospital:

Regional Hospital Ushuaia tel. 54-2901-42-3200