The city’s most famous street features a vast array of shops, vendors and artisans without the hassle of traffic.
Florida Street is the most prominent shopping boulevard in the city. It is a traffic-free zone full of many different types of stores. Travelers often visit the street to pick up souvenirs of their trip. Find many leather shops, vendors and street performers. You can usually pay in dollars here to get a better rate than the official peso. With the street’s central location and eclectic range of shops, it has become a principal destination for Buenos Aires visitors.
Take your time browsing shops without having to avoid noisy traffic. Haggle with street vendors and in certain shops. It may be beneficial to negotiate in dollars for a better rate. Because of Argentina’s ongoing inflation, locals are eager to obtain foreign currency, particularly dollars and euros.
Many travelers exchange their dollars for pesos in Florida Street with the blue dollar informal exchange that is significantly higher than the official rate. Note that this practice is officially illegal and has some risk for counterfeit currency, but it is a very common practice.
Although there are cheaper shopping zones in the city, Florida Street is convenient due to the high number of shops in one pedestrianized area. Items should still be cheaper than back home. Look for businesses participating in the Global Refund Tax scheme, whereby you can receive a 20 percent rebate at the airport be sure to save your receipts.
Watch street performers dancing tango in front of gathering crowds. Slapstick comedy acts and living statues are also entertaining. Dine at one of the many restaurants in the street.
The area’s shopping history dates back to the late 19th century. The street has been entirely traffic-free since 1971.
Find Florida Street in downtown Buenos Aires, near the city’s ports. The long avenue starts at the southern entrance of San Martin Square. Take a bus from any part of the city to the Retiro region and ask for directions to Florida Street from there. You can also take the city’s metro system to several stations along the street.
