Buenos Aires’s main bus station is Retiro’s Estación Terminal de Ómnibus (Avenida Ramos Mejía 1860, tel. 011/4310-0700, www.tebasa.com.ar). The sprawling three-story building hosts nearly 140 separate bus companies that cover the entire country and international destinations as well. It’s walking distance from the northern terminus of Subte Línea C, at the Retiro train station.

The ground floor is primarily for freight; passengers leave from the 1st-floor andénes (platforms). Companies operate out of more than 200 ventanillas (ticket windows) on the 2nd floor, roughly arranged according to geographical regions.

On the departure level, the Centro de Informes y Reclamos (tel. 011/4310-0700) provides general information and also oversees taxis; direct any complaint about drivers to them. There is a separate tourist office, open 7:30 a.m.–1 p.m. only.

For long-distance and international buses, reservations are a good idea, especially during the summer (Jan.–Feb.) and winter (late July) holiday periods, but also on long weekends like Semana Santa.