Walking through San Telmo, exploring the area around Plaza de Mayo, or taking the Subte to cross the city are everyday experiences if you live in Buenos Aires—and increasingly so for visitors to the city as well. Officially published in the Official Gazette, Law 6965 establishes the gradual implementation of bilingual signage (in Spanish and English) on street furniture, street signs, tourist information points, and Subte stations.
What’s changing and where the new signs will be located
The bilingual signage plan does not aim to replace the identity of Buenos Aires’ signs, but rather to adapt them to the standards of other global tourist capitals, where it is common to see signs in multiple languages. The transformation primarily covers:
- Street and corner signs: The plaques indicating the elevation and direction of avenues and streets will now include additional information, such as neighborhood names and translated directions.
- The subway network: Stations on the lines that run through the central area will feature network maps, transfer instructions, strategic exits, and cultural landmarks in both languages.
- Street furniture: Information kiosks, orientation maps, and signage for historic monuments within the designated area (downtown or historic district).
The areas of the Buenos Aires map where the transformation is beginning
The law’s implementation focuses on the areas of Buenos Aires with the highest tourist and cultural traffic:
- The Historic District: the Montserrat and San Telmo neighborhoods, including Plaza de Mayo, the Manzana de las Luces, Avenida de Mayo, and the antique shopping district on Defensa Street.
- The Microcentro: with a special focus on the Florida and Lavalle pedestrian zones and the area surrounding the Teatro Colón.
- Transportation connections: key transfer stations and main entrances to Lines A, B, C, D, and E, which connect downtown with the rest of the neighborhoods.
Implementation will begin gradually in the busiest areas, so you may start to see the new signs little by little on your next walks through downtown or your Subte rides.
