Is There a Lot to Do in Montevideo? A Guide to the Perfect Weekend Getaway
Is there a lot to do in Montevideo? The first time we visited Uruguay, we actually skipped the capital and went straight for the beaches.
Being based in Buenos Aires, Montevideo is actually a trip that can be easily made for us. With my brother in town, he asked us to visit, so decided this time to actually visit Montevideo, and check out what the capital city has to offer.
After spending a weekend, we've gathered all the info to answer any questions you may have about visiting like "what is Montevideo, Uruguay known for?", "is Montevideo cheaper than Buenos Aires", and most importantly, "is there a lot to do in Montevideo. Let's find out!
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📍 Where is Montevideo Located?
Montevideo is situated along the southern coast of Uruguay, and is centrally located. The country of Uruguay borders Argentina to its west, and Brazil to its north east, on the east coast of South America.
Montevideo is located on the southern coast of Uruguay.
How to Get to Montevideo
If you're wondering how to get to Montevideo, there are actually a number of different ways to choose from. You can either fly, take a ferry from Buenos Aires, or take a bus from other locations in Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, or Brazil.
✈️ Can You Fly Direct to Uruguay?
Montevideo does have an airport, and as the country is super small, it only has flights from International cities. While it may not serve as many locations as neighboring big cities like Buenos Aires or Sao Paulo, it does in fact have quite a few direct flights.
Cities that fly direct to Montevideo include Asuncion, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Campinas, Gran Canaria, Iguazu (Foz do Iguazu), Lima, Madrid, Miami, Panama City, Porto Alegre, Santiago, and Sao Paulo.
🚌 How to Get From Montevideo Airport to the City Center
The city center is just 15 miles from the Montevideo airport, and can be reached by bus, taxi, or Uber. The bus is 65 UYU, and takes around 45-50 minutes, while taxi and Uber rides are 35-40 minutes.
Taxis run on a meter, and usually are around 1,800 pesos, while Ubers vary more in price, but we found to be normally around 1,300 pesos.
⛴ Ferries from Buenos Aires to Montevideo
If you are coming from Buenos Aires, you can either fly or more simply hop on the ferry. There are two ferries that you can choose from, with the companies Colonia Express, and Buque Bus.
⏳ How long is the Ferry ride from Buenos Aires to Montevideo?
How long the ferry ride is from Buenos Aires to Montevideo decides on the ticket you decide to buy. The first option is to take a direct sailing which is 2 hours and 45 minutes, and the other is a ferry to Colonia and then a bus to Montevideo from there.
The ticket stopping in Colonia is the cheaper option, but ends up being 4-5 hours.
Buque Bus has both routes from Buenos Aires to Montevideo, and Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, while Colonia Express only serves Buenos Aires to Colonia, and from there you can get a bus from the local station.
Montevideo is just a short ferry ride away from Buenos Aires.
Ferries to Colonia with Colonia Express
Colonia Express goes from Avenida Elvira Rawson De Dellipiane 155 in Buenos Aires direct to Colonia. This company only provides this direct route, and has sailings at 8:30, 10:30, 12:50, 6:30 pm, and 8:00 pm most days.
The ride is an hour and 15 minutes, and ticket prices range from 8,500- 21,000 Argentinian pesos for economic, 9,200- 22,800 for express, and 10- 24,000 pesos for "classic" tickets.
The only difference between these tickets is the ability to change your ticket, or to get a refund in case you miss the ferry. Prices of tickets depend on time and date that you are traveling, and many run out, so we highly recommend booking in advance for the cheapest rates.
Ferries to Colonia with Buque Bus
The ferries of Buque Bus run from Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires to both Colonia, and Montevideo. The ride to Colonia is an hour and 15 minutes, while the ride to Montevideo is about 2 1/2 hours.
Direct sailings to Montevideo go daily at 8:15 am, 9:30 am, 12:15 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8:15 pm. (Not every sailing goes out at all time slots each day. Make sure to check online and book your tickets in advance).
Tickets range from 11-19,000 pesos, and there is also a first class option. We actually really recommend bumping up to first class, as for only $5 USD we got a private air-conditioned room, champagne, and priority getting off the ferry once we arrived.
Entry Requirements for Uruguay
Before taking the ferry over to Montevideo, Uruguay, you'll need to keep in mind the requirements for entering the country.
🛂 Visa Entry Requirements for Uruguay
In order to enter Uruguay via ferry, you must bring your passport, as you'll have to go through customs before you get on the ferry. Because of this, they recommend you to arrive at least an hour before the departure time, since lines for customs can vary greatly.
On our way out of Buenos Aires, it took just a few minutes, while on our way back the lines were super long in Uruguay. This will of course depend on the time and day of the week that you decide to sail. We suggest allowing yourself a bit more time if you are traveling during the weekends.
Citizens from Argentina and Brazil don't need their passport, but can simply bring their national ID card.
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Local Adjustments for Montevideo, Uruguay
Whenever traveling somewhere new there are certain things that may be different than where you are coming from. These are what we like to call "local adjustments". Here are a few of them to keep in mind while traveling to Montevideo, Uruguay.
🗣 Language in Uruguay
The official language spoken in Uruguay is Spanish.
Is Uruguayan Spanish Different?
Just like in Argentina, the accent of Uruguay is quite particular, and can be a little difficult to understand for those that don't speak Spanish as their first language.
One of the most notable characteristics of Spanish in Uruguay is the sound "sh" which is used in place of the y sound. For example, the word beach in Spanish is "playa", but the pronunciation in Uruguay and Argentina would be "pla-sha".
There are a good amount of people in Montevideo that do speak English, but it definitely helps to try and pick up the basics before visiting.
💶 What is the Currency of Uruguay?
The currency used in Uruguay is the Uruguayan peso. Currently (September 2024) the exchange rate is about 41.26 Uruguayan pesos for every 1 USD or Euro.
Is Uruguay Cheaper Than Buenos Aires?
If you are coming from Buenos Aires, you will notice that things are much more expensive in Montevideo. Meals range around 400-1,000 Uruguayan pesos, taxi rides are around 400-800, and budget hotels range from $40-100 USD/night.
Most things in Uruguay can be paid with credit card, but we definitely suggest taking out some local currency for small souvenirs, transportation, and tipping.
🔌 Outlets: What Plug Adapter Do I Need for Uruguay?
Uruguay's outlets are the same as Brazil, and they serve plug types C, F, & L (also what you would find in Europe). Uruguay operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.
🚰 Does Uruguay Have Fresh Water?
The tap water throughout Uruguay is potable, and perfectly safe to drink. We suggest getting an insulated water bottle to refill, as it can hold the temperature in the hot temperatures of Montevideo.
💸 Tipping Culture: How Much Do You Tip in Montevideo?
If you're wondering how much to tip in Montevideo, the standard is about 10%. Many restaurants in Montevideo actually include the service charge, so make sure to check your bill to see if it's been included or not.
In addition, many places will have a "cover charge" which is simply an extra fee for sitting at the table which should include something like bread. This is definitely something worth asking beforehand, so you don't get hit with a big fee without knowing.
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Is There a Lot to Do in Montevideo? How to Spend Your Time in Uruguay's Capital
Now that you know all the basics for visiting Uruguay, you're probably wondering- is there a lot to do in Montevideo? Well, let's dive in to all of the best things to do in the Uruguayan capital.
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🚶🏻♀️ Things to Do in Montevideo #1: Take a Free Walking Tour
One of the first things we like to do when visiting a new city is to take a free walking tour. When we planned to go to Montevideo for the weekend, we were wondering- is there a to do in Montevideo?".
Well, after doing this tour we learned about so many things to do in Montevideo that were not originally on our list.
Free walking tours are done with locals, so it's a great way to learn about the history, meet new people, and discover hidden gems that you wouldn't normally know about simply by searching online.
Free Walking Tours allow you to see the best spots in the city, and get advice from locals.
Each day there are free walking tours that start in Plaza de Independencia at 10 am and at 1:30 pm.
They are typically two hours, and take you to some of the highlights in the city center to the old town. They work on tips, so make sure to bring some cash to tip your guide at the end.
Visiting on a day trip and don't have time to do the free walking tour? Or maybe you're looking for your own private tour. Well, here are a few options that we found:
🏛 Things to Do in Montevideo #2: Explore the Old Town
The old town is where you will find the majority of the top attractions in Montevideo. The free walking tour will take you to quite a few of them. However, if you want to go on your own, here are the top things to see in Montevideo.
- Plaza de Independencia: the most important square in the city, this is where the city center and the old town meet.
Plaza de Independencia is the largest square in the city.
- Palacio Salva: an iconic building located in Plaza de Independencia
- Gateway of the Citadel: one of the few remaining structures of the old wall surrounding the city
- Mausoleo al General José Gervasio Artigas: A monument in Plaza de Independencia dedicated to the national hero José Artigas, with his body buried in a room underneath
- Plaza de la Diversidad Sexual: A square dedicated to sexual equality and rights of all different sexual preferences
This square is a celebration of all types of love.
- Plaza de la Constitution: the oldest city square in Montevideo
- Teatro Solis: the most renowned theater in Uruguay
- Cabildo: what was once a government building, and is used today as a museum
- Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral: the main Roman Catholic Church of Montevideo
- Plaza Zabala: a square that was left as a wasteland for 12 years when the old fort was demolished
- Palacio Taranco: an old palace that is now an art museum
🏫 Things to Do in Montevideo #3: Take a Tour of Palacio Salva
Palacio Salva is actually where we stayed when we went to Montevideo! The building is stunning, and offers hourly tours to visit the top, where you can also get some of the best views of the city center of Montevideo.
Palacio Salva has great views at the top.
🏪 Things to Do in Montevideo #4: Visit Mercado de Las Pulgas
Looking for some souvenirs or a bite to eat? Mercado de las Pulgas is conveniently located in the old town, and is a great place to have some lunch and do some shopping.
It's very typical to get a big asado (barbecue) there, and you can also enjoy the local musicians playing at your table side.
Mercado de las Pulgas is a great place for a souvenir and a meal.
🏦 Things to Do in Montevideo #5: Take a Tour of the Palacio Legislativo
This monumental government palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Montevideo. You can visit inside on a guided tour from Monday- Friday, with the first tour starting at 11:30 am and the last one going at 3:00 pm. Tickets cost 140 pesos.
🏟 Things to Do in Montevideo #6: Tour the Centenario Stadium
This stadium was built to host the 1930 World Cup, and is now a museum that you can visit. The museum inside is open til 5 pm, and it also offer great views from the inside.
🚨 Things to Do in Montevideo #7: Check Out the Montevideo Light House
Another great landmark to check out in Montevideo is located on Punta Carretas along a peninsula in the east of the city. The entrance is 25 pesos, and you can climb up for beautiful views of the surrounding bay.
🏖 Things to Do in Montevideo #8: Relax at the Beach
One thing that Montevideo has that Buenos Aires doesn't are beaches. While the best beaches in Uruguay are located further up the coast, you can still enjoy relaxing on the sand and going for a swim right inside the capital.
The most convenient beach to access is Playa Ramirez, which is also a great place to enjoy the sunset.
Pocitos is the most popular and biggest beach, while if you are looking for a quieter beach you can head just a bit further east to Playa Buceo or Playa Malvin. For the most relaxation you can go over to Carajo.
Pocitos is the most popular beach in the city of Montevideo.
📸 Things to Do in Montevideo #9: Stop by the Montevideo Sign
Right by the beach you can find the typical tourist sign, with the giant letters spelling out Montevideo. The letters are right along the coast, and overlook Pocitos Beach.
🚤 Things to Do in Montevideo #10: Take a Boat Ride & Visit the Castle at Parque Rodo
Parque Rodo is a park located between the center and the beaches of Montevideo. There is a beautiful castle in the corner of the park, as well as a small lake where you can rent a pedal boat by the hour.
Parque Rodo has boats that you can rent.
👀 Things to Do in Montevideo #11: Get Great Views at the Council
Want some more great views of the city? Well, you can visit the building of the Council and head up to the 14th floor for free!
🤩 Things to Do in Montevideo #12: Take in the Views from Cerro de Montevideo
This fort and museum is at the highest point on the city, giving beautiful views from the top. Make sure to take a taxi to get here, as it is located in a dangerous neighborhood.
🍷 Things to Do in Montevideo #13: Visit a Winery
There are 180 wineries in the country, and some of the best ones can be visited on a day trip from Montevideo! Visit local vineyards and have a delicious local lunch- this is one of our favorite things to do in Montevideo!
Here are a few great tours that you can choose from:
🛍 Things to Do in Montevideo #14: Go Shopping at an Old Prison
The Punta Carretas Shopping Center was actually originally a prison! It's where 106 political prisoners were held, until they escaped by building a tunnel. Now it's been converted to a shopping center, and you'd never know that it was a prison in the first place.
Punta Carretas was once a prison and is now a mall.
💃🏻 Things to Do in Montevideo #15: Do Dinner & A Show
There's nothing like having entertainment and a good meal together. Head to El Milongon and you can watch a variety of different types of dances such as Tango, Candombe, and Folklore.
Book your tickets in advance:
🍺 Things to Do in Montevideo #16: Go Bar Hopping
One of our favorite things to do in Montevideo was to enjoy the nightlife. Being a capital city, this is where you'll find Uruguayans flock to spend long nights out on the weekends.
Locals typically start with bars after dinner, and then start to go to the clubs around 1 or 2 am, partying all night long. So make sure to save some energy or take a nap, so that you can experience the awesome nightlife that Montevideo has to offer.
Montevideo has some great bars and clubs.
After doing our free walking tour our guide gave us a list of all of the best bars in town to check out, which we'll cover in our food & drink section next.
Here are a couple of tours for the beverage lovers out there:
🛒 Things to Do in Montevideo #17: Browse the Montevideo Flea Market
If you plan on visiting Montevideo over the weekend, don't miss out on the big flea market that happens every Sunday, known as the Tristan Narvaja Market.
This is the biggest market in the country, and goes for several blocks. It is the perfect spot to soak up the local vibes while checking out everything from antiques and clothing to local vendors selling food & drinks.
🥂 Things to Do in Montevideo #18: Have a Sunday Funday
Here is yet another reason to visit Montevideo on a Sunday. Right next to the market is a place called Imperio, where people go for its huge party starting from lunch time and going all the way to midnight.
🎡 Things to Do in Montevideo BONUS: Enjoy the Oldest Carnival in the World
While most people flock to carnival in Brazil, the one in Uruguay goes under the radar from most tourists. However, carnival in Uruguay is a bit different than the one in Brazil, and we were lucky enough to be able to experience it while we were there!
The carnival in Uruguay is super long, and actually starts in January and goes all the way through February. There are several main dates where there are extravagant parades that you can enjoy, where locals line the streets with a drink in hand enjoying the spectacle.
Stay tuned for our full guide of experiencing carnival in Montevideo coming soon!
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Food & Drink in Montevideo
Eating and drinking our way around the city was one of our favorite things to do in Montevideo! We also got a ton of recommendations from locals, and found a great mix of delicious restaurants and cool bars.
🥩 What is Montevideo Uruguay known for?
Montevideo Uruguay is known for a few different things when it comes to food and drink. Here are some of the top things you'll want to try while in Montevideo:
- Brasero: a typical barbecue in Uruguay which comes to the table to feed multiple people
- Asado de Tira: beef short ribs
- Civito: a sandwich that became the national dish. Translated as "little goat" this is actually a steak sandwich with a variety of different toppings added to it.
- Mate: a hot infusion made with an herb, that is sipped with a metal straw out of a special bowl. This is a social drink, and you can see Uruguayans drinking it all day every day in the parks, on the beaches, and in the streets.
- Medio Medio: the signature drink of Montevideo, which is a mix of dry white wine and sweet sparkling wine
Montevideo is known for its great barbecues.
🍴 Cool Restaurants in Montevideo
- La Perdiz: one of the best steakhouses in the city
- Garcia: another one of the top steakhouses
- Morondanga: tapas style bar, and highly loved by locals
- La Campeona: the best empanadas in town
- Puerto Marino: great restaurant in the old town with no cover charge and dessert included
- El Milongon: dinner and a show with various styles of typical dance
- Federacion: cute cafe for brunch
- Libraria Mas Puro Verso: cafe in a book shop that has great vegetarian and vegan options
- Vivero Lavender: amazing brunch/lunch spot at a plant nursery (outside the city)
- Cafe la Farmacia: an old pharmacy turned into a cafe
Cafe la Farmacia was a pharmacy that turned into a restaurant.
🍸 Fun Bars in Montevideo
- Birra Brava: bar that looks like a garage, and has craft beer and tapas
- Bakers: one of the best bars in town
- Bar Facal: the best bar for civita and mate
- Bar Brecha: bakery by day, epic bar by night
- Bar Andorra: a classic wine bar
- Finisterre: one of the local favorites
- De Toque y Toque: chic bar with several rooms inside and outside
- Cumbia: one of the best clubs in Montevideo
- Doña Marta: restaurant and bar where you can also dance
Del Toque y Toque is a super chic bar with several rooms.
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Is Montevideo a Walkable City? Getting Around the Capital of Uruguay
Montevideo is a pretty walkable city, especially in the historic center. There are a ton of different plazas, fairs, and street art to admire, so we promise you won't get bored exploring by foot.
If you want to get from one side of the city to the other (for example from the historic center to the beach area) there are a few different options that you can choose from.
Montevideo has a great bus system, and tickets are just 50 pesos per ride. Uber is also very affordable, as well as the taxis. If you do decide to get a taxi, make sure to have them run the meter instead of agreeing on a price. (You may have taxi drivers giving you fixed prices at places like the bus station).
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What is the Best Area to Stay in Montevideo?
The best areas to stay in Montevideo are Ciudad Vieja (old town) and Centro (the center). Here is where you'll find most of the top things to do in Montevideo, as well as tons of markets, restaurants, and shops.
We stayed in Plaza Independencia, and found that it was the perfect spot for easily accessing the old town, with also being walking distance to most of the best bars and clubs in the city.
Find a place to stay in the center of Montevideo:
Is Montevideo a Safe City to Visit?
South America can get pretty dangerous, especially when it comes to the big cities. If you are coming from Buenos Aires or Brazil, you may have realized that you have to be very careful with your belongings, as well as walking around alone or at night.
We have good news though! Uruguay is actually one of the safest countries in all of South America, and we found Montevideo to feel much safer than most South American cities that we have been to.
People in Montevideo are very friendly, and helpful, making Montevideo an extremely tourist friendly destination- just another reason why we think Montevideo is worth visiting.
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Other Things to Know About Visiting Montevideo
Now that you know exactly what is there to do in Montevideo, where to stay, and how to navigate the city, here are a few other things to keep in mind while visiting.
☀️ What is the Weather Like in Uruguay Year Round?
Uruguay experiences pretty warm temperatures year round, with the coldest month being July, and only going as low as the 50's. Summers are extremely hot and humid (from December to March) and often times the temperatures excess 100.
📆 What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Montevideo?
While Montevideo is super popular to visit in the summer, we honestly thought that it was unbearably hot at this time.
We prefer to see the city right before the summer, or right after it finishes, so that you can enjoy the beaches, but also walk around without extreme heat. The best time of year to visit in Montevideo for us is November or April.
We also loved our experience for carnival, so if you are able to visit in February, this is an amazing time to experience this unique festival.
Montevideo is best visited in the spring or fall for more mild temperatures.
🎒 What Should I Bring to Montevideo?
Here is a packing list for things you should bring on your trip to Montevideo:
- Comfortable shoes for walking around
- Insulated water bottle (we use Cafago water bottles as they hold the temperature well)
- Bathing suit for the beach
- Sunscreen
- Flip flops (our favorites are Havaiana flip flops, as they are long lasting)
- Power bank (for the long excursions, beach days, and hikes- we use Anker power banks, as they are super long lasting and sturdy)
- Case Mate waterproof phone pouch (we use the Casemate Waterproof Phone Pouch)
- Travel Adapter (we use Insignia travel adapters as they are affordable and reliable)
- Travel toiletries (our favorites are from Sheer Alternatives because they're all natural and 100ml)
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🤔 Is Montevideo Worth Visiting?
We definitely think Montevideo is worth visiting. It has a great food & drink scene, and is the center of history and culture of Uruguay.
⏳ How Long Should I Spend in Montevideo?
Montevideo is a great city to visit for a weekend. We suggest spending one day exploring the city center, and another day exploring the beaches and the east side of the city.
You could also definitely squeeze everything into a day if you's rather explore other areas of Uruguay as well. Additionally, you can do a day trip to Colonia, or head up the coast to some of the best beaches in Uruguay.
There is enough to do in Montevideo for a full weekend.
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So now that you all of what is there to do in Montevideo, do you think Montevideo is worth visiting? We'd love to know your thoughts below!
Want to also visit Colonia? Make sure to Check out our Colonia del Sacramento travel guide, as well as our other South American travel guides.
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