Montevideo City Guide

Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, is often described as the only capital with a balcony overlooking the sea, thanks to its 20 km coastline. It has consistently been rated as having the highest quality of life of any city in Latin America. This Montevideo city guide covers how to get there, the top sights in two days, getting around and where to stay.

Get to Know Montevideo

The name Montevideo (Monte-VI-D-E-O) is believed to have been coined by the Spanish from its position on the map: the MOUNT (hill) was the VI (6th) mount visible on the coast when navigating the Río de la Plata from east to west. Over time, the words merged into “Montevideo”.

In colonial times, Montevideo was limited to the neighbourhood now known as Ciudad Vieja (Old City), enclosed by a star-shaped wall around 10 metres high. The gate opened at sunrise and closed at sunset, and anyone who arrived late had to sleep outside, exposed to rat or dog bites or attacks. The wall was demolished between 1879 and 1891; all that remains is the Ciudadela (Citadel) gate on the west side of Plaza Independencia.

Before Arriving

Most nationalities do not need to arrange a visa in advance to enter Uruguay, but check the rules for your passport before you travel. The city is served by its only airport, Carrasco International Airport (MVD).

Getting to Montevideo

By Plane

The airport is 19 km (12 mi) from downtown Montevideo. Three bus companies and several private taxis connect it with the city. The trip downtown takes about 20 minutes by car or 1 hour 15 minutes by bus.

By Bus

All buses arriving in the city terminate at Tres Cruces (Three Crossings). More than a bus terminal, this two-level complex has an upper level with shops, a Western Union (money exchange) and a food court, and is open from 9:30 am to 12:30 am. Buses from here go to destinations throughout Uruguay as well as to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.

By Boat

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is the only place from which you can reach the city by sea. Buquebus, Seacat Colonia and Colonia Express run services between the two capitals.

What to See in Montevideo

This charming city has plenty in store, but its prime attractions can be explored in two days.

Ciudad Vieja (Old City)

Ciudad Vieja proves that modernisation does not have to mean destroying the past. It is the most attractive part of the city from both a cultural and a tourist point of view. Highlights include:

• Plaza Matriz: The city’s first square.
• Peatonal Sarandí: A pedestrian street running from one end of the Old City to the other.
• Mercado Del Puerto: A 19th-century market building filled with bustling, meat-centric restaurants and bars.

Museums in Ciudad Vieja

• Rivera House / Museo Histórico Nacional: This neo-classical house belonged to the country’s first president, General Fructuoso Rivera, and is now the National History Museum.
• Museum of Precolonial and Native Art (MAPI): Interesting archaeological and ethnographic collections from different Latin American cultures.
• Museo de Artes Decorativas (Museum of Decorative Arts): Built in 1907 on the ruins of the city’s first theatre, it exhibits European paintings, sculptures, furniture and ornaments, with pieces dating from the 12th century BC to the 2nd century AD.
• Museo Romántico: Once known as the Palace of Marbles, it recalls the customs, tastes and traditions of Montevideo’s upper-class society in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Carnival Museum: The best place to get acquainted with Uruguayan culture, displaying costume designs worn by the country’s outstanding performers.
• Figari Museum: In a century-old building, it is named after Pedro Figari, one of Uruguay’s best-known painters, and exhibits his artwork.

Teatro Solís

Solís Theatre is the foremost theatre and opera house in Uruguay, hosting annual ballet, opera and theatre seasons. Many of the world’s leading theatre companies and symphony orchestras are said to have performed on its stage.

Palacio Salvo

Overlooking Plaza Independencia, the Salvo Palace was once the tallest building in South America and is said to have been the largest reinforced-concrete building in the world at the time.

Plaza Independencia

Considered the most important public square in Uruguay, Plaza Independencia marks the boundary between the old and new city. At its centre stands a statue of José Gervasio Artigas, Uruguay’s national hero and leader of its independence movement.

Avenida 18 de Julio

The city’s main shopping street is home to some of its most emblematic buildings, such as the Palacio Municipal, Torre del Gaucho, Palacio Lapido and Palacio Díaz. Locals gather here to celebrate political and sporting triumphs.

Parque Batlle

Spread over 11 hectares, the park is home to the renowned Estadio Centenario and the ox-cart monument known as La Carreta, considered one of the city’s outstanding sculptures.

The Rambla Seafront (El Paseo Marítimo)

This 20 km avenue runs through most of the city’s neighbourhoods. It is the perfect place to watch the landscape change, alternating green spaces like Parque Rodó, the golf club and Punta Carretas Lighthouse with modern buildings and elegant old hotels, divided by rocky outcrops.

Parque Rodó

One of the most attractive parts of the city, the park has Spanish-tiled benches along its lake and a library housed in a replica of a medieval castle.

Pocitos

Montevideo’s first residential neighbourhood lies along the Rambla. At one end is the “Arenas del Plata” stadium, where national and international sporting competitions are held.

Getting Around

The city is best explored on foot, though buses connect almost every corner of Montevideo and its neighbourhoods.

Where to Stay in Montevideo

• Parque Hostel: San Salvador 2101, Montevideo, Uruguay.
• Willy Fogg Hostel: C/ Maldonado 977, Montevideo, Uruguay.
• Pocitos Hostel: Avenida Sarmiento 2641, esq. Fco. Aguilar, Pocitos, Montevideo, Uruguay.
• La Tatucera Montevideo Hostel: Wilson Ferreira Aldunate 1182, Montevideo, Uruguay.
• El Viajero Hostels: Soriano 1073, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Author’s tip: Take the 2-hour free guided walking tour of Ciudad Vieja to get a better feel for the city. Click here to find out more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need in Montevideo?

The prime attractions can be explored in two days.

How far is Montevideo airport from the city centre?

Carrasco International Airport is 19 km from downtown: about 20 minutes by car or 1 hour 15 minutes by bus.

Can you reach Montevideo by boat?

Yes, from Buenos Aires, with Buquebus, Seacat Colonia or Colonia Express.

Where does the name Montevideo come from?

It is believed to refer to the sixth hill (Monte VI) visible on the coast when sailing the Río de la Plata from east to west.

Conclusion

From the cobbled streets of Ciudad Vieja to the long Rambla seafront, Montevideo combines history, culture and a relaxed coastal lifestyle. Two days on foot, a free walking tour and a meal at Mercado del Puerto will show you why it tops Latin America’s quality-of-life rankings.