The Best Things to do in Montevideo, Uruguay

Montevideo is Uruguay’s capital city. It is perfectly slow paced in a way that only feels possible here. There are skyscrapers and museums and people rushing to work, sure.

But there are far more people moseying with mate thermos’ wedged under their arms or couples and families strolling along the miles long beach promenade.

Everything in Uruguay feels relaxed.

The people are warm and open. Simply put, it feels as if the high energy stress of Buenos Aires (just across the river) is completely stripped away here.

Similar to Buenos Aires, Montevideo blends European influences with African, Gaucho, and South American influences to create a unique cultural tapestry.

Tango, yerba mate, candombe, and carnival may be claimed by Argentina but you’ll leave Montevideo assured that they are, in fact, 100% Uruguayan.

This article is a full travel guide on the best things to do in Montevideo, Uruguay – as well as advice on when to visit, how long you need, and other logistical tips.

Montevideo, Uruguay: Know Before You Go

Montevideo may be lesser known than big city Buenos Aires on the opposing shore of the Rio de la Plata, but there are plenty of things to do in Montevideo.

• How long should you spend in Montevideo? This capital city is very deserving of your time. I recommend spending 2-3 days here. A lot of people try to see Montevideo in one day but (speaking from experience), you’ll only leave wanting more.
• Is Montevideo safe? It’s safe and you’ll be fine with the same general precautions you’d follow in any big city. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables close and in zipped pockets of your bags (out of back pockets or backpacks in crowded areas).
• How to manage money? We used our credit cards throughout Montevideo. Tipping 10% is normal and we asked our servers to add it onto the credit card.

How to get to Montevideo

If you’re coming directly from home or elsewhere in South America you can fly into Montevideo’s international airport. There are direct flights from Miami or Madrid, otherwise you can route via Panama, Sao Paolo or Buenos Aires.

If you’ll be visiting Argentina on the same itinerary, then take the ferry from Buenos Aires. The ferry takes 2.5 hours or 4 hours (depending on whether you book the fast ferry). Alternatively, take the ferry to Colonia del Sacramento, see the colonial center and then take the bus to Montevideo from there. It just takes two hours.

How to get around Montevideo

A lot of Montevideo is very easy to explore on foot, especially in Ciudad Vieja and along La Rambla.

For longer distances you can take Uber or hail a taxi on the street.

Taxis work on a meter system but you won’t see the monetary amount on the meter, instead you’ll see the number of “fichas/tokens” based on the distance driven or time in traffic. Afterwards, this will be tallied into the amount you owe. You can pay by cash or credit card.

Montevideo, Things to do Map

I’ve pinned everything I mention in this Montevideo travel guide onto a Google Map to help you visualize and organize your thoughts.

Green pins are things to do in Ciudad Vieja. Yellow pins are things to do in Montevideo beyond the historic center. Red pins are food and drink.

Things to do in Montevideo: Ciudad Vieja

A lot of things to do in Montevideo are centered in the historic barrio Ciudad Vieja. If you only have one day in Montevideo, I recommend spending it here.

A walking tour like this one is always the best way to see a new city and will show you the main sites of Ciudad Vieja with historical context.

Plaza Independencia

Plaza Independencia is Montevideo’s most important square and it is surrounded by important monuments and buildings.

Whether you’re going on a guided walking tour of Ciudad Vieja or exploring on your own, your walk will likely start right here.

Montevideo’s most important street, 18 de Julio (the date Uruguay’s constitution was sworn in), begins right here in Plaza Independencia and crosses the city until it reaches the Obelisk in Tres Cruces.

Here’s a list of the things to see in Plaza Independencia:

• Artigas Mausoleum: In the center of the plaza is a monument of José Gervasio Artigas, Uruguay’s founding father and national hero. Take the stairs alongside the monument to descend into his mausoleum. You’ll see guards from the Regimiento de Blandengues de Artigas, a regiment that is dedicated to protecting the president.
• Puerta de la Ciudadela: This is the last remaining piece of the walled Citadel built by the Spanish in 1741. The wall of the Citadel was demolished in 1877 but this gate was rebuilt brick by brick and relocated for its protection. It was brought back here to its original location in 1959.
• Palacio Salvo: One of Montevideo’s most iconic buildings, it was finished in 1928 and designed by Italian architect Mario Palanti. He lived in Buenos Aires and used the design again when building Palacio Barolo a block from that city’s Congress.
• La Torre Ejecutiva: The seat of the President and executive offices.
• Museo de la Casa de Gobierno (Palacio Estevez): This palace served as the seat of government from 1880 to 1985 and currently works to host state ceremonies. It’s open as a museum (free of charge) of the history of Uruguay’s presidents.

Teatro Solis

Just off of Plaza Independencia is Uruguay’s most important theater, Teatro Solis, open since 1856.

The building was designed by Italian architect Carlo Zucchi and the name comes from the explorer Juan Díaz de Solís, the first European explorer to set foot in what is now Uruguay.

Visit their website to see the schedule and purchase tickets if you want to attend a show here.

There are guided tours of Teatro Solis once per day (4 pm) Wednesday through Friday and twice on weekdays (3 & 4 pm). Confirm hours and price here.

Mercado del Puerto

The Mercado del Puerto was founded as a fruits and vegetable market in 1868.

The structure was designed by British engineers and a lot of components came from Liverpool, which explains why it resembles an English railway station and even houses a large clocktower in the center of the market (brought from Liverpool in 1897).

Today the market houses open-air parrillas and it is the best place to get Uruguayan asado. Being a major tourist attraction, you can expect higher prices here.

We’ve been twice. On our first visit we followed Anthony Bourdain’s footsteps and ate at Estancia del Puerto’s counter with a perfect view of the grill. Cabaña Veronica is one of the most popular and renowned parrillas in the market with the prices to match.

On our more recent visit, we ate at Puerto Marino on the exterior of the market. It’s not the best steak in the market but they offered the best price for a complete asado (and we were on a tighter budget this trip with two extra mouths to feed this time). It was good if you’re on a tight budget but I recommend Estancia del Puerto if you can eat anywhere.

🍷 While in the market, be sure to try the Uruguayan classic Medio y Medio, a blend of sweet sparkling wine and dry white wine. The drink was born here in the Mercado del Puerto in the 1800’s in Roldós Bar.

Artisan Market: If you want to pick up some souvenirs, cross the street to the Mercado de Artesanos.

Cafes in Ciudad Vieja

Here are few cafes and historic bars to stop at for a quick coffee and to rest your feet.

• Café Brasilero: The oldest café in Montevideo, open since 1877. This was an obvious must visit for me.
• La Farmacia Café: This cafe is one block from Cafe Brasilero, housed in a renovated pharmacy from 1890. It’s gorgeous, they carefully restored this protected building to create the cafe you see today.
• Baar Fun Fun: One of Montevideo’s oldest bars, Fun Fun dates back to 1895. All the tango greats have graced this stage, including Carlos Gardel who drank Uvita, the bar’s iconic drink and then gifted them an autographed photo. They have live music Tuesdays through Saturdays, reserve in the link in their bio.

Museums in Ciudad Vieja

You could easily spend a couple of days just walking through the many free and affordable museums in Montevideo’s Ciudad Vieja.

I’m linking to each museum’s official website or Instagram page, click through to confirm opening hours and entry fees.

• Museo Andes 1972: A museum dedicated the tragedy and miracle of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes. They calculate the visit to take between 60-90 minutes.
• Museo del Gaucho y la Moneda: Housed in the spacious central hall of Uruguay’s Central Bank, this museum is dedicated to the history of the gaucho and Uruguay’s currency. We went for the gauchos. 5 of the 6 side niches are each dedicated to a specific moment of gaucho history and culture. It’s fascinating and if you’re at all interested in Uruguayan (and Argentine) rural culture, this is a must do.
• Casa Natal de Artigas: This is the childhood home of Uruguay’s national hero, José Artigas (this was where his home stood, but the building has changed). It’s a small but very informational museum. We really enjoyed it. There are audio-visual exhibits (in Spanish, English, & Portuguese) that go through Montevideo’s entire history.
• Museo del Carnaval: Montevideo’s Carnival is the longest carnival celebration in the world at 40 days long. Visit this museum (by the Mercado del Puerto) to see the costumes and learn more about Uruguayan Carnival.
• MAPI (Museo de Arte Precolombino e Indigena): This museum hosts both permanent and rotating exhibits showcasing ancient American cultures, indigenous artifacts, and archaeological items.
• Museo de Artes Decorativas (Palacio Taranco): This palatial home belonged to the Ortiz de Taranco family. Today it’s the Museo de Artes Decorativas and is free to visit. We loved this museum, it’s on Plaza Zabala, a gorgeous leafy plaza with a playground.
• Museo del Romanticismo: Another palatial mansion, also known as the Casa Antonio Montero, open to the public, this 18th-century home displays furniture and decor from the Romantic Period.
• Museo Histórico del Cabildo: In colonial times, the Cabildo was the seat of power for the Spanish government. Today, (like in Buenos Aires) Montevideo’s Cabildo is a history museum. It even houses the Historial Archives of the city.

Things to do in Montevideo: Beaches and Beyond

If you have more than one day in Montevideo, then add on these things to your Montevideo itinerary.

Mirador panorámico de la Intendencia

For panoramic views of Montevideo, go to the 22nd story rooftop of La Intendencia. The rooftop underwent renovations and re-opened to the public in 2023.

Entry is free but you can reserve an entry time and generate your QR code for entry on the official site here. Up to 10 people can enter on each code so you can generate one for the whole group.

The rooftop is open daily from 11 am to 7 pm and the entrance is at Calle Soriano 1372. 

The Tristán Narvaja Flea Market

The weekly Tristán Narvaja market is one of the best things to do in Montevideo if you’re in town on a Sunday. Unfortunately, we were there on a Wednesday.

This Sunday street market has grown over the years in the Cordon neighborhood from 18 de Julio Avenue all the way to La Paz Street.

It starts early Sunday morning and runs into the afternoon. Come ready to hunt for antiques, vintage clothing, and your own personal treasure.

Bike or Walk La Rambla

Montevideo’s Rambla stretches for 14 miles (22 kilometers) along the Rio de la Plata coastline. This uninterrupted promenade passes through 11 neighborhoods and 10 beaches from Ciudad Vieja to Carrasco in the north.

You can pick a section and walk it (it makes a beautiful spot for a 🧉 mate at sunset) or rent a bike here (or ebike here) and bike the entire length of the Rambla. A friend of mine did this with her son and they had a wonderful day exploring Montevideo this way.

On our first visit to Montevideo we spent the afternoon exploring Parque Rodó and this section of La Rambla. Pocitos and Carrasco are both upscale neighborhoods with beautiful beaches along La Rambla, as well.

Try Chivito

If you didn’t have a chivito, did you even go to Uruguay? This iconic sandwich has everything but the kitchen sink.

The chivito’s origin story claims that a tourist walked into a Punta del Este bar, El Mejillón, at closing time and asked the chef (Antonio Carbonaro) if they had any chivito (goat).

They didn’t but not wanting their guest to leave disappointed and hungry, he put together a sandwich with beef, ham, cheese, and vegetables.

The sandwich was a hit and they named it Chivito in honor of the original request. I find it hard to believe anyone came into a restaurant specifically wanting goat meat but it was in 1944, tastes change.

Whatever the story, I’m grateful this sandwich exists. You’ll see chivito (as a sandwich or “al plato”) on just about every Uruguayan menu, but here are two of my favorite Chivitos in Montevideo:

1. Chiviteria Marcos: When Anthony Bourdain referred to their chivito as the Everest of Sandwiches (season 4 of No Reservations), I knew I had to follow his lead.
2. Bar Arocena: The original location is in Carrasco but they have a second, more central location in Punta Carretas just a few blocks from the beach. I’ve had a lot of chivito over the years, this has been my favorite. (Bourdain also ate here, so yes, I did follow him all over this city).

Visit Montevideo’s Wineries

Half of the wineries in Uruguay are in and around Montevideo in the Canelones region.

I highly recommend spending either half a day or a full day touring Montevideo’s historic wineries. Expect to drive 10-45 minutes to the wineries, depending on where you go.

We spent an afternoon at Bodegas Carrau with Wine Explorers Uruguay. This winery has been in the same family for ten generations (their wine history began in Catalonia before coming here to Uruguay).

Bodega Bouza and Bodega Santa Rosa were two other wineries outside of Montevideo that came highly recommended by our guide and friends.

🍷TIP: Visit only one winery or at a max, two. Winery visits in Uruguay are slow paced. They usually include food (charcuterie, empanadas, etc) and you try a lot of wine. If you visit two, go to one in the morning and a second for lunch.

And if you don’t want to visit a winery but do want to try Uruguayan wine, go to Baco, the city’s best wine bar.

Coastal Day: Parque Rodó, Punta Carretas & Pocitos

For another full day in Montevideo, explore these three areas on the coast.

Spend the morning in Parque Rodó, a 43 acre park. Enjoy the green spaces and the sculptures, ending at Playa Ramírez.

Walk from here along La Rambla to Punta Carretas. See the Holocaust Memorial, the rocky coastline, the Punta Carretas Lighthouse (Faro de Punta Carretas).

In Punta Carretas, you can visit the Museo Zorrilla for a beautiful art museum housed in a Andalusian style home. Next, peruse the Shopping Punta Carretas mall for its architecture. It’s housed in an old prison. You’ll be hungry now, get a chivito at Bar Arocena’s Punta Carretas location.

If the weather is nice, keep walking along the Rambla to Pocitos. Relax on the beach and enjoy Montevideo’s gorgeous sunsets here.

Where to stay in Montevideo: Hotels & Apartments

Where to stay in Montevideo? I recommend staying in or near Ciudad Vieja if you want to be near the historic quarter and love the grit of a city. We stayed very close and were happy there.

That said, others swear by staying in Pocitos or Carretas. This is much more upscale and great if you prefer being near the beaches.

• Amazing Apartment – We rented this apartment in a historic art deco building and it was perfect. There are three bedrooms, a spacious bathroom (shower only), well stocked kitchen and a comfortable tv room set far enough away from the bedrooms that you can watch tv after the kids go down for the night. It’s a few blocks from the Rambla and a short 10 minute walk to Ciudad Vieja and there’s a huge supermarket around the block.
• Boutique Hotel – If you prefer a boutique hotel, The Alma Historica is the best in Montevideo in the heart of Ciudad Vieja.
• Radisson Montevideo – If you prefer a large hotel from a brand you trust, the Radisson Plaza Victoria is right on Plaza Independencia. It has all the amenities you could want (big breakfast buffet, pool, gym, and more) in a privilegiad location.
• Best hostels in Montevideo – The MedioMundo hostel is the highest rated hostel in Montevideo, located near Parque Rodo it’s a little far from Ciudad Vieja but well located for the beaches and park. Viajero Hostel is a popular chain in the region and has a location in Ciudad Vieja.

Read more about Uruguay

• Uruguay Itinerary: Our 1 Week Uruguay Road Trip
• Driving in Uruguay: Everything You Need To Know
• How to Day Trip to Colonia del Sacramento from Buenos Aires
• The Best Wine Tours & Wineries in Uruguay