Highlights
Montevideo
Walk the Rambla, a waterfront promenade that runs for many kilometres along the city's beaches, explore the Ciudad Vieja and Teatro Solís, and eat grilled meat at the Mercado del Puerto, a 19th-century market hall filled with parrillas.
Colonia del Sacramento
A UNESCO-listed old town of cobbled streets, Portuguese and Spanish colonial houses and a lighthouse, on the River Plate opposite Buenos Aires. The Calle de los Suspiros is its best-known lane.
Punta del Este
The country's best-known resort, with beaches on both the calmer bay side and the surfier Atlantic side, and the giant hand sculpture emerging from the sand on Playa Brava. Casapueblo, an artist's white-walled hotel and museum, is at nearby Punta Ballena.
Cabo Polonio
A remote fishing village on a cape reached only by off-road trucks across sand dunes, with a lighthouse, a sea lion colony and simple cabins, many of which have little or no grid electricity.
Rocha coast
Wild beaches stretch north towards Brazil, including the surf village of Punta del Diablo and Santa Teresa National Park, with a restored 18th-century fortress and coastal forest.
Wine country
Wineries around Canelones, close to Montevideo, and in Garzón and Carmelo produce Tannat, the country's signature red grape, and offer tastings and lunches.
Estancias of the interior
Working cattle ranches in the countryside offer stays with horse riding, gaucho traditions and long asados, giving a sense of rural life far from the coast.
Carnival and candombe
Uruguay's carnival in Montevideo lasts for weeks, with murga theatre troupes and candombe drumming, a tradition of Afro-Uruguayan origin recognised by UNESCO.
Interesting facts about Uruguay
- Uruguay hosted and won the first FIFA World Cup in 1930.
- In 2013 Uruguay became the first country to legalise and regulate the production and sale of recreational cannabis.
- Most of Uruguay's electricity comes from renewable sources, mainly wind, hydro and biomass.
- Drinking mate, a herbal infusion sipped through a metal straw from a gourd, is everywhere; many people carry a thermos of hot water under their arm.
- Uruguay's carnival is often described as one of the longest in the world, lasting around forty days.
Best time to visit
December to March is summer and peak season on the coast, when Punta del Este and the Rocha beaches are busy, particularly in January, when many Argentinians and Brazilians visit. Carnival usually falls in February. Spring (October to November) and autumn (March to April) are quieter and pleasant for Montevideo, Colonia and the countryside, and autumn is harvest time in the wineries. Winter (June to August) is cool, damp and windy, and many beach towns are quiet.
Practical information
| Capital | Montevideo |
|---|---|
| Currency | Uruguayan peso (UYU) |
| Languages | Spanish |
| Plugs | Type C, F, I, L |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Around 10 percent in restaurants is customary; round up for taxis. |
Getting around
Long-distance buses are comfortable, frequent and reach almost every town, from the Tres Cruces terminal in Montevideo. There are few passenger trains. Hiring a car is easy and roads are generally good and quiet, which makes it practical for the coast and the interior. Ferries cross the River Plate from Montevideo and Colonia to Buenos Aires. In Montevideo, city buses and ride-hailing apps make getting around straightforward.
Staying connected in Uruguay
Uruguay has some of the best mobile and fixed internet in South America, with 4G across most of the country and 5G in parts of Montevideo and other towns. Coverage is good on main roads and in coastal towns, although it can be weaker in sparsely populated parts of the interior and in places like Cabo Polonio. Wi-Fi is widely available in cafés, hotels and many public squares. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See Uruguay eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Uruguay
- Uber: Ride-hailing in Montevideo, Punta del Este and other areas.
- Moovit: Bus routes and live arrival times in Montevideo.
- Google Maps: Driving and walking directions, with offline maps for the interior.
- Google Translate: Spanish translation for menus and conversations, as English is not widely spoken outside tourism.