12 activities in Montevideo, Uruguay

Veröffentlicht: 16. Juli 2022, 12:45 Uhr

Aktualisiert: 09. Juni 2025, 23:02 Uhr

Von: wom87

Even if your bags are not deep, there are many things to do in Montevideo. Here are some of our favorites from our DIY tour through the city

When we arrived in Montevideo, we had less than two weeks of our world tour and very little money. There are many things to do in the city, but it is a relatively expensive travel destination in an already relatively expensive country.

With only two days and almost empty bags, we made the best of the situation and looked at the city on a diy tour.

The cosmopolitan city of Montevideo extends over 20 km from east to west and houses almost half of the population of Uruguay. Like other large international cities, Montevideo has a historical financial center, busy markets, a wealth of beautiful museums and a growing expat community.

The city has a beautiful riparian promenade with clean beaches and a touch of Latin American atmosphere from the other side of the water in Buenos Aires. The eclectic architecture consists of a mixture of colonial buildings, tired skyscrapers and high -rise buildings on the beach. You will also find a flourishing cultural scene with theaters, music restaurants and tangobars that are pushing for space in the city's side streets.

Even if your bags are not deep, there are many things to do in Montevideo. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Plaza Independencia

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Montevideo's largest place in the city center is reminiscent of the independence heroes José Artigas with a 17 m high statue. The Mausoleo de Artigas is located under the square, where the remains of the national hero and "father of the Uruguayan nation" lie. Many other remarkable and historical buildings surround the space.

2. Mercado Agricola

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The recently renovated Mercado Agricola de Montevideo is the city's tourist trap, but still worth a visit. The smithy -iron superstructure is far more impressive than the overpriced and busy parrillas (steakrest restaurants), bars and food stalls inside. At the weekend the place awakens with colorful street artists and musicians to live.

3. Palacio Salve

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Located at the intersection of Avenida 18 de Julio and the Plaza Independencia, the Palacio Salvo is the most impressive building in the city. When it opened in 1927, it was the highest building in the continent at a height of 95 m. For the best view of the city, visitors can drive to the top of the palace free of charge.

4. Rambla from Montevideo

alt = “rambla”> The monument to the Holocaust of the Jewish people is located on the Rambla de Montevideo

This proposed world site is an avenue that stretches along the coast and crosses with many of the large avenues and bank parks of the city. It is a great way to orientate yourself, but do not underestimate its length - we ran along the water for hours to reach the Playa de los Pocitos. You could rent a bike instead.

5. Pocitos beach

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The popular and chic district and beach Pocitos is located on the banks of the Rio de la Plata and is located directly on the Rambla. Lined with high -rise residential buildings, the beach is bustling in summer with sun worshipers, swimmers and volleyball games, while the winter months are more suitable for calm walks and walks with the dog.

6. Teatro Solis

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The oldest theater in Uruguay, Teatro Solis, was built in 1856 and is also located on the Plaza Independencia. The elegant building offers guided tours with English -language leaders who lead them behind the scenes, with artists often drop by to smash one or the other show melody.

7. Palacio Taranco

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The Palacio Taranco, built in the heart of Ciudad Vieja (old town), is in front of the Plaza Zabala. The palace, built in the early 20th century, now houses the Museum of Decorative Art in Montevideo, which houses the collections of European and Persian textiles. The palace is still used as a meeting point for the Uruguayan government.

8. Museo Torres Garcia

Alt = “Activities in Montevideo Uruguay - Joaquín Torres García”> Paisaje de Playa by Joaquín Torres García, 1924 (Image: Public Domain)

Joaquín Torres García is perhaps Uruguay's most famous artist, although he spent most of his life abroad in France and Spain. García created curious portraits of historical icons such as Beethoven, since Vinci and Dostojewski as well as cubist paintings similar to those of Picasso. The popular museum extends over seven floors, with the upper floors dedicated to educational workshops.

9. Montevideo cathedral

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This is the Roman Catholic main church of the city and the seat of the archdiocese. The metropolitan cathedral dates from the Spanish colonial period when a modest brick church was built on the site for the first time in 1740. In the cathedral there are graves from several important personalities from Uruguay's history, including soldiers who died in 1806 and 1807 during the unsuccessful British invasions of the Plate River.

10. Juan-Manuel-Blanes Museum

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The municipal art museum Juan Manuel Blanes (Museo de Bellas Artes Juan Manuel Blanes) shows the best (and worst) Uruguay art of founding the nation to this day. The artists include his namesake Juan Manuel Blanes and works by Pedro Figari, Rafael Barradas, José Cúneo and Carlos González. The museum is located in a large park with a Japanese garden.

11. Centenario Stadium

alt = “Interesting facts about Uruguay World Champion 1950 ″> GuShefrei Uruguays World Champion, 1950 (Image: Public Domain)

The fact that the Uruguayers became football world champions twice is easy to forget. They were the first hosts and winners of the tournament in 1930 and won it again in 1950.

The Estadio Centenario was built for the first World Cup in 1929 and is listed by FIFA together with stadiums such as Maracanã in Rio and Wembley in London as one of the classic stages of the football world.

The stadium houses the Museo de Futbol, which is dedicated to the history of Uruguayan football. The stadium is 4.5 km from the city center and can be reached by bus 115 and 143.

12. Punta brava lighthouse

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On the Punta Brava peninsula, the 21 m high lighthouse with its 24 km long light cone has been protruding against the coast of Montevideo since 1876. One of the more relaxed activities in Montevideo is to take a break between the mountains on the beautiful area around the lighthouse, you can enjoy a picnic and enjoy the wide view of the city's coast.

activities in Montevideo: The essentials

Was: Visiting the capital Montevideo in Uruguay.

WO: On the northeastern bank of the Río de la Plata, 180 km east of Colonia del Sacramento and 160 km by boat from Buenos Aires, Argentina. We stayed only a few blocks from the historical center and the most important sights in the Hotel California, a mid -range hotel.

When: The best travel time for Montevideo is summer (December to March), which is also high season. This is the most busy time of the year and prices can rise, especially on weekends, although it is usually not a problem to find a room.

The second best options are the low season (Apr-Jun and Oct-Nov). In the winter months (Jul-SEP) it can literally be cool and some sights, shops and hotels can be closed.

like: Buquebus offers the most convenient and fastest ferry connections via the Río de la Plata from and to Buenos Aires. The cheapest tickets can be found when you avoid traveling on weekends or Friday evenings. The travel times vary between two and four hours depending on the time of day, type of ride and ticket class.

Colonia Express and Seacat also offer ferry crossings. One-way tickets start at around $ 40-60. There is also a much cheaper bus/ferry combination offered by Colonia Express and Buquebus, which begins at 10 USD but can take up to five hours.

There is a much longer BUENOS AIRES bus option that drives north along the Uruguay river before finally going east to Uruguay. Either the ferry or the bus/ferry is the much wiser option.

There are several bus connections from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento along the coast every day. Although rarely necessary, it is best to buy tickets at least one day in advance to avoid disappointments. The trip lasts 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on the stop and costs about 12 USD (UYU360 Pesos).

The main bus station in Montevideo is the Terminal Tres Cruces. It is located on the Avenida Bulevar Artigas, a few blocks from the intersection with the Avenida 18 de Julio. It is on foot (30 minutes) from the city center, but if you have luggage, it is best to take a 10-minute taxi ride.

The efficient and travel -friendly Carrasco International Airport is 19 km (12 miles) from the city center of Montevideo. A bus there takes 1 hour 15 minutes, while a taxi needs 20 minutes. Book flights via skyscanner.net.

Lonely Planet South America contains a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights as well as take less roads.

President Mujica rejected the use of the presidential palace and decided to stay in his house, a small farm on the outskirts of Montevideo. He donates 90 % of his salary to various charity organizations and is known as the "poorest president in the world". Mujica: The wisdom of the "most modest president in the world" draws from his most memorable quotations.