12 things to do in Montevideo, Uruguay

12 things to do in Montevideo, Uruguay

Even if your pockets aren't deep, there are plenty of things to do in Montevideo. Here are some of our favorites from our DIY walking tour of the city

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

With only two days and almost empty pockets, we made the best of the situation and saw the city on a DIY walking tour.

The cosmopolitan city of Montevideo stretches 20 km from east to west and is home to almost half of Uruguay's population. Like other major international cities, Montevideo has a historic financial center, bustling markets, an abundance of fine museums and a growing expat community.

The city has a beautiful waterfront with clean beaches and a touch of Latin American atmosphere from across the water in Buenos Aires. The eclectic architecture is a mix of colonial buildings, tired skyscrapers and beachfront high-rises. You'll also find a thriving cultural scene, with theaters, music venues and tango bars jostling for space on the city's side streets.

Even if your pockets aren't deep, there are plenty of things to do in Montevideo. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Plaza Independence

alt="Plaza Independencia">

Montevideo's largest downtown square commemorates independence hero José Artigas with a 55-foot-tall statue. Beneath the square is the Mausoleo de Artigas, where the remains of the national hero and “Father of the Uruguayan Nation” lie. Many other notable and historic buildings surround the square.

2. Mercado Agricola

alt=” Mercado Agricola”>

The recently renovated Mercado Agricola de Montevideo is the city's tourist trap, but still worth a visit. The wrought iron superstructure is far more impressive than the overpriced and busy parrillas (steak restaurants), bars and food stalls inside. On weekends the place comes to life with colorful street artists and musicians.

3. Palacio Salve

alt="activities in montevideo uruguay – palacio salvo">

Located at the intersection of Avenida 18 de Julio and Plaza Independencia, the Palacio Salvo is the most impressive building in the city. When it opened in 1927, it was the tallest building on the continent at 95 m high. For the best views in the city, visitors can take the elevator to the top of the palace for free.

4. Rambla of Montevideo

alt=“Rambla”>The Memorial to the Holocaust of the Jewish People is located on the Rambla de Montevideo

This proposed World Heritage Site is an avenue that stretches along the coast and intersects with many of the city's large avenues and waterfront parks. It's a great way to get your bearings, but don't underestimate its length - we walked for hours along the water to reach Playa de los Pocitos. You could rent a bike instead.

5. Pocitos Beach

alt="activities in montevideo uruguay pocitos beach">

The popular and chic neighborhood and beach of Pocitos is located on the banks of the Rio de la Plata and is right on Rambla. Lined with high-rise apartment buildings, the beach bustles with sunbathers, swimmers and volleyball games in summer, while winter months are more suited to quiet strolls and dog walks.

6. Teatro Solis

alt="activities in montevideo uruguay – theater teatro solis">

Uruguay's oldest theater, Teatro Solis, was built in 1856 and is also located in Plaza Independencia. The elegant building offers tours with English-speaking guides who take you behind the scenes, with artists often stopping by to belt out a show tune or two.

7. Palacio Taranco

alt=“activities in montevideo uruguay Palacio_Taranco”>(Image: Creative Commons)

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

8. Torres Garcia Museum

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, Da Vinci and Dostoyevsky, as well as Cubist paintings similar to those of Picasso. The popular museum spans seven floors, with the upper floors dedicated to educational workshops.

9. Montevideo Cathedral

alt="activities in montevideo uruguay – cathedral">

This is the city's main Roman Catholic church and seat of the archdiocese. The Metropolitan Cathedral dates back to the Spanish colonial period, when a modest brick church was first built on the site in 1740. The cathedral contains graves of several important figures from Uruguay's history, including soldiers who died during the unsuccessful British invasions of the River Plate between 1806 and 1807.

10. Juan Manuel Blanes Museum

alt=“activities in montevideo uruguay – Museo Blanes”>(Image: Jose Castillo Urquiza, Creative Commons)

The Juan Manuel Blanes Municipal Art Museum (Museo de Bellas Artes Juan Manuel Blanes) showcases the best (and worst) of Uruguayan art from the nation's founding to the present day. Artists include his namesake Juan Manuel Blanes as well as 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 in 1950″>Public domainUruguay's world champion, 1950 (Image: Public Domain)

It's easy to forget that the Uruguayans won the World Cup twice. They were the first hosts and winners of the tournament in 1930 and won it again in 1950.

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

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

12. Punta Brava Lighthouse

alt=“activities in montevideo uruguay – lighthouse”>(Image: Vince Alongi, Creative Commons)

On the Punta Brava peninsula, the 21 m high lighthouse with its 24 km long beam of light has jutted off the coast of Montevideo since 1876. One of the more relaxing things to do in Montevideo is to take a break between the mountains here. You can enjoy a picnic in the beautiful grounds surrounding the lighthouse and take in the sweeping views of the city's coastline.

Things to do in Montevideo: The essentials

What: Visit to the capital Montevideo in Uruguay.

Where: 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 at the Hotel California, a mid-range hotel just a few blocks from the historic center and major attractions.

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

The next best options are low season (Apr-Jun and Oct-Nov). In the winter months (Jul-Sep) it can get downright chilly and some attractions, shops and hotels may be closed.

How: BuqueBus offers the most convenient and fastest ferry routes across the Río de la Plata to and from Buenos Aires. The cheapest tickets can be found by avoiding traveling on weekends or Friday evenings. Travel times vary between two and four hours depending on the time of day, type of trip 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 that starts at $10 but can take up to five hours.

There is a much longer bus option from Buenos Aires that travels north along the Uruguay River before eventually heading east into Uruguay. Either the ferry or the bus/ferry is the much wiser option.

There are several daily bus services from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento along the coast. Although rarely necessary, it is best to purchase tickets at least a day in advance to avoid disappointment. The journey takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on the stop and costs around 12 USD (UYU360 pesos).

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

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

Lonely Planet South America includes a comprehensive travel guide to the country, ideal for those who want to both explore the top attractions and take the road less traveled.

President Mujica has refused the use of the presidential palace, choosing to remain at his home, a small farm on the outskirts of Montevideo. He donates 90% of his salary to various charities and is known as “the poorest president in the world.” Mujica: The wisdom of the “most humble president in the world” draws from his most memorable quotes.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

      .