Uruguay's wealthy coastal capital and one of the safest big cities in South America, Montevideo offers lively surroundings for a city holiday with good shopping and entertainment facilities around. A popular destination for tourism from Argentina, Montevideo is also filled with historical attractions offered mainly by the Old Town, and with some enjoyable beaches suitable for relaxing in between the city activities.
Cultural draws. Montevideo is a city of coastal boulevards, and the location of some remarkable landmarks such as Palacio Salvo, which dominates the skyline of the city with its height of 100 meters. You can also visit Montevideo's several interesting museums covering different subjects from the life of the 19th century Uruguay elite to modern arts, or play golf in one of the golf courses near Montevideo.
Sunny sports city. The most famous place for enjoying the sunny Montevideo is Rambla, the waterside roadway bordering the popular sunbathing and surfing beaches of Montevideo, and offering nice surroundings also for biking, running, volleyball and skating. There are good facilities for shopping in Montevideo as well. If you want entertainment in Montevideo, try those offered in Teatro Solis, the main entertainment center of the city, offering opera, ballet, theater and classical music performances. The place is known for its great acoustics, thanks to which it attracts also international star performers. After early evening in Teatro Solis, you can move on to the lively nightlife in Montevideo.
Daytrip destinations. If you are prepared to travel outside the city, you could visit for example Colonia del Sacramento, a charming colonial town and a World Heritage Site located in coastal settings approximately 100km west of Montevideo, offering a fascinating mix of Spanish and Portuguese colonial architecture.
South American capital with historical Old Town and beaches: Montevideo
The only city in Uruguay with over a million inhabitants, Montevideo is the main shopping and entertainment center of the country. Other than that, the city is also a place of charming Spanish colonial architecture, which is best found on the cobblestone streets of Ciudad Vieja, the old town of Montevideo.Cultural draws. Montevideo is a city of coastal boulevards, and the location of some remarkable landmarks such as Palacio Salvo, which dominates the skyline of the city with its height of 100 meters. You can also visit Montevideo's several interesting museums covering different subjects from the life of the 19th century Uruguay elite to modern arts, or play golf in one of the golf courses near Montevideo.
Sunny sports city. The most famous place for enjoying the sunny Montevideo is Rambla, the waterside roadway bordering the popular sunbathing and surfing beaches of Montevideo, and offering nice surroundings also for biking, running, volleyball and skating. There are good facilities for shopping in Montevideo as well. If you want entertainment in Montevideo, try those offered in Teatro Solis, the main entertainment center of the city, offering opera, ballet, theater and classical music performances. The place is known for its great acoustics, thanks to which it attracts also international star performers. After early evening in Teatro Solis, you can move on to the lively nightlife in Montevideo.
Daytrip destinations. If you are prepared to travel outside the city, you could visit for example Colonia del Sacramento, a charming colonial town and a World Heritage Site located in coastal settings approximately 100km west of Montevideo, offering a fascinating mix of Spanish and Portuguese colonial architecture.
Practical information for your trip to Montevideo
The climate in Montevideo is subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. During the summer months (December-March), average monthly temperatures in Montevideo rise to 25-30°C, whereas the winters (June-August) are faced with around 15°C high temperatures. Rainfall on Montevideo is quite evenly distributed over the year.
Photo: TRI, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
Overall, weather in Montevideo is pleasant through most of the year, but the best time to travel to Montevideo is during the summer, when the city enjoys frequent sunshine and warm temperatures.
How to get there. Montevideo is the location of the main international airport of Uruguay. The airport receives flights to Montevideo from for example Brazil, Spain and the United States. In addition to airways, Montevideo is also reachable by ferry from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and by road from Argentina and Brazil. There are some commuter and touristic trains available for For getting around in Montevideo, and buses and cheap taxis also operate in the city. Rental cars in Montevideo are available for example at the international airport.
Tourist services in Montevideo are quite good. There are comfortable hotels in Montevideo available, as well as a plenty of things to enjoy with food and restaurants in Montevideo. Spanish is the main language here, but educated Montevideo residents often speak also English.
Safety. Although petty crime such as pickpocketing and car thefts do occur, Montevideo is a quite safe destination, particularly if compared with other South American capitals. However, you should keep your valuables hidden when getting around in Montevideo. It is also advisable to stay away from the suburb areas during the night. You should also be aware of the chaotic traffic and keep a photocopy of your passport available when moving outside in Montevideo.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Punta del Este
