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Montevideo
Capital and largest city of Uruguay

Montevideo

Montevideo is the capital and largest city of Uruguay.

Plan a trip to Montevideo→From Buenos Aires

As of the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,287,452, making up about 36.8% of the country's total population, in an area of 201 square kilometers (78 sq mi). Montevideo is situated on the southern coast of the country, on the northeastern bank of the Río de la Plata.

Get in

Getting to Montevideo

Montevideo is on the north bank of the Rio de la Plata.

  1. 01
    Carrasco International Airport
  2. 02
    Rio Branco Terminal
  3. 03
    Ciudad Vieja district of Montevideo
  4. 04
    Tres Cruces Terminal
See

Worth seeing

The Independence square is a symbol of Montevideo and lined by several prominent landmarks.

Do

Things to do

There are practically no old movie theaters left in Montevideo: they have been rebuilt into churches. However there are good movie theaters with the newest movies in the shopping malls. All foreign movies are in the original language with Spanish subtitles. Take a boat trip in a small boat from the pier near Mercado del Puerto. Watch a football match at

  1. 01
    Estadio Centenario

    The national stadium is where the first football (soccer) World Cup was held, won by the host nation.

  2. 02
    The Rambla

    This waterside roadway has people biking, fishing, drinking mate, and enjoying the great views.

  3. 03
    Estadio Gran Parque Central

    Carlos Anaya 2900 (in La Blanqueada neighbourhood).

Eat

Where to eat

Potatoes, rice, salad and such is usually ordered separately. If you just order e.g. a steak as it is stated in the menu and you will literally only be served a steak. Portions are usually large. In areas frequented by tourist restaurants often offer menus with several courses. Cover charges (cubierto) are frequent in Montevideo's restaurants. They are usually around U$50.

How locals move

Getting around Montevideo the local way

  • Get inAnother possibility for travelers who are heading to Montevideo from nearby Buenos Aires is to take the high-speed ferry operated by Buquebus.
  • Get inThe ferry arrives in the district of Montevideo, situated very close to downtown - a cab ride to a hotel in El Centro or Pocitos is much shorter and cheaper than from the airport.
  • Get inFerry service from Buenos Aires is also available via the same company Buquebus via Colonia.
  • Get inThe crossing from Buenos Aires to Colonia by fast ferry takes about one hour.
  • Get aroundCar rental is cheaper if booked ahead but be aware that places like the airport and the ferry terminal charge higher rates then the same agencies in other locations around the city.

From Wikivoyage: Montevideo, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.