Travel to Uruguay

Uruguay in numbers

Why visit Uruguay

A temperate, cultured and easy country

Signature places

Montevideo, Colonia, Punta del Este and Cabo Polonio

A first trip fits into a few days: the capital, a day trip to Colonia and some time on the Atlantic coast, with Rocha for the more adventurous.

Montevideo, capital of the River Plate

The Old Town, on its peninsula, mixes art deco, art nouveau and neoclassical buildings with theatres and museums, and the Mercado del Puerto serves asado cooked on open grills. The Palacio Salvo, finished in 1928, stands at Plaza Independencia and was at completion the tallest reinforced-concrete structure in the world. The city then runs along beaches such as Pocitos and Carrasco, and Estadio Centenario recalls the first FIFA World Cup in 1930.

Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia is 177 km from Montevideo and 50 km by boat from Buenos Aires, which makes it a classic day trip. Its historic quarter blends Portuguese, Spanish and post-colonial styles on a very compact plan.

Punta del Este and the east coast

Around 140 km east of the capital, Punta del Este has two beaches: the calm Mansa on the river side and the rougher Brava on the ocean side. La Barra and José Ignacio, further northeast, are quieter resorts.

Cabo Polonio and Rocha

A carless hamlet of dunes inside a protected area, Cabo Polonio lies about 260 km from Montevideo and is known for its lighthouse and the largest sea lion colony in Uruguay.

Fray Bentos and the campo

Fray Bentos, on the Uruguay River, preserves the Anglo industrial complex, a World Heritage Site and the source of the name of a famous corned beef. Inland, gaucho culture and historic estancias show another side of the country.

Getting around

Buses, boats and easy roads

Uruguay is small and gently rolling, so intercity buses serve most towns, urban and rural, and metered taxis run in the main cities. A car helps on the Rocha coast and for visiting estancias.

Boats cross the River Plate to Colonia from Buenos Aires, and there are direct flights between Montevideo and Madrid, which helps with arrivals from Europe.

Before you go

Four regions, one mild climate

Region	Climate	Best time to visit
Montevideo	Humid subtropical; summers around 21 to 25 C, mild winters, rain spread through the year	December to March for beaches; spring and autumn for the city
Colonia and the west	Same temperate pattern as the capital	December to March, or spring and autumn
Punta del Este and Atlantic coast	Cooler in spring when the ocean is cold; summer is the beach season	December to March
Interior and Rocha	Frosts most winters, snow very rare	Spring and autumn

Uruguay has four seasons, with summer from December to March and winter from June to September. With no mountains to stop them, fronts and the cold pampero wind can change the weather quickly, so pack a warm layer in any season.

Many visitors, including UK passport holders, can stay up to 90 days without a visa, and no vaccines are mandatory; check your own nationality. The country is considered reasonably safe, though bag snatching and theft occur, mostly in Montevideo. Before booking, consult your government's official travel advice.

Combining countries? See also Argentina and Brazil.

Food

Asado, chivito and mate

Uruguayan cooking reflects Spanish and Italian immigration, with beef at the centre of meals. Asado, meat grilled over fire, is a social tradition; the chivito, a sandwich of thin beef with lettuce, tomato, fried egg, ham and olives, is often called the national dish.

For something sweet, try alfajores filled with dulce de leche, pastafrola or chajá, a dessert of meringue, sponge, cream and fruit. Mate, an herbal drink, is the most typical beverage.

Flying to Uruguay

The Uruguayan airport SniperAir covers

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Uruguay