Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay. This is a country of 3 million people and half of that population lives in Montevideo. As a result, it is an incredibly important city for the country. In addition, it has one of the main ports into the South America continent.
Day 1: Arrival
Where to Stay
The best neighborhood to stay in is Pocitos, Montevideo. It is a dense residential neighborhood next to a large beach. This neighborhood is where you’ll find many restaurants and bars in the city. It is a comfortable and walkable area where you can truly walk around at any time of the day. While the center seems tempting, it does get empty and uncomfortable in the evenings and weekends. For the sake of this article, we will assume that you are staying in Pocitos.
Getting Into the City
If you are taking a bus into the city, either from Punta del Este or from Colonia del Sacramento, you will arrive at the main bus station, Tres Cruces. To get to your accommodations, you can take a taxi or the bus. You can read about transportation through Uruguay and in Montevideo here.
Exploring Your New Neighborhood
After dropping off your bags at your accommodation, you will walk through the neighborhood to explore. If the weather is nice, take advantage of the beach that is at your footsteps. Check the flags on the lifeguard stations if you want to go into the water. Remember that the water here is freshwater from the Rio de la Plata.
If you want to go for a walk, take a stroll along “the rambla” (the road along the bank of the river) towards the Montevideo letters. This will be a nice walk along the neighborhood and you will be able to take in the large condos that line the river.
There are a number of places in the neighborhood to eat dinner, including traditional Uruguayan cuisine and other international foods.
Day 2: Exploring the Old Town
Touring the Old Town
You will start the day with a walking tour of the Old Town through Curiouso. This is a free walking tour, but don’t forget to tip the guide! The tours are in Spanish or English and give you an overarching view of the history and culture of Montevideo and Uruguay as a whole. You can sign up for the tour here. The tour takes about 3 hours and will end at the Mercado del Puerto, a food market in the Old Town. This will be the perfect place to grab lunch.
Taking in the Views
After lunch, take a walk down the main avenue of Uruguay. You will be heading towards a free viewpoint of the city. On the way, stop by Libreria Puro Verso to see a beautiful and unique bookstore.
The viewpoint is the “Mirador panorámico de la Intendencia de Montevideo”. It is completely free and has a 360 degree view of the city. You will be able to see the Pocitos beach, the old town area, and the surrounding metro. The viewpoint is open until 8 pm. Stay here as long as you want before heading back to the Pocitos neighborhood for dinner and a night out at some of the bars in the area.
Day 3: A Relaxing Departure
Walking Along the Rambla
You will start the day by walking along the Rambla, towards the west. Your first stop will be Castillo Pittamiglio, a unique structure that is now a cultural center. Next, you will head to the Punta Carretas Shopping Center. This was a former prison that has been converted into a modern mall. During the dictatorship of the 70s and 80s, political prisoners were housed and tortured in this prison. It now has a memorial for those who fought for political freedom and democracy.
Heading to the Park
If you have time after this walk, you can take a bus or taxi to Parque Prado. This is a large and beautiful park and has multiple gardens within that you can explore. Spend the rest of your time in Montevideo here before picking up your luggage and continuing on your journey.