3 days in Montevideo

Day by day

1. Day 1: The Rambla and Castillo Pittamiglio

   The Rambla, Castillo Pittamiglio and Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum, then Teatro Solís in the evening.

   1. Morning

      The Rambla

      Montevideo's waterfront promenade follows the Río de la Plata for over 20 km, from the Ciudad Vieja past Parque Rodó, Punta Carretas, Pocitos and Buceo to Carrasco.

   2. Late morning

      Castillo Pittamiglio

      Join a guided visit to learn about the symbolism; it is easy to combine with a walk along Playa Pocitos.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chivito

      Traditional bars and confiterías across the Centro, Pocitos and Cordón.

   4. Afternoon

      Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum

      The city's main square divides the Ciudad Vieja from the Centro, with an equestrian statue of independence hero José Artigas above an underground mausoleum holding his remains under a guard of honour.

   5. Evening

      Teatro Solís

      Check the programme for a concert by the Montevideo Philharmonic, often the best way to see the hall.

2. Day 2: Palacio Salvo and Mercado del Puerto

   Palacio Salvo, Mercado del Puerto and Ciudad Vieja and Peatonal Sarandí, then Ciudad Vieja in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Palacio Salvo

      Book a guided tour to reach the upper floors; the ground-floor tango museum is also inside.

   2. Late morning

      Mercado del Puerto

      A cast-iron market hall built in Liverpool and assembled by the port in the 1860s now shelters a dozen parrillas, where cooks tend huge wood-fired grills of beef, chorizo, morcilla and provolone.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Asado

      The parrillas of the Mercado del Puerto and neighbourhood parrillas across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Ciudad Vieja and Peatonal Sarandí

      Walk it on a weekday morning, then end at the Mercado del Puerto for lunch.

   5. Evening

      Ciudad Vieja

      Bars on Bacacay and around Plaza Matriz, and tango and candombe nights in old cafés.

3. Day 3: Museo Torres García and Museo del Carnaval

   Museo Torres García, Museo del Carnaval and Museo Andes 1972, then Parque Rodó in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museo Torres García

      Dedicated to Joaquín Torres García, the Uruguayan painter whose 'constructive universalism' combined grids and symbols, this museum on Peatonal Sarandí shows his paintings, wooden toys and drawings, including his famous inverted map of South America.

   2. Late morning

      Museo del Carnaval

      Some visits include a short candombe drumming demonstration or workshop; ask at the desk.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Choripán

      Parrillas, carnival venues and street stalls near stadiums and fairs.

   4. Afternoon

      Museo Andes 1972

      A small private museum tells the story of the 1972 Andes plane crash, in which a Uruguayan rugby team survived 72 days in the mountains.

   5. Evening

      Parque Rodó

      Bars and pubs around the park with a young crowd at weekends.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Palacio Legislativo (Aguada): Take a bus up Avenida del Libertador from Plaza Independencia, which ends right at the palace steps.
• Swap in Estadio Centenario and Museo del Fútbol (Parque Batlle): Combine it with a walk in the surrounding Parque Batlle, one of the city's largest parks.
• Swap in Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales (Parque Rodó): Pair the museum with a walk to Playa Ramírez on the Rambla, a few minutes away.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Ciudad Vieja keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Centro ($$) suits first-timers, budget and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–16 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in June to 14.5 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Montevideo
• 2 days in Montevideo

Questions travellers ask