Beaches · Montevideo · Uruguay
The best beaches in and near Montevideo
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rodrigo Pissano, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Playa Pocitos (About 5 km east of the Centro). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in December–March.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 4
- Swimming season
- December–March
- Warmest sea
- 23°C (73°F)
The beaches
About 5 km east of the Centro · Families and people-watching
1.Playa Pocitos
The city's most popular beach, a curve of sand backed by apartment towers, cafés and the Rambla, with lifeguards and beach sports in summer.
About 3 km from Plaza Independencia · A quick swim near the centre
2.Playa Ramírez
The closest beach to the centre, beside Parque Rodó, small and busy with families on summer weekends.
About 9 km east of the Centro · Families and quieter days
3.Playa Malvín
A wide, calmer family beach east of Buceo, with Isla de las Gaviotas just offshore.
About 15 km east of the Centro · Space and long walks
4.Playa Carrasco
A long, wide beach backed by dunes and trees in the residential district of Carrasco, rarely crowded.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 23°C (73°F) | 28°C (82°F) |
| February | 23°C (73°F) | 27°C (81°F) |
| March | 22°C (72°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
| April | 19°C (66°F) | 22°C (72°F) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| June | 13°C (55°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
| July | 11°C (52°F) | 14°C (57°F) |
| August | 11°C (52°F) | 16°C (61°F) |
| September | 13°C (55°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| October | 15°C (59°F) | 21°C (70°F) |
| November | 18°C (64°F) | 24°C (75°F) |
| December | 21°C (70°F) | 27°C (81°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$ · Best for families, nightlife, budget and beach
Parque Rodó
Built around the park of the same name, this district has the Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales, a small amusement park, a boating lake and Playa Ramírez on the Rambla. Bars and restaurants around the park fill with a young crowd at weekends, and the Teatro de Verano hosts carnival murga contests.
- Good
- Park and beach on the doorstep; Lively but relaxed bars; Midway between Centro and Pocitos
- Watch out
- Weekend noise around the park; Limited hotel choice
- Nearby
- Parque Rodó, Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales, Playa Ramírez, Teatro de Verano
Getting to the beaches
- Bus — An extensive bus network links the Centro with every barrio; lines along the Rambla and Avenida 18 de Julio are the most useful for visitors.
- Ferry — Fast ferries cross the Río de la Plata to Buenos Aires from the port terminal in the Ciudad Vieja, and via Colonia del Sacramento with bus connections.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in November–March. None of them is peak season, so beaches stay manageable.
Beach safety
Petty theft and bag snatching occur in the Ciudad Vieja and Centro, especially on empty streets after dark and at the Sunday market; take a taxi at night. On city beaches, follow lifeguard flags for currents and water quality. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Montevideo have beaches?
Yes: Playa Pocitos, Playa Ramírez, Playa Malvín and Playa Carrasco.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Montevideo?
Usually December–March, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Montevideo?
Playa Pocitos: The city's most popular beach, a curve of sand backed by apartment towers, cafés and the Rambla, with lifeguards and beach sports in summer.