Shopping · Montevideo · Uruguay
Shopping in Montevideo
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Felipe Restrepo Acosta, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Shopping in Montevideo leans to leather, wool, mate gear and wine rather than big brands. The Ciudad Vieja and Tristán Narvaja are best for antiques and crafts, and the malls in Punta Carretas and Montevideo Shopping cover everything else. Best souvenirs: Mate gourd and bombilla, Tannat wine and Leather goods.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Mate gourd and bombilla
Where to shop
Peatonal Sarandí
Craft stalls, bookshops and souvenir shops in the Ciudad Vieja.
Avenida 18 de Julio
The main high street of the Centro, with department stores and leather shops.
Punta Carretas Shopping
A mall built inside a former prison, with Uruguayan and international brands.
Pocitos
Boutiques, wine shops and bookshops along Avenida Brasil and nearby streets.
Markets
Feria de Tristán Narvaja
The century-old Sunday flea market in Cordón for antiques, books and curios.
Mercado Agrícola de Montevideo (MAM)
A restored 1913 market hall in Goes with produce, food stalls and wine shops.
Mercado de los Artesanos
Uruguayan crafts, ceramics, leather and wool from cooperatives of local makers.
What to buy
Mate gourd and bombilla
Leather-wrapped gourds and silver or steel straws, with a bag of yerba.
Tannat wine
Bottles from Canelones estates; buy at wine shops or direct from wineries.
Leather goods
Jackets, bags and belts at leather shops along 18 de Julio and in the Ciudad Vieja.
Wool knitwear
Hand-knitted sweaters from Uruguayan wool cooperatives.
Dulce de leche and alfajores
Supermarket jars and boxed alfajores that travel well.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Ciudad Vieja
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.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Iconic
- Architecture
Neighbourhood · Ciudad Vieja
Ciudad Vieja and Peatonal Sarandí
The pedestrian Peatonal Sarandí runs from the Puerta de la Ciudadela to the old port, passing Plaza Matriz with the Metropolitan Cathedral and the colonial Cabildo.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Shopping
Market · Cordón
Feria de Tristán Narvaja
Every Sunday morning, the street of Tristán Narvaja and its cross streets fill with a flea market of antiques, old books, vinyl, tools, pets, fruit and vegetables.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Medio y medio, Mate, Tannat and Torta frita. Café Roldós and other bars in the Mercado del Puerto. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Centro | $$ | Avenida 18 de Julio's art deco façades, shops, cafés and theatres |
| Cordón | $$ | University streets, the Sunday flea market and craft-beer bars |
| Parque Rodó | $$ | A lakeside park, an art museum and bars near Playa Ramírez |
| Punta Carretas | $$$ | A leafy point with a lighthouse, a golf course and a mall in a former prison |
| Carrasco | $$$$ | Villas, wide beaches and the grand Hotel Carrasco near the airport |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in UYU. About 10% is customary in restaurants and is not usually added to the bill. Round up for taxis and tip guides and hotel porters a little.
- Say 'buen día' when entering shops and cafés.
- Ask whether hotels and restaurants offer the VAT reduction for payments with foreign-issued cards, which has been applied in some seasons.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May–September; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- September: Expo Prado — national livestock and agricultural fair at the Rural del Prado (usually September)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and shopping
Centro
Avenida 18 de Julio's art deco façades, shops, cafés and theatres
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Montevideo?
Mate gourd and bombilla, Tannat wine, Leather goods and Wool knitwear.
+Where is the best shopping in Montevideo?
Peatonal Sarandí: Craft stalls, bookshops and souvenir shops in the Ciudad Vieja.
+What are the best markets in Montevideo?
Feria de Tristán Narvaja, Mercado Agrícola de Montevideo (MAM) and Mercado de los Artesanos.