Solo travel · Montevideo · Uruguay
Solo travel in Montevideo
How to enjoy Montevideo at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Montevideo is calm and easy for solo travellers, with hostels in the Ciudad Vieja and Cordón, free walking tours from Plaza Independencia and a friendly bar culture. Its relaxed pace suits people who enjoy walking and conversation. Many solo travellers base themselves in Cordón.
Key facts
- Base
- Cordón
- Getting around
- Bus
- Emergency number
- 911
- Language
- Spanish
Solo travel tips
- Join a free walking tour from Plaza Independencia to get oriented on your first day.
- Sit at the counter of a Mercado del Puerto parrilla; it is normal to eat there alone and chat with the grill masters.
- Stay in the Centro or Cordón for buses, budget beds and bars.
- Keep valuables out of sight in the Ciudad Vieja after dark and take a taxi back late at night.
- Combine Montevideo with Colonia and Buenos Aires by bus and ferry for a two-country trip.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and nightlife
Cordón
East of the Centro, Cordón is a student district around the University of the Republic, with bookshops, inexpensive bars and the Sunday Feria de Tristán Narvaja, a sprawling flea and produce market. Hostels and short-term rentals are common.
- Good
- Inexpensive; Local bars and cafés; Close to the Centro
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Some run-down blocks
- Nearby
- Feria de Tristán Narvaja, Universidad de la República, Avenida 18 de Julio
Great on your own
Landmark · Centro
Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum
Go down into the mausoleum, which is free, and then walk through the Puerta de la Ciudadela onto Peatonal Sarandí.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Architecture · Centro
Palacio Salvo
Book a guided tour to reach the upper floors; the ground-floor tango museum is also inside.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Views
- History
- Iconic
Market · Ciudad Vieja
Mercado del Puerto
Go at weekend lunchtime for the full atmosphere, when the market is busiest; it is much quieter in the evenings.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Iconic
- Architecture
Architecture · Ciudad Vieja
Teatro Solís
Check the programme for a concert by the Montevideo Philharmonic, often the best way to see the hall.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Ciudad Vieja
Ciudad Vieja and Peatonal Sarandí
Walk it on a weekday morning, then end at the Mercado del Puerto for lunch.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Shopping
Gallery · Ciudad Vieja
Museo Torres García
Buy a print of the upside-down map in the shop; it is one of the city's most recognisable images.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Meeting people
- Parrilla lunch at the Mercado del Puerto — Take a counter seat at one of the market's grills and order a mixed parrillada for two, with a medio y medio to start.
- Winery visit in Canelones — Family wineries in Canelones department, a short drive from the city, offer Tannat tastings and long lunches among the vines; book ahead.
- Ciudad Vieja — Bars on Bacacay and around Plaza Matriz, and tango and candombe nights in old cafés.
- Parque Rodó — Bars and pubs around the park with a young crowd at weekends.
Sensible precautions
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.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Staying connected
- Mobile and fibre internet coverage is very good; Uruguay has extensive public Wi-Fi in plazas, and local SIMs and eSIMs are easy to buy.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montevideo good for solo travellers?
Montevideo is calm and easy for solo travellers, with hostels in the Ciudad Vieja and Cordón, free walking tours from Plaza Independencia and a friendly bar culture. Its relaxed pace suits people who enjoy walking and conversation.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Montevideo?
Cordón: University streets, the Sunday flea market and craft-beer bars.