Things to do · Montevideo · Uruguay
18 best things to do in Montevideo
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rodrigo Pissano, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Montevideo are The Rambla, Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum and Palacio Salvo. Of the 18 picks below, 7 are free, 7 work on a rainy day and 4 suit children. Allow about 3 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- The Rambla
- Free sights
- 7
- Good on a rainy day
- Teatro Solís
- Time to see the highlights
- 3 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rambla | Pocitos | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum | Centro | 45 minutes | Free |
| Palacio Salvo | Centro | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Mercado del Puerto | Ciudad Vieja | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Teatro Solís | Ciudad Vieja | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Ciudad Vieja and Peatonal Sarandí | Ciudad Vieja | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Museo Torres García | Ciudad Vieja | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Museo del Carnaval | Ciudad Vieja | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Museo Andes 1972 | Ciudad Vieja | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Palacio Legislativo | Aguada | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Feria de Tristán Narvaja | Cordón | 2 hours | Free |
| Estadio Centenario and Museo del Fútbol | Parque Batlle | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales | Parque Rodó | 1–1.5 hours | Free |
| Parque Rodó | Parque Rodó | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Punta Carretas lighthouse | Punta Carretas | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Fortaleza del Cerro | Cerro | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Prado: Rosedal and Jardín Botánico | Prado | 2 hours | Free |
| Castillo Pittamiglio | Pocitos | 1 hour | Low cost |
The 18 best things to do
Waterfront · Pocitos
1.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. Locals walk, run, cycle, fish and sip mate along it at all hours, and the 'Montevideo' letters sign at Pocitos is a favourite photo stop.
Walk or cycle the stretch from Punta Carretas lighthouse to Pocitos at sunset, when the whole city seems to be out.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Kids
- Active
Landmark · Centro
2.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. The Puerta de la Ciudadela, the last fragment of the colonial walls, leads into the old town, and the Palacio Salvo and the Executive Tower frame the square.
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
3.Palacio Salvo
Completed in 1928, the eclectic, tower-topped Palacio Salvo was for a time the tallest building in South America and remains the city's emblem. Designed by Mario Palanti, it is a sister of his Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires. Guided tours climb towards the tower for views over the square and the port.
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
4.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. Sit at the counter, order a medio y medio and watch the grill masters at work.
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
5.Teatro Solís
Uruguay's main theatre, opened in 1856 beside Plaza Independencia, has a neoclassical portico and a horseshoe auditorium that stages opera, ballet, concerts and plays. Guided tours run in Spanish and English on many days, and tickets for some performances are inexpensive.
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
6.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. Side streets hold art deco banks, bookshops, galleries and the Plaza Zabala, and craft stalls line the street on fine days.
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
7.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.
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
Museum · Ciudad Vieja
8.Museo del Carnaval
Next to the Mercado del Puerto, this museum explains Uruguay's long carnival through costumes, giant heads, masks, murga recordings and the candombe drums of the Afro-Uruguayan comparsas. It is the best way to understand the festival if you visit outside January and February.
Some visits include a short candombe drumming demonstration or workshop; ask at the desk.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Ciudad Vieja
1.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. Objects, photographs and testimonies from survivors make it a moving visit.
Allow time to read the survivors' accounts; the museum is small but detailed.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Architecture · Aguada
2.Palacio Legislativo
Uruguay's parliament, inaugurated in 1925, is a monumental neoclassical building faced in Uruguayan marble and granite, with mosaics, stained glass and a gilded Salón de los Pasos Perdidos. Guided tours on weekdays visit the chambers when they are not in session.
Take a bus up Avenida del Libertador from Plaza Independencia, which ends right at the palace steps.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Market · Cordón
3.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. It has been held for over a century and is one of the city's great people-watching outings.
Go before noon, carry cash in small notes and keep your bag in front of you in the crowds.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
Historic site · Parque Batlle
4.Estadio Centenario and Museo del Fútbol
Built for the first FIFA World Cup in 1930, which Uruguay won, the Centenario is listed by FIFA as a historic monument of world football. The museum under the Olympic Stand displays trophies, shirts and memorabilia, and visits include a view from the stands.
Combine it with a walk in the surrounding Parque Batlle, one of the city's largest parks.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Gallery · Parque Rodó
5.Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales
Uruguay's largest art collection, inside Parque Rodó, displays national painters such as Juan Manuel Blanes, Pedro Figari and Torres García alongside temporary exhibitions. Entry is free, and the park outside has a lake and children's rides.
Pair the museum with a walk to Playa Ramírez on the Rambla, a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Park · Parque Rodó
6.Parque Rodó
A seaside park with a lake for pedal boats, a miniature castle, a small amusement park with traditional rides and a weekend crafts and food fair. It is a classic family outing, with Playa Ramírez across the road.
Come on a Sunday afternoon, when the park fills with families and the fair stalls are out.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Punta Carretas
7.Punta Carretas lighthouse
The white lighthouse on the rocky tip of Punta Carretas, built in the 1870s, can be climbed by a narrow spiral stair for a view along the coast to Pocitos and the Centro. The rocks around it are a favourite spot for anglers and sunset watchers.
Visit late afternoon and stay on the rocks for sunset over the river.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Historic site · Cerro
8.Fortaleza del Cerro
The hill that gave Montevideo its name rises across the bay from the port, topped by an early-19th-century Spanish fortress and lighthouse that now house a small military museum. The view takes in the whole bay and the city skyline.
Go by taxi rather than walking through the surrounding district, and pick a clear day for the view.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Off the beaten path
Garden · Prado
9.Prado: Rosedal and Jardín Botánico
The Rosedal del Prado, a formal rose garden with pergolas and a fountain, blooms in spring (October to December). Nearby, the Jardín Botánico has native and exotic trees, and the Museo Blanes in a Palladian villa shows paintings of Uruguayan history beside a small Japanese garden.
Visit in November, when the roses are at their peak, and add the Museo Blanes garden.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Couples
Architecture · Pocitos
10.Castillo Pittamiglio
On the Rambla in Pocitos, this eccentric house built by the alchemy-obsessed architect Humberto Pittamiglio is full of symbols, hidden rooms and a winged Victory of Samothrace replica on its façade. It is now a cultural centre with guided visits.
Join a guided visit to learn about the symbolism; it is easy to combine with a walk along Playa Pocitos.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- History
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Museo Torres García, Museo del Carnaval, Museo Andes 1972 and Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales |
| History | Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum, Palacio Salvo, Teatro Solís and Ciudad Vieja and Peatonal Sarandí |
| Views | Palacio Salvo, Punta Carretas lighthouse and Fortaleza del Cerro |
| Outdoors and nature | The Rambla, Parque Rodó, Punta Carretas lighthouse and Prado: Rosedal and Jardín Botánico |
| Food and markets | Mercado del Puerto and Feria de Tristán Narvaja |
| After dark | Teatro Solís |
| With children | The Rambla, Museo del Carnaval, Estadio Centenario and Museo del Fútbol and Parque Rodó |
| On a rainy day | Teatro Solís, Museo Torres García, Museo del Carnaval and Museo Andes 1972 |
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Montevideo?
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.
+What can you do for free in Montevideo?
The Rambla, Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum, Ciudad Vieja and Peatonal Sarandí, Feria de Tristán Narvaja and Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Montevideo when it rains?
Head indoors to Teatro Solís, Museo Torres García, Museo del Carnaval and Museo Andes 1972.
+What is there to do in Montevideo at night?
Teatro Solís are best after dark.