With kids · Montevideo · Uruguay
Montevideo with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: GameOfLight, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Montevideo is relaxed and easy with children: the Rambla, city beaches, Parque Rodó's rides and playgrounds and short distances. Uruguayans are welcoming to families, and children are a normal sight in restaurants until late. Top picks: The Rambla, Parque Rodó and Museo del Carnaval. Families usually base themselves in Pocitos.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 4
- Best area for families
- Pocitos
- Rainy-day options
- 2
Best things to do with kids
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
Park · Parque Rodó
2.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
Museum · Ciudad Vieja
3.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
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
Rainy-day ideas
- Museo del Carnaval — Some visits include a short candombe drumming demonstration or workshop; ask at the desk.
- Estadio Centenario and Museo del Fútbol — Combine it with a walk in the surrounding Parque Batlle, one of the city's largest parks.
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for families, beach, couples and quiet stays
Pocitos
Pocitos is a dense residential district of mid-century apartment blocks fronting a curved sandy beach, with cafés, ice-cream shops and restaurants along the Rambla and inland streets such as Avenida Brasil and Bulevar España. It is a comfortable base for longer stays and beach time in summer.
- Good
- Beach and Rambla at your door; Many cafés and restaurants; Feels safe and residential
- Watch out
- Twenty minutes or more by bus from the Ciudad Vieja; Busy beach in January
- Nearby
- Playa Pocitos, Rambla, Punta Carretas Shopping
Family travel tips
- The beaches at Pocitos and Malvín are calm and have lifeguards in summer; check the flags for water quality and swimming conditions.
- Strong summer UV calls for sunscreen and hats, even on breezy days.
- Parrillas are child-friendly and portions are big enough to share.
- The Museo del Carnaval's costumes and drums appeal to children year-round.
- Taxis are an easy way to move between the Ciudad Vieja and the beach districts with small children.
Day trips for families
- Piriápolis (About 1.5 hours by bus) — A traditional seaside town founded by Francisco Piria, with the grand 1930s Argentino Hotel, a long rambla and the Cerro San Antonio hill, reachable by chairlift, for views over the bay.
When to go with children
The best months overall are November–March. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montevideo good for kids?
Montevideo is relaxed and easy with children: the Rambla, city beaches, Parque Rodó's rides and playgrounds and short distances. Uruguayans are welcoming to families, and children are a normal sight in restaurants until late.
+What can kids do in Montevideo?
The Rambla, Parque Rodó, Museo del Carnaval and Estadio Centenario and Museo del Fútbol.
+Where should families stay in Montevideo?
Pocitos: Apartment towers above the city's favourite beach and Rambla.