Find places in Uruguay

Must-Haves

• Mercado del Puerto (Ciudad Vieja)
  An iron market hall packed with wood fired parrillas, the classic place for a first asado lunch.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bar Arocena (Carrasco)
  A long running bar famous for its chivito, the national steak sandwich, open late.
• La Pasiva (Ciudad Vieja)
  A Uruguayan chain known for chivitos and frankfurters with its secret mustard.

Great for Date Night

• Jacinto (Ciudad Vieja)
  A small, much loved restaurant with seasonal cooking and pastries in the old town.
• Es Mercat (Ciudad Vieja)
  A seafood restaurant beside the port market, known for paella and fresh fish.

Must-Haves

• Teatro Solís (Ciudad Vieja)
  The country's grand nineteenth century opera house, with guided tours and a full season of shows.
• Palacio Salvo (Plaza Independencia)
  The landmark tower on the main square, with guided visits up to the top for city views.
• Museo Andes 1972 (Ciudad Vieja)
  A moving, carefully told museum about the 1972 plane crash in the Andes and its survivors.

Fun for Everyone

• Museo del Carnaval (Ciudad Vieja)
  Costumes, masks and drums that explain murga and candombe, the heart of Montevideo's long Carnival.

Off the Beaten Path

• Museo Torres García (Ciudad Vieja)
  A small museum devoted to Joaquín Torres García, the artist behind the famous upside down map of South America.

Must-Haves

• Rambla de Montevideo (Pocitos)
  The long waterfront promenade where the whole city walks, cycles and drinks mate at sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• Parque Rodó funfair and lake (Parque Rodó)
  A leafy park with pedal boats, an old fashioned funfair and a busy Sunday market.
• Bodega Bouza (Melilla)
  A family winery on the edge of the city, with tastings, a restaurant and vintage cars.

Off the Beaten Path

• Candombe drum practice (Barrio Sur)
  Sunday evening drum groups that practise in the streets, especially in the weeks before Carnival.

Fun for Everyone

• Playa Pocitos (Pocitos)
  The city's favourite beach, lively on summer afternoons and backed by cafés along the rambla.
• Jardín Botánico de Montevideo (Prado)
  Shady botanical gardens in the old money Prado district, free and peaceful.
• Rosedal del Prado (Prado)
  A historic rose garden with pergolas, at its best in spring.

Off the Beaten Path

• Playa Ramírez (Parque Rodó)
  A small, central beach that locals use for a quick swim and sunset between the old town and Pocitos.

Must-Haves

• Cerro de Montevideo fortress (Villa del Cerro)
  The hilltop fort that gave the city its name, with wide views back across the bay.

Must-Haves

• Feria de Tristán Narvaja (Cordón)
  The Sunday street market of antiques, books, pets, vinyl and produce, a Montevideo ritual.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Agrícola de Montevideo (Goes)
  A restored market hall full of produce stalls, small eateries and local food shops.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mercado de los Artesanos (Centro)
  A cooperative of Uruguayan makers selling leather, wool, ceramics and mate gourds.
• Punta Carretas Shopping (Punta Carretas)
  A shopping centre built inside a former prison, with a striking old facade.

Fun for Everyone

• Montevideo Shopping (Punta Carretas)
  The city's original big mall, handy for rainy days and practical errands.

Must-Haves

• Café Brasilero (Ciudad Vieja)
  One of the oldest cafés in the city, with wood panelling and a literary history.

Great for Date Night

• Café Bacacay (Ciudad Vieja)
  A stylish small café and restaurant facing the Teatro Solís, good before a show.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Confitería La Americana (Centro)
  A traditional confitería for medialunas, sandwiches and a proper coffee on 18 de Julio.

Must-Haves

• Bar Fun Fun (Ciudad Vieja)
  A historic bar famous for uvita, a sweet fortified wine, and tango nights.

Fun for Everyone

• Mercado de la Abundancia (Cordón)
  A market building with simple restaurants and a tango hall that hosts milongas.

Must-Haves

• Desfile de Llamadas (Barrio Sur and Palermo)
  The great candombe drum parade during Carnival, with comparsas filling the streets.
• Carnaval tablados (Citywide)
  Neighbourhood stages where murga groups perform satirical songs on summer nights.

Fun for Everyone

• Día del Patrimonio (Citywide)
  A heritage weekend when palaces, embassies and private buildings open their doors for free.

Off the Beaten Path

• Semana Criolla del Prado (Prado)
  Easter week rodeo and folk festival with gauchos, horses and grills.

Must-Haves

• Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco (Carrasco)
  A restored early twentieth century casino hotel on the beach in Carrasco.

Great for Date Night

• Alma Histórica Boutique Hotel (Ciudad Vieja)
  A boutique hotel in an old building on Plaza Zabala, with themed rooms and a rooftop.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Ibis Montevideo Rambla (Pocitos)
  A practical, good value base near the rambla and the beach.

Fun for Everyone

• Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza (Plaza Independencia)
  A large central hotel on the main square, close to the old town and Centro.

Must-Haves

• Barrio Histórico (Old town)
  The UNESCO listed cobbled old town, best explored slowly and at sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• Portón de Campo (Old town)
  The reconstructed city gate and drawbridge that marks the entrance to the old town.
• Museo Portugués (Old town)
  A small museum on the Portuguese founding of the town, part of the shared museum ticket.

Off the Beaten Path

• Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (Old town)
  One of the oldest churches in Uruguay, rebuilt on its colonial foundations.

Must-Haves

• Faro de Colonia (Old town)
  The old lighthouse beside convent ruins, with views over rooftops and river.
• Calle de los Suspiros (Old town)
  The steep cobbled Street of Sighs, the most photographed lane in the country.
• Bodega Irurtia (Carmelo)
  One of the oldest family wineries in the Carmelo area, with tastings and cellar tours.

Off the Beaten Path

• Plaza de Toros Real de San Carlos (Real de San Carlos)
  A grand, abandoned bullring a bike ride from the old town, now restored as a venue.
• Narbona Wine Lodge (Carmelo)
  A historic estate with a winery, dairy, restaurant and small lodge.

Fun for Everyone

• Playa Ferrando (Colonia)
  A calm river beach and nature area close to town, good for a swim or picnic.

Great for Date Night

• Sunset at the Bastión del Carmen (Old town)
  The riverside rocks and walls where everyone gathers to watch the sun set over the water.

Great for Date Night

• El Drugstore (Old town)
  A colourful corner restaurant with live music and tables in an old car outside.
• Lentas Maravillas (Old town)
  A cosy riverside café and restaurant with a garden facing the sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• La Bodeguita (Old town)
  A pizza and grill spot with a deck over the river, popular at sunset.

Great for Date Night

• Charco Hotel (Old town)
  A small boutique hotel in a historic house with river views.

Fun for Everyone

• Radisson Colonia del Sacramento (Old town edge)
  A riverside hotel close to the historic quarter with a pool.

Must-Haves

• Casapueblo (Punta Ballena)
  Carlos Páez Vilaró's white cliffside house and museum, unmissable at sunset.
• La Mano (Playa Brava)
  The giant fingers sculpture rising from the sand, Punta's best known landmark.

Fun for Everyone

• Museo Ralli (Beverly Hills)
  A free museum of Latin American art in a quiet garden setting.

Must-Haves

• Playa Mansa (Peninsula)
  The calm bay beach for swimming, families and sunsets.
• Isla de Lobos boat trip (Port)
  Boat trips to see one of the largest sea lion colonies in South America.

Fun for Everyone

• Playa Brava (Peninsula)
  The ocean side beach with waves and the famous sculpture.

Off the Beaten Path

• Isla Gorriti (Bay)
  A pine covered island with quiet beaches, reached by short boat ride in summer.
• Playa Montoya (La Barra)
  A surf beach east of the bridge, busy with boards and young crowds in summer.

Fun for Everyone

• Puerto de Punta del Este (Peninsula)
  The harbour where sea lions wait by the fishing boats for scraps.
• Puente de La Barra (La Barra)
  The wave shaped bridge that cars bounce over on the way to La Barra.

Off the Beaten Path

• Arboretum Lussich (Punta Ballena)
  A large, quiet arboretum of trees from around the world, with walking trails.

Must-Haves

• Bodega Garzón (Garzón)
  A modern winery among the hills, with tours, tastings and a restaurant.

Must-Haves

• Parador La Huella (José Ignacio)
  A famous beach shack restaurant on the sand, known for grilled fish and long lunches.

Great for Date Night

• Francis (Peninsula)
  A smart grill and seafood restaurant close to the beach.
• Garzón restaurant (Pueblo Garzón)
  Francis Mallmann's restaurant in a tiny restored village, cooking over open fire.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lo de Tere (Peninsula)
  A long running harbourside restaurant with fresh fish and pasta.

Fun for Everyone

• Freddo (Avenida Gorlero)
  A popular ice cream parlour for dulce de leche after the beach.

Must-Haves

• Moby Dick Pub (Port)
  A classic harbourside pub that fills up late on summer nights.

Fun for Everyone

• Conrad Casino (Playa Mansa)
  The big resort casino and show venue on the bay.

Fun for Everyone

• Feria artesanal de Plaza Artigas (Peninsula)
  An evening crafts market on the main square in summer.

Must-Haves

• Enjoy Punta del Este (Playa Mansa)
  The large resort hotel and casino facing the calm bay beach.

Great for Date Night

• Playa Vik (José Ignacio)
  An art filled design hotel above the beach in José Ignacio.

Off the Beaten Path

• Club Hotel Casapueblo (Punta Ballena)
  Rooms within the white Casapueblo complex, with sunset views.

Must-Haves

• Punta del Este summer season (Citywide)
  Late December to January brings concerts, art fairs and polo; book well ahead.

Must-Haves

• Cabo Polonio (Cabo Polonio)
  A roadless village of cabins on a headland, reached by truck across the dunes.

Fun for Everyone

• Punta del Diablo (Punta del Diablo)
  A former fishing village turned surf town, with beaches facing every direction.
• Faro de La Paloma (La Paloma)
  The lighthouse on the point, with views over both coasts and whales in spring.

Great for Date Night

• La Pedrera cliffs (La Pedrera)
  Cliffs above long beaches, the place for sunset in this lively village.

Must-Haves

• Faro de Cabo Polonio (Cabo Polonio)
  The lighthouse above a large sea lion and fur seal colony.
• Parque Nacional Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa)
  Forest, beaches, camping and the star shaped Fortaleza de Santa Teresa.

Off the Beaten Path

• Laguna de Rocha (Rocha)
  A protected coastal lagoon with black necked swans and flamingos.
• Laguna de Castillos (Castillos)
  Wetlands surrounded by butiá palms, good for birdwatching.

Fun for Everyone

• Playa La Aguada (La Paloma)
  A long surf beach just north of La Paloma.

Fun for Everyone

• Fortaleza de Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa)
  An eighteenth century stone fort in the national park, open to visitors.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Seafood stalls of Punta del Diablo (Punta del Diablo)
  Simple stands frying fish, squid and seafood empanadas by the boats.

Off the Beaten Path

• Carnaval de La Pedrera (La Pedrera)
  A famous Carnival weekend of parades and parties in the village.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Butiá products stalls (Castillos)
  Roadside stalls selling butiá palm jam and liqueur.

Must-Haves

• Termas del Daymán (Daymán)
  Public thermal pools, a water park and guesthouses just south of Salto.
• Termas de Arapey (Arapey)
  Quiet rural hot springs with pools surrounded by fields.

Fun for Everyone

• Acuamanía (Daymán)
  A thermal water park with slides, good for families.
• Costanera de Salto (Centro)
  The riverside walk where locals watch the sunset over Argentina.

Off the Beaten Path

• Represa de Salto Grande (Salto Grande)
  The large hydroelectric dam shared with Argentina, with a lake behind it.

Must-Haves

• Teatro Larrañaga (Centro)
  A handsome nineteenth century theatre in the city centre.

Off the Beaten Path

• Museo del Hombre y la Tecnología (Centro)
  Local history and industry in an old market building.

Fun for Everyone

• Hotel Horacio Quiroga (Salto Grande)
  A hotel with its own thermal pools near the dam and lake.