If you are visiting the city for the first time, Montevideo Uruguay (south america) has a very European feel with charming barrios (districts), cobbled stone streets and colonial-style architecture.
The city offers plenty of activities, and things to do include walking tours along the Old City, visiting some of the museums, and enjoy a stroll along Las Ramblas riverfront.
Things to do in Montevideo: Places of Interest
Museum and Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanico)
If you are traveling with the family, the Botanical Garden is a lovely place to stroll around while observing a great variety of trees and plants native to Uruguay. At the museum, you can check out a variety of Uruguayan vintage items from the colonial era.
The Museum and Botanical Garden is located in the Prado neighborhood, near El Pardo Park.
Prado Rose Garden (Prado Rosedal)
The Prado Rose Garden is nearby the Botanical Garden and it is another popular place to stroll and marvel at the variety (over 400) or native species of roses and various other countries such as England and France.
Santiago Vazquez (La Barra)
A visit to the town of Santiago Vazquez is one of the most popular things to do in Montevideo.
From downtown Montevideo, the town is only s short drive by car along Luis Batlle Berres Avenue.
Once you get there, you can stroll along the riverfront and get beautiful views of the Santa Lucia River and the Santa Lucia Bridge.
Montevideo La Rambla
If you are visiting the city for the first time, one of the most popular things to do in Montevideo is to take a drive or stroll along La Rambla, which runs between La Teja and Carrasco neighborhoods.
La Rambla is essentially a very long avenue that runs along the banks of the Rio (river) de la Plata. Along the way you’ll find many small shops, cafes and bars offering lovely views of the river.
Ciudad Vieja
To get a feel of Montevideo colonial-era, take a stroll along the neighborhood of Ciudad Vieja (Old City), which used to be a walled-city during colonial times.
Ciudad Vieja is the oldest part of town and features many 19th century buildings such as Torres Garcia Museum, Solis Theater, Palacio Salvo and the Gateway of Ciudadela.
Museo(museum) Torres García
If you are interested in art, the Torres Garcia museum, located near Independence Square, is one of the most popular museums in the city as it primarily features works by the Uruguayan artist Joaquín Torres García.
Independence Square (Plaza Independencia)
The famed Independence Square is located in the heart of Ciudad Vieja (Old City) and it is one of the most beautiful and historic squares in South America.
In the center of the Square you can find the statue and mausoleum of Jose Artiga.
Things to do in Montevideo: Beaches
Pocitos District
Pocitos is one of the touristy districts in Montevideo due to Pocitos Beach, which is one of the most popular beaches in the city due to its crystal clear waters.
Malvin District
Malvin District is another residential area home to many summer beach apartments where you can enjoy beach activities.
Also, along Rambla O'higgins you can find a small rock formation called Seagull Island (Isla de las Gaviotas).
Things to do in Montevideo: Shopping
Montevideo’s Sunday markets are, undoubtedly, one of the best places to enjoy the shopping scene in the city.
Two of the most popular Sunday markets include La Feria de Tristan Narvaja Market (located near Rambla Republica de Mexico), and Sarandi Market (located adjacent Independence Square).
Montevideo is also home to a few shopping centers where you can enjoy retail and souvenir shopping.
One of the most popular places to shop is at the Tres Cruces Shopping Mall located on Bv. Artigas.
Tres Cruces mall is actually located at the bus terminal so, if you’re stopping there, Tres Cruces mall is worth a visit.
Another popular shopping mall it’s Montevideo Shopping center. This mall has over two hundred different department stores, a couple of theaters, a few cinemas and a food court.
Things to do in Montevideo: Nightlife & Dining
The most popular place for dining and finding nightlife in Montevideo it's in the neighborhood of Ciudad Vieja.
Here, you can find bars, cafes, discos and the Port Market (Mercado de Puerto) which is one of the best places in Montevideo to experience Uruguayan cuisine.
For a bit of entertainment, the Solis Theater offers plenty performances ranging from concerts to ballet performances every night.
If you’re looking for things to do at night, I’d highly recommend checking out the theater.
Things to do in Montevideo: Events & Festivals
Montevideo Tango Festival (held in February)
The city of Montevideo is known as the birth place of Tango. If you love dancing and want to learn Tango, Montevideo Tango Festival features Tango workshops, dance exhibitions and more.
Montevideo Carnival (held also in February)
The Montevideo Carnival is the longest running carnival in the world and last for the entire month of February and part of March.
If you are planning to travel to Uruguay, I would suggest traveling here during the Montevideo Carnival to soak in a bit of Uruguayan culture.
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