Montevideo – Top Sites to Visit

A relatively smaller city, Montevideo offers many of its tourist sites and offerings in proximity of each other. This makes planning a trip much easier than some of Latin America’s larger cities. Ranked among the highest for quality of living in South America, the city is well known for its more laid-back style and beach culture. In addition to the many landmarks, museums and attractions, the coastline is one of the city’s most popular locations for locals and visitors alike. Walk, run or bike along the more than 20 kilometers of coastline and take in all that Montevideo has to offer.

Ciudad Vieja (Old Town)

The district of Ciudad Vieja is the historic center of Montevideo and the birthplace of the city, tracing its roots back to 1724 as a walled city built by the Spanish Empire. Currently, one of the main office districts of the city, this district is also the one most frequented by tourists. Visitors to the area can expect to find many historical attractions as well as buildings and architecture in classical styles. The main street features a pedestrian-only walkway. Buildings of interest in the district include The Cabildo and the Metropolitan Cathedral, as well as various museums. Opportunities to enjoy shopping and local cafes are also popular here.

Address: Dr. Tristán Narvaja 1545, 11200, Montevideo
Phone: N/A
Operating Hours: N/A
Admission Cost: N/A
Website

La Feria Tristán Narvaja (Tristán Narvaja Street Market)

Located in the Cordón district, the traditional street market is open every Sunday. Held along Tristán Narvaja street, the area is home to many bookstores and antique shops, which are also popular amongst tourists. Each Sunday morning through to the afternoon, the street is full of vendors selling an array of goods. It is very popular with visitors seeking rare and unique objects. Some of the more popular items sold in the market include antiques, furniture, books, food and fruit. For those specifically seeking antiques, vendors selling typewriters, tools, coins, stamps and historical newspapers are all located here, making it nearly impossible to see the entire market in a single day.

Address: Dr. Tristán Narvaja 1545, Montevideo
Phone: N/A
Operating Hours:
– Monday Closed
– Tuesday Closed
– Wednesday Closed
– Thursday Closed
– Friday Closed
– Saturday Closed
– Sunday 9:00am – 3:00pm
Admission Cost: N/A
Website

Parque Rodó

The Parque Rodó is in the district of Punta Carretas and named after the famed Uruguayan writer José Enrique Rodó. The park includes several attractions that visitors may find interesting, starting with a small lake, along which sits a municipal children’s library. To the west exists an open-air exhibition which is used to showcase photography. The park also contains an amusement park that is connected to an outdoor football stadium with seating for up to 16,000 people. Named after the former president of the Uruguayan Soccer Commission, it is the home stadium of Defensor Sporting. In addition, the park also contains several restaurants and nightclubs along its edges, as well as a theater that plays host to various performances in the summer months.

Address: Requena Garcia n/a, Montevideo
Phone: 5982 7115980
Operating Hours:
– Monday Closed
– Tuesday Closed
– Wednesday Closed
– Thursday Closed
– Friday Closed
– Saturday 4:00pm – 0:00pm
-Sunday 4:00pm – 0:00pm
– Public Holidays and Holidays 2:30 pm – 10:00pm
Admission Cost:
– 1 ticket – $80
– 4 tickets – $280
– 6 tickets – $350
Website

Pittamiglio Castle

Located in the Punta Carretas district, the façade of this building features a replica of the Victory of Samothrace and was developed by the Italian-Uruguayan sculptor Pedro Piccioli. The small castle was a residence of the architect Humberto Pittamiglio after its completed construction in 1910. The location has been the subject of much speculation over the years, including a story that claimed the Holy Grail was once held inside. The castle includes a restaurant, museum and cultural space. Guided tours are offered to visitors and it is not unusual for the location to play host to musical shows, art exhibitions and various workshops around the creative arts.

Address: Rambla Mahatma Gandhi 633, Montevideo
Phone: +598 2713 5915
Operating Hours:
– Monday 6:00pm guided tour only
– Tuesday 6:00pm guided tour only
– Wednesday 6:00pm guided tour only
– Thursday 6:00pm guided tour only
– Friday 4:00pm – 8:00pm, 6:00pm guided tour
– Saturday 12:00pm – 8:00pm
– Sunday 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Admission Cost:
– FREE
– Guided tours – $280
Website

The Rambla

The Rambla of Montevideo is by far the most popular location for tourists and locals alike. A 22-kilometer avenue stretches along the Rio de la Plata seaside. The promenade is a famous place for walking, running and biking and features many shops and restaurants along it. Several areas of the promenade are specially reserved for skateboarding and roller skating. Fishing, kite-flying and more are also very popular pastimes. Due to local regulations, development on the beach-side is limited, allowing for mostly unobstructed ocean views. The entire stretch of The Rambla has been declared a Historical Monument has been put up for proposal for acceptance as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Address: Rambla Presidente Wilson, Montevideo
Phone: N/A
Operating Hours: N/A
Admission Cost: N/A
Website

Palacio Salvo

Designed by an Italian immigrant, the building was finished in 1928 and stands 100 meters high. For a short period of time, it was the tallest building in Latin America. Visitors to the site can explore the interior which includes the Tango Museum of Montevideo which explores the history of Uruguayan Tango and of the site which the building is constructed upon. Initially intended to be a hotel, the occupants of the Palacio Salvo have changed over the years and have included both private residences and offices. The structure was famously built on the site that Gerardo Matos Rodriguez wrote the famous tango composition ‘La Cumparsita’ in 1917.

Address: Plaza Independencia, 11100, Montevideo
Phone: + 598 29001204
Operating Hours:
– Closed until further notice
Admission Cost: N/A
Website