Beach towns, slow asados and mate sipped along the waterfront.
Uruguay is small, safe and easy-going, with a long Atlantic coastline and gentle rolling farmland. Montevideo's Rambla runs for kilometres along the water, past the art deco buildings of the Ciudad Vieja. Colonia del Sacramento keeps cobbled streets from its colonial past, while Punta del Este draws a glamorous summer crowd and remote Cabo Polonio has sand dunes, sea lions and no road access.
Everyday life revolves around the asado grill and a thermos of mate carried everywhere. Buses are frequent and comfortable, making it simple to move along the coast. December to March is beach season, with Carnival in Montevideo stretching across February, while spring and autumn are quieter and pleasant for the cities.
Best time to visit Uruguay
January, February, March, December.
Places to visit in Uruguay
Montevideo: Uruguay's easy-going capital, with an art deco old town, grills in the port market and a waterfront promenade for sunset walks.
Colonia del Sacramento: A small Portuguese-founded town with a UNESCO-listed old quarter of cobbled lanes, just a ferry ride from Buenos Aires.
Punta del Este: A peninsula resort town with beaches on two coasts, famous for its summer social scene and the hand sculpture on Playa Brava.
Essentials
Currency: Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Language: Spanish
Plugs: Type C / F / I / L, 220 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC−3
Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants
Getting around: Frequent, comfortable intercity buses; Montevideo's Tres Cruces terminal is the hub
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking