Parks and the outdoors in Montevideo

Parks and the outdoors in Montevideo

1. See

   Carrasco

   Reached by bus or taxi it is a beautiful neighborhood full of trees by the beach twenty minutes from the Ciudad Vieja. It has nice restaurants with outdoor tables. It's really nice to walk around and visit the small upscale boutiques in nice houses, bookstores, a small shopping center Arocena and a movie theater. The best ice cream parlor Las Delicias. If weather permits the beach is really nice and good for long walks and swimming. There is a very large street fair on Wednesdays full of fruits, foods, and clothing, especially bathing suits! Also has upscale hotels.

2. See

   Castillo Pittamiglio

   Eccentric small brick castle at the beach. A guided tour, arranged four times a week, is the only way to see the inside of the castle.

   Tue Thu Sat Sun at 17:00·U$100

3. See

   El Prado

   Parque del Prado

   The largest park in the city proper is a few kilometers north of Palacio Legislativo. It is bisected by a creek named Miguelete. The botanical garden of the city is here too, as is the Juan Blanes museum and several pretty residences from the turn of the century. A popular place to hang out for locals.

4. See

   Hipodromo Nacional de Maroñas

   Accessible by car or taxi because surrounding neighborhoods are not the safest it is a great place to spend a weekend afternoon at the horse races. The building is absolutely gorgeous build in 1874 surrounded by a beautiful park a horse pool and the track. They have a restaurant and you can see the races and have drinks on the terrace. There is plenty to see for children and space for running around.

5. See

   Holocaust memorial

   Memorial del Holocausto del Pueblo Judío

   A work of contemporary art at the beach in Punta Carretas. It's intended to be experienced by walking through it from northwest to southeast.

6. See

   Museo Blanes

   Museum of Uruguayan art from the 19th to early 20th centuries, named after one of the most famous Uruguayan painters, Juan Manuel Blanes. Also features a Japanese garden.

   Tue-Sun 12:00-17:45·free

7. Eat

   Nuevo Citadelle

   An array of typical Uruguayan food, surprisingly cheap considering its prime location. It's kind of hidden away, though—to get there from the Plaza Independencia, walk through the old city gate into the Ciudad Vieja, and after just a few meters, go through the glass doors at Sarandí 690 (just to the left of the "Bookshop") to enter the Edificio de la Ciudadela. The restaurant is straight ahead.

   U$300–400 (Dec 2023)

8. See

   Parque Rodó

   The main park of southern Montevideo, named after the writer José Enrique Rodó and there is also a memorial in the park dedicated to him. The district north of the park is also named Parque Rodó, but the park itself stretches down into Punta Carretas. That part of the park is called Parque de las Instrucciones del Año XIII in homage to the document from 1813 demanding independence for the provinces of east of Rio de la Plata (today's Uruguay) and has a nice little lake. West of Avenida Cachon there is a small hill from which you can get a good view over Montevideo. Parque Rodó also features an amusement park (closed in the Southern Hemisphere winter) as well as outdoor sports facilities and a market on Sundays.

9. See

   Pocitos Beach

   Perhaps the nicest beach in Montevideo. At its eastern edge is the famous sign (Cartel/Letrero de Montevideo) that spells Montevideo in big letters—a popular spot for photos, and well known enough that it has inspired similar signs in other Uruguayan cities like Colonia and Rivera.

10. See

    Punta Carretas lighthouse

    Faro de Punta Carretas

    On the southernmost peninsula of the city. You get to walk a bit to get there. For a small fee you can get up in the tower, but the view over the city across the small bay is good from the ground too. The peninsula seems to be a quite popular spot for hobby fishers.

    U$20

11. See

    Museum of Zoology

    Built in the form of a mosque at the beach promenade.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Montevideo (CC BY-SA 4.0).