Montevideo

Aduana building

Massive landmark next to Mercado del Puerto, hosting the Uruguayan customs administration.

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.

Casa de Fructuoso Rivera

The home of the first president of Uruguay is today a museum of the country's political history.

Mon-Fri 11:00-16:45

Casa de Lavalleja

The house of Juan Antolio Lavalleja, leader of the Thirty-Three Orientals who fought against Brazil for Uruguayan independence in the 1820s. Part of the National History Museum.

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

Castillo Soneira

Neo-Gothic building from the 19th century that used to be the residence of a wealthy family.

Catedral Metropolitana

Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral

The Catholic cathedral of Montevideo and the seat of the archdiocese of Montevideo. The cathedral features beautiful artwork, among them the picture of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, the patron saint of Uruguay. Mass at least one time per day, the schedule is posted outside the door so you can check the schedules in the case you want to attend one or if you want to have a closer look at the church without disturbing a ceremony.

Cathedral of The Most Holy Trinity

Templo Inglés

An Anglican church and the oldest non-Catholic place of worship in Montevideo. Looks more like a Roman temple than a church.

Central Cemetery

Cementerio Central

A historic cemetery with sculptures. Founded in 1835 and the final resting place for many important Uruguayan politicians, authors and artists.

Edificio Ciudadela

Glass-framed office building at the western end of the square with a terrifying number of air conditioning units.

El Cabildo

Cabildo de Montevideo

During the Spanish rule in the early 19th century and the first decades of independence, El Cabildo was the parliament building. Later on various governmental departments were housed there, but since 1959 the building has been a museum, Museo Histórico Municipal, displaying the city governments archives.

Mon-Fri 12:00-17:45, Sat 10:00-16:00·Free

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.

Fortaleza General Artigas

This fort, on the top of the Cerro Hill, houses a collection of armoury. It is the original fort from which Montevideo originated. The fort sits on the top of a hill and can be seen from many places in the city - and you'll have a fantastic view of the city from the fort. Visiting the fort can be hard, as the Cerro district is somewhat of a shantytown and reportedly not safe to wander around in — though it is possible to reach the fort by car or taxi.

Fuente de los Candados

The padlock fountain

A small fountain at corner of Yi, completely covered by locks. Similar to bridges in many European cities, couples come here to attach a padlock to it. If they do so their love is supposed to last forever and they will also return to Montevideo someday.

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.

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.

MAPI

Museo de Arte Precolombino e Indígena

Museum of indigenous art and Uruguayan archaeology. As the name reveals, it showcases native American artefacts from all of South America.

Mon-Fri 11:30-17:30, Sat 10:00-16:00·U$65

MNAV

Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales

National museum of modern Uruguayan art, exhibiting paintings. They have a permanent exhibition featuring works of Juan Blanes, Rafael Barradas, Pedro Figari and José Cuneo.

Tue-Sun 14:00-19:00·$U200

Mausoleo de Artigas

This large monument in the Plaza Independencia pays tribute to José Gervasio Artigas, one of the heroes of the Uruguayan Independence. Under the monument is the mausoleum, which is open on the weekends. It contains an urn with his ashes and two honor guards keeping watch.

Mercado del Puerto

This is a covered market full of restaurants and some shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs that is worth seeing as a sight, an eating place, and as a place for shopping. The main market is open every day during lunch hours. The restaurants around the exterior offer indoor and outdoor seating, and they remain open for dinner.

Museo Andes 1972

In October 1972 a plane carrying Uruguayan rugby players to Santiago crashed in the Andes, 16 of the passengers managing to survive over two months in terrifying circumstances before they eventually were found and rescued. This museum tells the story of the event, known as the 1972 Andes flight disaster.

U$200

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

Museo Casa Vilamajó

Built in 1930, Uruguayan architect Julio Vilamajó`s house has been fully restored by the local architecture university and functions as a museum. Fine example of early modernist Uruguayan architecture. The house is open just a few times per week; be sure to check beforehand on the museum`s website.

free

Museo Torres Garcia

Displaying works by one of the most prominent Uruguayan artists, the painter and sculptor Joaquín Torres García (1874-1949).

Mon-Fri 09:30-19:30, Sat 10:00-18:00

Museo de Historia del Arte

MuHAr

Archeological museum with exhibits from Uruguay and other parts of the world, the exhibits include even Egyptian mummies.

Tue-Sun 12:00-17:30·free

Museo del Carnaval

Small museum with carnival costumes and paraphernalia. If you don't have the opportunity to visit Montevideo during the yearly carnival, at least you will get to see some costumes and drums here.

Wed-Sun 11:00-17:00·U$80

Museo del Fútbol

Football museum

It's in the stadium where the first football world championships were held in 1930. You can see old photos, flags, jerseys, posters, trophies, flags and such. You will also get access to the stadium itself (unless there is a game going on).

Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00·U$100

Museo del Gaucho y de la Moneda

Two museums in one building. The one showing the gaucho (South American cowboy) culture has everyday objects from drinking horns to weapons, as well as silverware, all from the 19th century, when the gauchos were riding around on the Pampas. The other museum, Museo de la Moneda, is a numismatic museum featuring bills, coins and medals from the last centuries. The museums are in Palacio Heber Jackson, a Cultural Heritage Monument and one of several iconic buildings along the avenue.

Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00·free

Museo del Tango de Montevideo

Tango Museum of Montevideo

The historic place of Tango music in Uruguay. It is the place where La Cumparsita, the Tango of all Tangos was first played 100 years ago, in 1917. It conserves the original pieces of the time, and a large collection of Uruguayan Tango history. Working victrols play tango all day long on original records. It is one of the most visited sites in Montevideo.

National History Museum

Museo Histórico Nacional

Spread between five old historic houses, holds important bits of the country's history.

No entrance fee