Uruguay
Discover Uruguay
Uruguay is the second-smallest country in South America, wedged between two of the world's largest countries ― Argentina and Brazil. Known for its colonial-era historic districts in Colonia and Montevideo, amazing beaches on the Atlantic Coast, its socially progressive society, and beef production, Uruguay is a true gem among South American nations, as it boasts a level of stability that few countries on the continent can match.
What to Experience in Uruguay
Taste of Uruguay...
Uruguayan cuisine is typical for temperate countries, high on butter, fat, and grains, low on spice. It has an important Italian influence due to the strong Italian immigration. If you are from the Mediterranean or Mexico, you will find it bland, but if you come from the Northern Europe, Russia or the US, you won't have trouble getting used to it. As of May 2014, breakfast for 4 people (a liter of fruit juice and two packages of biscuits) can cost as little as U$100 in a supermarket, a serving of fast food costs about the same while meals in sit down restaurants generally speaking start from U$300. Many restaurants have a cover charge. Restaurants and some other services give discounts if you pay with a foreign credit card. (The discount, which was established by the government to encourage tourism, is a reduction in value-added tax.) There are many public markets where you can get a hundred varieties of meat. Vegetarians can order ravioli or other pasta just about anywhere, but check to make sure the sauce doesn't contain meat. Vegans may have trouble as meat and dairy are nearly ubiquitous; restaurants with good vegan options exist, but they're few and far between. Empanadas (hand-sized meat or cheese pies) make an excellent portable, inexpensive, and delicious snack or lunch. You can find them easily at many corner bakeries.
Culture & Religion
Culture
Culturally the country is closest to its neighbors Argentina and the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, with which it shares its traditional elements of gaucho (South American cowboy) culture. In Montevideo and on the coast the gaucho is more of a national symbol than a part of daily life, but in the north (cities like Rivera and Bella Unión) you'll see modern-day gauchos going about their lives, riding horses in traditional clothing. Uruguay also has Lusitanian influences, like the large Rio-like carnivals in the first months of the year in many cities, the historical old town of Colonia — a 17th-century Portuguese outpost and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as portuñol, a mix of Spanish and Portuguese spoken near the Brazilian border. Amerindian traits can be found in Uruguayan culture, from cuisine to vocabulary, but there is no Amerindian population left.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Uruguay into what it is today.
Uruguay was discovered by Spanish Adelantados in the late 16th century, and was part of the United Provinces of the River Plate until 1811. (Although plata literally means "silver" in Spanish, "plate" is the traditional and correct translation as it was used as a synonym for precious metals up until the 19th century.) Originally, Uruguay was simply known as the Banda Oriental, or Eastern Band, of colonies along the eastern edge of the Uruguay and Plate Rivers. When Buenos Aires expelled the last Viceroy, Baltasar Cisneros, the capital moved to Montevideo. The rebel navy sailed from Buenos Aires in an attempt to overcome the Spanish troops in that city, aided by the local rebel troops. When Montevideo was finally freed from Spain, Uruguay intended to secede from Buenos Aires, only to be invaded by the Brazilian Empire, which started the Argentine-Brazilian war in 1813. After a variety of confusing twists, the war ultimately ended in a stalemate. With the assistance of mediation by the British government, both warring countries agreed to end their territorial claims on the Banda Oriental in 1828, thus giving birth to the new Eastern Republic of Uruguay. A constitution was subsequently drafted and adopted in 1830. British assistance in the creation of Uruguay led to a long history of British influence (including the habit of driving on the left), which ended only with World War II....
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Uruguay.
The Uruguayan currency is the peso (ISO code: UYU). Prices are quoted using the U$ symbol, which may be easily confused with the US dollar symbol. Prices on costlier goods and services (over US$100, generally speaking) are often quoted in American dollars instead of pesos, and US dollars are surprisingly widely accepted even at some fast food restaurants. Places that cater to foreign visitors often also accept Argentinian pesos or Brazilian reals. All of these currencies use the symbol "$", so check which currency the prices are in if you're unsure. Coins in Uruguay come in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos Uruguayos. Banknotes in Uruguay come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 pesos Uruguayos. Credit cards are not as widely accepted as in North America or Europe - smaller establishments often accept only cash (efectivo).
Climate
Uruguay is the only South American country located entirely in the temperate zone. The country is flat grassland and all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts and forceful winds as there are no high mountains that could act as shields. As Uruguay is located south of the Equator (approximately at the same latitude as Johannesburg and Sydney), summer and winter are reversed compared to the Northern Hemisphere. In the winter temperatures under freezing are rare but not unheard of. Uruguay, like many countries in the Western Hemisphere, is a melting pot of cultures. Most Uruguayans are descendants of Spanish and Italian immigrants who migrated to the country centuries ago. Uruguay has one of the largest Italian communities in the world ― it is believed that 44% of the population are of full or partial Italian descent.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsCitizens of Mercosur member states ― Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru ― enjoy freedom of movement in Uruguay. They can just enter with their National ID card. Citizens of the following countries can enter without a visa: If you're not a citizen of any of the countries listed above, you must apply for a visa at a Uruguayan embassy. If you want to stay longer than 90 days as a tourist, you'll need to either leave the country and re-enter with a fresh stamp for another 90 days (Buenos Aires and Chuí are popular and convenient options for these "visa runs"; see #By car below for others), or bring your passport to the appropriate government office to get an extension. Travellers from other countries should contact the local consular section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But usually Uruguay has its borders open to tourists and visitors from all countries and it is quite easy to get in or out....
Regions
Explore AreasUruguay is divided into 19 departments, which can be very roughly grouped into the following four general regions. Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, is its own department. Each of the other departme…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
There are limited commuter train services around Montevideo, provided by the Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estado. As of Jan 2025, the commuter train is inactive due modernization of the tracks. There are some tourist trains which do not have a fixed schedule. You need to find announcements for them at the Montevideo train station, located at the corner of Nicaragua and Paraguay. There is, except a slow train connection between Taucarembó and Rivera in the far north, no regular long distance train service. The most usual means of public transport is the bus (local buses inside Montevideo and from Montevideo to other main cities of the country). Uruguay has an extensive internal bus system, in practice the only way of getting around between cities if you aren't driving. From Montevideo interdepartmental buses leave from the Tres Cruces station which also serves the international buses.
Where to Stay
For nature lovers, birdwatchers, and those seeking a respite from the fast-paced world, there are many "estancias" in serene and peaceful environments, surrounded by many species of native and migrating birds, which offer a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature. There are many more beach houses to rent along the coast than actual hotel rooms. They are plentiful, and outside the high season affordable. During the first two weeks of January it's impossible to find anything, every cottage and hotel room is booked months in advance. In addition, camping is possible in many places (free or including amenities), especially near the beach. However, consider that many grounds are private property, so you should not camp here. Consult OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use, to find places which have been tagged by other people as possible camping sites.
Money & Budget
The Uruguayan currency is the peso (ISO code: UYU). Prices are quoted using the U$ symbol, which may be easily confused with the US dollar symbol. Prices on costlier goods and services (over US$100, generally speaking) are often quoted in American dollars instead of pesos, and US dollars are surprisingly widely accepted even at some fast food restaurants. Places that cater to foreign visitors often also accept Argentinian pesos or Brazilian reals. All of these currencies use the symbol "$", so check which currency the prices are in if you're unsure. Coins in Uruguay come in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos Uruguayos. Banknotes in Uruguay come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 pesos Uruguayos.
Language & Talk
Spanish is the country's official and national language. The pronunciation and the use of the vos pronoun instead of tú is practically the same as the Spanish variety spoken in Argentina, also known as Rioplatense Spanish. However it is remarkably different from the Spanish spoken in Spain when it comes to pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary. If you are not familiar with the local dialect, be prepared to regularly having to ask people you're talking with to repeat themselves. Although most Uruguayans have studied English at school, they do not actually speak or use it. However, some Uruguayans have studied English at private institutes, so they can speak it well. Outside Montevideo, Colonia and Punta del Este, there are few English speakers.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Historically, Uruguay used to enjoy a low rate of violent crime compared to some of its neighbors. However, this does not mean that Uruguay is crime free. The major differences are that most Uruguayan crimes are either nonconfrontational or do not involve the gratuitous use of firearms. Montevideo in particular has seen its crime rate gradually rise since the severe 2001-2002 financial crisis, and now has moderately high levels of theft, burglary, and robbery similar to those found in major U.S. cities. Fortunately, Punta del Este and most rural areas continue to enjoy relatively low crime levels. In Montevideo, take precautions: use a money belt and/or hotel safe for valuables, look alert, keep out of obvious slums, and avoid wandering around unfamiliar or iffy neighborhoods at night. In a security emergency, call 911 or 999. For firefighters, call, 104. For ambulance, call 105. Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs in the country and legal as well.
Glimpses of Uruguay
gray stone on brown wooden table near body of water during daytime
City of Punta del Este Uruguay. Beach
Serene Vista!
the sun is setting over a city by the ocean
A beautiful house, in a beautiful place, of a great artist.
Casa Pueblo en Punta del Este
Street Tree
Palacio Salvo
Sunset in La Paloma, Uruguay
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gray stone on brown wooden table near body of water during daytime
City of Punta del Este Uruguay. Beach
Serene Vista!