Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay is one of the smallest, yet safest capital cities in South America. Unlike the majority of capital cities which are bustling with people, traffic and mayhem, Montevideo it is fairly laid-back and quiet capital and has been voted the best Latin American city to live in.

As it is main destination to visit when traveling to Uruguay, I spent a few days here exploring the sites and attractions. I felt 3 days was enough to see everything that I wanted to see in Montevideo, but you could easily spend longer if you want to take your time and visit different attractions.

Here are some suggestions of the best things to do whilst spending a few days in the capital:  

Take a free walking tour

Whenever I visit a new city, I like to do a walking tour to learn about the city and find out where places are. It also gives you the chance to meet new people and find out interesting and useful information about the city, things to do and see and important information that you should know.

On my first day in Montevideo, I did the free walking tour with the company ‘Free walking tours’. The tours run every day (Mon-Fri- 10am & 3pm and Saturday and Sunday- 3.30pm) and starts from Plaza Independencia (under Artigus monument). The guides wear red t-shirts and you can just join on the day.

The tour I did took around 2.5 hours and covered the main areas in the old city. The guide was excellent and the tour was a super interesting.  I found out a lot of important and interesting information about the history and culture of Uruguay and some great tips for local food restaurants.

The walking tour is ‘free’ however it is tip-based. Tips are not mandatory but it is the main wage of the guides so consider how much you would usually spend on a tour of the city for this length of time and provide the guides with an appropriate tip. The average tip is usually between 5 and 10 USD but it is totally up to you, your budget and how much you enjoyed the tour.

Check out this website for more information regarding the free walking tours in Uruguay. This company also does a bar crawl tour of Montevideo. https://www.freewalkingtour.com.uy/

Walk the La Rambla and visit the beaches

Enjoy a stroll, a cycle or a run along the famous La Rambla, a huge promenade running the coastline of Montevideo and along the Rio de la Plata. La Rambla in Barcelona may be the most famous however this is the longest continuous sidewalk in the world, stretching for over 13 miles (22km). This is the perfect place to watch the sunrise or sunset and take in the ocean breeze. In addition to housing some of the most popular beaches in the city, there are some other sites along the Rambla worth visiting. Strike a pose over the city and coastline at the Montevideo sign, located in the Pocitos section or check out the Punta Carretas lighthouse.

Take a tour around the Estadio Centenario football stadium

When you think of famous football teams in South America, you usually think of the famous Brazil or Argentina. Although Uruguay has an extremely small population, they have a very good football team and have won two world cup titles. The stadium is known as one of the most historical in the world, hosting the first world cup final in 1930. If you want to visit, the stadium is located in the Parque Battle neighbourhood of Montevideo, a short bus ride from the city.

Visit the Plaza Independencia and Montevideo’s main square.

Like every city in South America, there is a main square. Montevideo’s is a large green space with palm trees and seating areas. The square hosts many important buildings and structures here including the Puerta de la Ciudadela (city gate), the Palacio Salvo and the Estevez palace. In the centre of the square is a mausoleum and monument dedicated to Jose Gervasio Artigus, the father of Uruguay’s independence.

Depending how much time you spend in Montevideo, you may have time to visit other places. Here are some other cool places to visit whilst in the city:

• Prado park
• Mercado del Puerto
• The Solis theatre (teatro solis)