This guide is for you if you are based in Punta del Este and want a day in Uruguay's capital, or if you are leaving the country and want to see Montevideo on the way to your flight or ferry. It covers the day of the week, the road, the bus as an alternative, and what each stop in the city is.
Which day to go
The day of the week changes the city. On Sundays the Ciudad Vieja is quiet, and many of its shops are shut. The Mercado del Puerto stays open and is busy at lunchtime. If you want the old city with its doors open, go on a weekday.
The season matters on the road. Montevideo is about 130 km west along the coast, and the drive takes about two hours each way. In January and February the coast road is busy at weekends, so allow more time. Eastbound traffic out of Montevideo is at its worst on summer Friday afternoons, which is when you are driving home. A summer Friday is the day to avoid.
How the day runs
You are collected at 07:00 anywhere in Punta del Este, Maldonado, La Barra or Punta Ballena, and you come into the city at about 09:00, along the Rambla from Carrasco, past the beaches of the eastern suburbs.
The Legislative Palace
Uruguay's parliament was inaugurated on 25 August 1925, a hundred years after the declaration of independence. The Italian architects Vittorio Meano and Gaetano Moretti designed it, and its facades, walls, vaults and columns are faced with marbles from Uruguay. The decoration took until 1964 to finish. It is the seat of the General Assembly.
Plaza Independencia and the Ciudad Vieja
From 10:15 you are on foot: the Palacio Salvo and the statue of Artigas on the square, the old city gate, Calle Sarandí, Plaza Matriz and the Teatro Solís. The theatre opened on 25 August 1856 with Verdi's opera Ernani, and reopened after restoration in 2004. It runs guided visits in several languages. If you want one, check the times on its official site before you go, and tell us when you book.
Lunch at the Mercado del Puerto
The old market hall was inaugurated on 10 October 1868. British engineers designed it, and its iron parts were made in Liverpool. Today it is full of restaurants grilling meat over open-fire parrillas. Lunch is not included, so you choose where to sit and what to order.
The Rambla and Pocitos
After lunch the car follows the river past Punta Carretas to the beach at Pocitos, and at 15:00 you head back east. You are at your hotel at about 17:00.
Ending at the airport or the port
The day does not have to finish in Punta del Este. It can end at Carrasco airport or at the port of Montevideo instead. The coast road passes Carrasco airport on the way out of the city. Tell us your flight or ferry time when you book.
On your own: the bus or a car and driver
The bus is a real option. Coaches run between the Punta del Este bus terminal and Tres Cruces terminal in Montevideo, and the trip takes roughly two and a quarter to two and a half hours. At peak hours they leave every twenty minutes or so, and many stop at Carrasco airport. Check the timetable with the bus companies before you travel, as it changes with the season.
What the bus does not do is the city. From Tres Cruces you would need taxis or city buses to reach the Legislative Palace, the old city and the Rambla, and you would have to watch the clock for the last coach back. A private car collects you at your door, drops you back there or at your flight or ferry, and changes plan on the day. Fuel, tolls and parking are included; entrances and lunch are not. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
Who it suits
- Travellers staying in Punta del Este who want to see the capital.
- Anyone flying out of Carrasco or sailing from the port of Montevideo, who can see the city on the way.
- Football fans: the Centenario stadium is a short drive from the centre; tell your driver on the day.
Think twice if you are short of time in Punta del Este itself. Ten hours is a long day, and four of them are on the road. If you will be in Montevideo for a few days anyway, our guide to day trips from Montevideo covers tours that start in the city.
Questions people ask
Can we stop at Piriápolis?
Yes. It is a short detour from the coast road. Tell us when you book and we will plan the time.
What if there are more than 16 of us?
Two vehicles travel together on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up for a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Pick a weekday, avoid a summer Friday if you can, and decide where the day should end. The full timings and inclusions are on the Montevideo day trip from Punta del Este page. For our shorter tours around town, read the guide to day trips from Punta del Este.
