Montevideo Sights: Landmarks and Lookouts

The best-known sights in Montevideo sit close together between Plaza Independencia and the old port, with a few outliers on the shore and on a hill to the west. A sensible order for one day is as follows, with each stop described below.

  1. Plaza Independencia and Palacio Salvo
  2. The old town on foot, ending at Plaza Matriz
  3. A viewpoint on the Intendencia tower
  4. The shoreline at Punta Carretas and Pocitos
  5. A quiet stop at the Holocaust Memorial, if you want one

Prices are in Uruguayan pesos (UYU), and several opening hours are only reported by guides, so confirm locally. Street crime exists in the capital. Official advice is to avoid walking downtown or around the port area alone, especially at night and at weekends, so do your sightseeing by day and take a taxi back.

Around Plaza Independencia

Palacio Salvo, completed in 1928 to a design by Mario Palanti, rises about 100 m and was briefly the tallest building in South America. The tango “La Cumparsita” was composed in 1916 by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez, and the Cafe La Giralda that stood on the same site is where it was reportedly first played in public. Tours are sold through RedTickets. Secondary reports mention about 45 to 60 minutes, roughly UYU 400 and a visit to the Tango Museum and a viewpoint, on weekdays and Saturdays. The meeting point is the lobby door at number 848.

The Torre Ejecutiva and the Palacio Estevez also face the square. Beneath the equestrian statue of Jose Gervasio Artigas lies his mausoleum, where his remains rest under the watch of the Blandengues de Artigas regiment. Entry is free, and the crypt is open on limited hours, so check locally. Speak softly and photograph with restraint.

The old town on foot

Pass through the Puerta de la Ciudadela onto the pedestrian Peatonal Sarandi. Plaza Matriz, laid out in 1726, is the city’s oldest square, and the Catedral Metropolitana beside it is free to enter, with modest dress expected. The Cabildo, at Juan Carlos Gomez 1362 on the corner of Sarandi, holds the municipal history museum. Guides describe it as free, but they disagree on hours.

Viewpoints

The Mirador Panoramico de la Intendencia is on the 22nd floor of the municipal tower at Soriano 1372, almost 80 m above the street. It has an information centre, wifi, a souvenir shop, a cafe and binoculars to hire. Guides call it free, but hours and any booking requirement differ from one guide to the next, so ask before you make a special trip.

The Palacio Legislativo, inaugurated in 1925, runs guided visits. Price and hours are not confirmed, and the parliament’s site is the place to ask.

Out on the Cerro

The Fortaleza General Artigas crowns the Cerro, a hill of about 134 m. Construction began in 1809 and continued afterwards, and the fort holds a military museum. Hours and price are unconfirmed. Go by taxi or ride-hailing car to the gate, and do not wander the streets around the hill after dark. The hop-on tourist bus skips the Cerro entirely. A second “Montevideo” sign stands here.

Shoreline icons

The Letras de Montevideo spell out the city’s name on the Pocitos Rambla near the beach, and the Faro de Punta Carretas lighthouse dates from 1876. Teatro Solis, at Buenos Aires 678, offers guided tours on most days and they are free on Wednesdays. The theatre’s information page lists the times, and the city’s visitor guide covers the other main sights.

A place of remembrance

The Memorial al Holocausto del Pueblo Judio is on the Rambla Presidente Wilson at Bulevar Artigas in Punta Carretas, and it opened in 1994. The architects were Gaston Boero, Fernando Fabiano and Sylvia Perossio, and Carlos Pellegrino designed the landscape. About 120 m of pink granite leads to a central window that looks toward the river, with rail tracks along the approach. It stands in the open and is free to enter, with no gate. Come in a quiet frame of mind, because this is a memorial and not a place for posed photographs.

Organised tours

For guided options across the city, browse GetYourGuide sightseeing tours in Montevideo .

Read more: walking tours in Montevideo , bus tours in Montevideo and the 2-day Montevideo itinerary .