6 Days in Montevideo: First-Timer Plan
Six days is generous for Montevideo, and honestly, most of it should go toward day trips rather than the city itself, which wraps up comfortably in 2-3 days.
Day 1
Walk Ciudad Vieja and Plaza Independencia: Plaza Matriz, the Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Palacio Salvo, tallest in South America when it opened in 1927. Lunch at Mercado del Puerto runs $15-25. Walk the Rambla toward sunset and have dinner in Ciudad Vieja for $15-30. Tip for the day: pay with a foreign card to drop restaurant VAT from 22% to 9%.
Day 2
Visit Estadio Centenario and the Museo del Futbol, home to the ball from the 1930 World Cup final. Lunch at Mercado Agricola (MAM) runs $10-20, then spend the afternoon at Pocitos beach. Parrilla dinner costs $20-35 with wine. Tip for the day: use Uber or Cabify to cover the distance, since there’s no metro in the city.
Day 3
Take the bus to Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO old town about 2 to 2.5 hours away, round trip fare $30-40. Walk the cobblestone streets, with lunch in town for $10-20. Return to Montevideo by evening. Tip for the day: book bus tickets ahead in summer at Tres Cruces terminal.
Day 4
Head to Canelones wine country, about 40 minutes out, for a Tannat tasting at Bodega Bouza, $15-30, booked ahead. If it’s a Sunday, swap the morning for Feria de Tristan Narvaja instead. Lunch runs $10-20. Tip for the day: a rental car or guided tour both work well for this trip.
Day 5
Take a day trip to Punta del Este, about 2 to 2.5 hours east, round trip transport $25-40. See La Mano sculpture and Casapueblo at Punta Ballena. Be honest that Punta del Este is genuinely better as an overnight in summer, so keep expectations realistic for a single day. Lunch and dinner there run $15-30 each. Tip for the day: go in the shoulder season if you want a full day rather than a rushed one.
Day 6
Spend the morning at Punta Carretas: the 1876 lighthouse and the former-prison shopping mall, site of a 1971 escape. Walk through Parque Rodo in the afternoon, then close with a final Rambla walk and dinner in Ciudad Vieja, $15-30. Tip for the day: leave time before your flight, since Carrasco airport sits about 20km from downtown.
Practical Notes
This plan spends three of six days outside Montevideo proper, which reflects the city’s honest pacing rather than padding.
Read more: 7 days in Montevideo for the longest version of this plan.