Day Trips from Montevideo by Coach

October 20, 2026

Most day trips from Montevideo leave by coach from Terminal Tres Cruces, at Bulevar Artigas 1825, which is open 24 hours. COT and Turil run the main routes. There is no train, and there is no ferry between Montevideo and Colonia. The Buquebus fast ferry from the port terminal crosses to Buenos Aires, which is a separate trip. Fares below are in Uruguayan pesos (UYU) and rise from time to time, so check the operator’s page before you travel.

Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia is the classic day out. COT’s timetable lists about 2 hours 45 minutes each way and UYU 579 one way, with about 11 departures a day. Some do not run on Sundays or holidays. The old quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1995, and it is small enough to walk in a day. Look for the Calle de los Suspiros, the Portón de Campo gate and the lighthouse, which dates from 1857 and charges a small entry fee. The town changed hands several times. Check the COT timetable and book a return that leaves Colonia well before dark.

Punta del Este and Punta Ballena

COT lists UYU 466 and about 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes for the Piriapolis-routed service, with about 30 departures. Mario Irarrazabal’s sculpture La Mano rises from Playa Brava and dates from 1982. At Punta Ballena, Casapueblo charges UYU 600 for adults and UYU 500 for over-65s, and children under 12 are free. It is open daily from 10:00 to sunset, and the Ceremonia al Sol marks the end of the day. See Casapueblo for details. In summer the resort is better as an overnight stop, because the return journey makes the day long.

Wine near Montevideo

Family wineries and farms lie about 30 minutes from the centre, and Montevideo, Canelones and San Jose hold about three-quarters of Uruguay’s vineyards. Tannat is the signature red. Pascual Harriague brought it from France, and 1870 is the date commonly given. Bodega Bouza is at Camino de la Redencion 7658, inside Montevideo department, and needs advance booking. Establecimiento Juanico is on Ruta 5 in Canelones. Bodega Spinoglio is in the Las Piedras area, in Montevideo department. Tour packages with a transfer run about US$50 on resale sites.

Atlantida and Piriapolis

Atlantida, about 45 km from Montevideo, has the Church of Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Senora de Lourdes by Eladio Dieste, built from 1958 to 1960 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021. Visiting hours are not confirmed, and one recent visitor found it closed, so ask locally before you make it the point of a trip. Piriapolis, about 100 km away, is a Belle Epoque resort founded by Francisco Piria. Hotel Argentino opened on 24 December 1930, and a renovation was under way in 2026.

Trips that are too long for a day

Buenos Aires is not a day trip. The direct Buquebus crossing is listed at about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes each way and needs passports. The Rocha coast, including Santa Teresa, is about 290 to 300 km away. Plan an overnight stay for it, and see the multi-day guide linked at the end of this page.

Practical tips

Street crime exists in Montevideo, and the UK government advises against walking downtown or around the port alone, especially at night and at weekends. Walk to Tres Cruces in daylight or take a taxi. In winter, from June to August, many coastal hotels and restaurants close. In summer they fill up, so book ahead. Guided departures are listed on Viator .