Uruguay Sightseeing: Capital to Coast

Montevideo’s landmarks

Plaza Independencia is the centre of the capital’s sightseeing. The bronze statue of José Gervasio Artigas, the national founding hero, stands on a crypt that holds his remains, guarded by ceremonial sentries of the Blandengues regiment. Entry is free, quiet is expected, and photographs without flash are allowed. Facing the plaza is Palacio Salvo, a 1928 tower with Art Deco details whose guided visits reach a viewpoint and the tango museum; email palaciosalvooficial@gmail.com for tour times and prices. Teatro Solís, opened in 1856, runs guided visits that are free on Wednesdays.

Across the bay in the Cerro district, the Memorial en Recordación de los Detenidos Desaparecidos stands in Parque Vaz Ferreira. Two glass panels carry 174 names of people disappeared during the dictatorship, and the memorial was inaugurated on 10 December 2001 and declared a National Historic Monument in 2014. It is a place for quiet reflection, so go respectfully and allow time.

Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia’s old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Look for the Portón de Campo drawbridge, the bastion walls, Calle de los Suspiros and the Faro de Colonia lighthouse, which charges a small entry fee. The ferry from Buenos Aires takes about 1 hour on Colonia Express and about 1h15 on Buquebus and Seacat, and details are on Buquebus . From Montevideo, coaches take about 2h45 from Tres Cruces.

Punta Ballena and Punta del Este

Casapueblo, Carlos Páez Vilaró’s white cliffside house, is open daily from 10:00 until sunset. Admission is UYU 600, UYU 500 for visitors 65 and over, and free for under-12s; the Ceremonia al Sol reading takes place at sunset. At Punta del Este, La Mano rises from the sand of Playa Brava, and the peninsula holds the port and a lighthouse. For an organised outing you can compare Punta del Este sightseeing tours on GetYourGuide .

Rocha

Cabo Polonio’s dunes and lighthouse are reached only by 4x4 truck from the Ruta 10 terminal (km 264.5) at UYU 470 round trip. The lighthouse dates from 1881, and the colony of sea lions on the rocks below is easy to see. Santa Teresa fortress, begun in 1762, sits inside a free national park and charges UYU 50. See the official Cabo Polonio page .

Practical points

  • Pesos are the currency, and a bare “$” means UYU.
  • Restaurants give a 9-point VAT cut, from 22% to about 13%, on card payments until April 2027.
  • Winter, June to August, closes many coastal restaurants and inns, so a landmark-led trip suits Montevideo and Colonia then.
  • Use ordinary city care: watch for petty theft and use ATMs by day.

Verdict: Colonia and Casapueblo are the two sights that justify a journey in themselves. Link them using the Uruguay 3-day itinerary , and start every Montevideo day early, when Plaza Independencia is quiet.