MontevideoCapital
Uruguay · Country profile
Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay, a calm, cultured and deeply civilised city on the great estuary of the River Plate that spreads its long rambla, the famous waterfront promenade, along the curving shore. The old town holds the colonial and the republican buildings of the historic heart, with the great market of the city, the cathedral and the government square, and the rest of the city runs the leafy neighbourhoods, the bookshops, the cafes and the beaches of a capital that prizes the quality of its everyday life. The tango and the candombe rhythms of the city, the football fervour and the mate culture of the uruguayans give it a warm, particular, deeply local soul. Safe, relaxed and quietly sophisticated, Montevideo is the most liveable of the South American capitals.
About Montevideo
Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay. The city's documented population is around 1,760,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Uruguayan Peso (UYU) and Spanish is spoken; the dialling code is +598. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Carrasco International Airport.
The Rambla, the Old Town and the River Plate
Montevideo is a small, safe and serene capital whose greatest attraction is the quality of its daily life. The rambla, the long waterfront avenue, is the spine of the city and the great local routine, and the old town, the markets and the beach neighbourhoods give it a compact, walkable centre. The culture is relaxed and deeply uruguayan, built on the mate, the football and the slow, civilised pace. It is a city to settle into rather than to check off, and its cafes, its bookshops and its beachside promenades reward the visitor who slows down. As the base of the country, it is also the natural start of the journeys to the wine country and the beaches of the coast.
The Temperate Seasons, the Slow Days and the Waterfront Strolls
The climate is temperate, with warm summers and mild, breezy winters, and the spring and the autumn are the sweet spots. The rambla and the old town are walkable, and the markets and the beach districts of the city hold the everyday life. The currency is the uruguayan peso, and the cards are widely accepted in the modern areas. The Spanish is spoken with the distinctive local accent and the uruguayan pronunciation of the double l. Bring the walking shoes for the long waterfront strolls and the slow afternoons in the cafes. The city is safe, clean and remarkably relaxed, and the locals are happy to help the visitor find the quiet pleasures of the capital.
The Food Market, the Beaches and the Candombe of the Nights
The rambla of the city, running for miles along the River Plate with its beaches, its parks and its viewpoints, is the great local ritual and the classic walk of Montevideo. The old town with its food market, its cathedral and its cobbled lanes holds the historic heart, and the independence plaza and the government buildings anchor the centre. The beaches of the city, from the Pocitos to the Carrasco, hold the summer life, and the nightlife of the older neighbourhoods runs the murga and the candombe of the local traditions. The cafes and the bookshops of the city, the beautiful old coffee houses and the used-book markets, give it its intellectual, unhurried character. The mate culture is everywhere, and the ciabatta, the chivito and the dulce de leche complete the table.
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- Country
- Uruguay
- Population
- 1,760,000
- Coordinates
- -34.8384, -56.0308
- Capital
- Montevideo
- Region
- South America
- Currency
- Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +598
- Country code
- UY
Getting to Montevideo
Airports we list for Montevideo:
Frequently asked questions
Is Montevideo the capital of Uruguay?
Yes — Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay.
What currency do I need in Montevideo?
The local currency is the Uruguayan Peso (UYU). Languages spoken in Uruguay include Spanish.
What is the dialling code for Uruguay?
The international dialling code for Uruguay is +598.
Which airport should I fly into for Montevideo?
Carrasco International Airport (MVD) is the airport we list for Montevideo.
Flying out of Montevideo? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.