MyPassportStory
Your travels, worth telling.
MyPassportStory › Destinations › Uruguay
🇺🇾Things to Do in Uruguay
From the cobblestones of Colonia del Sacramento to the beaches of Punta del Este - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Uruguay is small, calm and consistently ranked among the safest and most stable countries in South America - a quieter alternative to its larger neighbors, with a Portuguese-colonial old town, a glamorous beach resort, and a capital that still feels more like a large town than a metropolis. Here are 6 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Colonia del Sacramento
A UNESCO-listed Portuguese colonial old town with cobblestone streets and a historic lighthouse, an easy day trip or overnight by ferry from Buenos Aires across the Río de la Plata.
📍 Colonia del Sacramento
🚉 Buenos Aires is closer than Montevideo: Buquebus and Colonia Express ferries cross the Rio de la Plata in about an hour, and buses from Montevideo take two and a half - the old town is a walk from both terminals.
Punta del Este
South America's answer to the Hamptons - a glamorous beach resort peninsula known for La Mano (a giant sculpted hand emerging from the sand) and an upscale summer social scene.
📍 Punta del Este
🚉 Buses from Montevideo take two hours to the Punta terminal, a few blocks from both beaches; the airport at Laguna del Sauce is 20 minutes away with summer flights from Buenos Aires.
Montevideo Old Town
Uruguay's capital, with Ciudad Vieja's colonial architecture, the Mercado del Puerto's parrilla (grill) restaurants, and the Rambla - one of the longest continuous waterfront promenades in the world.
📍 Montevideo
🚉 The Ciudad Vieja begins at Plaza Independencia, a 10-minute walk from the Tres Cruces bus terminal by local bus - the Mercado del Puerto sits at the far end by the harbour.
Estancias & Gaucho Culture
Working cattle ranches (estancias) across the countryside offer overnight stays with horseback riding and a look at Uruguay's gaucho (cowboy) traditions, still an active rural way of life.
📍 Rural Uruguay
🚉 Working estancias are scattered through the interior around Tacuarembo and Durazno, reached by intercity bus to the nearest town and then a transfer arranged by the estancia itself.
Cabo Polonio
A remote, off-grid beach village with no roads, electricity grid or paved access - reached by 4x4 truck across dunes - known for a large sea lion colony on the rocks offshore.
📍 Cabo Polonio, Rocha
🚉 No road reaches the village: buses on Route 10 stop at the park entrance, where 4x4 trucks cross the dunes for 30 minutes - there is no mains electricity when you arrive.
Uruguayan Wine Country
Uruguay's wine regions, particularly around Canelones, specialize in Tannat, the country's signature red grape - many bodegas near Montevideo offer tastings without needing an advance reservation.
📍 Canelones
🚉 The Canelones and Carmelo bodegas are 30 to 90 minutes from Montevideo; buses reach the towns but the wineries themselves need a taxi, a hire car or a booked tour.
Mark Uruguay, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Uruguay?
4-5 days covers Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento well. A week lets you add Punta del Este or a remote stop like Cabo Polonio.
What's the best time to visit Uruguay?
Uruguay's seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere - December-February (summer) is peak season for the beaches at Punta del Este, while spring and autumn (September-November, March-May) are milder and quieter for the cities.
Is Uruguay good for a first-time visit?
Yes - it's consistently ranked among the safest and most stable countries in Latin America, and Montevideo and Colonia are both easy to navigate independently.
Do I need a visa to visit Uruguay?
Many nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, can visit visa-free for short tourist stays (typically up to 90 days); other nationalities need a visa arranged in advance. Check the official visa information for your nationality: gub.uy.
What are some things to do in Uruguay on a tight budget?
Walking Colonia's old town and Montevideo's Rambla and Ciudad Vieja costs nothing, the ferry from Buenos Aires is a relatively cheap way to add Uruguay onto an Argentina trip, and Uruguay's long-distance buses are inexpensive for a small country.
Can I rent a car in Uruguay, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and it is one of the calmer countries in the region to drive - distances are short and the coastal road is straightforward. A foreign licence is accepted for visits when carried with an International Driving Permit, and the minimum age is generally 21 to 25. Headlights must be on at all times, including in daylight, and there is a zero-tolerance alcohol limit. Cabo Polonio is the one place a car cannot go: leave it at the park entrance and take the dune trucks. Official visitor information is published by the Ministry of Tourism at gub.uy.