South America

Uruguay

Uruguay is a country in southeastern South America, known for Montevideo, the colonial town of Colonia del Sacramento and the beaches of Punta del Este.

Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Uruguay

Uruguay is a country in southeastern South America, bordered by Argentina and Brazil and facing the Río de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean. Montevideo, the capital and largest city, is home to nearly 2 million of the country's roughly 3.5 million people. Colonia del Sacramento, a colonial-era town on the river, was a contested site, and its old streets still show that history.

Daily life centers on asado, meat grilled over an open fire, and mate, the most typical drink. Candombe, a drumming and dance style performed mainly by Afro-Uruguayans, is a highlight of Carnival. Punta del Este, on a small peninsula on the southeast coast, is the country's best-known resort, while Cabo Polonio is a seaside resort inside a national park. Summer, from December to March, is the beach season, and winter brings frosts, but snow is very rare.

Five things to know before Uruguay

Enter visa-free for up to 90 days
UK, US, Canadian, Australian, German and Spanish citizens can visit without a visa for up to 90 days. Keep one blank page in your passport for the entry stamp; check other passports on Uruguay's migration site. Visas and entry
Book the Buenos Aires ferry ahead in summer
Ferries cross the Río de la Plata to Colonia in a little over an hour and to Montevideo in about two to three hours. Fares rise and sailings fill in January and at Easter. Getting around
Book the coast early for January
Punta del Este and the Rocha beaches fill with visitors from Argentina and Brazil from late December to February, and rooms can triple in price. March is quieter and still warm.
Pay by foreign card and check for a VAT discount
In recent seasons Uruguay has refunded VAT on restaurant bills and some tourist services paid with a foreign card. Ask whether it applies and check your receipt. Money on the road
Pack layers for winter in Montevideo
From June to August highs sit around 14–16°C, with wind off the river and damp cold nights. Many beach towns close for the season.

Uruguay travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

Visas and entry

Visa-free stays and crossing from Argentina.

Read the guide Travel insurance

Medical cover and what policies ask for.

Read the guide Getting around

Ferries, long-distance buses and coast roads.

Read the guide Money and costs

Card tax refunds and what things cost.

Read the guide Where to stay

Choosing a base by area, not by hotel name.

Read the guide

Top places to visit in Uruguay

See all attractions in Uruguay

Landmark · MontevideoPort MarketPlan your visit around lunch or dinner if you want to eat.

Park · MontevideoPlaza IndependenciaGo early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat; the square has limited shade.

Theater · MontevideoSolis TheaterCheck whether an English-language tour is available; tours are usually in Spanish.

Rocky coastline with white buildings and blue sky

Sight · Punta del EsteGorriti IslandBuy round-trip boat tickets at a stand in the port; the fare is 400 Uruguayan pesos.

Destinations in Uruguay

CityMontevideoExplore

a view of a city with boats in the water

CityPunta del EsteExplore

CityColonia del SacramentoExplore

What a day costs in Uruguay

Per person, in UYU

Work out your trip

BudgetUYU 2,100a day≈ $52 · per person

Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.

Bed a night: UYU 1,000
Food: UYU 900
Transport: UYU 200
Sights: Free

Mid-rangeUYU 7,300a day≈ $181 · per person

A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.

Bed a night: UYU 4,500
Food: UYU 1,800
Transport: UYU 500
Sights: UYU 500

ComfortUYU 16,200a day≈ $402 · per person

A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.

Bed a night: UYU 9,000
Food: UYU 3,500
Transport: UYU 1,200
Sights: UYU 2,500

Checked Oct 3, 2026 by Lucas MoreiraA source for every line on the trip cost page. Flights not included. Rates By Exchange Rate APIWork out your trip

When to go

Rainy days

Best

JanuaryClear9 rainy daysHigh29°Low19°Beach season
FebruaryClear9 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Beach season
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Warm, quieter
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Mild
MayPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Cool
JunePartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Cold, damp
JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Cold, damp
AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Cool, windy
SeptemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Cool
OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Mild
NovemberClear8 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm
DecemberClear9 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Warm, busy

Average daily high and low in Montevideo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to UruguayPut the places you like in Uruguay on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Right now in Uruguay

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 26°
Humidity: 61%
Wind: 16 km/h
Chance of rain: 45%

Uruguay

05:05 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-3

Today27°16°45%Monday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 45%.
Tue24°15°81%Tuesday: Rain. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 81%.
Wed23°15°82%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 82%.
Thu24°13°12%Thursday: Clear. High 24°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 12%.
Fri23°12°63%Friday: Rain. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 63%.
Sat17°10°59%Saturday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 59%.
Sun19°7°18%Sunday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 18%.

Updated 01:28 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 40.29 UYU

Amount

Converted to

UYU · Uruguayan Peso

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Uruguay

Big events, festivals and concert tours

Events calendar

NovemberCopa Libertadores finalNov 28, 2026

Festivals by month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
NovCopa Libertadores finalMontevideo
Dec

On tour in Uruguay: Foo Fighters Take Cover Tour Montevideo, Feb 23, 2027

Before you go to Uruguay

Travel insuranceMedical cover comparedRead the guide eSIM for UruguayPlans across the regionRead the guide Cards and tax refundsPay by foreign cardRead the guide

Rules for Uruguay, checked

UK, US, Canadian, Australian, German and Spanish citizens need no visa for tourism and are admitted for up to 90 days.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Read more

Uruguay FAQ

Do I need a visa for Uruguay?

Not for stays up to 90 days if you hold a UK, US, Canadian, Australian, German or Spanish passport. Check other nationalities on the official Uruguay migration site before you travel.

Can I do a day trip to Colonia from Buenos Aires?

Yes. The fast ferry takes a little over an hour, and the old town is small enough to see in an afternoon. Bring your passport; you clear both countries' immigration at the port.

Is Uruguay expensive?

It is one of the pricier countries in South America, especially on the coast in January. Montevideo and the interior are cheaper outside summer.

How many days do I need in Uruguay?

Four or five days covers Montevideo, Colonia and one beach town. Add a few days for the quieter Rocha coast.

When is the best time to visit Uruguay?

November to March for the beaches, with March and November quieter than January. Winter is cool and many coastal places close.