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Montevideo is the Capital of the Republic of Uruguay, the political and economic center of the country and the administrative headquarters of MERCOSUR.
Its founding process dates back to between 1724 and 1730. It was founded as a stronghold, next to the port on the Río de la Plata, in the large bay from where you can see the Montevideo Hill. Currently, Montevideo is a reference destination in Latin America. Throughout the year, the city offers visitors a varied cultural and ecreational agenda, quality services, captivating landscapes along with values as precious as the safety and hospitality of its people. All this makes Montevideo the eighth most visited city in Latin America.
In 2024, the 300th anniversary of the founding process of Montevideo will be celebrated. The 10th International Conference on Community Psychology and Meeting of Socio-Community Experiences in University Extension has been declared an event of departmental interest, and is part of a celebration that calls us all to a constant and collective construction of the city.
Money orders
Western Union, Abitab, Red Pagos, Correo Uruguayo
Cellular lines
Antel, Movistar y Claro
WIFI
Montevideo has more than 100 free WIFI points
Electrical power and plugs
Voltage: 220V
Frequency
50 Hz
Plugs
Type C/F/I/L
Exchange offices
https://www.bcu.gub.uy/Servicios-Financieros-SSF/Paginas/casas_cambio.aspx, as well as in several Abitab and RedPagos collection networks that have locations open on the weekend.
Public transport
The fare for urban public transportation is $56 Uruguayan pesos and is paid in cash. Routes and frequency can be consulted at https://m.montevideo.gub.uy/comoir/. The city has an Uber and taxi service that can be paid both in cash and by card.
Business hours
It is from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On Saturdays, shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sundays most remain closed. In the case of shopping malls, they are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, including Saturdays and Sundays.
Documentation to travel to Uruguay
Foreign visitors must enter the website of the National Immigration Directorate to find out the current visa regime to enter Uruguay.
For citizens of neighboring countries, an identity document is sufficient.
Minors traveling alone will be checked for compliance with the immigration regulations of the country of origin, which generally refer to the written permission of the parents. In any case, it is recommended to consult diplomatic representations.
The mate tradition in Uruguay is an integral part of the culture and national identity. It is an infusion of yerba mate leaves, a plant native to South America. Its history dates back to the indigenous Guaraní people who inhabited the region before the arrival of the colonizers. This practice was adopted by other indigenous peoples of the region and spread throughout the Río de la Plata basin. Over time, this tradition became an essential part of daily life: we take it to work, to school, to social gatherings and sporting events, often becoming, more than an accompaniment, the very purpose of the meeting, “have some mates.”
The rambla is one of the preferred spaces for the inhabitants of Montevideo, just visit it on a sunny Saturday or Sunday to confirm it, whether to drink mate and talk, enjoy its river beaches or to exercise. The coastal strip that extends along the Río de la Plata is an emblematic point of the city.
Although tango is most commonly associated with Argentina, it also has roots in Uruguay. European immigrants from the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought their traditions and cultures, which merged with local and African influences to give rise to this form of expression: tango. The 1920s marked the peak of tango in Montevideo, with the arrival of large orchestras and singers who contributed to its dissemination and popularity. Figures such as Gerardo Matos Rodríguez, author of “La Cumparsita”, one of the most famous tangos in the world, and Carlos Gardel, the greatest icon of tango, left an indelible mark on the city’s music scene. Today, tango is still alive and vibrant in the streets of Montevideo, where street milongas are organized in which people gather to dance in squares and other places in the city.
Candombe is an Afro-Latin rhythm, but more than that, it is a cultural manifestation that traditionally occurs in the streets of Uruguay, mainly in the city of Montevideo. Every week, usually Saturday or Sunday, in all neighborhoods, the same corner becomes a meeting point for people of all ages who gather to participate in this cultural expression. The ritual begins with the creation of a fire in the street to heat the markets next to the sidewalk, using cardboard provided by the nearest store. Once the drums are ready, the rope of drums is formed occupying the width of the street, cutting off the vehicular path, the group then begins its journey to the beat of the drums while some play and others dance. The trip has an intermediate pause when it stops at another point a few blocks away to light another fire and repeat the ritual and then begin the return to the point of origin.
Get to know the activities that Montevideo has for you!
https://www.descubrimontevideo.uy/antes-de-llegar/imperdibles
