Montevideo travel guide

Mercado del Puerto (Port Market)

Set under a vast, wrought-iron structure reminiscent of old European railway stations, Montevideo's port market is a lively affair. Historically, it has been a hive of trading activity since 1868. Today, it houses some of the city's finest steakhouses and seafood eateries.

It's a great place for people-watching, exploring the labyrinthine alleys crammed with stalls, watching buskers and entertainers, and generally taking in the city's atmosphere.

National History Museum

For those interested in Montevideo's past, the Museo Historico Nacional is a good place to begin. Located in the Old City, it's made up of old houses where national heroes once dwelt.

The museum's collection traces the history of Uruguay from before its colonisation by Europeans up to the mid-20th century. History buffs will find it interesting.

Plaza Independencia

Montevideo's showpiece plaza contains some of the city's most impressive architecture, including its best-known landmark, the Palacio Salvo. Designed by Italian architect, Mario Palanti, and completed in 1927 or 1928, it was originally intended as a hotel. It has never fulfilled that purpose. Instead, it is home to an elaborate collection of offices and residential apartments.

Once the tallest building in South America, it was built on the site where Gerardo Matos Rodriguez wrote La Cumparsita: one of the most famous and recognisable tangos of all time. The Plaza also contains a statue of Uruguay's national hero, General Artigas.

Ciudad Vieja

Montevideo's ancient city is a vibrant, fascinating district of old buildings and cobbled streets. Weekends see dancers and musicians gather for impromptu performances, while artists have turned many of the decaying, ground-floor apartments into studios and galleries. The old iron gates and street lamps are very photogenic.

All told, visitors will find a wonderful juxtaposition of old and new, making Ciudad Vieja the purest embodiment of Montevideo's evolution.

Estadio Centenario

Built between 1929 and 1930, the Estadio Centenario commemorates the centenary of Uruguay's first constitution. It also hosted the first-ever FIFA World Cup final, in which Uruguay beat Argentina by four goals to two.

Listed by FIFA as one of the world's Classic Stadiums, the Estadio Centenario has become a bucket-list item for many football fans. Indeed, thousands of tourists visit every year, either to attend a match, or to enjoy the fascinating Museo del Fútbol (Football Museum) housed within the stadium itself.

Visitors should do everything they can to attend an Atlético Peñarol home fixture. Football, as the saying goes, is a way of life in Uruguay, and watching a game with 90,000 passionate locals is an amazing cultural experience.