Despite its small size, Uruguay has a wide variety of tourist destinations, including amazing options for beaches, hot springs, gaucho ranches, historic sites, and vibrant cities. What are the best place to visit in Uruguay? Check out this article to discover some of the must-see destination of Uruguay.

Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento is a fantastic historical city, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and founded by the Portuguese in 1680. It preserves the traces of the founders’ passage to Uruguay, with streets that resemble neighborhoods in Portugal, especially with the typical Portuguese pavement and traditional architecture.

Uruguay’s oldest city is famous for its historic district, where the narrow and disorderly streets bear witness to the struggle for power between several powers, especially Portugal and Spain, and Uruguay. The strategic location of Colonia del Sacramento was the source of a long-standing conflict between the Portuguese and the Spanish, both of whom sought to control the trade of Peruvian silver and Brazilian products.

Between 1680 and 1828, Colonia was conquered several times by the naval forces of each country. The Portuguese finally took control of the city only six years before the start of the Cisplatine War, between Brazil and Argentina, taking possession of the province of Cisplatine, now in Uruguay.

Historic preservation efforts began in 1924 and continued for decades. Currently, a steady stream of tourists arriving, mainly from Buenos Aires, visit the well-maintained Portuguese basilica.

Montevideo Agricultural Market

The agricultural market in Montevideo, Uruguay is a place where meat dominates the stalls, but you can also find other local products, such as fruits and vegetables.

Housed in a historic building, the Montevideo Agricultural Market is over 100 years old and is one of the largest markets in Uruguay. After several years in disrepair, the structure was renovated to accommodate dozens of food stalls and restaurants, while retaining the charm and detail of the original architecture.

It didn’t take long for visitors to Montevideo to realize that Uruguay is a gastronomic destination still far from mass tourism and that the Farmers’ Market is the ideal place for connoisseurs who want to taste a wide variety of Uruguayan specialties. This is the place to visit to taste the high quality of Uruguayan products such as wines, oils, bread, huge beef steaks grilled over charcoal or traditional beers.

Entrance to the Montevideo Farmers Market, located at Rua José L. Terra 2220, is free and the market is open daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Estadio Centenario

With a capacity of more than 65,000 spectators, the stadium Estadio Centenario is the home of Peñarol, the main club in Montevideo, Uruguay. It is also the home of the Uruguayan soccer team.

Built between 1929 and 1930 to commemorate the centennial of Uruguay’s first constitution, the Estadio Centenario hosted the first FIFA World Cup Final (which Uruguay won 4-2 against Argentina). Classified by FIFA as one of the world’s classic stadiums, the Estadio Centenario has become a sort of Mecca for soccer fans. Thousands of tourists visit the stadium every year to watch a game or simply to visit the fascinating soccer museum, which is located in the stadium.

When visiting Montevideo, try to coincide your visit with an Atlético Peñarol match at the Estadio Centenario. In Uruguay, soccer is not just a sport or a passion, it is a way of life and attending a game with 90,000 spectators will certainly be an incredible cultural experience.

 

Punta del Este

Punta del Este, Uruguay is a city and seaside resort known for its beautiful beaches, sophisticated amenities and lively nightlife.

Located 130 km from Montevideo, Punta del Este is one of South America’s most famous resorts. Punta del Este has gained a reputation after being called the “Saint-Tropez of South America”.

This nickname was earned thanks to its beaches, its modern city and its impressive nightlife, attracting the rich and famous. It is a popular summer destination for Argentines and Brazilians, as well as cruise ship passengers.

Here you can spend time in many different ways, such as relaxing on the beach, shopping in the commercial area of Avenida Gorlero, visiting the lighthouse and the yacht-filled marina, enjoying the restaurants, cafes and bars, and dancing the night away in the clubs and parties that make the city so popular.

You now know which places to visit in Uruguay. Which country have you visited and which place is your favorite one so far? Share it with us in the comments below.