Colonia del Sacramento
Uruguay’s oldest church – begun by the Portuguese in 1680, then completely rebuilt twice under Spanish rule – is the centerpiece of pretty Plaza de Armas…
Must-see attractions in Uruguay
Montevideo
Former home of Fructuoso Rivera (Uruguay’s first president and Colorado Party founder), this neoclassical 1802 building is the centerpiece of Montevideo’s…
Uruguay
Ten kilometers south of Piriápolis is Uruguay’s premier marine-animal rescue and rehabilitation center. Run entirely by volunteers, its emphasis is on…
Uruguay
A source of national pride, this massive hydroelectric dam 14km north of Salto provides over 50% of Uruguay’s electricity. Free 90-minute guided tours …
Uruguay
The 1874 completion of this local lighthouse marked La Paloma’s genesis as a summer beach resort. The unfinished first attempt collapsed in a violent…
Montevideo
On the Rambla between Punta Carretas and Pocitos is this eccentric legacy of local alchemist and architect Humberto Pittamiglio. Its quirky facade alone…
Colonia del Sacramento
Off the southwest corner of Plaza Mayor 25 de Mayo are the ruins of the 17th-century Convento de San Francisco, within which stands the 19th-century faro…
Montevideo
In the middle of the downtown Plaza Independencia is the Mausoleo de Artigas, whose above-ground portion is a 17m, 30-ton statue of the country's…
Montevideo
Along the eastern waterfront in Buceo, this museum traces the role of boats and ships in Uruguayan history, from the indigenous Charrúa’s canoe culture to…
Colonia del Sacramento
Houses Roberto Banchero’s personal collection of Charrúa stone tools, exhibits on indigenous history, and an amusing map upstairs showing how many…
Uruguay
Paying romantic tribute to Uruguay’s gauchos and indigenous peoples, this museum’s collection includes stools made from horse and cow bones, elegantly…
Museo Paleontológico Alejandro Berro
Uruguay
About 3km west of town, in an sprawling 19th-century edifice, this museum displays a substantial fossil collection, including an impressively well…
Montevideo
One of Ciudad Vieja’s newest museums is devoted to Uruguayan painter Pedro Figari, whose landscapes and portraits masterfully convey a sense of Uruguayan…
Colonia del Sacramento
On the northwest edge of Plaza Mayor 25 de Mayo, the tiny Archivo Regional contains historical documents along with pottery and glass excavated from the…
Museo del Hombre y la Tecnología
Uruguay
Housed in a historic market building, this museum features excellent displays on local cultural development and history upstairs, and a small…
Montevideo
At the west end of the Plaza Independencia is the Puerta de la Ciudadela, a stone gateway that is one of the only remnants of the colonial citadel…
Colonia del Sacramento
This two-room museum displays glyptodon shells, bones and other locally excavated finds from the private collection of self-taught paleontologist Armando…
Montevideo
This gallery makes thought-provoking use of the cells of a 19th-century prison, creating an avant-garde space for revolving exhibitions of contemporary…
Uruguay
In the hills north of Piriápolis, Francisco Piria’s opulent and castle-like former residence has Spanish-language displays on the history of Piriápolis.
Museo de Bellas Artes y Artes Decorativas
Uruguay
Displays a nice collection of Uruguayan painting and sculpture in a historic two-story mansion with a grand staircase, stained glass and a back garden.
Museo y Archivo Histórico Municipal
Montevideo
This free historical museum on Ciudad Vieja's main square displays 18th-century paintings of Montevideo and other artifacts from the city's early days.
Uruguay
In parkland near the riverfront, this museum features a small but well-displayed selection of anthropological artifacts and gaucho gear.
Montevideo
The 18th-century Palacio Estévez, on the south side of the Plaza Independencia, was the Government House until 1985.
Montevideo
For great views out across the city, take the elevator to the top of Montevideo’s most dramatic modern skyscraper.
Punta del Este
This calm river beach straddles the western (Río de la Plata) side of Punta del Este's long narrow peninsula.
Colonia del Sacramento
This dinky 17th-century stone house has a small sampling of French and Catalan tilework.
Montevideo
Opposite the Iglesia Matriz is the Cabildo, a neoclassical stone structure finished in 1812.
