Orientation

Montevideo lies on the east bank of the Río de la Plata, almost directly east of Buenos Aires (Argentina) on the west bank. Most visitor attention is focused on Ciudad Vieja (Old City), built on a small peninsula close to the port and harbor. The city's functional center is Plaza Independencia, with many historic public buildings of the republican era. Most inexpensive lodgings are on the side streets around Plaza Cagancha, though some can be found in the Ciudad Vieja. Many points of interest are beyond downtown, resulting from Montevideo's sprawl both east and west along the river. To the east, the Rambla, or riverfront road, leads past attractive residential suburbs and numerous public parks (including Parque Rodó) at the south end of Bulevar Artigas. Further east, but well within the city limits, are sandy beaches that are popular with locals in summer and on most weekends.

Getting There, Getting Around

Getting There

Montevideo's international airport, Aeropuerto Carrasco, is 20km (12.4mi) east of the city. Besides the usual international carriers, commuter airlines also provide services to Argentina. The internet-based Gol Airlines has cheap flights to Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Ferryturismo does bus-ferry combinations to Buenos Aires, via Colonia (6hr), and with the faster Sea Cat (4hr). It also has a branch at Terminal Tres Cruces. Buqueaviones (high-speed ferries) cross to Buenos Aires from Montevideo (2.5hr). Cacciola, at Terminal Tres Cruces, runs a bus-launch service to Buenos Aires (8hr) via Carmelo and the Argentine Delta suburb of Tigre.

Montevideo's Terminal Tres Cruces (cnr Bulevar Artigas & Italia) has decent restaurants, clean toilets, a left-luggage facility, a casa de cambio (foreign-exchange house) and ATMs.

Bus de la Carrera has three buses daily to Buenos Aires (8hr) via Fray Bentos. There are several daily departures for other destinations in Argentina, including Rosario (10hr), Córdoba (15hr), Santa Fe (8hr), Paraná (10hr) and Mendoza (20hr).

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Getting Around

Montevideo's improving fleet of buses go just about everywhere throughout the city. They are cheap and tickets are available from the bus driver or conductor, who will ask for your destination. Hiring a car is almost as expensive as in Argentina and not necessarily practical in a place as small as Montevideo. Taxis are safe and metered but can be expensive, with additional surcharges for luggage and travel on weekends, holidays and late at night.

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