restaurant
Mercado del Puerto
An 1868 iron-framed market hall in Montevideo's old port, now wall-to-wall parrillas grilling over open wood fires, where the traditional order is asado with a medio y medio.
2 km · about 5 min drive
South AmericaUruguayMontevideo Department
Montevideo
Montevideo Department, Uruguay · South America
About Montevideo
Montevideo is worth a stop: 25 minutes from Paso de Carrasco, 2km from Mercado del Puerto.
Montevideo is in Montevideo Department, Uruguay, with about 1.3 million people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Paso de Carrasco, about 13 km away.
Montevideo (, US also ; Spanish: [monteβiˈðeo] ) is the capital and largest city of Uruguay. As of the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,287,452, making up about 36.8% of the country's total population, in an area of 201 square kilometers (78 sq mi). Montevideo is situated on the southern coast of theRead more
country, on the northeastern bank of the Río de la Plata.
A Portuguese garrison was established at the site of modern-day Montevideo in November 1723. The Portuguese garrison was expelled in February 1724 by a Spanish soldier, Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst the Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region. There is no official document establishing the foundation of the city, but the "Diario" of Bruno Mauricio de Zabala officially mentions the date of 24 December 1726 as the foundation, corroborated by presential witnesses. The complete independence from Buenos Aires as a real city was not reached until 1 January 1730. It was also under brief British rule in 1807, but eventually the city was retaken by Spanish criollos who defeated the British invasions of the River Plate. Montevideo is the seat of the administrative headquarters of Mercosur and ALADI, Latin America's leading trade blocs, a position that has entailed comparisons to the role of Brussels in Europe.
The 2019 Mercer report on quality of life rated Montevideo first in Latin America, a rank the city has consistently held since 2005. As of 2010, Montevideo was the 19th largest city economy in the continent and 9th highest income earner among major cities. In 2022, it has a projected GDP of $53.9 billion, with a per capita of $30,148. In 2018, it was classified as a beta global city, ranking eighth in Latin America and 84th in the world. Montevideo hosted every match during the first FIFA World Cup in 1930. It has been described as a "vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural life", and "a thriving tech center and entrepreneurial culture".
The city features historic European architecture and is considered one of the cities with the most art deco influence. It is the hub of commerce and higher education in Uruguay as well as its chief port and financial hub, anchoring a metropolitan area with a population of around 2 million.
Where to Stay in Montevideo
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Montevideo.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Montevideo.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Montevideo?
Within an hour or so of Montevideo: Mercado del Puerto (2 km).
Where is Montevideo?
Montevideo is in Montevideo Department, Uruguay, about 13 km from Paso de Carrasco.
Road trip
Drive to Montevideo
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Montevideo. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 1,270,737
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Uruguay
- Region
- Montevideo Department
- Timezone
- America/Montevideo
- Coordinates
- -34.9033, -56.1882
Tags
Worth the detour from Montevideo
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Montevideo.
No nearby destinations found within 200 km.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Montevideo.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.