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How to Get Around Montevideo: Your Ultimate Guide

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Montevideo on the Move

We wrote this guide on how to get around Montevideo, Uruguay because this is everything we wish we knew before our visit. There isn’t tons of information online and most of what we learned was by experiencing the Uruguayan transit system for ourselves. We’ll go over buses, taxis, Ubers, walking, biking, and more in this comprehensive guide to transportation in Montevideo. Let’s dive in!

Read about the best things to do in Montevideo!

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So… What is the Best Way to Get Around Montevideo?

Walking and using the public buses are by far the cheapest and easiest ways to get around Montevideo . When you’re in the heart of the city, walking is a great way to explore and experience the vibrant street life. To get to and from other neighborhoods, however, you’ll likely want to utilize Montevideo’s extensive public bus network. These buses run frequently and are super convenient and cheap! Taxis and Ubers are also available throughout the city, but these will obviously be a bit more expensive.

Check out the best ways to get around the rest of Uruguay here!

Public Buses in Montevideo

The public bus system in Montevideo is incredibly easy to use. The frequency of the buses means you likely won’t be waiting more than 5 minutes for a bus regardless of your destination. While we were in Montevideo, we used Google Maps to plan our route and figure out which bus/buses we would need. The public buses run from 5 am to 11 pm; before or after that we recommend getting an Uber.

Bus Ticket Cost in Montevideo

In Montevideo, it costs 56 pesos (about 1.5 USD) for a común without an STM card, or 46 pesos (about 1.2 USD) for a común with STM card. A común is a single bus ticket that allows you to take one bus. If you don’t have an STM card, you can pay in cash using Uruguayan Pesos. Keep reading for how to get an STM card!

Combinación or “Combination” tickets can be used to take multiple buses in a specified time period. The available time periods are 1 or 2 hours. These save you money as you don’t have to purchase two full bus tickets as long as you get on the last bus within the specified time period!

Credit and debit cards are not accepted on the buses but they are at the Abitab stores, where you can get an STM card. 

How to Get an STM Card

You can pick up an STM card (for free!!) and load it at Abitab locations (which are closed on Sundays) and other locations marked by green dots on this helpful map ! The blue dots show where you can recharge your STM card. You need to bring a passport as a form of ID in order to get an STM card. 

Other Tips For Taking the Bus in Montevideo — MUST READ!

• You NEED to wave down the bus driver so they know to stop, even when you’re standing at the bus stop.
• Once you pay with cash or your STM card, a ticket will be printed. Keep your ticket just in case the assistants or bus drivers come around.
• People will come onto the bus to perform a song and it is customary to clap and, if you liked them, give a tip!
• Sit towards the back of the bus. That way when it’s almost time for your stop you can easily get up and press the button above the doorway to let the driver know to stop a few blocks ahead of time.

See Montevideo’s Attractions Fast with a Hop On Hop Off Bus

Montevideo does have a hop on hop off bus that takes you around the major tourist attractions in the city. The times say 24 hours online but it’s really from 10 am to 5:45 pm on weekdays and 9:30 am to 4:30 pm on weekends. The cost for the hop on hop off bus is 35 USD. The stops for the hop on hop off bus include: Port of Montevideo, Gate of the Citadel, Municipality of Montevideo, Legislative Palace, Agricultural Market of Montevideo, Monument to the Diligence, Botanical Garden Museum, Tres Cruces bus terminal, Football Museum, World Trade Center, Punta Carretas Shopping, and Casino Parque Hotel. This can be a great way to explore the city if you are pressed for time!

Taxis, Ubers, and Rental Cars in Montevideo

How much are taxis in montevideo.

Taxis are fairly expensive in Montevideo, and they have a weird meter system. Basically a number appears on the meter, the driver takes out a laminated sheet of paper and that number corresponds to a price, and then a tip or tax of 108 pesos (about 3 USD) is then added to the price. There’s nothing stopping a taxi driver from making their own laminated piece of paper with prices that they can use on those who don’t know better. We ended up paying around $1.50 per minute for a taxi at 2 am from the airport.

Is Uber Available in Montevideo?

There are Ubers in Montevideo, which are usually around half the price of a taxi. However, they aren’t super abundant so it can be hard to catch an Uber if it is late or a busy time of day. If you’re fine with waiting a 10-20 minutes and don’t want to take the bus, Ubers in Montevideo are a great option!

Do you need a car in Montevideo?

You definitely do not need a car in Montevideo as the bus system is so convenient, but if you want to do day trips out of the city it makes sense. Rent a cheap car here!

How to Get From Montevideo Airport to Downtown Montevideo

Taking the bus is the cheapest option by far. The 700, 701, 703, 704, 705, 710, 711, and 724 buses run to the center of Montevideo and leave as frequently as every 7 minutes during the day. These cost around $3 for a ticket. You can use Google Maps to find the route to get to your hotel from the Montevideo airport.

If you arrive after the buses stop running, taxis may be your only option. Taxis line up outside the airport; if you have no problem paying $1-$1.50 per minute (the center of Montevideo is about 40 minutes away) or if the buses are unavailable, this is the best option for you!

For a slightly cheaper method than the taxi but one that helps you avoid the public buses, you can book a shared shuttle here for around $35 per person or a private shuttle here for around $45 per person.

Is Montevideo a Walkable City?

Montevideo is very walkable and safe all around. Drivers here are very patient, respectful, and almost always stop at crosswalks. Taxi drivers are the main exception to this. There aren’t many pedestrian crossing signs, but pedestrians have the right of way with a green light. We most enjoyed walking part of La Rambla and and in old town Montevideo!

Biking Around Montevideo

Biking is a great way to see the city. One of the most popular things to do in Montevideo is bike La Rambla, the 14-mile long boardwalk. Many hotels and hostels will have a few bikes for rent so make sure to first try organizing through your accommodations! If not, there are bike rental services all over the city and services like Orange Bikes even drop the bikes off at your hotel! Check out this 3-hour bike tour if you want to sightsee by bike!

Keep Exploring Uruguay…

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Our Favorite Travel Resources

Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays. Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights. Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars. Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours. International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities. eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally. Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!

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The tour guide was very kind and caring and always checked in with us. However, she spoke so fast, even in English, I couldn’t understand what she was saying. I realize she has to repeat everything twice, but I’d rather have less information I can understand, than a lot that I can’t. Also, each stop, several people took double the amount of time given. Not sure if it’s lack of understanding or lack of consideration.

• Montevideo Sightseeing Tour 10.00 07/19/2024 Karen Ventura , The United States I travelled with my partner

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Get around Montevideo like a local

Find Guru’Guay products and services for your travel or relocation to Uruguay

… and not like a tourist. This interactive map loads really fast. Use it to travel by bus or on foot and get around Montevideo like a local.

Find your bus/plan your walking route in Montevideo

Cómo ir  is a beautifully-designed, fast website provided by the city government which shows you how to get anywhere in Montevideo on foot or by bus .

You’ll need to read some Spanish but really very basic.

Even if you don’t read Spanish, the site video demo is useful to see how to use the site. For instance you’ll see that you must type the first letters of the address and then wait for the text predictor to show you street options to select from.

To use the site

Under origen y destino (starting point and end point)

• esquina o dirección  – to search by street name and number ( dirección ) or cross streets, type in the street name under calle , and the cross street under esquina/numero
• Cultura (place of cultural interest)
• Deporte (sports venue)
• Espacio libre (open air venue eg a park)
• Monumento (monument)
• Playa (beach)
• Calle  – street, if you just have the street name and not street name and number of your destination, or to find where a street is located
• Linea de omnibus  – bus line, handy if the 32 passes your hotel door and you’d like to see where it would take you
• Click on marcar origen to mark starting point and marcar destino  for your end point or destination. You can also drag the start and end pins onto your map if it’s easier that way.
• Click ir en ómnibus  to be shown the bus routes. Click on the bus options in resultados  to see the bus routes appear on the map. Click ir caminando to see a route to walk.
• You can also see schedules ( horarios ).

I really recommend watching the   site video demo  before you start. Even watching it with the sound off it makes good sense.

Happy travelling!

Guru'Guay Guide to Montevideo

Photo: Salkantay

[This article was first published on  Aug 30, 2014.  The date above is when it was last updated]

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12 Responses

A related question – Is the hop-on hop-off bus a reasonable option to see Montevideo? We are think of staying either at Hyatt Centric (relatively newish / modern hotel with good views) or Alma Historica (good reviews and within walking distance to buquebus ferry.

Hi Dragonfly, how are you doing? I don’t rate the bus much. It zips through the centre of Montevideo without stopping over a long stretch with much of interest and the principal stops are outside of shopping centres (something Brazilian tourists love). However it’s convenient if you have just a day or two here to get to feel the lay of the land. Armed with the Guru’Guay guide to Montevideo , you could make your own way around. The D1 bus goes through Montevideo from the Old City to Carrasco in the far east for a fraction of the cost. Montevideo’s fairly small and best explored on foot to really get a feel of the city.

And do check out our Montevideo hotel recommendations . We’ve stayed at and love every place we recommend.

Thanks, The Guru of GuruGuay! We don’t mind walking at all – in fact walking is the best way to see the city. I will check the D1 bus route. We are not interested in shopping centres – but more about architecture and culture of the city. I have read your blog on Montevideo hotel recommendations – great that the Alma Historica is on your list 🙂 The reason I was thinking of Hyatt Centric because we have status of major hotel chains and often get upgrade to a better room than the basic room. However, I am inclined towards the Alma Historica as we can walk to the buquebus terminal for the Francisco to Buesnos Aires. Again, thanks for your very helpful and informative website!

Hola Ms. Guru, I just bought your ebook but have yet to read it. I’ll post a review later. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying your website. I just want to add, hopefully helpful, info regarding :Find your bus/plan your walking route in Montevideo” and the ‘como ir” info. There is an app for your smartphone called Moovit that is great for getting around by transit. With regards o the “como ir” website, if you open it using Google Chrome it will automatically do the translation for you.

Hola Mr Nick, I LOVE Moovit! Thanks so much for sharing this info and I’m looking forward to reading your review! All the best Ms Guru.

As a foreigner can I buy a electronic STM card? Or other options to buy daily, weekly or monthly passes?

Hi Silviu – A standard ticket called a común costs 33 pesos at the time of writing. If you plan to make frequent trips, buy an STM card at any Abitab store . They cost the equivalent of a couple of dollars and you just need to present your passport. Using this card you are able to buy one-hour or two-hour tickets that will allow you to change buses as often as you like during that time period for 30 and 49 pesos respectively. You can charge the card so you don’t need to handle money, or present the card to the driver and pay in cash. The card is not limited to personal use so you can use it to buy tickets for more than one passenger. There are no other pass options. Hope this helps! — Karen

Trying to find information about getting from the airport to my hotel in Montevideo and later to Colonia del Sacramento and finally from there back to the Carrasco Airport.

Great post!

I also use this site: http://www.montevideobus.com It runs much faster on my google chrome on mac. Sometimes “como ir” just gets stuck.

Thanks for the tip, John!

Hello, I’m currently living in Buenos Aires and I will be visiting Montevideo alone for a week in Feb. Could you recommend me a good hostel or even better bed and breakfast in a great location so that I could explore the city. I love walking and exploring and getting of the beaten path. I speak Spanish so it would be a bonus to be able to use that. Thanks soo much and I love your website. It’s been soooo helpful already!!!!

Hi D’Andre, I am so glad you are finding the site helpful. I have a lot of fun writing it, I have to admit. I do have a recommendation, and if you’ll forgive me for the own-trumpet-blowing, it is my family’s guesthouse! Casa Sarandi is in the Old City (guests go absolutely everywhere on foot, we are close to everything) and we specialise in recommending things for you to do every day while you are in Montevideo so that your stay is really memorable! I’ll write to you via email. If my mail gets lost feel free to write to me on [email protected] . February is a great month to visit as carnival is in full swing !

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Your Trip to Montevideo: The Complete Guide

• Best Time to Visit
• Weather & Climate
• Montevideo Airport Guide
• Neighborhoods in Explore
• Best Hotels
• Getting Around
• Top Things to Do
• Best Museums
• 48-Hour Itinerary
• Day Trips From Montevideo
• Food to Try
• Best Restaurants
• Nightlife Guide

Come to Montevideo to relax and unwind in this small but bustling capital city. Walk or bike its miles of coastline, lie on the beaches, and sample the reds from the local wineries. Experience its culinary heritage by attending an asado (barbecue), sipping a mate, or biting into a massive chivito sandwich (a traditional Uruguayan meal). Learn tango or dance alongside drumming candombe groups in the streets. Watch the nearly sacred national sport of soccer at Estadio Centenario, or spend an evening listening to opera at Teatro Solis. Peruse its museums , and hop on the bus to get around for less than a dollar a ride. You'll find it easy to navigate , full of activities, and its people kind and caring.

Montevideo is as progressive as it is relaxed. Uruguay has anti-discrimination laws in regards to sexual orientation and gender identity, and Montevideo is commonly listed as one of the best destinations in Latin America for LGBTQ+ travelers.

While many visitors come here as part of a greater South America tourism circuit or for a visa run from Argentina, Montevideo and the country of Uruguay warrant a trip within themselves.

Planning Your Trip

• Best Time to Visit : The best time to visit Montevideo is October through March when the weather is at its warmest. Half of that time Carnival celebrations will take over the city, while the other half will have good hotel and flight deals.
• Language: Spanish
• Currency: Uruguayan peso
• Getting Around: City buses are the only form of public transportation in Montevideo , but much of the city can be traveled around simply by walking or renting a bike. Taxis, Ubers, and remises (chartered cars) are plentiful and cheap, too. There’s no need to rent a car unless you plan on venturing out of the city.
• Travel Tip: Montevideanos eat and party late. The normal dinner time ranges between 10 to 11 p.m. It's common to go to bars and clubs around 12 a.m., then stay out partying until 4 or 5 a.m. The trick to staying up late here is to take a power nap in the late afternoon, then drink a mate when you wake up to give you a focused, steady caffeine surge.

Things to Do

Many of Montevideo’s best activities are its most relaxing ones: walking or biking the Rambla, sitting by the river and enjoying a mate, and wandering through its many museums . You can find more lively activities, like going to a candombe practice (a drum-heavy Afro-Uruguayan music associated with Carnival) or dancing tango, but the city is known more for its chill vibe than its party ambiance (with the exception of Carnival and major holidays like Nostalgia Night).

• Go wine tasting at a nearby vineyard. Not only is Bodega Bouza one of closest wineries to Montevideo, it’s also rated as one of the world’s top wineries.
• See a soccer game at Estadio Centenario. Holding 60,000 fans, it’s the only historical monument of World Football and the home turf of Uruguay’s National Team. Tickets can be purchased at the Abitab sites found throughout Montevideo.
• Explore the art scene. See a show in Teatro Solis or take a day tour of the facility to experience the most prestigious theater in Uruguay. Visit one of the city’s 20-plus art museums and exhibitions spaces (like the EAC) to better understand Uruguayan culture and history.

Explore more attractions with our full-length article on the best things to do in Montevideo .

What to Eat and Drink

For Uruguay’s famous wood-fired barbecue, asado, go to one of the many restaurants in Mercado del Puerto serving juicy steaks, morcilla (blood sausage), and cheesy stuffed grilled bell peppers. The national sandwich, the chivito, layers strips of steak, ham, bacon, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and melted mozzarella between two thick slices of bread, topped with a fried egg and salsa golf (mayo and ketchup). As for street food, grab a choripan (a chorizo sausage sandwich) with zesty chimichurri sauce. Another option are tortas fritas, deep-fried pancakes with jam, or dulce de leche, a sweat spread similar to caramel, only nuttier and thicker. For more sweets order, an alfajor (a shortbread cookie sandwich with dulce de leche in the middle), an arroz con leche (a sweetened rice dessert), or the chajá (a sponge cake with peaches, meringue, and whipped cream).

Uruguay has a strong wine culture, and over half of all the country's wine is produced within 30 miles of Montevideo. The most popular wine here is Tannat, a red which has notes of licorice, espresso, and blackberries. You can easily order this at most restaurants or take a cab to a local winery to do a tasting at the source. Montevideo is also known for the wine cocktail known as "medio y medio" ("half and half"). Made from dry white wine and sweet sparkling wine, it’s served as an aperitif, with dessert, or really, whenever you want. The other famous drink here has no alcohol but plenty of caffeine: mate. Mate is usually served as loose-leaf tea inside a hollowed-out gourd with a bombilla (a filtered straw). Uruguayans drink it everywhere: at the park, on the bus, while they work. Buy your own equipment to prepare one for yourself, or ask a local if you can try theirs. Most people are generally willing to share mate, even with a stranger.

Where to Stay

Stay in Cuidad Vieja to easily walk to historical sites, discover alleyway vintage shops, and have your pick of boutique hotels and guesthouses with personality. Pocitos and Carrasco will offer less personality but luxury hotels and spas , plus easy access to the city’s best beaches. Many budget accommodations are in the central neighborhood of Cordon. There you’ll be close to Tres Cruces Bus Terminal, surrounded by microbreweries, and next to the famous Sunday street fair, Feria de Tristán Narvaja. For greenery, museums, Ramirez Beach, and a short walk to some of the most popular candombe meetup spots, stay in the Parque Rodo area.

Learn more about the coolest neighborhoods to explore in Montevideo and the best hotels .

Getting There

Visitors arrive in Montevideo by ferry, plane, bus, or car. From Buenos Aires, the easiest option is to take a high-speed ferry, like Buque Bus or Colonia Express, to Colonia del Sacramento, then hop on the bus to Montevideo. (Bus passage can be included in the ferry ticket.) Those flying in will land in Carrasco International Airport ; after which they can take a taxi, Uber, remis, or minibus into the city. Long-distance buses arrive in Tres Cruces Terminal from major cities in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It’s also possible to drive in from Argentina or Brazil, though Montevideo is not close to any land border.

To learn more about Montevideo’s beautiful international airport, check out our full-length Carrasco International Airport guide .

Culture and Customs

It is not customary to tip taxi drivers, and as a result, don’t expect them to help you with luggage. A tip of 10 percent is normal in restaurants. Should you see a "cubierto" charge on your restaurant bill, that is not a tip but a table charge by the restaurant. You may also give a 10 percent tip for spa or beauty services, though it’s not expected. Hotel porters and airport baggage handlers will expect a tip of the equivalent of a dollar’s worth of pesos.

There are several dated reports about petty crime at night in Cuidad Vieja. A few years ago the government installed nearly 400 security cameras to address this issue , causing incidents to drop significantly. It’s unlikely you would have any safety incident during your visit, but if in doubt about a late-night walk, just call an Uber or taxi to reach your destination.

Money Saving Tips

• Uruguay has a tourist VAT refund of 18 to 22 percent for hotels, car rentals, catering, and certain souvenirs over $600. If you pay with a credit card, it will automatically be refunded. If you pay in cash, you will receive a global blue form. Turn this in at the airport or port to receive your refund.
• The best rate for exchanging cash is at casas de cambios (exchange houses) in the city center.
• Most museums are free.
• Buy fruits, vegetables, and cheeses from the weekly street markets (every neighborhood has one) instead of supermarkets.
• If coming from Buenos Aires, compare ferry prices of the three major carriers (Bueque Bus, Colonia Express, and Seacat) to find the best deal.
• Often the best and cheapest form of transportation is just walking.
• Purchase an STM card any Abitab store for bus discounts.

Uruguay Ministry of Tourism. " Climate, Language, and Religion ."

Uruguay Presidencia. " Ministerio del Interior instaló 400 cámaras de seguridad en Ciudad Vieja y Centro ." December 23, 2013

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Where to go

Experiences in montevideo, introducing montevideo.

Capital of Uruguay and also the southernmost capital city in the Americas, Montevideo is known as one of Latin America’s most liberal and safest cities, as well as South America's highest-ranking city for quality of living, its friendly warm people will make you feel at home in no time.

Even if it’s known to have a more tranquil, low-key vibe than other cities in Latin America, you’ll be surprised by its varied cultural activities, festivals, active nightlife and music in the streets. Tango, candombe, and murga are the three most popular styles of music here.

Walking through its streets, you’ll discover its balanced architecture between its past and its present, with styles that go from old European architecture to modern buildings.

Montevideo is also noted for its sandy beaches and its Rambla, an avenue that covers the entire coastline of the city, where you can enjoy a number of activities, try some typical food or just relax and watch the sky change colors during sunset.

From Musement Mag