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How many days in Uruguay? 7 days: Montevideo, Colonia, Punta del Este and Cabo Polonio
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Uruguay is small and calm, wedged between Argentina and Brazil, with about 3.5 million people and more cows than people. In seven days you see its three faces: the capital Montevideo with its 22 km Rambla along the River Plate, the cobbled colonial port of Colonia del Sacramento, and the Atlantic coast from glamorous Punta del Este to Cabo Polonio, a village without electricity mains among dunes and sea lions. Comfortable buses link everything from Montevideo's Tres Cruces terminal.
Short answer
Five days covers Montevideo, Colonia and Punta del Este. Seven adds a winery and the wild east coast at Cabo Polonio.
The 7-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Montevideo: the Ciudad Vieja and the Mercado del Puerto
Morning. Start at Plaza Independencia, with the statue of José Artigas above his mausoleum and the 1928 Palacio Salvo, once the tallest building in South America. Walk through the Puerta de la Ciudadela into the Ciudad Vieja along the pedestrian Sarandí street.
Afternoon. Tour the Teatro Solís, the city's opera house from 1856 (guided tours cheap, sometimes free on certain days). Have a late lunch at the Mercado del Puerto, an iron market hall full of parrillas grilling beef on wood fires, with a glass of medio y medio, half sparkling, half white wine.
Evening. Walk along the Rambla at sunset, then have dinner in the Ciudad Vieja.
The Ciudad Vieja is quiet and best avoided on empty streets late at night; take a taxi or Uber back.
Day 2: Montevideo: the Rambla, the Andes museum and candombe
Morning. Visit the Museo Andes 1972, telling the story of the plane crash survivors, the rugby team from Montevideo (about UY$400-500).
Afternoon. Walk or cycle the Rambla to Pocitos, the city beach, and visit the Estadio Centenario, where Uruguay won the first World Cup in 1930, with its football museum.
Evening. On Sunday evenings, follow the candombe drum groups through the streets of Barrio Sur and Palermo, the Afro-Uruguayan rhythm on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Ask for a chivito, a huge steak sandwich with ham, cheese, egg and salad, at a restaurant near Pocitos for UY$500-700.
Day 3: Colonia del Sacramento
Morning. Take a bus from Tres Cruces to Colonia del Sacramento, about 2h30 (roughly UY$600-700). The Portuguese founded it in 1680; its Barrio Histórico is a UNESCO site since 1995.
Afternoon. Walk the Calle de los Suspiros, the cobbled street sloping to the river, climb the lighthouse (a small fee) and visit the small museums with a combined ticket.
Evening. Watch sunset over the River Plate from the old walls; Buenos Aires is across the water, 50 km away.
Buquebus and Colonia Express ferries link Colonia with Buenos Aires in about 1h15.
Day 4: Tannat country
Morning. Return to Montevideo by bus, about 2h30.
Afternoon. Visit a winery in the Canelones region near Montevideo, such as Bodega Bouza, to taste Tannat, Uruguay's signature red (tastings about UY$1,500-3,000 with food).
Evening. Dinner in Montevideo's Cordón or Parque Rodó districts.
Most wineries need a booking, especially for lunch.
Day 5: Punta del Este
Morning. Take the bus about 2 hours east to Punta del Este. See La Mano (the Hand) on Brava beach, the fingers emerging from the sand, by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal (1982).
Afternoon. Visit Casapueblo at Punta Ballena, the white house-museum built by the artist Carlos Páez Vilaró (about UY$600-700).
Evening. Watch the sunset from Casapueblo's terrace, a ritual each evening.
Punta del Este fills from Christmas to Carnival with Argentines; prices double. Out of season, it is very quiet.
Day 6: José Ignacio and Cabo Polonio
Morning. Drive 40 minutes to José Ignacio, a village of beach restaurants and a lighthouse.
Afternoon. Continue about 1h30-2 hours to Cabo Polonio. Vehicles stop at the park gate; a 4x4 truck crosses 7 km of dunes to the village (about UY$500-700 return).
Evening. Walk to the lighthouse for sunset and the colony of sea lions on the rocks. Most houses run on solar power and candles.
Bring cash: there are no banks or ATMs in Cabo Polonio.
Day 7: Back to Montevideo
Morning. Sunrise walk on the beach, then the truck back to the gate.
Afternoon. Bus to Montevideo, about 4 hours.
Evening. Fly home from Carrasco Airport, 20-30 minutes from the centre.
With a car, stop at the Fortaleza de Santa Teresa and Punta del Diablo further north if you have an extra day.
Only have 5 days?
With 5 days, spend two in Montevideo, one in Colonia and two in Punta del Este.
Got extra days?
Add Punta del Diablo and Santa Teresa National Park, or an estancia stay in the interior, riding with gauchos.
Where to stay in Uruguay
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Montevideo Cordón / Colonia hostels | Cheaper rooms near buses and the old town. | UY$2,500-4,000 |
| Mid-range | Montevideo Pocitos / Punta Carretas | Near the Rambla and beaches. | UY$5,000-8,000 |
| Mid-range | Colonia Barrio Histórico | Historic guesthouses on cobbled streets. | UY$5,000-9,000 |
| Comfort | Punta del Este / José Ignacio | Beach hotels. | UY$10,000-25,000 |
Getting around
Long-distance buses from Tres Cruces in Montevideo are comfortable and frequent: COT, Turil and Copsa among others. In Montevideo, city buses cost about UY$50-60; Uber and taxis are reliable. Carrasco Airport is about 20-30 minutes from the centre (taxi about UY$1,500-2,000).
What to eat in Uruguay
Uruguayans eat a lot of beef: asado grilled on wood embers, morcilla blood sausage and provoleta (grilled cheese). The chivito is the national sandwich. Try fainá, chickpea flatbread, on pizza. Sweets are made with dulce de leche, in alfajores. Everyone carries a mate gourd and thermos. A parrilla dinner costs UY$1,200-2,000.
Best time to visit
November to March, Uruguay's summer, with highs of 26-30°C, is beach season. January is busiest on the coast. Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are mild and quiet. Carnival in Montevideo lasts about 40 days from late January.
Month-by-month weather for Uruguay →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | UY$1,600 | UY$3,500 | UY$7,000 |
| Food & drink | UY$1,200 | UY$2,500 | UY$5,000 |
| Sights & tickets | UY$300 | UY$800 | UY$1,800 |
| Local transport | UY$400 | UY$900 | UY$2,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about UY$3,500 | about UY$7,700 | about UY$15,800 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Uruguayan pesos (roughly UY$40 to US$1); foreign tourists paying with a foreign card often get VAT discounts at hotels and restaurants, so check at the till.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Uruguay expensive?
It is one of the most expensive countries in South America, more than Argentina or Brazil. A mid-range hotel costs about UY$5,000-8,000, a parrilla dinner UY$1,200-2,000. Prices in Punta del Este in January are higher still. Paying by foreign card can reduce VAT.
Can I visit Uruguay from Buenos Aires?
Yes. Ferries from Buenos Aires reach Colonia in about 1h15 and Montevideo in about 2h15-3 hours. A day trip to Colonia is popular, but staying a night is better, as the town is at its best at sunset after the day-trippers leave. Book ahead on summer weekends and Argentine holidays, when ferries sell out.
Is Uruguay safe?
Uruguay is one of the safest countries in Latin America, though petty theft occurs in Montevideo. Avoid empty streets in the Ciudad Vieja at night, and keep phones out of sight. Beach towns are generally very calm. Use Uber or official taxis at night, and do not leave bags on the sand while you swim at busy city beaches.
When is the best time for Cabo Polonio?
December to March for warm weather and swimming, with many visitors in January. In winter, from June to August, it is cold and quiet, but the sea lions are there all year, and southern right whales pass along the coast from about July to November. Some guesthouses close in winter, so book before you go.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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