The City
Montevideo is the largest city and capital of Uruguay, with a population of 1 325 968 and an area of 530 square km. The city has a rich architectural and cultural heritage and is described as a vibrant, electric place with a rich cultural life. The cultural heritage includes the famous tango and the candombe. The architecture of Montevideo reflects its history, ranging from colonial Art Deco, influenced by Italian, French, Spanish, British and Portuguese immigrants.
Tourism
Tourism in Montevideo is very important for the economy of Uruguay. The Ciudad Vieja area is the tourism center and offers tourists a sight of the oldest buildings in the city, numerous museums, art galleries and night clubs. Tourism grows every year, due to increasing airline arrivals as well as luxury cruises arriving into the port of Montevideo. Guided tours are offered in English, Italian, Portuguese and German.
Airport
The Carrasco International Airport, located 15km from downtown Montevideo, is the largest airport in Uruguay and handles more than 1.5 million passengers per year.
Airlines
The following airlines offer flights to Montevideo from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Bloemfontein:
- Emirates (Cape Town, Durban)
- Malaysia Airways (Durban, Bloemfontein)
- Qatar Airways (Cape Town)
- SAA (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein)
What to see / do
- Ciudad Vieja
- Legislative Palace
- National History Museum
- Port Market
- Plaza Independencia
- Palacio Salvo
- Palacio Taranco
Events
- Lemanja (Festival of the Goddess of the Sea)
- Montevideo Tango Festival
- Montevideo Percussion Festival
- Uruguay Carnival
Accommodation
Search for hotels in Montevideo
General Info
Weather
Montevideo enjoys a mild subtropical climate with cool, wet and windy winters and warm, humid summers. Thunderstorms are common, but no tropical cyclones. Rainfall is regular throughout the year. The city has an annual average temperature of 16 °C, with the highest recorded temperature 42.8 °C and the lowest -5.6 °C.
