🇺🇾 Montevideo, Uruguay — Cruise Port Guide
A low-key riverside capital on the Río de la Plata — a cobbled Ciudad Vieja, a 22-kilometre waterfront rambla, and some of South America's best steakhouses.
Updated September 2026
Quick facts
Getting ashore
When to visit Montevideo
Southern Hemisphere summer (December-March) is best for warm, dry weather; winter (June-August) is cooler and rainier.
Getting back to the ship on time
If venturing independently beyond downtown (e.g., to Punta del Este, roughly 2 hours away), confirm return transport times carefully since it's a long drive back and the ship will not delay departure.
All-aboard is ship's time — check it in the daily programme, and set your watch to it.
Things to do in Montevideo
Mercado del Puerto asado lunch
Grilled Uruguayan beef in a historic 19th-century market hall.
Ciudad Vieja walking tour
Cobbled old town of plazas and Art Deco facades.
The Rambla waterfront
Stroll or bike part of the 22km riverside promenade.
Palacio Salvo viewpoint
Iconic early-1900s tower overlooking Plaza Independencia.
Punta Carretas & lighthouse
Seaside neighborhood with a working 19th-century lighthouse.
Tango and mate culture stop
Learn Montevideo's tango roots alongside Buenos Aires.
Popular excursions
Tannat Winery Tasting
Uruguay's signature bold red at family bodegas outside the capital.
Punta del Este Day Trip
The Hand in the Sand, Casapueblo and South America's ritziest beach town.
What to eat
- Asado (grilled beef)
- Chivito sandwich
- Milanesa
- Dulce de leche pastries
- Yerba mate
Weather by month
Best time to visit: Nov–Mar (austral summer)
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 83° | 63° | 3.4" |
| Feb | 81° | 63° | 4" |
| Mar | 78° | 61° | 4.1" |
| Apr | 71° | 55° | 3.4" |
| May | 64° | 49° | 3.3" |
| Jun | 58° | 44° | 3.2" |
| Jul | 57° | 43° | 3.4" |
| Aug | 60° | 44° | 3.6" |
| Sep | 63° | 47° | 3.7" |
| Oct | 69° | 51° | 4" |
| Nov | 75° | 56° | 3.5" |
| Dec | 80° | 60° | 3.3" |
Local phrases
A little history
Mercado del Puerto, a 19th-century iron-framed market hall, is Montevideo's shrine to Uruguayan asado grilling.
The Rambla, a 22-kilometre unbroken waterfront promenade, is one of the longest continuous sidewalks in the world.
Uruguayans drink more yerba mate per capita than any other country, carried everywhere in a thermos and gourd.
Ciudad Vieja's mix of Art Deco and neoclassical buildings reflects Montevideo's early-20th-century prosperity as a trade hub.