We arrive at the port of Montevideo on board the Celebrity Eclipse. Our stay only lasts six hours. The port is located on the edge of the Bay of Montevideo in the Cuidad Vieja, the historic old town. Many sights are not far away and we will see them during a walking tour on our own.
You can find details and background information on the sights on our tour in our article Montevideo attractions.
From the port to Independence Square
We leave the port area and keep left. First we come to Church of San Francisco de Asis, the Church of St. Francis.
Welcome zone in the Montevideo cruise terminal
Bank building - next to Iglesia San Francisco
It is closed. That is a shame, because the crypt of the church should be worth seeing. We continue through the old town and reach Montevideo's largest square, the Plaza Independence. A beautiful place that is dominated by a statue of the freedom fighter General Artigos.
Monument to General Artigas
Under the monument is the general's mausoleum. We walk around the plaza and admire the buildings: the Puerta de la Cuidadela, the Torre Ejecutiva, the Teatro Solis, the Palacio Estevéz and the Palacio Salvo.
Looking at Montevideo from above
Our next goal is this Intendance, the town hall of Montevideo. To do this, we walk about 1 ½ kilometers along Avenida 18 de Julio. This is Montevideo's main shopping street and it is busy. But there are also pretty parks and squares on the Avenida. So we pass the Fabini Park and the Plaza Cagancha, in the middle of which the Columna de la Paz, the column of peace, stands. Two blocks further we come to the Fuente de los Candidos, a fountain with lots of love locks hanging on the bars. We actually see this custom of lovers all over the world.
Av. 18 de Julio - Plaza de Cagancha - Column de la Paz
Fuente de los Candados fountain system
The special thing about the town hall is the Mirador de la Intendencia, the panoramic terrace on the 22nd floor. When the weather is nice, the view of Montevideo and the Rio de la Plata is incomparable. And we're lucky. In the sun and with a clear view, we enjoy the panorama of this beautiful city from almost 80 meters above the ground. Attention: The access is in a road tunnel in the middle of the building and is not easy to find.
Montevideo from the Mirador de la Intendencia - In the center the parliament building
The absolute highlight - the Cuidad Vieja
On Avenida 18 de Julio we go back to Plaza Independencia. Through the Puerta de la Ciutadella, the gate of the old citadel, we enter the Cuidad Vieja. The pedestrian street Calle Sarandi leads from the Puerta de la Ciudadela almost straight to the Rio de la Plata.
Puerta de la Ciutadella
First we get to Plaza de la Constitución, also called Plaza Matriz. The square is shaded by tall trees, there is a fountain in the middle, and bistros and cafés have outdoor spaces on the sides. One of Montevideo's many flea markets is always held here on Saturdays. There is a lot of junk to buy, but every now and then you can find a real rarity.
Fountain system on the Plaza Constitución
Flea market in the Plaza Constitución
The cathedral is on one side of the Plaza de la Constitución, on the other Cabildo, seat of government in colonial times. The cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Latin America. Inside it is decorated with plenty of marble, gold and frescoes, but because of the high nave and the clear shapes it does not look too grand.
Side altar of the cathedral
Cathedral dome
We take a break in one of the street cafés. Then we continue to stroll down Calle Sarandi. Many of the historic buildings have been lovingly restored. There is still a lot to do in Cuidad Vieja, but overall the old town looks very attractive. We go around the Plaza Zabala, a quiet, tree-lined square in the middle of the old town, and walk to the Rio de la Plata. There are a number of dilapidated buildings and wastelands, an uninviting corner of the old town.
One of the most beautiful markets in South America
That changes quickly towards the port. There are many small restaurants and bars as well as nice shops. In the alleys around the Port Market, the huge market hall, people crowd. Freshly caught fish is offered here, but also other food, household goods and handicrafts. Street performers lure with performances.
Folklore in Calle Perez Castellanos
Port Market
The Mercado del Puerto is one of Montevideo's main attractions. For a long time it was considered the most beautiful market in South America. Today the catering establishments are located here, one grill restaurant is lined up next. Meat, fish and vegetables are prepared on open grills. The benches and chairs in the great hall are always well occupied, and the portions on the plates are enormous. The Mercado del Puerto has been a national cultural heritage since 1975.
Mercado del Puerto entrance
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Restaurant in the Mercado del Puerto
We're going back to the Celebrity Eclipse. At the pier we take a look at the anchor of the armored ship Graf Spee and the "Oceania Marina", a cruise ship from Oceania Cruises, which is located on the neighboring pier.
Celebrity Eclipse - the eye catcher
Montevideo résumé
We liked Montevideo a lot. The old town is attractive, there is a lot of greenery, everything is very clean and we felt safe. Time was too short for many sights, such as the Palacio Legislativo or the Fortaleza del Cerro. We would also have liked to visit one of the beautiful parks of Montevideo or the sandy beaches that are so close to the city. This is what we plan to do for our next visit to Montevideo.
Update February 2024