Montevideo is South America’s best-kept secret — the continent’s most relaxed and consistently liveable capital, whose 22-km Rambla coastal promenade is the world’s longest and whose Ciudad Vieja preserves one of the region’s finest colonial architectural ensembles. This companion post accompanies a real montevideo walking tour filmed in 4K, the video Montevideo, Uruguay — Walking Tour, which walks the colonial streets and waterfront of Uruguay’s capital.
About This Walking Tour
This 4K walking tour explores Montevideo — Uruguay’s capital on the north shore of the Río de la Plata estuary. The walk covers the Ciudad Vieja (Old City), the colonial peninsula that contains the city’s oldest buildings including the Teatro Solís (1856, the oldest functioning theatre in Uruguay, with its Italianate portico), the Mercado del Puerto (Port Market, 1868, an iron and glass structure prefabricated in England and shipped to Uruguay), and the colonial streets between them. The Palacio Salvo — the 1928 Art Deco tower that was the tallest building in South America at its completion, designed by Mario Palanti — dominates the plaza at the entrance to the Ciudad Vieja.
The broader Montevideo walking itinerary extends along the Rambla — the 22-km coastal promenade along the Río de la Plata, the world’s longest continuous coastal walkway — through the beach neighbourhood of Pocitos, where residents sit on benches sipping mate from their gourds, and the converted prison shopping mall of Punta Carretas. The Rambla offers constant views over the wide estuary, with the Buenos Aires skyline visible in the distance on very clear days.
Highlights of Montevideo
The Mercado del Puerto is one of South America’s most atmospheric food markets — a Victorian iron and glass hall filled with parrillas (grill restaurants) whose charcoal smoke drifts perpetually through the structure, with Saturday lunchtime the traditional time for the whole city to eat its weekly asado (barbecue) here. The Teatro Solís, opened in 1856 and fully restored in 2004, is Uruguay’s national theatre and opera house — its Italian Neoclassical facade and interior are among the finest in South America.
The Palacio Salvo was the tallest building in South America from its completion in 1928 until 1935. Its architect Mario Palanti also built the remarkably similar Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires — both buildings were designed with Dante’s Divine Comedy as a structural metaphor. The Rambla is Montevideo’s great public space — at 22 km it is the longest continuous coastal promenade in the world, and at any time of day residents walk, cycle, jog, fish, and sit with their mate gourds watching the estuary. The Punta Carretas shopping mall occupies a former prison (1915) with the cell structure preserved and visible through the retail spaces — a remarkable piece of adaptive reuse.
A Brief History of Montevideo
Montevideo was founded in 1726 by the Spanish governor of Buenos Aires as a military outpost to prevent Portuguese expansion from Brazil, and formally constituted as a city in 1730. It became the capital of the Banda Oriental (Eastern Shore) territory, fought over between Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and Argentina for decades. Uruguayan independence was declared in 1828, with Montevideo as capital. The city grew rapidly through European immigration — primarily Italian, Spanish, and Basque — through the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Uruguay became one of the most progressive countries in South America under President José Batlle y Ordóñez (1903–07 and 1911–15), introducing free public education, labour protections, women’s suffrage (1927), and the separation of church and state. Montevideo’s Mercado del Puerto opened in 1868, the Teatro Solís in 1856. In 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully legalise and regulate the production, sale, and consumption of cannabis through government dispensaries. Montevideo consistently ranks as the best city for quality of life in Latin America.
Practical Tips
Uruguay’s currency is the Uruguayan peso (UYP). Spanish is the official language. Carrasco International Airport is approximately 20 km from the Ciudad Vieja; taxis, buses, and rideshare services connect. The Ciudad Vieja and Rambla are walkable; the full Rambla circuit requires a bicycle or several day walks. The city is flat and very walker-friendly. The mate (herbal infusion in a gourd with a metal straw) is the national drink and an important social ritual — accept if offered as a gesture of friendship.
Best Time to Visit
December through March for the beach season along the Rambla and warm evenings in the Ciudad Vieja. June through August is cool but the city remains lively — the Mercado del Puerto Saturday parrillas continue regardless of weather. Carnival in February is celebrated in Montevideo with particular enthusiasm for the murga (satirical street theatre) tradition.
Watch & Explore More
Watch the 4K Montevideo walking tour above and discover one of South America’s most underrated capital cities. For more River Plate city walks, see Buenos Aires: San Telmo to Palermo. Subscribe to @walkingtoursvideoscom for walking tours from cities on every continent.