Day Trips from Montevideo: Colonia and Beyond

October 20, 2026

Choosing a day trip from Montevideo

Distances out of the capital are longer than they look on a map, so pick one destination per day. Coaches are the practical way to travel. They depart Terminal Tres Cruces on Bulevar Artigas, which is open round the clock, and there is no rail link. A ferry does not connect Montevideo with Colonia either, and the river boats go to Buenos Aires. All prices are in Uruguayan pesos (UYU), roughly 40 to the US dollar, and they change, so confirm with the operator.

At a glance

Canelones and rural Montevideo wineries: about 30 minutes from the centre. A half-day.
Atlantida: about 45 km along the coast. A half-day, with limited church hours.
Piriapolis: about 100 km east. A full day at a relaxed pace.
Colonia del Sacramento: about 2 hours 45 minutes by coach, UYU 579 one way. A full day.
Punta del Este: about 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes by coach, UYU 466 one way. Long for a day, and nicer overnight in summer.

Colonia del Sacramento

The riverside old town was listed by UNESCO in 1995, and its cobbled lanes can be covered on foot in a few hours. Highlights are the Calle de los Suspiros, the Portón de Campo gate and the lighthouse from 1857, which has a small entry fee. COT’s timetable shows around 11 coaches a day, and a few skip Sundays and holidays, so fix your return time first. Timetable details are on the COT site .

Punta del Este and Punta Ballena

On Playa Brava stands La Mano, a sculpture by Mario Irarrazabal from 1982. Casapueblo, the cliffside house at Punta Ballena, costs UYU 600 for adults and UYU 500 for over-65s, with children under 12 free, and it opens daily from 10:00 until sunset. The Ceremonia al Sol is the evening draw. The Casapueblo website has details.

Wine country

Three departments, Montevideo, Canelones and San Jose, hold roughly three-quarters of Uruguay’s vineyards. Tannat, brought from France by Pascual Harriague (commonly dated 1870), leads the reds. Bodega Bouza, at Camino de la Redencion 7658, lies inside Montevideo department, and its tours and lunches must be booked ahead. Establecimiento Juanico is a separate winery on Ruta 5 in Canelones. Resale sites show packages with transport from about US$50.

Atlantida and Piriapolis

At Atlantida, the Eladio Dieste church (built 1958 to 1960) became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, but one visitor in 2022 found it shut. Piriapolis is a Belle Epoque resort founded by Francisco Piria, and Hotel Argentino, which opened on 24 December 1930, was being renovated in 2026.

Buenos Aires is not a day trip

The Buquebus direct crossing is listed at about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes each way, and you need your passport. Treat it as an overnight.

Safety and timing

Montevideo has street crime, and the UK government advises against walking downtown or around the port alone, especially at night and at weekends. Reach the bus station by taxi if it is dark. Winter (June to August) shuts many coastal hotels and restaurants. Guided departures can be browsed on Viator .