Travel to Montevideo

Flying to Montevideo

Carrasco International Airport serves a number of destinations in Europe and the Americas, including Madrid, Miami, Rio de Janeiro and Paris. There are no direct flights to Montevideo from the UK. The quickest routes involve flying with Air France via Paris or flying with British Airways to São Paulo and catching a connecting flight with GOL Linhas Aéreas.

Flight times

From London - 17 hours (including stopover); New York - 13 hours 30 minutes (including stopover); Los Angeles - 15 hours 30 minutes (including stopover); Toronto - 13 hours 45 minutes (including stopovers); Sydney - 19 hours 30 minutes (including stopover).

Travel by road

Uruguay has an extensive system of paved highways and the roads into Montevideo are generally in good condition. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years old. An International Driving Permit or licence from your home country is required.

Speed limits are 45kph (28mph) in built-up areas and up to 110kph (68mph) on motorways, although these aren't always well enforced.

The main motoring association, the Automóvil Club del Uruguay (tel: 1707, in Uruguay only; www.acu.com.uy), can provide further information on driving in Uruguay. 

Emergency breakdown services

Automóvil Club del Uruguay (tel: 1707, in Uruguay only; www.acu.com.uy); Car Up (tel: +598 2628 1555).

Routes

From Argentina, there are road crossings at Paysandú and further north, but it is simpler to take a boat across the River Plate's estuary from Buenos Aires with Buquebus (www.buquebus.com). There is a direct crossing to Montevideo and a shorter crossing to Colonia del Sacramento with bus connections on to the capital.

The ruta interbalnearia (inter-beach route) runs from Chuy on the Brazilian border all the way to Montevideo and is a pretty coastal drive, popular with tourists.

Coaches

TTL (tel: +598 2401 1410; www.ttl.com.uy) runs coaches between Montevideo and Brazil. These buses and those from other parts of Uruguay arrive at the city's Tres Cruces bus station. A full list of operators and timetables is available online: www.trescruces.com.uy.

Time to city

From Porto Alegre (Brazil) - 10 hours; São Paulo - 23 hours; Rio de Janeiro - 28 hours.

Travel by Rail

Services

Uruguay is devoid of long-distance rail services, with only one commuter service operating from downtown Montevideo. The line goes north from Montevideo's Estacion Central Station to Florida with a journey time of approximately 90 minutes. The service splits at the sleepy town of 25 de Agosto with one branch heading north-west to San José.

Operators

Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estado (www.afe.com.uy).

Travel by boat

Ferries from Argentina arrive at Montevideo port in the old town.

Ferry operators

Buquebus (tel: 130, in Uruguay only; www.buquebus.com) ferries connect Montevideo with Buenos Aires, Argentina (journey time - 2 hours 15 minutes).