Uruguay

The highest ground here is a gentle swell of green hills, so the big views are wide skies and open grassland, with no peaks to climb. Winding roads roll past farms and small towns toward a long coast of river and ocean, where people gather outdoors in the evening to talk and watch the light settle.

The weather is mild and humid, with warm summers made for the coast, chilly damp winters and rain all year, so a jacket and a flexible plan both help. A Local Friend keeps the day loose, swapping a beach afternoon for a cosy cafe or a country drive when the sky changes its mind.

0Local Gurus

0Local Friends

0Cities with Local Friends

Population

3.38 million

2025 estimate, World Bank

Independent since

25 August 1825

Declared by the Thirty-Three Orientals; state formed in 1828.

Climate

Humid subtropical (Cfa)

Mild all year; warm summers, damp winters, rain spread evenly.

Capital

Montevideo

Seat of national government.

Did you know?

Hosted the first World Cup

Held in Montevideo in 1930, and the home team won it.

Good to know about Uruguay

Language, money, timing and the details travelers sort out before they land.

National language: Spanish
De facto national language; no law makes it official.
Currency: Uruguayan peso (UYU)
ISO 4217 code UYU, numeric 858.
Time zone: UTC−3
One time zone nationwide; no daylight saving time.
Best time to visit: Late Nov to Feb
Southern summer; autumn is mild, winters damp and chilly.
Area: 176,220 km²
Total surface area, World Bank, 2023

Also worth knowing

Driving side: Right
Vehicles keep to the right.
Calling code: +598
International dialling code (ITU E.164).
UNESCO sites: 3 World Heritage Sites
3 cultural; shared sites count for each state.

Latest Tips & Traps in Uruguay

Fresh advice from Local Friends and travelers: what to do in Uruguay, and what to avoid.

Tip

Eat & Drink

Sweaty salsa it’s the real salsa

Rivera, Uruguay

If you want to see how local people dance salsa and enjoy move their bodies without judgment, Tibiri Bar is the disco you looking for. We don’t care if you are doing good or not, it doesn’t matter, we only wants to see you smiling and enjoying this part of us.

Salsa is always sweaty, salsa is all good things you have…

See all Tips & Traps in Uruguay

More countries in South America

Keep exploring: these are the countries in South America with the most Local Friends.

Brazil
18 cities with Local Friends22 Local Gurus31 Local Friends
Colombia
9 cities with Local Friends8 Local Gurus22 Local Friends
Argentina
6 cities with Local Friends8 Local Gurus8 Local Friends
Peru
4 cities with Local Friends7 Local Gurus5 Local Friends
Ecuador
3 cities with Local Friends1 Local Guru5 Local Friends

Good to know about Uruguay

Latest Tips & Traps in Uruguay

Sweaty salsa it’s the real salsa

More countries in South America

Brazil

Colombia

Argentina

Peru

Ecuador

Latest Tips & Traps in Uruguay

Sweaty salsa it’s the real salsa

Good to know about Uruguay