In 1723, a Portuguese garrison was established in the location of present-day Montevideo. The Spanish expelled the Portuguese the following year. Montevideo was established not long after that (probably in 1726). Nowadays, Montevideo (which roughly translates as 'mountain with a view') is Urugauy's only large city and the country's capital. It sits on the northern bank of the Río de la Plata, almost opposite Buenos Aires in Argentina, which is on the southern bank.

Montevideo is a very nice city and its center is a showpiece of colonial Spanish, Italian and Art Deco styles. Especially the Ciudad Vieja (Old City) is beautiful. It sits on a peninsula not far from the port and harbor. Many façades of the buildings in the Old Town reflect Montevideo's extensive European immigration and are influenced by old European architecture.

• Ciudad Vieja (Old City) is the oldest part of Montevideo. It is located in the southwest of the city. There are countless colonial buildings, museums, art galleries, cultural institutions, restaurants and nightclubs.
• The Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square), or Plaza Matriz is located in the Old City, not far west of the Plaza Independéncia.
  • On the square is the Neoclassical Cabildo, which was the seat of government during colonial times.
  • The Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral is also located there. The cathedral is the burial place of several famous Uruguayans.
  • Also on the square is the Iglesia Matriz, Montevideo's oldest public building.
• Plaza Independéncia (Independence Square) is the largest square in Montevideo. It is located just east of the Old City.
  • The Gateway of The Citadel is on one side, while the 18 de Julio Avenue starts at its other end. The avenue runs along the remaining part of the wall that once surrounded the city.
  • The Gateway of The Citadel is located at the Plaza Independéncia.
  • The urn with the ashes of Uruguay's national hero, José Artigas, the man who fought against the Spanish colonizers and finally liberated Uruguay in 1828, sits under a glass sarcophagi in the black-marbled Mauseleo de Artigas at the center of the square. The mausoleum features several statues, including a huge statue of José Artigas that tops the building. An honour guard keeps vigil at the Mausoleum.
  • Also at the plaza are the Estévez Palace and the Executive Tower, both of which are the offices of the President of Uruguay.
  • The Palacio Salvo sits at the intersection of 18 de Julio Avenue and Plaza Independencia. It was completed in 1925. The palace is 100 m (330 ft) tall, making it one of Montevideo's tallest buildings. It has 26 storeys and it replaced the Confitería La Giralda, which stood at the site before it. The Palacio Salvo was originally built as a hotel, but nowadays it houses offices and private residences. It dominates the skyline of the Bay of Montevideo.
  • The Solís Theater was constructed in 1856, making it the oldest theater in Uruguay. The theater was reconstructed between 1998 and 2004. It is located on the Plaza Independéncia.
• Plaza Zabala is another notable square.
  • The Plaza Zabala features an equestrian statue of Bruno Mauricio de Zabala.
  • On the south side of the square, you'll find Palacio Taranco It was once the residence of the Ortiz Taranco brothers, but nowadays it houses the Museum of Decorative Arts.
  • Not far northwest of Plaza Zabala is the bustling Mercado del Puerto (market), which is popular with tourists. It was once the best port in South America and nowadays it houses a colorful collection of markets and restaurants, while artists and street musicians perform on every street corner.
  • The outdoor market of Feria de Tristán Narvaja is also worth a visit. There, you'll find everything from groceries to antiques and souvenirs.
• The Pocitos district features a beach and many buildings from the 1920s and 1930s.
  • The Edificio Panamericano.
  • The Positano.
  • El Pilar.

• The Museo de Arte Decorativico (Museum of Decorative Arts) Is housed in the Palacio Taranco on the south side of Plaza Zabala.
• The Museo Histórico Nacional consists of four different dwellings, each one reflecting a certain period in history.
• The Museo del Gaucho y de la Moneda has a large collection of artefacts from Uruguay's gaucho (cowboy) past.

• Parque Batlle y Ordóñez was formerly called Parque de los Aliados (park of the Allies). It is one of Montevideo's main parks and it is usually referred to as Parque Batlle. It is surrounded by several interesting neighborhoods. The park is located south of Avenida Italia and north of Avenue Rivera. The park was named after José Batlle y Ordóñez, who was President of Uruguay from 1911 to 1915. Construction of the park started in 1911. There are several statues and monuments in the park.
  • One of these districts is Villa Dolores. It was named after the original villa of Don Alejo Rossell y Rius and of Doña Dolores Pereira de Rossel. They started a small zoo on their grounds, which later became the city's zoological garden in 1919.
  • A planetarium was added to the premises in 1955.
  • The Estadio Centenario is Uruguay's national football stadium. It opened in 1930 for the first World Cup. It is located in Parque Batlle.
  • Not far from the stadium is the bronze monument of La Carreta that depicts yoked oxen pulling a loaded wagon. The monument was erected in 1934.
  • There is another statue on the same side of the park, which is a bronze copy of the Discobolus of Myron.
  • In 1938, the Obelisk of Montevideo was erected on the western side of Parque Batlle. The monument is dedicated to the people who created Uruguay's first Constitution. The three-sided granite obelisk is 40 m (130 ft) tall and features with bronze statues on each side, representing 'Law', 'Liberty' and 'Force'.
• Parque Prado was laid out in 1873. It is Montevideo's largest public park. The Miguelete Creek flows through the park and several jogging paths run along it. The park is located in the north of the city.
  • The park includes the Rosedal, which is a beautiful rose garden. It features 4 pergolas, 8 domes and a scenic fountain. It contains some 12,000 roses that were imported from France in 1910.
  • The Botanical Gardens were established in 1902.
  • Just behind the botanical garden is the Presidential Residence.
  • The Rural del Prado is a seasonal cattle and farm animal fairground.
  • The Palladian Villa is home to the Juan Manuel Blanes Museum. The museum opened in 1930 and includes a Japanese garden.
  • The Professor Atilio Lombardo Museum was founded in 1902.
  • The National Institute of Physical Climatology includes an observatory and it is located in the Parque Prado.
• Parque Rodó is both a park and a neighborhood. It was named after famous Uruguayan writer José Enrique Rodó.
  • A monument dedicated to Rodó is located at the park's southern side.
  • There is an amusement park in Parque Rodó.
  • The Estadio Luis Franzini is also located there.
  • There is a Teatro de Verano (summer theater) in the park.
  • The Lago del Parque Rodó (Park Rodó Lake) is also located in the park.
  • The Faculty of Engineering is located in Parque Rodó.
  • The National Museum of Visual Arts is on the east side of the park.
  • In the same vicinity is a street market is held every Sunday.
  • On the north side of the park is an artificial lake that features a little castle housing a municipal library for children.
  • Ramirez Beach is west of the park, across the coastal avenue of Rambla Presidente Wilson.
  • Also west of the park is the former Parque Hotel, which is now called Edifício Mercosur. It is the place, where the members of the Mercosur meet.

• Fortaleza del Cerro (Fortress del Cerro) sits on a prominent location overlooking the bay of Montevideo. The Spanish built an observation post and a beacon there at the end of the 18th century. In 1809, the Spanish started building a fortress there. It was completed in 1839. In 1907, the beacon was replaced with an electric-powered one.

• The Cementerio del Norte (northern Cemetery) is the largest cemetery in Montevideo. It is located the northern part of the city.
• The Cementerio Central (Central Cemetery) is located in Barrio Sur, which is in the south of Montevideo. It was founded in 1835, making it one of the oldest cemeteries in Uruguay. Many famous Uruguayans are buried there.
• The Cementerio del Buceo.
• The Cementerio del Cerro.
• The Cementerio Paso Molino.
• The Cementerio Británico (British Cemetery Montevideo) is located in the Buceo neighborhood. It got its name from the fact that the majority of the people who were buried there were British. It was founded at its current location in 1884.

• Ayuntamiento (City Hall).
• There are numerous good beaches in and around Montevideo. The best ones include Buceo, Carrasco, Colorada, Malvín, Pocitos, Punta Espinillo, Punta Yeguas, Ramírez, Santa Catarina and Zabala. During weekends and holidays the beaches get very crowded with locals.
• The Faro Punta Brava (Punta Brava Lighthouse) is also known as the Punta Carretas Lighthouse. It is 21 m (69 ft) tall and it was constructed in 1876. It was not until 1962 that electric lighting was installed.
• The Palacio Legislativo (Legislative Palace) is located in the neighborhood of Aguada, north of the city center. It is is the seat of the Uruguayan Parliament. it dates from the early 20th century.
• The Rambla of Montevideo stretches along the city's entire coastline. it used to be called the Rambla Naciones Unidas (Rambla of the United Nations), but nowadays, different sections have different names. It is popular for walking, jogging, cycling and roller-skating. It is 27 km (17 mi) long, making it one of the longest esplanades in the world.
• The Torre de las Telecomunicaciones (Telecommunications Tower) is also known as Torre Antel (Antel Tower). it is 158 m (518 ft) tall and it has 37 storeys, making it the tallest building in Uruguay. It is the headquarters of Uruguay's government-owned telecommunications company, ANTEL. It was completed in 2000.
• The World Trade Center Montevideo (WTC) opened in 1998, but construction wasn't completed until many years later. The complex consists of 3 towers and 2 three-storey buildings known as World Trade Center Plaza and World Trade Center Avenue respectively. The large central square is called Towers Square. The tallest buildings are World Trade Center 1 and 2 and they have 22 storeys. World Trade Center 3 was completed in 2009. Construction of World Trade Center 4 started in 2010. The World Trade Center Montevideo is located between the avenues Luis Alberto de Herrera and 26 de Marzo.
• Towers Square was intended to be a platform for the development of business activities, art exhibitions, dance and music performances and social places. The square connects the various buildings of the WTC Complex and serves as the main access place to the complex. Several sculptures adorn the square.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Montevideo, of which the cheapest ones are all centered on the Old City, as well as along Avenida 18 de Julio. Nightclubs and discotheques are located in the same areas.

Montevideo ©Alex Teixeira

Montevideo ©Guilherme Hellwinkel

Montevideo ©Leandro Hernández

Montevideo ©Marianela

Montevideo ©Sebastián Velásquez

Parque Rodó ©Christian von Koenig

Montevideo ©Baltasar Henderson