Uruguay · Step by Step
Key Facts
- Easy landing. Carrasco is small and modern; a taxi or app ride into the city takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Money. The currency is the peso uruguayo; cards work almost everywhere, and tax is knocked off many card payments for foreign visitors.
- Get connected. Antel, Claro or Movistar sell tourist SIMs; Antel has the widest coverage and a shop at the airport.
- Getting around. City buses run on the STM card; Uber and Cabify work well, and central neighbourhoods are walkable.
- Safe and calm. Uruguay is one of the safest countries in the region — use normal city sense and you'll be fine.
Few capitals welcome you as gently as Montevideo. It's small, safe and unhurried, and your first 48 hours in Montevideo can be genuinely relaxing if you have a simple plan. Here's how to get from the airport, sort a SIM and some pesos, ride the buses, and settle into your first neighbourhood without any stress.
Getting from Carrasco airport into town
Carrasco International (MVD) is modern, calm and refreshingly small, so you'll be through arrivals quickly. Take an official taxi at a posted fare, or book an Uber or Cabify, and the ride into central neighbourhoods like Pocitos, Centro or Ciudad Vieja takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes.
There are ATMs and a phone shop in the arrivals hall, so you can grab cash and a SIM before you even leave the building. Change only a little money at the airport — rates are better in town — and save the address of your first night's stay on your phone before you land.
Money: pesos, dollars and cards
The local currency is the peso uruguayo, and Uruguay is one of the most card-friendly countries in the region — you can tap for almost everything, from supermarkets to taxis. A genuine perk for newcomers: foreign cards get the value-added tax knocked off many restaurant and card payments automatically, a small but real saving.
Withdraw pesos from bank ATMs, which often dispense US dollars too, and keep some cash for buses and tiny shops. Dollars are widely understood for big-ticket items, and a tip of around 10 percent is normal but not obligatory.
Getting connected with a SIM
Three operators cover the country: Antel, the state company with the widest reach, plus Claro and Movistar. Bring your passport, and you can buy a prepaid SIM at the airport or any downtown shop in minutes, with cheap, generous data bundles.
Antel is the safe choice if you'll travel outside the capital. Uruguay has strong connectivity overall, with free Wi-Fi in many cafés and public spaces, so you'll rarely feel offline.
If your phone supports it, an eSIM can have you connected before you even clear customs.
Getting around the city
Montevideo's buses are cheap, frequent and run on the STM card, a rechargeable transit card you buy and top up at kiosks and Abitab outlets. Uber and Cabify both work smoothly and feel inexpensive by Western standards, which makes those first jet-lagged days easier.
The central barrios — Ciudad Vieja, Centro, Cordón, Pocitos and Punta Carretas — are flat and walkable, and the long waterfront Rambla is the easiest way to orient yourself. Walk a stretch of it on your first evening and the city will start to make sense.
Where to base yourself and staying safe
For a soft landing, base yourself in Pocitos or Punta Carretas — leafy, safe and right by the Rambla — or in Ciudad Vieja and Centro if you prefer historic streets and being in the middle of things. Uruguay is consistently ranked the safest country in South America, so ordinary big-city sense at night is all you need.
A simple first-48-hours checklist: sort your SIM, withdraw some pesos, buy an STM card, stock a few groceries from a supermarket like Tienda Inglesa or Disco, and then rest. With those boxes ticked, you're ready to start your real Uruguayan life.
A simple first-week rhythm
Once the basics are handled, give yourself a gentle first week rather than rushing. Spend mornings walking a different barrio and afternoons sorting one admin task at a time — a bank visit one day, a co-working trial the next.
Uruguayans keep an unhurried pace, with long lunches and the ritual of mate in the park, and matching that rhythm is the fastest way to feel at home. By the end of the week you'll have a SIM, a transit card, a neighbourhood you like and a short list of cafés that already feel like yours.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get from Carrasco airport to Montevideo?
Take an official taxi at a posted fare or book an Uber or Cabify; the ride to central neighbourhoods takes about 20 to 30 minutes. There are ATMs and a SIM shop in arrivals.
What currency does Uruguay use?
The peso uruguayo. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and foreign cards even get a tax discount on many card payments — but carry some pesos for buses and small shops.
Which SIM card is best?
Antel, the state operator, has the widest coverage; Claro and Movistar are alternatives. Bring your passport, and you can buy one at the airport or any downtown shop.
How do I pay for buses?
City buses use the STM card, which you buy and top up at kiosks and Abitab outlets. Uber and Cabify also work well across the city.
Is Montevideo safe?
Uruguay is one of the safest countries in Latin America. Use ordinary big-city sense at night and you'll feel very comfortable.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. Uruguay's rules change, so confirm current requirements with official sources — the Dirección Nacional de Migración, the DGI tax office and the Banco Central del Uruguay — and consult a qualified Uruguayan escribano or abogado before acting. Information is current as of June 2026.
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