How do you get to Montevideo?
Getting There3.3/10Harder to reach than about 75% of cities
- Main airport
- Carrasco International Airport (MVD)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: secretflying.com, guruguay.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Carrasco Airport is efficient and well-organized; plan to arrive 3 hours before international flights, 2 hours for regional South American flights.
- Buses are the cheapest city transport (56 pesos) but require flagging down; regular taxis are cheaper within the city than at the airport.
- Ferry to Buenos Aires is scenic and convenient; booking in advance secures lower fares than last-minute purchases.
- Punta del Este and Colonia del Sacramento are popular full-day trips; plan early starts to maximize time.
- No tipping for taxi drivers; appreciated but not expected.
- Official taxis and Uber are safer than flagging down random cabs, especially for airport transfers.
Bus
- Cost
- UYU 68
- Duration Minutes
- 30
- Notes
- Cheapest option; not recommended with heavy luggage due to crowding.
- Description
- Public buses (lines 703, 704, Punta del Este/Montevideo, Chuy/Montevideo) run from terminal.
Operators
- COT
- COPSA
- CUTCSA
Main Stops
- Terminal Tres Cruces (45 minutes)
- Rio Branco Terminal downtown (1 hour)
Uber
- Availability
- 24/7
- Description
- Ride-hailing available from airport.
Cost Range
- Amount USD Max
- 25
- Amount USD Min
- 18
- Currency Local
- UYU
- Amount Local Max
- 1000
- Amount Local Min
- 720
Day Trip Destinations
Colonia Del Sacramento
- Access
- Bus (COT, Buquebus), organized tours, private transfer
- Distance Km
- 180 (west)
- Travel Time Hours
- 2
- Description
- UNESCO World Heritage Site; charming colonial town with cobblestone streets, Portuguese/Spanish architecture, lighthouse, historic barrio.
Punta Del Este
- Access
- Organized tours, private transfer, rental car
- Distance Km
- 130 (east)
- Travel Time Hours
- 2
- Description
- Luxury beach resort; casinos, shopping, Playa Brava & Playa Mansa beaches, famous Hand sculpture, Casa Pueblo museum/art gallery.
Piriápolis
- Access
- Bus, organized tours
- Distance Km
- 100 (east)
- Travel Time Hours
- 1.5
- Description
- Historic resort town; European charm, elegant rambla, Cerro San Antonio with chairlift for coastal views.
Vineyards & Wine Region
- Access
- Organized wine tours from hotels
- Description
- Family-run boutique wineries offering tastings and tours.
Airport
- Name
- Carrasco International Airport (MVD)
- Airlines
- 12
- Destinations
- 17
- Official Name
- General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport
- Flights Per Day
- 24
- Distance To Center
- 18 km (11 miles)
- Description
- Modern, award-winning terminal serving as the main gateway for international and domestic flights to Uruguay.
Taxi
- Cost
- UYU 1,890
- Duration Minutes
- 25
- Notes
- Use official taxi booth or Uber for reliability.
- Description
- Official taxis available 24/7 from arrivals hall.
Shuttle
- Cost Per Person
- UYU 400
- Notes
- Departs when five passengers gathered; time-consuming if other drops first.
- Description
- Shared minivan service from airport.
Private Transfer Remise
- Cost
- UYU 1,600
- Notes
- Known locally as 'remises', more comfortable than taxis.
- Description
- Chauffeur-driven sedan service, spacious and air-conditioned.
Ferry Connections
Buenos Aires Direct
- Route
- Buenos Aires (Argentina) ↔ Montevideo (Uruguay)
- Daily Frequency
- Up to 10 sailings per day
- Operator Primary
- Buquebus
- Crossing Time Hours
- 2.5
- Terminal Montevideo
- Puerto de Montevideo, Rambla 25 de Agosto de 1825, within walking distance of Ciudad Vieja
- Distance Nautical Miles
- 129
- Notes
- Direct service; fully enclosed vessel. Book in advance for best rates.
Cost Range
- Amount USD Max
- 260
- Amount USD Min
- 57
Buenos Aires Via Colonia
- Route
- Buenos Aires → Colonia del Sacramento → Montevideo (ferry + bus combo)
- Bus Duration Hours
- 2
- Ferry Duration Hours
- 1
- Total Duration Hours
- 4
- Notes
- Cheaper than direct ferry; more frequent; scenic rural route.
Ground Transport City
Buses
- Cost Per Ride
- UYU 56
- Stm Card Cost
- UYU 46
- Notes
- STM card provides small discount; pay cash on board. Flag bus or it won't stop.
- Description
- Extensive public bus network runs 5am–11pm daily.
Taxis
- Tipping
- Not customary; optional.
- Notes
- Cramped and often poorly maintained compared to remises.
- Description
- Reliable, safe metered taxis available throughout city.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.secretflying.com
- 2.guruguay.com
- 3.welcomepickups.com
- 4.saindodoaeroporto.com.br
- 5.passportpilgrimage.com
- 6.guruguay.com
- 7.rome2rio.com
- 8.directferries.com
- 9.openferry.com
- 10.rome2rio.com
- 11.guruguay.com
- 12.tradingeconomics.com
- 13.exchange-rates.org
- 14.mustseespots.com
- 15.tripadvisor.com
- 16.secretflying.com
- 17.directferries.com
- 18.exchange-rates.org
More About Montevideo
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.