Río de la Plata

Region

The river coast facing Argentina, where most Uruguayans live. Montevideo has its old town, a long seaside promenade and the grills of the Mercado del Puerto, and Colonia del Sacramento is a cobbled Portuguese town a ferry ride from Buenos Aires. Wineries, beaches and quiet riverside towns run in between.

Río de la Plata Fray Bentos Industrial LandscapeEstadio CentenarioEstadio Gran Parque CentralPocitos StadiumMetropolitan Basilica Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and San Felipe and SantiagoNational Museum of Visual Arts (Uruguay)Estadio Profesor Alberto SuppiciPlaza de CaganchaEstadio Parque CapurroEstadio SaroldiObelisk of MontevideoCathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Canelones)Estadio Olímpico (Montevideo)Constitution Square, MontevideoIsla de FloresJuncal IslandTimoteo Domínguez IslandMontevideo CabildoEsteros de Farrapos e Islas del Río Uruguay National ParkPalacio TarancoParque RodóMolino de PérezMonumento Luis Batlle BerresMontevideoAtlántidaColonia del SacramentoFray BentosLa FlorestaPlaza IndependenciaThe work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of AtlántidaHistoric Quarter of the City of Colonia del SacramentoMercedesCanelonesSan José de MayoLas PiedrasPandoLa Paz, CanelonesCarmeloNueva HelveciaSanta LucíaYoungDoloresProgresoPaso de CarrascoRosario

Río de la Plata essentials

Country: Uruguay
Driest months: Jun-Aug
Pay in: Peso ($)
Language: Spanish

Where to Go in Río de la Plata

City Montevideo MontevideoRelaxed capital of a long rambla City Colonia del Sacramento Colonia del SacramentoHistoric city in Colonia with colonial architecture City Mercedes MercedesRiverside town in Soriano City Canelones CanelonesCity in Canelones with agricultural activities Island Isla de Flores Isla de FloresIsland in Río de la Plata, maritime navigation landmark History Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del SacramentoColonial riverside quarter with preserved Portuguese-Spanish architecture History Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape Fray Bentos Industrial LandscapeHistoric meatpacking industrial complex, UNESCO World Heritage History Plaza de Cagancha Plaza de CaganchaCentral Montevideo square surrounded by historic buildings History Obelisk of Montevideo Obelisk of MontevideoProminent obelisk monument in Montevideo waterfront plaza History Molino de Pérez Molino de PérezHistoric 19th-century windmill in Montevideo Nature Esteros de Farrapos e Islas del Río Uruguay National Park Esteros de Farrapos e Islas del Río Uruguay National ParkProtected wetlands and islands along the Uruguay River Nature Parque Rodó Parque RodóLarge Montevideo park with lake and cultural attractions
Regions & Cities
Montevideo Explore Montevideo On the Río de la Plata, Montevideo mixes a long seaside rambla with cellar-door parrillas and an accessible old town. Atlántida Explore Atlántida Along the Río de la Plata coast, Atlántida draws weekenders for its broad rambla, a compact casino, and early-20th-century seaside houses. Colonia del Sacramento Explore Colonia del Sacramento Cobblestone streets and a low Portuguese lighthouse define Colonia del Sacramento: day-trippers arrive from Buenos Aires for the Barrio Histórico’s colonial houses, sunset over the Río de la Plata, and slow cafés that invite aimless wandering. Fray Bentos Explore Fray Bentos A river city on the Uruguay, Fray Bentos draws people to its industrial-heritage museum (the old meatpacking works), wide waterfront promenades, and riverside restaurants serving beef cuts that once fueled global trade. La Floresta Explore La Floresta Coastal suburb west of Montevideo with pine-lined streets; visitors come for broad beaches, weekend seafood grills, bicycle paths along the shore, and a sleepy summer nightlife centered on parrilla and sand. Plaza Independencia Explore Plaza Independencia Montevideo’s Plaza Independencia sits between Ciudad Vieja and the modern centre, framed by Palacio Salvo and the Artigas mausoleum; people visit for monuments, civic events and nearby museums. The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida Explore The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida A single‑building UNESCO listing showcasing Eladio Dieste’s reinforced‑brick shell engineering; visitors examine the Church of Atlántida’s thin curving roofs and joinery as an example of inventive 20th‑century structural masonry. Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento Explore Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento Colonia del Sacramento’s historic quarter preserves 17th-19th-century Portuguese and Spanish architecture, cobbled streets, a lighthouse and riverside promenades popular with day-trippers from Buenos Aires.

Río de la Plata at a Glance

Local Time
9:05 PM
GMT-3
Population
2,308,447

Best Things to Do in Río de la Plata