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LIVE
HOUSING
In this section you will find a few resources and general information about the main parts of the country and Montevideo's neighborhoods to live in, as well as useful tips on temporary housing, renting and buying a home, and rent guarantee options.
SEARCH FOR TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION
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Airbnb (houses, apartments and rooms)
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Booking (hotels y hostels)
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Hostelworld (hostels)
REAL ESTATE AGENCIES AND WEBSITES FOR RENTING AND PURCHASING PROPERTIES
HOME RENTAL
In Uruguay, according to the current legal system, renting a property does not explicitly require rent guarantee insurance(*), although it is frequently requested by the landlord.
(*) A rent guarantee insurance allows the landlord to make sure the lease will be honored and they will receive the agreed-upon payments. Likewise, the guarantee offers a solid base to ensure that at the end of the lease, the property will be in the same conditions and at the same value with which it was originally rented.
The most frequent types of property rental regimes are:
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Renting without rent guarantee insurance: This is due to Law No. 19,889, that enables these types of leases without rental guarantee insurance for residencial purposes.
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Rent guarantee with a property or a personal guarantee: In this case, no debts, seized assets, or liens must be present, and the person who signs the rental contract must be the one who appears as the owner in the title deeds of the property used as a guarantee. They may also be a third party.
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Security Deposit guarantee: The sum of the security deposit used as a guarantee must be equivalent to five or six months of the rental price, and it must be deposited in a financial intermediary institution.
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Third-party rental guarantee services: there are many public and private institutions that offer rental guarantee services with specific requirements. Check institutions and the details on their websites:
A FEW OF THE MAIN CITIES
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MALDONADO AND PUNTA DEL ESTE
Maldonado, the capital of the state with the same name, is located close to Punta del Este and the city of San Carlos. Between the three, they make up the second largest and most populated urban area in the country.
The state, rich in contrasts, has rolling hills and over 100 kilometers (62 miles) of coastline, from its border with Canelones to its border with Rocha.
Its famous peninsula, Punta del Este, divides the River Plate (Rio de la Plata) from the Atlantic Ocean and is known as the most glamorous seaside resort city in the region. More information here.
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COLONIA
Founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, Colonia del Sacramento has many places worth visiting. Beyond the rich heritage of its historic district, which has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1995, the city is charming with beautiful beaches and modern attractions, cheeses that are talked about all over the world, excellent nautical conditions, designer houses, and restaurants. Only a one-hour boat ride away from Buenos Aires, and a two-hour drive from Montevideo, Colonia del Sacramento is a city where visitors will find culture, history, and beauty, making it an unmissable destination overlooking the River Plate (Río de la Plata). More information here.
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MONTEVIDEO
The Uruguayan capital perfectly balances the traditions of the past with a vision for the future. Ancient architectural treasures such as the Cabildo, the Matriz Church, and the Citadel Door; architectural styles such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco; and modern avant-garde constructions such as the Communications Tower, give the city a unique identity.
The capital's seaside, with 30 kilometers (19 miles) of coastline, is one of Montevideo's main attractions and a vital part of daily life for the city's inhabitants. It also has a diversity of parks, gardens, and open spaces that offer a wide range of outdoor options.
Montevideo has a rich cultural life, with classical, modern, and alternative options. In its museums, it is possible to appreciate the works of international artists such as Juan Manuel Blanes, Rafael Barradas, Pedro Figari, Joaquín Torres García, José Cúneo, and Ignacio Iturria, among others. Get to know the neighborhoods here and find more information here.
NEIGHBORHOODS IN MONTEVIDEO
Ciudad Vieja (Old City)
This neighborhood is a historic center that offers views of the River Plate due to its peninsula-like layout and has the biggest number of buildings that have been classified as historic monuments. It contains the largest concentration of public and private offices. During the day its streets are bustling with tourists and locals who work in the area.
It also offers good public transportation to the rest of the city and a wide range of services, especially culinary and cultural ones. Popular places to visit include Constitution Square, Matriz Church, Cabildo, Sarandí pedestrian street, and the Mercado del Puerto (Port Market).
Centro de Montevideo (City center/Downtown)
Its main avenue is 18 de Julio, surrounded by buildings of important historical value. It is an area of predominantly commercial activity, as well as several offices, institutions, and hotels. Three squares attached to the avenue contribute to its environmental quality: Independencia Square, Cagancha Square and Juan Pedro Fabini Square, also known as Entrevero Square.
It is well-served by public transportation. It features a wide range of attractions including numerous theaters, the modern auditorium Adela Reta, museums, and cinemas.
Cordón
A service area with strong commercial activity and offices. An ideal place of residence for those who want to have everything close by without worrying about noise, and who would like to have good public transportation to the rest of the city. It offers leisure activities such as theaters, cinemas, and museums.
For outdoor activities, there is the Treinta y Tres Orientales Square and Líber Seregni, an urban park designed for relaxation and multiple activities.
On Sundays, the traditional Tristán Narvaja market takes place, a flea market with books, antiques, and a wide variety of second-hand goods.
Palermo
Close to downtown and the seaside. Ramirez beach is only a couple minutes' walk away. In this area, you can enjoy the scenery and the possibility of practicing sports such as running or cycling. It is common to find people playing candombe in the streets, a rhythm of African origin redesigned in Uruguay. During Carnival season, the parade of "Las Llamadas" takes place on Isla de Flores Street. Palermo offers easy public transportation to the rest of the city and is within a 10-minute ride from downtown. Several universities are located there, and at night it comes alive with its culinary and entertainment venues.
Parque Rodó
In 20 minutes, you can make it to the city center and it´s the closest neighborhood to downtown with a beach. Low buildings and tree-lined streets prevail, with multiple options for outdoor recreational activities such as Ramírez beach, Parque Rodó, and the park quarries, where the Ramón Collazo Summer Theater is located.
It has good public transportation to the rest of the city, either by direct lines or through combinations. It has the National Museum of Visual Arts and the Julio Vilamajó Museum, as well as some universities and an active nightlife.
Punta Carretas
It is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Montevideo for its panoramic coastal seaside, including attractions such as the lighthouse, La Estacada beach, the Golf Club, which occupies a third of the neighborhood, and the Villa Biarritz Park.
Besides its residential point with tree-lined streets, you can also find a shopping mall, and medium and upscale businesses and hotels. It offers several services such as cinemas, a theater, and the Zorrilla Museum. It is one of the areas with the largest range of restaurants, which provide nightly entertainment.
It has very good public transportation, and within 30 minutes you can get to the city center.
Tres Cruces
The neighborhood's activities are determined by the Tres Cruces bus terminal and its shopping center. It is the most important point of departure and arrival for interstate and international passenger transportation in the country. The area is intersected by the main avenues. Outside the terminal, there is public transportation to the rest of the city, mainly with direct lines to other neighborhoods. In the surrounding area, there is a limited offer of local cuisine, neighborhood stores, and mid-level hotels. This area offers quick access to a wide range of different locations. The distance from here to downtown is only 15 minutes.
Parque Batlle
The area was built around this park in the twentieth century and is bordered by important avenues. The residential areas consist of houses of various categories and tree-lined streets. The distance from this area to downtown is about a 30-minute ride. It has the highest concentration of hospitals and health clinics. In terms of leisure activities, it has the Centenario Stadium, the athletics track, several soccer fields, and the Velodrome, which also serves as the stage for certain carnival festivities and other shows. It also houses the Villa Dolores Park, the Museum of Living Sciences, the Sea Turtle Center, and the Planetarium.
Prado
This neighborhood gets its name from the large rose garden park around which it is built. Being further away from the city center, this neighborhood lets you enjoy a more peaceful lifestyle and closer contact with nature. It has easy public transportation to the rest of the city, either through direct lines or combinations, arriving downtown in approximately 35 minutes. Travel time to the universities is longer than in other neighborhoods. Regarding cultural options, it includes the Blanes Museum, the Botanical Garden, and the Japanese Garden. Every year, during Easter week, an animal exhibition and food fair (called Criolla del Prado) is organized.
Pocitos
It is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods. It has high-quality buildings near the coast and tree-lined streets with picturesque residences that are recognized as architectural heritage. It boasts white sandy beaches and an extensive promenade for walking, jogging, biking, or rollerblading. There is a wide variety of public transportation options to the rest of the city. It takes 25 minutes to get downtown and to go to the different universities it may take anywhere between 10 minutes to 1 hour, depending on where you are attending. It provides services of all types, including hotels, and stands out for its varied culinary options.
Buceo
This diverse neighborhood includes areas with high-end apartments buildings overlooking the coast, houses, and housing complexes, the first shopping mall in Montevideo, modern businesses, and an important cluster of office buildings.
Its main attractions are the picturesque Puerto del Buceo, full of yachts, and a small white sand beach in front of the port. It has services of all categories such as cinema, hotels, and a wide range of culinary options. Near the coast, you will find the Oceanographic Museum, the Museum of the Customs of Oribe, and the Naval Museum. The distance to downtown is approximately 30 minutes by bus.
Malvin
A neighborhood that still preserves original villas and houses, with modern architecture and gardens in a residential and quiet environment of tree-lined streets. Its seaside is dominated by mid-rise buildings. It has white sand beaches alongside the River Plate: Honda, Brava, and Mansa. As for leisure activities, it includes a sailing club, boat rides, kayaking and windsurfing, and the skating rink in the Plaza de los Olímpicos. Cultural attractions include Gardel's House Museum and several cultural centers. The distance to downtown is 45 minutes by bus.
Punta Gorda
This neighborhood features high-end houses, most of them with modern architecture and large gardens. Several rocky points divide its white sand beaches: Los Ingleses, Verde, and La Mulata. It provides ample services and public spaces for outdoor recreational activities such as Eugenio Baroffio Park, Molino Pérez, Rivera Park with its large lake, and the Charrúa Stadium, which is used for soccer and rugby games, as well as for music shows.
Travel time from Punta Gorda to Downtown is approximately 50 minutes by bus.
Carrasco
The neighborhood originally emerged as an aristocratic area by the sea in the early twentieth century, seeking to create an exclusive spot at a greater distance from the city center. The heart of the neighborhood is the Carrasco Hotel, renovated in the last decade, located in front of one of the nicest beaches in the city with white sand and a vast seaside.
It has significant commercial activity on Arocena Avenue, cultural offers (theaters and cinemas), dining options, and hotels. A good space for outdoor recreation is Gabriel Terra Park, with a tennis club and a children's playground. The distance to the city center is approximately 55 minutes by bus.
Check the requirements for visas, residences according to stay purposes, and legal citizenship.
