LIVE
HOUSING
In this section you will find some resources and general information about the main areas of the country and neighborhoods of Montevideo where to stay and useful tips on temporary accommodation, renting and buying houses, and 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 RENTALS AND PURCHASES
HOME RENTAL
In Uruguay, according to the legal system in force, no guarantee must be expressly required for the rental of housing, although it is most frequently requested by landlords.
The most common regimes for renting houses are:
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Leases without guarantees: With Law No. 19,889, a new regime is established for leases intended for residential purposes, without guarantee, as an option for the contracting parties.
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Property guarantee or personal guarantee: In this case, it is certified that there are no debts, liens or prohibitions and the person who signs the lease contract must be the one who is listed as the owner in the property deeds, or a third party.
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Deposit guarantee: Deposit guarantees are required for sums of money equivalent to five or six months of the rental price, in some financial intermediary institution.
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Third-party guarantee services: There are a number of public and private institutions that offer guarantee services with specific requirements. See providers and details on their websites:
SOME OF THE MAIN CITIES
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MALDONADO AND PUNTA DEL ESTE
Maldonado, the capital of the department of the same name, is located between Punta del Este and the city of San Carlos. The three cities together make up the second largest and most populated urban area in the country.
The department, rich in contrasts, has mountain ranges and more than 100 kilometers of coastline, from its border with Canelones to its border with Rocha.
The famous peninsula of Punta del Este separates the Río de la Plata from the Atlantic Ocean and is known as the most glamorous seaside resort 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 since 1995 has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the city charms visitors with beautiful beaches and modern attractions, cheeses that are famous worldwide, excellent nautical conditions, design houses and restaurants. Just one hour from Buenos Aires by sea and two hours from Montevideo by road, Colonia del Sacramento is a city where visitors will find the culture, history and charm of a must-see destination on the Río de la Plata. More information here.
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MONTEVIDEO
The Uruguayan capital combines modernity and tradition in a harmonious way. Ancient architectural treasures such as the Cabildo, the Matriz Church and the Puerta de la Ciudadela; art nouveau and art deco styles; and modern avant-garde buildings such as the Torre de las Comunicaciones, give the city a unique identity.
The capital’s waterfront path, with 30 kilometers of coastline, is one of Montevideo’s main attractions and a popular place to visit for its residents. It also has diverse green spaces, parks and gardens that offer multiple outdoor options.
Montevideo has a wide range of cultural activities, including classical, modern, and alternative shows. Its museums offer the opportunity to enjoy 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.
NEIGHBOURHOODS OF MONTEVIDEO
Ciudad Vieja (Old City)
Historic center, of peninsular condition, offers views of the Río de la Plata and has the largest number of buildings declared historic monuments. It has the highest concentration of public and private offices. During the day, its streets are lively places for tourists and people working in the area.
It has good public transport to the rest of the city and multiple services, particularly cultural and dining options. Most visited sites: Plaza de la Constitución, Matriz Church, Cabildo, Sarandí pedestrian street and the Mercado del Puerto.
Montevideo Downtown
Its main avenue is 18 de Julio, surrounded by buildings of outstanding heritage value. It is a service area where commercial activity prevails, as well as various offices, institutions, and hotels. Three squares along the avenue contribute to its environmental quality: Independencia, Cagancha and Juan Pedro Fabini, also known as Entrevero, squares.
It has good public transport to the rest of the city. It has services in all areas, with numerous theaters, the modern Adela Reta Auditorium, museums, and cinemas.
Cordón
Service area with intense commercial activity and offices. Ideal place to live for those who want to have everything nearby without worrying about noise, as well as having good public transport to the rest of the city. It has services in all areas, theaters, cinemas, and museums.
For outdoor recreation, it has the Treinta y Tres Orientales square and the Líber Seregni square, an urban park designed for leisure and multiple activities.
On Sundays, the traditional Tristán Narvaja Fair takes place, a flea market with books, antiques, and a great variety of used objects.
Palermo
Located close to downtown and the rambla (waterfront promenade). Ramírez Beach is a couple of minutes’ walk away. In this area you can enjoy the scenery and the possibility of practicing sports such as jogging or cycling. Some days a week, you can see candombe, a rhythm of African origin reworked in Uruguay, being practiced through its streets. In Carnival, it hosts the parade known as “Llamadas” which takes place along Isla de Flores street. It has good public transport to the rest of the city and is located 10 minutes from downtown. Several universities are based there, and at night it gets lively in its food and music venues.
Parque Rodó
It is the nearest neighborhood to downtown with a beach. Low buildings and tree-lined streets prevail, with multiple options for outdoor recreational activities such as the Ramírez Beach, Parque Rodó and the park’s “Canteras”, where the Teatro de Verano Ramón Collazo is located.
It has good public transport to the rest of the city, either in direct lines or through combinations. In 20 minutes you can get to downtown. It has the National Museum of Visual Arts and the Julio Vilamajó Museum, as well as some universities and an intense nightlife.
Punta Carretas
It is one of the most valued neighborhoods in Montevideo for its panoramic waterfront promenade, including attractions such as the Lighthouse, La Estacada Beach, the Golf Club, which covers one-third of the neighborhood, and the Villa Biarritz Park.
Despite its residential atmosphere, it has tree-lined streets, a shopping mall and medium and high-level businesses and hotels. It offers several services such as cinemas, a theater and the Zorrilla Museum. It is one of the areas with the greatest gastronomic offer, providing nightly entertainment.
It has good public transport, reaching downtown in 30 minutes.
Tres Cruces
The activities of the neighborhood are determined by the Tres Cruces bus terminal and its shopping mall. It is the most important point of departure and arrival of interdepartmental and international passenger transport in the country. The area is served by the main avenues. Outside the terminal there is public transport to the rest of the city, mainly with direct lines. In the surrounding area, there are some local restaurants, neighborhood shops and mid-range hotels. The neighborhood has quick access to many different areas. The distance to downtown is 15 minutes.
Parque Batlle
The neighborhood was created around the park at the beginning of the 20th century, bordered by important avenues. Internal streets have residential sectors with different types of houses and tree-lined streets. The distance to downtown is 30 minutes. It has the highest concentration of hospitals and clinics. Regarding recreational activities, it has the Estadio Centenario, the Athletics Track, several soccer fields and the Velódromo, which also serves as a stage for carnival and other shows. It also houses the Villa Dolores Park, the Museum of Live Sciences, the Sea Turtle Center and the Planetarium.
Prado
The neighborhood takes its name from the large park with rose gardens around which it is established. Being located farther away from downtown, it offers a quiet place in closer contact with nature. It has good public transport to the rest of the city, either in direct lines or through combinations. You can get to downtown in approximately 35 minutes. Travel time to the universities is longer than from other neighborhoods. In terms of cultural services, it includes the Blanes Museum, the Botanical Garden, and the Japanese Garden. Every year, during Holy Week, the event known as “Criolla del Prado” is held, including an animal exhibition and a food market.
Pocitos
It is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods. It has high-quality buildings near the coast and tree-lined streets with charming houses considered architectural heritage. It has white sandy beaches and an extensive waterfront promenade for walking, jogging, biking, or rollerblading. It has good public transport to the rest of the city. It takes 25 minutes to get to downtown and between 10 minutes and 1 hour to reach the different university centers, depending on the field of study. It has all types of services, including hotels, and stands out for its diverse food offer.
Buceo
Diverse neighborhood, including sectors with high-end apartments overlooking the coast, individual homes and housing compounds, the first shopping mall in Montevideo, new businesses and an important sector of office towers.
Its main attractions are the charming Puerto del Buceo, full of yachts, and a small white sand beach in front of the port. It has all kinds of services such as cinemas, hotels, and a wide range of dining options. Near the coast are the Oceanographic Museum, the Oribe Customs House Museum, and the Naval Museum. The distance to downtown is approximately 30 minutes by public transport.
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. Along its waterfront promenade there are mainly mid-rise buildings. It has white sand beaches on the Río de la Plata: Honda, Brava and Mansa. As for leisure activities, it includes a sailing club, boating, kayaking and windsurfing, and the roller-skating rink in the Plaza de los Olímpicos. Cultural activities include the Gardel House Museum and several cultural centers. The distance to downtown is 45 minutes by public transport.
Punta Gorda
This neighborhood is characterized by high-quality residences, mostly of modern architecture with large gardens. Several rocky areas separate its white sandy beaches: Los Ingleses, Verde and La Mulata. It has services and public spaces for outdoor recreation such as the Eugenio Baroffio Park, the Molino Pérez, the Rivera Park, with its big lake, and the Charrúa Stadium, which is used for soccer, rugby, and musical shows.
The distance to downtown is approximately 50 minutes by public transport.
Carrasco
It emerges as an aristocratic area by the sea in the early 20th century, seeking to create an exclusive place farther away. The heart of the neighborhood is the Carrasco Hotel, restored in the last decade, in front of one of the best beaches in the city with white sand and an extensive waterfront promenade.
It has an important commercial activity on Arocena Avenue, cultural services (theaters and cinemas), dining options and hotels. A good space for outdoor recreation is the Gabriel Terra Park, with a tennis club and children’s playground. The distance to downtown is approximately 55 minutes.
Check the requirements for visas, residences according to stay purposes, and legal citizenship.
