Can you do this cruise port on your own?
Montevideo
DIY Score
Easy DIY
The Mercado del Puerto alone justifies this stop. Budget at least 90 minutes for lunch.
Tender or Docked?
Ships dock at Puerto de Montevideo, right at the edge of the Old Town. The Mercado del Puerto and the main historic streets are a 5-15 minute walk from the gangway.
How to Get Into Town
Walk to Mercado del Puerto in 5 minutes, free. Ciudad Vieja's main streets and Plaza Independencia are within a 10-15 minute walk of the gangway.
Main Attractions
Mercado del Puerto and the Ciudad Vieja streets are the day's heart. The Rambla waterfront ties it together.
How Much Time You Need
4-5 hours covers the Old Town and Mercado del Puerto comfortably. An 8+ hour call lets you add the Rambla, Pocitos, and a slower pace.
Keep in Mind
A fake police scam operates in the Old Town. If someone approaches you claiming to be a plainclothes officer and asks to inspect your wallet or documents, walk away; real police do not demand this on the street.
Safety & Comfort
Montevideo is the safest capital city in South America by most measures, but standard tourist-area precautions still apply in the Old Town.
Tips from Cruisers
"Two men tried the fake police thing on me near Sarandí. I just kept walking, said no, and they dropped it immediately. Took about…" — by Carla M.
Two men tried the fake police thing on me near Sarandí. I just kept walking, said no, and they dropped it immediately. Took about 10 seconds. The rest of the day was great. The market was extraordinary and I went back twice.
Walked off the gangway and was at Mercado del Puerto in about 7 minutes. Ordered a chivito and a half-portion of ribs and sat there for nearly two hours. My husband said it was the best meal of the whole cruise. We didn't go anywhere else and I have no regrets.