So you’ve had your time exploring Buenos Aries, from fine wines to passionate Tango shows, you’ve indulged in all the city has to offer.
Now it’s time for your next adventure and country, Uruguay is just an hour away by ferry which will take you into the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Town Colonia del Sacramento.
In this article we will explore the different options to get you from Buenos Aries to Montevideo. Let’s get to it so you can start planning your city break!
How to get from Buenos Aries to Montevideo
There are a few different options, getting from Buenos Aries to Montevideo in Uruguay. Depending on your budget you’ll find the best route to suit your needs. Let’s jump into how you can get there!
The Quickest Way: Fly from Buenos Aries to Montevideo
Hands down the quickest option, you can fly direct from both of Buenos Aries Airport (AEP) or (EZE) and you’ll be in Montevideo in less than an hour.
When we looked at flights, it was only a week in advance and the cheapest flight we found was $160 USD, it’s better to book at least a month in advance to get the cheapest rates.
That’s not always an option for us nomads who are usually more spontaneous with travel dates. The main airline for this route is Aerolineas Argentinas, be sure to check Skyscanner to compare prices and always check the airlines website directly.
The Cheapest Way: Bus from Buenos Aries to Montevideo
The cheapest way would be travelling overland from Buenos Aries to Montevideo, the journey takes around 8 hours. It’s a night bus which is always a good way to save on accommodation for that night.
Some of the companies that operate this route are Pullman and EGN, they offer different comfort options but generally the night buses are comfy and the seats recline. Prices range around $55 USD.
It’s the cheapest option which of course means it’s the longest, but if you’re on a tight budget, it’s going to be your best option. You can book your ticket online at Busbud, they offer last minute discounts and you can compare the different bus companies.
The Most Convenient Way: Ferry from Buenos Aries to Montevideo
This option is a great choice for travelling from Buenos Aries to Montevideo, you can get a direct ferry to Montevideo or you can do the ferry to Colonia and then transfer onto a bus.
The port in Buenos Aries is located in the centre and it’s easy to find, you can find the port easily on google maps. The direct ferry to Montevideo is with Buquebus, it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to arrive at Montevideo’s port.
This option is convenient and fast, it’s especially good if you’re heading to Montevideo just for a day trip. It is however a pricer option, when we looked it was around $130 USD one way.
The second option which is the route we recently embarked on, is the ferry and bus combo. The company is called Colonia Express and you can book your tickets directly online, sometimes they offer a discount. When we booked our tickets, they had a promotion for 20% off, it turned out to be an absolute bargain, we paid $34 USD for the ferry and bus!
The ferry departs from the port in Buenos Aries and it takes around 1 hour to reach Colonia del Sacramento port. As you’re heading to board the ferry you pass through immigration and get your exit stamp, you then are told to go to the booth behind and you get stamped entry for Uruguay.
It was the easiest and smoothest immigration process so far.
When you arrive at Colonia del Sacramento port, it’s super fast and easy to transfer to the bus, you do a quick bag check and hop on the bus that’s waiting for you, it’s all clear and well organised.
The bus takes around 3 hours to arrive at Tres Cruces bus station in Montevideo, the whole journey was really smooth and for that price it’s got to be the best way to go!
Things to See and Do in Montevideo
Montevideo is a really expensive city, in fact it’s one of the most expensive in South America. We decided to hit up the city for a day as we struggled to find accommodation within our budget.
It’s advised not to visit at the end of August (like we did) as there is an annual storm called Santa Rosa. At this time each year between the 20th August to the 20th September this storm takes over the city with heavy rain and strong winds.
The city had apocalypse vibes, it was deserted and every one was bunkered town, literally no one was on the streets, apart from the local crackheads and us trying to make the most of our one day in the pouring rain.
Luckily Montevideo has some really cool museums and fantastic restaurants. Here’s some of our recommendations for your visit.
Museum Andes 1972
This museum tells the incredible heart wrenching story of the plane that crashed in the Andes in 1972, carrying a Uruguayan college rugby team and their family and friends.
It walks you through the harrowing yet heroic journey of the 29 lives that were lost and the 16 survivors and their incredible story of determination and a strong determination to live.
You can easily spend 2 hours in this museum, over 3 floors, the museum walks you through the timeline of events, it has items that were recovered from the crash site, diary entries and a 15 minute documentary.
We felt truly moved. The museum really takes you on a journey of understanding what these poor people went through, you get a glimpse of the terrors that unfolded and the sheer grit of survival. We certainly left feeling saddened but also inspired and grateful to be alive.
Contemporary Art Space
A prison from the 1800’s has been converted into a contemporary art space, the museum has exhibits showcasing natural history and local contemporary art.
It’s a great space to kill some time or stay dry if it’s raining and be immersed in the local art scene, as well as learning about prehistoric animals that once roamed the earth.
You can check the schedule online to see what’s on, they put on various exhibitions throughout the year. On a sunny day you can roam around the grounds and encounter dinosaurs and other sculptures.
Cafe La Farmacia
What was once a pharmacy is now a trendy cafe, they have kept the old interior and it really feels like walking back in time.
You can grab yourself a hot drink and some sweet treats such as baklava, or sit down and enjoy their tasty lunch menu.
It’s one of the best cafe’s in the city, and we can see why.
Escondite
This has to be one of the best restaurants in Montevideo, as soon as you walk in you’re greeted with warm smiles. The decor inside is stunning and gives off an instagramable vibe. The owner is also the chef, originally from America, he moved to Montevideo a few years ago. He opened the restaurant last year and it’s still one of Montevideo’s kept best secrets.
The menu is varied with meat and fish options, they offer an amazing vegan pizza with a homemade nutty cheese. You have to check Esconodite out when you’re visiting the city, it’s a real gem.