The Best Day Trips From Montevideo

If you visit Uruguay, you will most likely want to stay in the capital, Montevideo. There are plenty of things to do there, but you might miss out on some unforgettable experiences that you can only have outside of the buzz of the city. If you don’t have enough time to spend a night exploring the rest of the country, you can rent a car and do a day trip to one of these fantastic locations.

Visit a vineyard close to Montevideo

There are a number of vineyards where you can book tours to explore the landscape and surroundings, learn secrets and history about particular ways of wine making, and of course taste the selection of wines. Some of the most famous ones, no further than 40 minutes away from Montevideo, are: Juanicó, De Lucca, Bodega Artesana, Bodega Bouza, and Stagnari. Ask about their restaurants and complete your day with a nice traditional meal to complement the wine.

Ride on horseback in a countryside farm

There are many touristic farms close to Montevideo, where you can book a horse riding or hiking tour for the day, and finish with strictly Uruguayan traditional food (think proper Grandmas’ recipes). Some of these are Finca Piedra, Estancia Don Miguel, El Galope, El Retoño, Renacimiento, but there are plenty more. Do some research and pick your favorite, and don’t forget to call in advance to book your reservations, so you are sure that there is space for you in the restaurant and to go horse riding. They usually have very tame horses for kids or unexperienced riders to go on, so don’t be scared to feel like a gaucho for a day.