In this special guide, I will show you exactly how to get from Buenos Aires to Montevideo so you can plan your trip with nothing but confidence.

You may have heard that Uruguay is so close to Buenos Aires that you can literary hop on and off the ferry and be in Montevideo next to no time.

That is true! However, depending on your budget, and the time you have, you may want to explore one of the other options that I’ll share below.

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Today we are going to look at the different ways to get to Montevideo from Buenos Aires so you can sit back and enjoy the ride without complications.

Firstly, I’d like to clear something up. Many people who travel to Buenos Aires think that it’s easier to get from Buenos Aires to Montevideo by bus.

I know that the buses in South America are great, but in this case, unfortunately, they won’t save you any time, nor money on this route.

However, I’ll let you be the judge of that once you’ve seen the available options that are listed below. The good news is that there a better more efficient ways to get from Argentina to Uruguay, or back to Argentina.

This will all depend on which side of the river you find yourself.

See the map below to visualize the distance across the River Plata. If you were thinking of taking the ferry to Montevideo you’re on the right track.

Before we get into the details. It’s worth mentioning that the ferry from Buenos Aires to Montevideo (for many) is also the best way to get to Uruguay from Argentina. Even if you plan to go deeper in to the country.

The company we are going to be looking at is called Buquebus . They provide the ferry service which works in both directions.

You can book your ticket online and in advance to get the best price.

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Now, depending on which neighborhood you are staying in whilst in Buenos Aires. My favorite is Recoleta, it’s going to take some time to get down to the ferry port or airport.

Before we look at the specific methods to get to Montevideo from Buenos Aires I have some universal tips for you to consider which will help you get the most out of your trip no matter which transport you choose.

Travelling from Buenos Aires to Montevideo – Things to know:

I trust you’ll find these tips practical and hope they’ve given you something to think about before you decide which mode of transport to take.

For me, taking the ferry to Montevideo from Buenos Aires was the best option and I’d recommend it to anyone who has not yet tried it.

There are two different options available. The fastest is to take the direct to Montevideo. The other is by going via Colonia del Sacramento, which I highly recommend you do if you have the time.

From Colonia, you can then take the bus from outside the ferry port which will take you directly to Montevideo.

You can see the options at seacat.com as they offer the complete service.

As you may have guessed getting from Buenos Aires to Montevideo by bus is the cheapest but longest way.

If you’re considering the bus and you get bored easily, you can always carry your favorite travel-sized board game along with you.

The bus which can be taken from the Retiro bus station takes around 8 hours. You’ll find that it travels up and over the Rio de la Plata and heads back down into Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo.

Also, the price can also work out more than the Ferry, it all depends on how far in advance you book the fare.

Let’s suppose you’re looking for a faster way to get to Montevideo from Buenos Aires. Well, you’re in luck.

You can get a flight from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery without heading to Ministro Pistarini which would take the quickness out of this journey.

If you know where to stay in Buenos Aires you can get to the airport in a matter of minutes. If you’re on a budget you may want to compare flying with the ferry as flights tend to be the most costly of all the 3 methods.

When you consider the distance from Buenos Aires to Montevideo and if you are planning your trip in advance, it makes sense to see what accommodation is available. I like to pre-book accommodation.

It could be a hostel or one of the many hotels depending on my budget.

After searching high and low for a decent room, I’ve listed a place to stay in Montevideo that you can check out if you’ll be staying overnight.

Now you know how to get here, see these ideas on what to do:

A place you must visit whilst in Uruguay if you want to get an authentic feel of the local culture. This is a place where you can touch, taste, see and smell everything Uruguay’s culture has to offer in one place.

You can get here with the hop-on hop-off bus. Mercado del Puerto is not only a great place to have lunch, but also a place where you’ll encounter stalls filled with local goods. Do you love arts and crafts? Here you’ll find everything you may wish to find including interesting people.

With the country being one of the most expensive places to spend money in Latin America. It’s a delight to find free things to do whilst in Uruguay.

On the Curioso walking tour, you can expect to learn all about the history of Uruguay whilst touring the downtown areas of Montevideo.

In my experience, and with having such a short time in Uruguay. I found that by connecting with locals and joining these type of dynamic excursions you can get a real understanding of Uruguayan history and culture.

So you’ve been to most of the tourist attractions in Uruguay and feel like you’re running out of things to do in Montevideo don’t stop here.

Along with the Cuidad Vieja and other archaic sites, the Plaza Independencia is a must-see place in Montevideo.

Although similar to many other Plazas in South America most visitors miss the guarded tomb that lies under the large statue. It’s free to enter so try your best to go down, it’s free.

One of the things to do in Montevideo that you can’t miss is a peaceful walk along the Rambla. It’s a long seacoast that runs eastwards from downtown.

Whether you want to take a morning or evening stroll or just to read one of your favourite books while admiring the water, this is a great place to be.

If arriving in downtown Montevideo from the airport ask your driver to pass by this way so you can enjoy the beautiful view along the way. There is wheelchair access here for those concerned about accessibility.

After a long walk from downtown, you can arrive at Carrasco River which is another spot you may choose to relax for the afternoon.

Now, you have not only the information need to be able to get to Montevideo, but also some ideas on what to do when you get there.

The purpose of this guide is to give you tips and make to be able to make a decision on how to get from Buenos Aires as efficiently as possible.

With a very short stay in Montevideo, I had a great time and my wish is for you to make the most out of your stay in Uruguay’s capital city.

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