The best things to see and do in gay Uruguay

Beach bums chasing the sun and sand at Uruguay’s top coastal resorts should seek out the height of summer, between late December and February. October through mid-December is shoulder season and a smart time to visit if you prefer consistently sunny days but emptier stretches of sand. Many of the country’s top beach resorts close in autumn and winter, but if it’s culture and city life you’re after, Uruguay is a rewarding destination year-round. Temperatures hover around 12°C in winter, though prepare for powerful coastal winds. Easter and Carnival are big deals in Uruguay; expect higher prices and crowds during these weeks.

Uruguay’s laid-back yet worldly capital is home to nearly half the nation’s population. Here you’ll find a delightful mélange of architectural styles, from art deco and neoclassical buildings to glittering skyscrapers, a major industrial port, and modern beachside communities. A new generation of entrepreneurs has brought a fresh jolt of energy to the city, with a rise in chic restaurants, boutiques, and bars transforming once-sleepy Montevideo into the hip and happening place to be. Yet alongside these thrumming beachfront discos and posh shopping districts, elegant colonial theatres and intimate tango bars remain. The result is a beguiling mixture of old and new, quaint and cutting-edge.

Ciudad Vieja is the oldest part of Montevideo, a lovely assortment of leafy plazas and historic monuments. Don’t miss the Citadel Gate, what’s left of the walls that once surrounded the entire city, and Plaza Independencia, the dividing line between old town and new. The district also offers interesting flea markets and pretty pedestrian streets. La Rambla is 15 miles of coastal promenade, where locals descend to amble along the sea, play sports, or watch the sunset. Playa de Los Pocitos is beautiful and easy to get to, while Carrasco and Miramar beaches skew more gay. A city rich in cultural heritage, Montevideo doesn’t want for world-class museums and art galleries. The National Museum of Visual Arts and the Museo Torres Garcia are top-notch. For more on what to see and do, including the best Montevideo gay bars (and some of the best gay clubs in Uruguay) don’t miss our in-depth gay Montevideo travel guide.

Called Colonia by most, this picturesque city is also the oldest in Uruguay. In a bid to collect passport stamps or simply escape the hubbub of the city, day trip warriors frequent from Buenos Aires—only an hour or so away by ferry. That said, this historic centre and UNESCO World Heritage site is well worth an extended stay if your Uruguay itinerary allows.

The old town centre of Colonia is all tree-lined plazas, cobbled streets, and colonial buildings. Ruled by both the Spanish and Portuguese, there’s an exciting mix of architectural influences and styles. Top attractions in Colonia include the Puerta de la Ciudadela drawbridge, the Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento and the iconic Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse. Climb all 111 steps of the latter for rewarding city views.

Continuing our list of what to do in Uruguay is a visit to Rocha. Stretching more than 100 miles along the Atlantic coast, Rocha seduces with its lush pastures, dense pine forests, hidden lagoons, and easygoing villages. The long sandy beach is punctuated with palm trees and rocky outcroppings, and swaths of surrounding wilderness remain untamed. La Paloma is an excellent base for exploring the laid-back splendour of the region, with a smattering of smart hotels and restaurants to keep you comfortable, and Anaconda Beach has a barefoot ease that lends itself to sun-soaked afternoons and mesmerizing sunsets.

Nicknamed “the Monaco of the South,” Punta del Este is a heady mix of haute cuisine, infamous nightlife, and bronzed beauties. The coastal resort is a magnet for the rich and famous—don’t be surprised by the flashy yachts, glitzy casinos, and mega-mansions that dominate the beachfront. Join in the fun of this hedonist’s playground, or simply while away a leisurely afternoon on any one of the golden sand beaches, relishing in the fun-loving atmosphere. When it comes to gay Punta del Este, the vibe is thrumming. You’ve got the gay male-only hotel Undarius, the quintessential gay-popular beach Playa Chihuahua, and a healthy smattering of frenetic discotheques where you can shake your booty all night long.

In stark contrast to Punta del Este, Cabo Polonio is easily Uruguay’s most wild destination, a rustic village where craggy boulders dissolve into lapping waves and windblown sand dunes dot the landscape. What makes this off-the-beaten-track destination so fascinating is that there’s limited electricity, no running water, and only one sometimes-open town shop—and that’s to the choosing of the less than 100 residents. Visit for the rugged scenery, deserted beaches, and mellow way of life. Oh, and also for one of the largest sea lion colonies in all of South America.