Car hire Montevideo

Introduction

Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay. The city was founded by the Spanish in 1726 in defense against the Portuguese who were stationed on the other site of the Río de la Plata (currently Brazil). The city has a beautiful historical center (Ciudad Vieja) and a magnificent boulevard (Rambla) along the Río de la Plata.

Population

The city itself has about 1.3 million inhabitants, but two million people live in the entire metropolitan area of the Uruguayan capital.

Location

Montevideo is located on Uruguay's south coast, where the Río de la Plata meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city is surrounded by beautiful beaches. The city has a humid, subtropical climate with relatively cool winters and hot summers.

Economy

The state plays an important role in the economy. Many companies are owned by the state. Montevideo's harbor plays an important role in the export of products, such as meat (beef), wool, rice and dairy products. Montevideo has long been one of the most important financial centers of South America.

Airports

Montevideo's international airport is situated fifteen kilometers east of the city center. The official name is Carrasco General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport. The airport is easily reachable by rental car. From the city center you take the Avenida Italia which leads to the airport. The route to the airport is clearly signposted.

Public Transport

Montevideo has an extensive network of city bus lines. From the large central bus station Tres Cruces regional busses also leave for destinations in the vicinity of the capital.

Traffic and Parking

It's not difficult to find your way around in a rental car in Montevideo. The roads and signposting are good (although some knowledge of the Spanish language helps). In the city center you have to pay for street parking. In streets without parking meters you're often approached by unofficial 'parking lot attendants'. For a few pesos they look after your car.

Also bear in mind that traffic lanes are often not indicated by lines on the road.

Hotels

Montevideo offers a large supply of accommodation. Ranging from simple guesthouses to five star hotels and everything in between. Top class hotels can be found mainly along the eastern Rambla, midrange hotels are more concentrated around the Plaza Constitución and Plaza Independencia. You can park your car for free at most hotels. We recommend booking your hotel room well in advance.

External Sources

For more information about Montevideo we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Montevideo
• Official website Montevideo (Spanish)
• Tourist Information Montevideo (English)