Location: Montevideo
Top Things to do in Montevideo
8 Government Buildings in Montevideo That You Shouldn't Miss
Montevideo, a port city and the capital of Uruguay, is a perfect destination for travelers looking for a relaxing stroll past colonial era buildings and along beautiful beaches. The Ciudadela Gateway, the only remaining section of the wall that once surrounded the entire city, now serves as the entrance to Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo's oldest neighborhood. Home to churches, museums, and theaters, at night the area comes alive with nightclubs playing Tango and Candombe music for crowds of dancers.
Restaurants in Montevideo
1. Palacio Legislativo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,508 reviews
One of Montevideo's most impressive landmarks is this neo-classical, three-story building, constructed in the early 1900s, and housing significant works of art inside.
Reviewed By WorldTravelers34 - Chicago, United States
Built in imposing neoclassical style, Palacio Legislativo serves as the seat of the national parliament. Completed in 1925, the palace features 50 different types of marble and ranks among the city's most famous landmarks. Admire the stately exterior, complete with columns and intricate carvings along its façade. A symbol of national pride and an authentic representation of democratic values in Uruguay, this building was declared a National Historic Monument in 1975. Definitely worth seeing.
2. Poder Judicial Sede Central
3. Estevez Palace
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By 983stevey - Silver Spring, United States
.....that served as the work office of the President of Uruguay. It has now become a museum. Though it was situated in the Independence Plaza, I didn't have the time to go inside and check out the artefacts. Will do so again the next time I visit Montevideo
4. Palacio Municipal de Montevideo
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 372 reviews
Reviewed By myom624 - Coquitlam, Canada
At about 80 meters (and which is like the 22nd floor), this observation deck is at nowhere as high as those of some of the tallest towers of the world that I've been to (such as Shanghai Tower & Tokyo Skytree) and at just about one-fourth the height of the one above South America's tallest Sky Costanera in Santiago (which I had visited just about 3 weeks prior to this one), but what's very nice about this deck is really just that it's an "outdoor deck" for what for me is just more of a "closer & intimate" way of viewing the city below but yet is not commonly found above many towers of the world (this one just about fifth or sixth such deck among about 20 something in total for me of mostly indoor viewing decks). As for the views: not much "of excitement" is there to see to the north & the east (in this city of mostly just 10-to15-storied buildings and just a "totally flat" land with no distant mountains or such); but to the west standing out among the ordinary buildings is the beautiful tower building from a century ago called Palacio Salvo (which also offers views from above although just "quite limited" ones from its small room on the top), and also beyond that "old town" part of the city in that direction is the Port of Montevideo (not that of a bustling port that I could tell but still a lively scene with also a small "hilly island" across the water which I learned from the info displays on the deck is called Isla Libertad); then yes there is to see to the south the "best feature" of Montevideo which is the Rambla (a very long promenade alongside the very wide Rio de la Plata River that you can see all the way to the horizon) although there's only about the western half of it you can see from up here but be sure to notice the "tip of Punta Carretas" which I'm quite sure is the most southern point of the city (with also a small lighthouse to go up for some pleasurable views from its small balcony above). And, there's actually also a "fairly spacious" indoor part of the 22nd floor (adjacent to the deck) where there's a seating area with tables & chairs (although I didn't notice any cafe or such) and where there's also a nice "souvenir counter". And nearby, actually right in the same building & on the street level is the great art museum called Museo de Historia del Arte or MuHAr in short (with art displays from "various parts" of the world although not much one with paintings as most other art museums but one with sculptures, carving scenes & other miscellaneous art objects), and at just about a 15-minute walk to the west (which is to the left along Avenida 18 de Julio on the front side of this building) is Plaza Independencia with a grand equestrian statue of General Artigas & his underground mausoleum and where on the Plaza's east side just at the end of the avenue is Palacio Salvo (where there's a worthwhile "guided tour" for its nice but limited views from the top as mentioned above & where there's also a "tango pair" to watch at the small Museo del Tango on the first floor). It was a bit hard for me to find this building, so it's good to keep in mind the "somewhat unique" architecture of the building where there's a red-brick tower kind of rising from the middle of the lower flat-roofed part of the building (which is to your left if you're heading west along Avenida 18 de Julio), and also the entrance to the tower (where to enter to take the elevator to the deck on top) is not on the front side but can be reached only by going around to the right and entering from about halfway along the length of the building on that side.
5. Torre Ejecutiva
6. Palacio Santos
7. Instituto Nacional de la Juventud
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 2 reviews
8. Palacio Correa
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 3 reviews
