Key facts
Uruguay is a country located in South America. There are 2 countries (Argentina, Brazil) that Uruguay shares its borders with. The official language of Uruguay is Spanish. Unfortunately, if you speak English, it might be problematic to communicate fluently unless you know Spanish.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Uruguay was ranked 53rd out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Uruguay is Uruguayan peso (UYU). The peso ($U) is subdivided into 100 centésimo (¢).
Uruguayan
Banknotes
$U20$U50$U100$U200$U500$U1000$U2000
Uruguayan
Coins
$U1$U2$U5$U10$U50
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Uruguay is 220.43 Mbps and mobile is 189.07 Mbs.The global average is 187.01 Mbps and 128.37 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density Uruguay has more ATMs than most other countries.276.29 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in Uruguay, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 4 socket types used in Uruguay. Type C is a popular socket type throughout Europe (except the United Kingdom), Russia, and certain Asian countries. Type I is not very common around the world, so it might be a good idea to check if your electronics need an adapter.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Uruguay will celebrate 15 national public holidays.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2023 | New Year’s DayAño Nuevo | |
| January 6, 2023 | Children’s DayDía de los Niños | |
| February 20, 2023Moving holiday | CarnivalCarnaval | |
| February 21, 2023Moving holiday | CarnivalCarnaval | |
| April 6, 2023Moving holiday | Maundy ThursdaySemana de Turismo | |
| April 7, 2023Moving holiday | Good FridaySemana de Turismo | |
| April 19, 2023 | Landing of the 33 Patriots DayDesembarco de los 33 Orientales | |
| May 1, 2023 | International Workers’ DayDía de los Trabajadores | |
| May 18, 2023 | Battle of Las PiedrasBatalla de las Piedras | |
| June 19, 2023 | Birthday of José Gervasio Artigas and Never Again DayNatalicio de Artigas y Día del Nunca Más | |
| July 18, 2023 | Constitution DayJura de la Constitución | |
| August 25, 2023 | Independence DayDía de la Independencia | |
| October 12, 2023 | Day of the raceDía de la Raza | |
| November 2, 2023 | Deceased ones dayDía de los Difuntos | |
| December 25, 2023 | Christmas DayDía de la Familia |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Uruguay?
There are no Mariott hotels in Uruguay.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Uruguay.
The IHG hotel chain operates in Uruguay.
There are no Best Western hotels in Uruguay.
There are Radisson hotels in 2 cities: Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Uruguay.
What fast food chains are present in Uruguay?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Uruguay.
The KFC chain does not operate in Uruguay.
The Burger King chain operates in Uruguay.
The Subway chain operates in Uruguay.
The Domino’s Pizza chain does not operate in Uruguay.
The Starbucks chain does not operate in Uruguay.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Montevideo?
Weather data for Montevideo (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains operating between some cities.
Subway Systems There is no subway system in any city.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Uruguay
Sources
- Uruguay Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Uruguay (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is forbidden in all public indoor locations, with limited exceptions.
Cananbis legality Recreational usage: Legal, but buying prohibited for foreigners.
Medical usage: Legal
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)