Distance 201 km (125.6 miles) | |
Price range US$64-US$405 | |
Ride Duration Range 50m-8h 30m | |
Earliest Departure 10:30 | |
Latest Departure 23:00 | |
Most Popular Operator |
Find up-to-date information on departure times, schedules, and prices so you can easily compare and book your tickets.
Fastest bus: 8h 20m
Cheapest bus: US$64
For a city with very few must-see attractions, Buenos Aires has an appeal that is much greater than the sum of its parts. In fact, Buenos Aires’ neighborhoods are truly the main draw, each with its history, culture and character. From stately Recoleta and colorful La Boca to tango-happy San Telmo, Buenos Aires showcases its charm, not one building at a time but one barrio at a time.
But Buenos Aires isn’t the only South American capital city in the area. Across the murky Rio de la Plata lies the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, which offers its own particular flavor.
The two are connected by air, road, ferry and a combination bus + ferry service, each with advantages.
Adding another capital to your travel history is easy and enjoyable by making the trip between Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
While Buenos Aires gets a lot more love, Montevideo has a charm worth exploring. Here are some of the best things to see and do in Montevideo, Uruguay:
Take your pick of museums: Montevideo has a ton of interesting museums, some of which are housed in historic buildings. Like the Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo, a museum dedicated to contemporary art that was once a former prison.
Also in town is the unique Andes 1972 Crash Museum, featuring exhibits about the notorious plane crash that inspired the book and movie Alive.
Whatever your interest, Montevideo’s museum scene has you covered.
Stroll or cycle La Rambla: Stretching for 22 kilometers (14 miles) along the shoreline, La Rambla is a relaxing waterfront promenade where you can enjoy Montevideo’s modest beach and surf scene. Just remember that this is the southern hemisphere, so don’t show up with your bathing suit in July!
Enjoy the architecture: Whether strolling through El Centro, admiring the impressive Palacio Salvo, or exploring the strange but appealing Pittamiglio Castle, Montevideo has some real architectural beauty. Discover a lovely hidden gem by taking a tour of the artistic Legislative Palace.
Take a day trip east and west: Montevideo is within easy striking range of two very worthy destinations.
To the west is the UNESCO World Heritage Listed village of Colonia del Sacramento. Here, you can explore a colorful and historic town just oozing with charm.
To the east is the famous Punta del Este — a beach town popular with jet setters near the one-of-a-kind Casapueblo Hotel.
The scenery separating Buenos Aires from Montevideo isn’t quite the dramatic ride you might find elsewhere in South America.
The area around the Rio de la Plata, which separates Argentina and Uruguay, is nice but not particularly scenic.
If you take a straight bus ride, you’ll probably be happy when the 8.5 hours are over.
If you take a combination bus and ferry ride, the ferry will bring you across to Colonia del Sacramento. Then, you’ll hop on a bus to continue your journey to the capital city.
Alternatively, you can take a direct ferry ride or a quick flight, which will give you an extensive view of the murky waters of Rio de la Plata before you arrive in Montevideo.
Pro tip: Regardless of the form of travel you choose, remember that you are crossing the Argentina-Uruguay border and must have the proper documents.
There are four primary ways of getting from Buenos Aires to Montevideo.
A bus ride
A bus + ferry combo ticket
A direct high-speed ferry ride
A quick flight.
Check out the descriptions below to see which option best works for you.
Buses are one of the cheapest options for crossing the distance between the capitals. Prices start at around $61 for the 8.5-hour ride.
Buses are air-conditioned with reclining seats, a restroom on board and TVs. Higher classes of service will provide a blanket, though it’s always a good idea to have a light jacket with you.
Passengers are allowed one bag weighing 15 kg (33 lbs) and a handbag, both included in the price.
Many operators run this route overnight, so you can combine your transportation and lodging fees in one ticket.
Though details vary according to the operator, most buses leave Buenos Aires from the Terminal de Omnibus de Buenos Aires in the Retiro neighborhood.
Arrival points in Montevideo include Terminal Tres Cruces and Plaza Cuba.
A bus + ferry combination ticket will break your trip down into two segments: a ferry ride to Colonia del Sacramento and a bus ride into Montevideo.
Prices start at $75 and include a luggage allowance of one bag at 23 kg (50 lbs) plus a handbag.
On the ferry, there is food for purchase, air-conditioning, and bathrooms. There are multiple daily departure times.
Total travel time comes in at just under five hours. You’ll probably consider those extra three hours you save from the overnight bus trip to be well worth the extra few dollars.
Ferries leave from the port in Buenos Aires and arrive at the Tres Cruces bus terminal in Montevideo.
A direct high-speed ferry ride is a fast and simple way to get to Montevideo. The price is on the high side, starting at $142 per passenger. But the travel time is only 2.5 hours, which, considering the time it would take to arrive at the airport, is even quicker than a flight.
There are slower ferries that take about five hours and cost around $66. So, it all depends on your budget.
If you’d rather spend your transit enjoying a fresh breeze than sitting in a stuffy bus, this is a good option.
Tickets are from port to port, so you’ll be responsible for your local transportation beyond that.
The quickest travel time (not including the time sitting at the airport) is to fly. Flight times are less than an hour, and will have you sipping maté in Montevideo in no time.
Basic economy flights start at around $129 and leave from Jorge Newbery Airpark (AEP), a small airport just to the northwest of Buenos Aires, or Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), the main airport for the capital city.
Arrivals are at Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo (MVD).
Both spring and fall are popular times to visit Montevideo for comfortable temperatures and relatively low crowds.
Since this is the southern hemisphere, spring runs from September through November, with average temperatures around 21°C/70°F.
Fall (March through May) sees similar temperatures and is a great time to visit the vineyards outside of town.
Summer sees higher temperatures (28°C/83°F) and higher crowds, mostly Brazilians and Argentinians heading for the beaches. This is prime time to take a day trip to Punta del Este or Piriapolis on the Atlantic Coast.
If you come in winter (June through August), you’ll find high temperatures of 15°C/59°F with little rain. If all you’re doing is touring the city, this is a good time for low crowds and lower prices.
From Montevideo, you can head eastward to take in the great beach town of Punta del Este, situated along Uruguay’s southern coast.
And if you didn’t have the chance to spend time there when coming in from Buenos Aires, Colonia del Sacramento is a heritage town worth a visit.
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