📱 Essential Travel Apps for Uruguay

The main ride-hailing app in Montevideo. Uber does not operate in Uruguay — Cabify is the equivalent. Fixed prices, reliable drivers, easy to use. Essential for getting around the capital without dealing with metered taxis.

💡 Much cheaper than hotel taxis

Montevideo's public bus system app. Route planning, real-time arrivals, and STM card management. The bus network is extensive and cheap (UYU 37/trip). Google Maps integrates STM data well too.

💡 Buy STM card at kiosks near major stops

Book and manage ferry tickets between Buenos Aires and Uruguay (Colonia del Sacramento or Montevideo). Buy tickets in advance — especially for summer weekends when crossings sell out. Mobile tickets available.

Official Uruguay tourism portal with attractions, events, and itinerary ideas. Useful for planning visits to lesser-known destinations — the interior's hot springs, gaucho festivals, and nature reserves rarely appear on international travel sites.

Best overall flight search. Price tracking, flexible dates, and the cleanest interface. Use the calendar view to find the cheapest days to fly to Montevideo (MVD) or via Buenos Aires (EZE).

"Everywhere" search shows the cheapest destinations from your airport. Whole-month search helps find the best time to fly to South America — prices vary significantly by season.

Predicts when flight prices will rise or drop. Particularly useful for long-haul flights to South America where timing your purchase can save hundreds.

The largest airline in South America with the best network into and around Montevideo. Manage bookings, check in, and access departure info directly through their app.

Works excellently in Uruguay including real-time bus directions for Montevideo. Download offline maps of Uruguay before you travel — coverage in the interior can be patchy with some carriers.

Detailed offline maps work well for Uruguay's interior roads, estancia routes, and coastal tracks. Essential if driving through rural areas where mobile data is unreliable.

Popular with Uruguayan drivers and works well in Montevideo for real-time traffic. Useful for navigating the city during busy periods and finding fuel stations on routes.

Best coverage of Uruguayan hotels, especially in Montevideo and Punta del Este. Free cancellation options are common. Book Punta del Este for January–February at least 3–4 months ahead.

Good for apartments in Montevideo's Pocitos and Palermo neighbourhoods. Also useful for beach houses along the coast outside peak season. Many estancias list on Airbnb as well.

Best for finding hostels in Montevideo's Ciudad Vieja. Uruguay has a decent backpacker scene in the capital. Colonia and Punta del Este have fewer hostel options.

Best exchange rates for converting to Uruguayan pesos (UYU). The Wise debit card works at ATMs and for in-store purchases. Much cheaper than using bank cards at ATMs in Uruguay.

Good multi-currency card alternative to Wise. Works at Uruguayan ATMs and shops. Useful for the tourist VAT discount — you need a foreign card, and Revolut qualifies.

Real-time USD/UYU and EUR/UYU exchange rates. Uruguay's economy can see rate fluctuations — worth checking before larger purchases to understand true costs.

The primary communication platform in Uruguay. Restaurants, hotels, tour operators, and services all use WhatsApp for bookings and contact. Download it before arriving.

Spanish in Uruguay is Rioplatense — slightly different from Spain Spanish. The camera translation feature is useful for menus and signs. Download the Spanish language pack for offline use.

Even basic Spanish makes a significant difference in Uruguay, especially outside Montevideo and the tourist zones. A few weeks of Duolingo before your trip will pay off at estancias and local restaurants.