Colonia del Sacramento: What you MUST know to plan a visit

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, Colonia del Sacramento’s historic quarter is a must-visit. Founded by the Portuguese in 1680, the historic quarter (known as the casco histórico) is full of old stone houses, cobbled streets and antique cars. It’s a delightful destination any time of year, for gift shopping and has a wide selection of quaint eateries.

As a peninsula jutting into the mighty Río de la Plata, the stunning views of the Río de la Plata—on clear days you can even see the high rises of Buenos Aires 39 miles (50 km) across the water—especially at sunset serve as perfect spots for photo ops.

The city’s historic quarter is a fascinating blend of architectural styles, a result of its history of changing hands between Portuguese and Spanish control until the Declaration of Independence in 1825. This has led to a unique mixture where Portuguese colonial houses coexist seamlessly with Spanish-style buildings. Perfect for couples due to its romantic aura, Colonia del Sacramento is a favourite among locals and foreigners alike.

Things to do in Colonia del Sacramento

The emblematic Calle de los Suspiros There are different theories regarding the origin of the name of the Street of Sighs—that it was the final path of prisoners condemned to death and taken to the river to be shot, or that it was named for the sound of the wind blowing off the river, or that this was where the brothels of Colonia were located in the 1900s.

Climb to the top of the 1857 lighthouse to enjoy the view Built on the ruins of an old convent, the lower half of the lighthouse is strangely square and the upper part is the cylindrical shape you’d expect.

The seven tiny museums in the Old Town may be more interesting for the old buildings they inhabit rather than their limited exhibits. You can buy a ticket which allows you to enter them all for fifty pesos from the Museo Municipal at the western end of the Plaza Mayor.

Origami museum Showcasing original works by renowned origami artists from all over the world, it’s a huge surprise to find this tiny world-class museum on the cobbled streets of Colonia. Visit their site for more info.

Walk along the promenade until you reach the Bullring named Real de San Carlos, it used to be a Spanish military enclave. Nowadays it’s an event venue with an art gallery, a museum, a souvenir shop, a restaurant and a café.

Church of San Benito with its portrait of the Black Saint, and the development by Nicolás Mihanovich, who at the beginning of the 20th century created a tourist complex here, in line with the tastes of the time.

Colonia del Sacramento has a number of fine white powdery sand beaches in the old town and also stretching out north of the town centre Perfect for taking long walks or a post-lunch siesta. See the Guru’Guay Guide to Uruguay: Beaches, Ranches and Wine Country for some unique recommendations including a freshwater pool that only the locals (and you) know about and a tiny bakery where Germans will find Roggensauerteigbrot.

But Colonia more than anything is a place to contemplate. One of the best vantage points being the harbour jetty which dates from 1866.

Here’s what you should know about Colonia del Sacramento

How long do I need to visit Colonia? Colonia is small and compact so you can easily explore it in 4-5 hours including lunch, though we definitely recommend stopping off and spending a few nights. After all, you’re in Uruguay now after hectic Buenos Aires and this feels like a tiny oasis transported from the past.

When is the best day of the week to visit? Colonia is a popular day-trip for visitors from Buenos Aires so avoid going on weekends if you want to experience the tiny city of 20,000 at its best.

How long does it take to get to Colonia del Sacramento? It’s a 2.5 hour drive from Montevideo and as already mentioned, one hour by ferry from or to Buenos Aires. It’s one hour to Carmelo, Uruguay wine country.

Can we leave our bags somewhere as we walk around Colonia? Yes! The bus station right next to the port has a luggage deposit. You can leave your bags there for just a few dollars. The port does NOT have luggage facilities.

I only have one day to do Colonia before I go on to Montevideo. Not a problem. Take a morning ferry. Go and have lunch in the Barrio Histórico. Walk around Colonia’s cobbled streets for a few hours and then hop on a 6pm bus to Montevideo. In the Southern summer time that will get you into Montevideo just after dark. In the wintertime the sun goes down about 6pm so you will be leaving Colonia at nightfall.

Is it worth hiring a car to go to Colonia from Montevideo? You could but public transport is definitely an option. Buses are cheap (apx 12 USD one way), frequent (at least one an hour, often more) and have wifi. Kick back and let someone else do the driving. Buses take between 2 and 3 hours, depending on which one you choose. The only time it may be difficult to get a seat on the bus is during Christmas or New Year. The bus station is right next to the port. Find out more about travelling by bus in Uruguay, including how to read the bus timetable.

Help! I am travelling Buenos Aires – Montevideo and the ferry company is telling me I can’t stop off in Colonia! Aaaaaaghhh! Sometimes the lack of creative thinking of some salespeople drives me nuts. If you are travelling Buenos Aires to Montevideo or vice versa, beware, you cannot buy a through ticket and expect to be allowed to stop-off in Colonia (yes, we know, we know, the ticket says “via Colonia”, it’s just not allowed… sigh…). But there is a simple solution. Buy your Buenos Aires – Colonia ferry ticket and your bus ticket to/from Montevideo separately.

Do I need to exchange money into Uruguayan pesos? Colonia is probably the only city in Uruguay, other than Punta del Este, which is really focused on serving tourists. Dollars and euros are accepted widely and at good rates, Argentinian pesos are also accepted but the rates will not be so good. If you need to stock up on dollars, the exchange situation in Uruguay and Argentina are TOTALLY unrelated and you will want to read my article on exchanging money.

Colonia is on the river. Can I go swimming? Yes! Colonia has pure white sandy beaches, including in the city centre itself. There are more beaches at a leisurely thirty minute walk along the coast towards the west. Colonia is on the River Plate so swimming is in the soupy brown water. People in these parts are used to it, and it is still refreshing on a hot day!

Is it “Colonia” or “Colonia del Sacramento”? The city is officially called Colonia del Sacramento but most people refer to it as “Colonia” for short. Colonia is the name of the departamento (province) where Colonia del Sacramento is located.

More about Colonia del Sacramento

• How can one little town be SO LOVELY? Photos of Colonia del Sacramento by feted photographer Fefo Bouvier
• Looking for a totally unique EARTHSHIP hotel with a natural pool and fantastic home-cooking to stay at in Colonia? Check out our recommended hotel
• Planning ahead for Montevideo? Check out our recommended hotels
• Ready for wine country? Carmelo is just one hour away. Think about it, why fly from Buenos Aires to get to Mendoza, when in two hours you can be at a vineyard in Uruguay?

No time to stop off in Colonia? Read my really popular article on your options for getting to Montevideo from Buenos Aires and vice versa.