Our intention was to go to Punta del Este, but being high season we realized that it would be super crowded plus the prices were very high. Instead we decided to get closer to Argentina and stay for 2 nights in Colonia de Sacramento.

"Founded by the Portuguese in 1680 on the Rio de la Plata, the city was of strategic importance in resisting the Spanish. After being disputed for a century, it was finally lost by its founders. The well-preserved urban landscape illustrates the successful fusion of the Portuguese, Spanish and post-colonial styles." (Source)

I am not sure if I could really make a list of things to visit (I will try though) you'll see it's more about the charm of the city in general than of a specific landmark . 

I guess the 2 most popular ways to get to Colonia are either from Buenos Aires via Ferry or from Montevideo via bus. We chose the second option. It's quite easy, just go to the Terminal Tres Cruces and book your bus. There are several companies going to Colonia so choose one that has the best time schedule for you. 

I am not a very big fan of fancy hotels as I usually don't focus on what is in the hotel but what is outside :). So I choose something that was clean and had a good-quality price ratio. This brought me to Hotel Rivera. The place is perfect for 1-2 nights stay and offers great breakfast (for a 2 star hotel). 

Walking on the promenade is super relaxing and nice. We went all the way to the letters "Colonia". You can find them on google under Letrero Colonia

I will of course also list some of the Streetart I spotted ;) 

Built in 1857, the top can be reached after climbing the 118 stairs. The cool part of the view is that you can sport Buenos Aires in the distance, other than that I was not that impressed. Second picture check the horizon line, that's Argentina :) 

Right in front of the lighthouse, you can spot the ruins of the monastery. This is one of the oldest constructions in the area. It was built in 1691 but was destroyed during a fire in 1704. It creates an  interesting view with the the lighthouse in the background. 

The present church dates back to 1810, when it was built according to plans by Tomas Toribio; soon afterward a lightning storm destroyed the building, which was restored between 1836 and 1841. Finally, in 1976 a conceptual refurbishment took place. In 1995, the Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO - with it, the Basilica. (Source) 

"Porton de Campo is an 18th-century city gate and drawbridge built by the Portuguese settlers of Colonia del Sacramento. It was an integral part of the walls that protected the city from intrusion"  (Source)

This is probably one of the most photographed placed in Colonia (or at least you can find it on all the souvenir magnets)

"There are different theories about how it got its name. One is that criminals used to get hung at the end of the street (no records to back this up so it can be dismissed). Another is that prostitutes used to line the street to tempt the sailors (where the sighs come in there are best left to your imagination), and a final one about a lover that was killed on this street and with her last breath (sigh) calling her partner (which I suspect was invented to try and romanticize the street)." (Source) 

It's an open air museum in the reconstructed ruins of a historical Portuguese house featuring stone walls, floors & doorways. (Source: Google Maps)

Museo Municipal: White building with the canon in front:
18th-century structure housing exhibits documenting the community from prehistoric to modern times. (Source: Google Maps)

Nacarello House- red'ish house in the background
Built in the 18th century, this rustic house-turned-museum features historic furniture & objects. (Source: Google Maps)

There a loads of cute elements everywhere around the center. Just walk the streets and you will find them. 

We managed to convince the guys from the restaurant we were eating at to borrow the glasses and finish the wine watching the sunset. It is a very relaxing & enjoyable moment. 

Montevideo is the starting point of our 2 weeks trip in Argentina with a short stop in Uruguay at the special request of one of my friends that was joining the trip. 

Tasks of the day: Land - visit Montevideo - take the bus to Colonia de Sacramento, busy, right? 

We landed early morning just before 9:00 and so we took the bus from outside the Airport going to Tres Cruces. The ticket for the bus is about 2$ and it takes about 30 min.
Important to know is that Tres Cruces is a shopping center, but it is also the place from where  buses leave towards other cities in the country and so it also offers luggage storage. 

Some Details: 
Luggage is 5 Euro for 3 small luggage (hand-luggage/backpack) 
You have several bus companies on site to chose from. 
There is a food court available for a snack before you catch the bus. 
For more info check out their webpage. 

From in front of the Shopping Center you get buses to the different areas of the city. We hopped on a bus which had on it Centro Viejo (aka old town), but did not go till the end, instead we jumped out randomly to explore the city. 

Einstein spotted, more precisely there is a statue in Plaza de los Treinta y Tres Orientales of Albert Einstein discussing with the Uruguayan philosopher Carlos Vaz Ferreira.

"The National School J.P.V. It was created by the Uruguayan Society of Education as an educational institute for lay formation. His initial address was entrusted to Master Deborah Vitale D'Amico (1888 - 1957), one of the first women who had outstanding participation in the public performance of the country. It belonged to the second generation of women from Uruguay whose innovative intervention was projected in various domains of Uruguayan culture" (Translated from Source)

Palacio Santos - "In March 1882, Maximo Santos took office as President of the Republic. In 1881, for his residence, he had built a luxurious mansion, which he opened in 1885. There he lived with his wife, Teresa Mascaro, and their children, until he died in 1889, at the age of 42." (Translation from Source)

"Inaugurated in 1928, Palacio Salvo appeared in the city landscape as a strange creature, one that has both delighted and disgusted architecture buffs for decades.[...] Originally intended as a luxury hotel, the palace never managed to fulfill that purpose, and acts instead as a very elaborate collection of private residences and offices."  (Source)

Get a beer and something to eat to gain energy for the rest of the road 

Montevideo's largest downtown plaza commemorates independence hero Jose Artigas with a 17m, 30-ton statue (see the horse through the gate :) ) and the subterranean Mausoleo de Artigas, where an honor guard keeps 24-hour vigil over Artigas’ remains. (Source)

"Just off Plaza Independencia, elegant Teatro Solis is Montevideo’s premier performance space. First opened in 1856, and completely renovated during the past decade or so, it has superb acoustics."  (Source)

"Also known as Plaza Matriz, is the oldest plaza in Montevideo. It is located in the first part of the city that was built: Ciudad Vieja." (Source) When we went there on a Friday, they had an antique market with a lot of interesting things to buy. 

At a length of over 22.2 uninterrupted kilometres (13.7 mi), the promenade runs along the Río de la Plata and continues down the entire coast of Montevideo. Since all the southern departments of Uruguay are against either the Río de la Plata or the Atlantic Ocean, they all have ramblas as well. The Rambla is an integral part of Montevidean identity and has been proposed as a World Heritage site. (Source)

"Castillo Pittamiglio is a beautiful tribute to the man who built it and to the science of alchemy. Designed by Humberto Pittamiglio and built in 1911, Castillo Pittamiglio’s interior is full of obscure symbols with deep meanings. The castle itself represents the life of the alchemist. While during this time period they worked hard to change base metals into gold, they were also constantly trying to change themselves spiritually. In fact, Pittamiglio lived in the castle until his death in 1966, and was constantly changing the rooms in the building to symbolize that facet."  (Source)

Further on down the road you can find a big building, if you wonder what it is...
​it's: Secreteria del Mecosur

Our Destination of this long trip was actually the Montevideo sign. You can find it at the end of the Pocitos Beach on a little hill.