Uruguay is small and easy to travel. Most visitors combine Montevideo with the cobbled old town of Colonia del Sacramento, often arriving on the ferry from Buenos Aires, and then follow the Atlantic coast to Punta del Este, José Ignacio and the beaches of Rocha. Coverage is good almost everywhere people live. Uruguay sits outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and most European operators charge a daily fee for every day you use your phone there.
Key facts for Uruguay
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Movistar (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 911
- Embassies: in Montevideo
Montevideo
Coverage is strong across Montevideo, from the Ciudad Vieja to the Rambla that runs for kilometres along the river. Ride apps such as Uber and Cabify work in the city. The Ciudad Vieja empties after dark, so take a taxi rather than walking back late.
Colonia and the ferry from Buenos Aires
Ferries cross the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires to Colonia and Montevideo in a couple of hours. If you are combining the two countries, a Latin America or Americas plan covers both Uruguay and Argentina, so you stay connected on each side of the river. Colonia's historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is easy to explore on foot.
The Atlantic coast
Punta del Este and José Ignacio are busy and well covered in the summer season, from December to March. Further east, in Rocha, the village of Cabo Polonio has no road access for private cars and no mains electricity, so coverage is patchy and charging is limited: bring a fully charged power bank.
VAT savings for visitors
Non-resident visitors pay no VAT on hotel stays when they show their passport, and in the summer season restaurant bills paid with a card issued abroad are exempt from VAT as well. The government has renewed the scheme season after season, so paying by card usually works out better than cash.
Paying
Card machines are everywhere, from beach bars to petrol stations, but keep a few pesos for buses, markets and kiosks.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM is ready on your phone before the trip and connects as soon as the ferry docks or the plane lands in Uruguay, while your home number stays on for texts and banking codes.
Prepaid SIMs from Antel, Movistar and Claro are sold in their shops and at kiosks; bring your passport.
Consular protection: who to call in Uruguay
- 911 handles police, ambulance and fire emergencies across the country.
- Embassies are in Montevideo. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Uruguay, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- If your Spanish is limited, the app's emergency phrases in Spanish can be shown on screen.
Questions travellers ask about Uruguay
Does my EU plan work in Uruguay?
Not under Roam Like at Home; your operator applies its own rate for Uruguay.
Does one plan cover Uruguay and Argentina?
A Latin America or Americas plan does; a plan for Uruguay alone does not.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Uruguay?
Movistar, with 4G and 5G where available.
Which number do I call for help?
Dial 911 for the police, an ambulance or the fire service.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you travel, pick a regional plan if you arrive via Buenos Aires, pay by card to save on VAT, bring a power bank to Cabo Polonio, and save 911.
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