The currency in Uruguay is the Uruguayan peso. In a lot of small beach towns, most restaurants, bars and shops are closed and most houses are empty. Whatever you find open, though, will be cheaper than in high season, and the experience of staying in a ghost town can be very fun. Summertime in Uruguay is lovely, and extends from December to February. July and August are the coldest months, but the rest of the year is usually very mild and pleasant, although not exactly beach weather.
Be prepared for showers and the occasional storm. Uruguay is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of diversity. Not only was it the first country in Latin America to allow women to vote, more recently it was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage.
Same-sex sexual activity has been decriminalised since , and anti-discrimination laws have been in place since This means that all people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation and identity, can feel safe and welcome when travelling to Uruguay. Feel free to hit a bar from 12am onwards, as most are open until 4am or 5am. Clubs are usually open until 8am or 9am, just in time to get breakfast the day after.
You will see movement in the city streets at all hours, as people are coming and going places at all times. For example, all public museums which means most museums in Uruguay are free by law. Another way of experiencing some free culture is by going to a street market to people-watch, or finding out when the neighbourhood comparsas will be playing the drums. There are a lot of beautiful parks and squares, and amazing architecture that you can see just by walking around.
There are no trains in Uruguay, so everything is done by car or bus. The buses that go from the capital to other cities are usually very good, with comfortable seats, air conditioning and usually wifi. In cities and towns, it is very common to use bicycles. There are several spots in Montevideo where you can rent bikes straight off the streets, and even go on guided bike tours of the city. You can also use taxis inside the city, but bear in mind that Ubers are usually cheaper; both increase their prices at night.
