Place · Plaza Independencia & Avenida 18 de Julio

Palacio Salvo

The 1928 tower on Plaza Independencia that once stood tallest in South America: look at it from the square, and take a guided tour only if you want the roof view; check tour times and prices before you plan around it.

go · morning or blue hour, from the squareadmission: unknownNot field-verified

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Key facts

Time on site: 20–45 min; p95 90 min
Price: free; adult, 2026 estimate
Hours: unknown; see note below
Best time: morning or blue hour, from the square; quietest window
28″ bags: Painful; Plaza Independencia & Avenida 18 de Julio: painful
Getting there: Plaza Independencia, on the Centro side

Landmark
Guided tour
Free from outside
Works with kids
Mostly indoors

Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.

Rules in force · 8Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…

South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
Uruguay ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Uruguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Uruguayan consulate; ferry passengers from Buenos Aires clear both countries' immigration at the terminal.
Uruguay ↗Buenos Aires–Colonia and Buenos Aires–Montevideo ferries sell out on long weekends and in summer: book ahead.
Uruguay ↗Pay restaurants, hotels and car hire with a foreign-issued card: non-residents get the 22% VAT (IVA) removed on restaurants and car hire roughly 15 November – 30 April, and on lodging — check the current season's rules.
Montevideo ↗After dark, use a taxi or ride-hail car between clusters and to your bed; the old town is quiet and poorly lit at night.
Montevideo ↗Dinner starts after 21:00; book or plan an early snack, and do not count on kitchens at 19:00.

Actions

Hours unknown

Map & directions

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Directions

From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Plan

Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes

Go now?

hours and prices: check on the day

Open: Hours unknown
Crowds: Quietest around 09:00 or 17:00 · go morning or blue hour, from the square
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Quietest Mon–Fri · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
Tickets: Adult: free
Time to spend: 20–45 min · up to 90 min if you linger

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Know before you go

Built in 1928 to a design by the architect Mario Palanti; about 95 m tall.
The building is used for homes and offices; visits are by guided tour (check schedule and price).
The best free view is from the square at the tower's foot.
Combine with Plaza Independencia and the Teatro Solís.

Best time of day

Go morning or blue hour, from the square. Plan 20–45 min inside.

quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for a weekday

Weather here, next 7 days

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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Time on site

minutes

Minimum

10min

Worthwhile

20min

Typical

45min

p95

90min

Guided tours run at set times; not published here until verified.

Tickets & entry

2026 estimate · check the posted board

Where to buy: Buy at the entrance on the day.
Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
Guided tour: Official tour desk or site
Exterior view: Plaza Independencia
Official site ↗
Queues: Guided tour: Book the slot online if offered.
Dress code: Shoes: On.
What to wear: dress-code checker
Bags & lockers: Small.
Photos: Allowed outside.
What's closed: WeeklycheckTour days vary.
Public holidayscheckCheck.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.

Ticket	Price	Where to buy	Skip-the-line reality
Guided tour	about UYU 400–800 (2026 estimate, check)	Official tour desk or site	Book the slot online if offered.
Exterior view	free	Plaza Independencia	Not applicable.

Inside, in order

55 min without detours

Façade from the square
10 min
Look up; the tower is best seen from the plaza.
Guided tour with the roof
45 min
Check whether the tower top is included.
extra ticket

Plan this visit

saved in this browser only

I reach the gate at

Time inside

Crowd on arrival: quiet
Worst while inside: quiet
Leave by: 09:459:45 AM
Closing buffer: 435′

Good window: go.

Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 17:00. Tour times vary; check.
Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.

How to do it well

1Look at the tower from the plaza gate.
2Check tour times at the desk or online.
3Take a tour if you want the inside; skip if you are short of time.
4Continue to the Teatro Solís on foot.

On the ground

Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work

Getting in

Stop: Plaza Independencia, on the Centro side
Exit: —
Ticket: on site · official site
Stairs: lift inside; steps at the entrance
Shoes: Shoes on.

Crowds and switching

Crowd clock: Quiet on weekday mornings; tour groups midday.
Sensory load: 2/5
Exposure: low

Bailouts

heat
Sit in a café at the foot of the tower
rain
Take the guided tour indoors

Nearest rescue anchor: A — Plaza Independencia benches (field-verify)

Step-free check

wheelchair: caution

Step-free entrance: partly · partlylift inside; steps at the entrance
Lifts: check · check
Accessible toilet: check · check
Wheelchair: partly · partly
Stroller: yes · yesok

Lift inside; a step at the door.

Combine with

nearest first

2 minPlaza Independencia — The square at its foot.
5 minFun Fun · eat — A historic bar for a drink.
6 minTeatro Solís

Walk the Plaza Independencia & Avenida 18 de Julio area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes

Best photo time today

Sun times for today load in your browser.

Spot	When	Rule on the spot
Tower from the Plaza Independencia gate	Late afternoon	Do not block the walkway.

Red lines

Join tours only through the official desk.
Keep bags closed in the crowd on the square.

More on the groundFacilities · Who it suits · Skip it if · Rules on site · With kids5 parts

Rules on site

enforced at the gate or by guards

food: Not inside.

With kids

kids: okstroller: ok

with kids: A short look outside suits kids.
child price: check

Facilities on site

What	Status	Where / note
Toilets	check	Ask at the tour desk.
Seating	limited	Cafés on the plaza.
Card or IC payment	check	Ask at the desk.

Who it suits

Traveler	Fit	Why
Architecture lovers	good	A landmark of the 1920s.
Photographers	good	Best from the plaza.
Wheelchair users	caution	Lift inside; steps at the door (check).

Skip it if

You are short of time: the square view is enough.

Deep dive

Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources

Questions and answers

Can I go up the tower?

Only on a guided tour, if the roof is included; check.

How tall is it?

About 95 metres.

How long do I need?

Ten minutes outside; 45 minutes with a tour.

Is it free?

The exterior is; tours cost extra.

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Sources

officialPalacio Salvo
secondaryWikivoyage — Montevideo