Uruguay

Useful apps for Uruguay: transport, maps, translation

Install Uber or Cabify for Montevideo, Google Maps for navigation, and a bus app or the Tres Cruces site for intercity travel; add Buquebus or Colonia Express if you cross to Buenos Aires. Download offline maps and a Spanish translation app before you fly, since English is limited outside hotels and tourist areas.

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Updated Sep 20263 min read

GuideUruguay

Key facts

Ride-hailing: Uber and Cabify work in Montevideo; coverage thins outside the capital
Maps: Google Maps covers Montevideo and main highways; download offline maps for the interior
Intercity buses: Book on the Tres Cruces terminal site or at the terminal; Como Ir covers Montevideo city buses
Ferries: Buquebus and Colonia Express apps or sites for Colonia and Buenos Aires crossings
Language: Spanish is the default; translation apps help outside tourist areas
Payments: Contactless is widely accepted; keep a card app for foreign-card VAT benefits in season
Connectivity: Antel, Movistar and Claro SIMs, or an eSIM before you fly

Details

Uruguay is small and well connected, so a short app list covers almost every trip. The essentials are a ride-hailing app for Montevideo, a maps app that works offline, a bus or ferry booking app for moving between cities, and a translation app for Spanish. Everything else is optional.

Ride-hailing: Uber and Cabify both operate in Montevideo, and they are the easiest way to avoid cash and language friction on arrival. Outside the capital, availability drops sharply; in Punta del Este, Colonia and smaller towns you will rely more on taxis, remises or hotel-arranged transfers. Check the app before you assume a car is available.

Maps: Google Maps handles Montevideo, the main highways and the coastal route well. Coverage in the interior can be patchy, so download offline maps for the regions you plan to drive or hike. OpenStreetMap-based apps are a useful backup for rural roads.

Buses and ferries: the Tres Cruces terminal site is the standard place to check and book intercity buses, including routes to Colonia, Punta del Este and Salto. Como Ir covers Montevideo city buses. For the river crossings to Colonia del Sacramento and Buenos Aires, use the Buquebus or Colonia Express sites or apps.

Language and money: Spanish is the working language, and English is limited outside hotels, airports and tourist areas. A translation app with offline Spanish downloaded is worth having. For payments, contactless cards are widely accepted; keep your bank app handy for foreign-card VAT benefits in season, and check the cards and ATMs page before you rely on cash.

Details
Need	App or site	Notes
Ride-hailing in Montevideo	Uber or Cabify	Thin coverage outside the capital
Navigation	Google Maps	Download offline maps for the interior
Intercity buses	Tres Cruces terminal site	Check and book routes to Colonia, Punta del Este, Salto
Montevideo city buses	Como Ir	Local bus routes and times
Ferries	Buquebus or Colonia Express	Colonia del Sacramento and Buenos Aires crossings
Translation	Any offline Spanish translator	English is limited outside tourist areas
Connectivity	Antel, Movistar, Claro or an eSIM	Prepaid SIM with passport, or eSIM before you fly

Availability and coverage can change; verify before relying on an app for a fixed transfer.

Tips

Download offline maps and offline Spanish before you fly; roaming data in the interior can be slow.

Set up Uber or Cabify and add a card before arrival so you are not doing it at the airport with luggage.

For intercity buses, book ahead around summer holidays and long weekends when coastal routes fill up.

Keep a small amount of cash for taxis and small shops even though contactless is common.

Check the ferry operator's app for schedule changes on the Río de la Plata, especially in bad weather.

Download offline maps and offline Spanish before you fly.
Set up Uber or Cabify and add a card before arrival.
Book intercity buses ahead around summer holidays and long weekends.
Keep some cash for taxis and small shops.
Check the ferry app for schedule changes in bad weather.

Notes

App availability is not the same as coverage. Uber and Cabify are reliable in Montevideo but not across the whole country, so plan a fallback for smaller towns.

Payment rules and VAT benefits for foreign cards can change; confirm current terms with your card issuer and the merchant.

This page is general information, not a guarantee of any app's coverage, pricing or availability at the time you travel.

Questions people ask

Which apps do I need in Uruguay?

Uber or Cabify for Montevideo, Google Maps with offline maps, the Tres Cruces site or Como Ir for buses, Buquebus or Colonia Express for ferries, and an offline Spanish translation app. Add your bank app for card payments.

Does Uber or a local taxi app work in Uruguay?

Uber and Cabify operate in Montevideo. Outside the capital, coverage is thin, so use taxis, remises or hotel-arranged transfers. Check the app before assuming a car is available.

Does Google Maps work well in Uruguay?

Yes for Montevideo, main highways and the coastal route. Coverage in the interior can be patchy, so download offline maps for rural areas and keep an OpenStreetMap-based app as backup.

Deep dive

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