Piriapolis, Uruguay: travel guide
A nostalgic Belle Epoque seaside resort built by Francisco Piria, framed by the Cerro San Antonio and Cerro del Toro hills. Its grand Argentino Hotel, palm-lined rambla, chairlift and family beaches give it an old-world, low-key charm.
- Country
- Uruguay
- Currency
- UYU
- Time zone
- America/Montevideo
- Nearest airport
- PDP
Top places to visit in Piriapolis
Rambla de los Argentinos y Playa Piriapolis
Beach · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h
Piriapolis's palm-lined seafront promenade and main beach, watched over by the grand Argentino Hotel. The nostalgic heart of this Belle Epoque resort.
Cerro San Antonio
Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · entry UYU 150
A 110 m hill overlooking town, reachable by road or a vintage chairlift (aerosilla), with sweeping views of the bay and a cluster of cafes at the top.
Reserva Cerro Pan de Azucar
Nature · 4.5 rating · about 2.5 h
A 423 m sugarloaf peak and wildlife reserve north of town, with a hiking trail to a summit cross and a small native-animal rescue centre at its base.
Puerto de Piriapolis
Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 0.7 h
The yacht and fishing harbour at the east end of the rambla, with seafood stalls, sport-fishing charters and a relaxed waterfront scene.
Castillo de Piria
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h
The eclectic 1890s mansion of town founder Francisco Piria, an esoteric-minded entrepreneur, now a museum set in gardens at the foot of the hills.
Fuente de Venus y Cerro del Toro
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h
A wooded hill on the edge of town crowned by a bull-shaped fountain (Fuente del Toro) and walking paths - a leafy retreat with a touch of Piria's mystic design.
Things to do
- Cerro Pan de Azucar Guided Hike Adventure · 4 h · from USD 35 per person
- Sierras de las Animas Trek Adventure · 6 h · from USD 45 per person
- Piriapolis Sport Fishing Trip Adventure · 4 h · from USD 70 per person
Day trips and tours
- Piriapolis & the Sierras Day Trip 7 h · from USD 70
Where to stay in Piriapolis
- Rambla Centro about UYU 70 per night
The seafront strip around the historic Argentino Hotel, with the pedestrian rambla, beach and most restaurants and lodging.
Hotels
- Escondido Hotel Boutique 4-star · USD 85 to USD 160 per night
- Argentino Hotel 4-star · USD 90 to USD 200 per night
- Piriapolis Hostel 2-star · USD 18 to USD 50 per night
- Hotel Rivadavia 3-star · USD 55 to USD 100 per night
Where to eat
- Don Pipo Uruguayan, Italian · about UYU 1,200 per person
- Rincon del Puerto Seafood, Uruguayan · about UYU 1,400 per person
- La Cuadra Parrilla Parrilla, Uruguayan · about UYU 1,300 per person
- Artemisia Cafe Cafe, Brunch · about UYU 650 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Petty beach and rambla theft
Central beach and Rambla de los Argentinos
Unattended phones, towels and bags are occasionally taken from the busy summer beach and promenade.
How to avoid it: Keep valuables with you, especially during peak summer weekends, and do not leave items unattended on the sand.