Carrasco
Montevideo, Departamento de Montevideo, 11500
Hugging Montevideo’s southeast coast, Carrasco is one of Montevideo's most exclusive residential suburbs. A long, sandy beach fronted by an elegant promenade form the neighborhood’s lively core, while tree-lined streets feature an eclectic mix of early 20th-century mansions, antiques shops, and bookstores. Enjoy a day at the beachside General Lavalleja Park and picnic alongside Carrasco Creek.
The Basics
Don’t miss the Stella Maris Church dedicated to Our Lady, Star of the Sea. Built in 1918, the lovely wooden Roman Catholic church was one of the first structures in Carrasco and holds a rare wooden Christ Pantocrator on the main altar.
Explore Carrasco’s many delights as part of a half-day sightseeing tour illuminating Montevideo’s history and architecture before getting a taste for suburban life in the city’s elegant neighborhoods such as Carrasco and nearby El Prado, Punta Gorda, and Pocitos to see even more historic mansions, museums, parks, and beaches.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Carrasco is an ideal spot for architecture buffs, nature and beach lovers.
- The neighborhood is close to Uruguay’s main airport.
- Carrasco is along Río de la Plata; though an estuary formed by the meeting of the Uruguay and the Paraná rivers, it looks and feels like the ocean.
- Since Carrasco prohibits buildings higher than three floors, the neighborhood has a distinctively open feeling.
How to Get There
Carrasco is along the southeast coast of Montevideo, less than three miles (five kilometers) away from the Carrasco International Airport. The best way to reach the neighborhood is to drive or take a quick taxi, as public transportation is not direct.
When to Get There
Visit Carrasco during the day to enjoy one of the city’s most popular beaches, walk along the promenade, and picnic in General Lavalleja Park. High tourist season parallels Montevideo’s summer, from December to February, which includes the city’s 40-day Carnival starting in January. Come on the shoulder seasons, before and after, to beat the crowds.
A National Landmark by the Ocean
Dubbed the “palace in the sand,” the opulent Belle Époque Hotel Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco and Spa opened in 1921, quickly becoming the preferred beachside retreat for the local aristocracy. Peak into the cathedral-high marble lobby adorned with an extravagant stained-glass dome and many crystal chandeliers. Architecture buffs will enjoy the free tour every Saturday.
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