Car Hire Colonia del Sacramento

Guide to Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia is Uruguay’s oldest city and an absolute historical and archaeological gem. UNESCO has accredited the entire barrio historico and wherever you go you’ll see history at each turn. Over the centuries the city has suffered as it changed hands between Portuguese and Spanish ownership but has retained important trade links with the Brazilian city of Buenos Aires.

Getting there
Despite having an airport of its own, there are no scheduled commercial flights to Colonia. The nearest airport is actually across the water serving Buenos Aires and is good because it has direct flights from Europe including Madrid, Paris and Heathrow meaning you can fly directly to Buenos Aires and catch the ferry to Colonia.

Things to see
The old city centre; the barrio historico is the place all the tourists go. There are few specifically interesting buildings but a climb up to the top of the lighthouse gives you the perfect outlook over the city. There are a number of small churches with histories linked with the city’s development and plenty of pavement cafes where you can simply enjoy the atmosphere. For something bigger, brasher and bolder, take the ferry across the River Plate to see Buenos Aires whose nightlife is incredible.