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📌Department
Canelones (Uruguay). Ciudad de la Costa is a relatively young and fast-growing city, located in the southwest of the department of Canelones, just east of Montevideo, on the coast of the Río de la Plata. It's one of the most populous cities in the country and, really, a succession of contiguous resort towns that gradually merged —Solymar, Lagomar, El Pinar, Shangrilá, Lomas de Solymar, Parque del Plata and others— along the coast and the busy Avenida Giannattasio. It functions almost as a large residential and summer zone of the metropolitan area
📌Service town
For its closeness, Ciudad de la Costa relies on the services of Montevideo, which adjoins it to the west, and very especially on Carrasco International Airport (MVD), which is practically at the edge of the area. It has shops, supermarkets, shopping centers (such as the Costa Urbana Shopping), banks, ATMs and health centers. It connects with Montevideo via the coastal Rambla, the Avenida Giannattasio and the Ruta Interbalnearia, with plenty of suburban buses. The Tres Cruces Terminal in Montevideo, a few minutes away, is the base for long-distance trips
📌Best time to visit
Summer (December to March) is the season par excellence: it's when its Río de la Plata beaches —Solymar, Lagomar, El Pinar and the rest— fill with people, mostly Montevideans summering or spending the day. The river water is warmer and calmer than the open ocean of Rocha or Maldonado, ideal for families. The rest of the year the area is quiet and fully residential, pleasant for walking the rambla and enjoying the coast calmly, though winter is cool and windy. For its closeness to the airport and Montevideo, it's practical year-round
📌Suggested days
Ciudad de la Costa is enjoyed more as a complement than as a several-day destination in itself. In one day you can walk its coastal rambla, get to know its beaches (Solymar, Lagomar, El Pinar) and enjoy the quiet resort atmosphere. It's ideal as an alternative base to Montevideo —more relaxed, near the airport and the beach— for those who want to combine the capital with coastal rest, or as a convenient first or last stop of the trip for its proximity to Carrasco Airport
💱 UYU exchange rate
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🌤️ Weather in Ciudad de la Costa
Ciudad de la Costa is, in many ways, the beachy, residential face of the Montevideo metropolitan area. Just cross the Carrasco stream heading east and the capital city gives way to a long succession of wooded resort towns that stretch along the coast of the Río de la Plata: Carrasco Este, Solymar, Lagomar, El Pinar, Shangrilá, Lomas de Solymar... names of resorts that over time stuck together until they formed a single, young and explosively growing city, where thousands of families chose to live near the river and the greenery without moving away from the capital.
It's not a monumental destination or one of great tourist attractions: its charm is another kind. It's that of a quiet coast, of pine woods and sand, with calm, warm Río de la Plata waters —gentler than the ocean surf—, perfect for families with children. It's that of a coastal rambla where people walk, cycle, fish and drink mate watching the sunset over the river. And it's that of convenience: being steps from Carrasco Airport and minutes from downtown Montevideo, with all services at hand.
This guide explores Ciudad de la Costa with a practical and warm eye: which beaches to choose, how to make the most of its rambla, how to get around between its resorts and how to use it as an alternative base, more relaxed and close to the beach, to combine with the capital. It's an ideal destination for those seeking coastal rest without giving up the closeness of the big city, or to start or end the trip peacefully by the airport.
📖 History of Ciudad de la Costa
The history of Ciudad de la Costa is the recent history of the growth of the Canelones coast east of Montevideo. Unlike the country's old colonial cities, this is a very young one: for much of the 20th century the area was made up of a series of independent resort towns —coastal subdivisions forested with pines and eucalyptus from the mid-20th century— that grew as summer spots and second homes for Montevideans. Resorts such as Solymar, Lagomar, El Pinar and Shangrilá were born with that vocation for rest along the Río de la Plata, on lands that were once fields and dunes. Over the decades, the improvement of communications (the Avenida Giannattasio, the coastal Rambla, the Ruta Interbalnearia) and the appeal of living near the river and the greenery led many people to move permanently. Those resorts gradually merged physically and administratively until, well into the 21st century, they consolidated as a single city: Ciudad de la Costa, one of the fastest-growing in Uruguay. Its history, then, is that of metropolitan expansion and of how the summer dream of the coast became a bedroom and residential city full of life. The full history of the region and the department is on our history page.
Read the full history ↓🏛️ Ciudad de la Costa is in Canelones Department
The department that surrounds Montevideo: scene of the battle of Las Piedras in 1811, land of the Costa de Oro and its seaside resorts, winemaking heart of tannat and the capital's great market-garden and farming belt.
Read the history of Canelones Department →🗺️ What to see
Tours nearby, in Montevideo
They depart from Montevideo, 21 km away. Affiliate link: we earn a commission.
1
Río de la Plata beaches (Solymar, Lagomar, El Pinar)
The succession of calm-water river beaches, the backbone of the city and its great summer draw.
Read more ↓
The beaches are, without a doubt, the main attraction of Ciudad de la Costa. Along its coast on the Río de la Plata follow the beaches of the different resorts that make up the city: Solymar, Lagomar, El Pinar, Shangrilá and others, all connected by the coastal rambla. They are sandy beaches, with river waters —calmer, warmer and without the strong surf of the open ocean—, which makes them especially gentle for families with children and for those seeking a quiet swim.
Each resort has its personality and its atmosphere. Solymar and Lagomar, closer to Montevideo, are among the busiest in summer; El Pinar, a bit further east, keeps a more serene and wooded air. In season, the beaches fill with Montevideans summering or spending the day, with umbrellas, mate, ball games and the typical life of the Río de la Plata coast. Outside summer, they stay quiet and are ideal for long walks.
Unlike the great resorts of Maldonado or Rocha, these are not spectacular postcard beaches, but urban, family beaches, practical and close. Their greatest virtue is precisely that combination of coast, calm and proximity to the capital and the airport. Bear in mind that the water quality of the Río de la Plata can vary; in summer the days suitable for swimming are usually reported.
How to get there: along the whole coastal rambla; accessed from the Avenida Giannattasio or the rambla itself, by car, suburban bus or bike. Best time: summer for swimming and atmosphere; the rest of the year for quiet walks. Tips: in summer check the day's water conditions; bring your mate and join the coastal ritual. For open-sea, postcard beaches, you have to continue toward Maldonado and Rocha.
ℹ️ Location: Along the coastal rambla of Ciudad de la Costa · Best time: Summer for swimming; year-round for walking · Admission: Free (public beaches) · Duration: Half a day or more
2
Coastal Rambla of Ciudad de la Costa
The coastal avenue that links the resorts facing the river, ideal for walking, cycling and watching the sunset.
Read more ↓
The coastal Rambla is the axis that runs through the city from end to end facing the Río de la Plata, connecting the different resorts along the coast. It's the most enjoyed public space of Ciudad de la Costa: here people go out to walk, run, cycle, walk the dog, fish and, of course, drink mate watching the river, especially at sunset, when the sun sinks over the water and tints the sky with colors.
Along the rambla alternate stretches of beach, dunes with pine woods, green spaces, beach bars and lookouts. Exploring it, on foot or by bike, is the best way to get to know the city and to understand its essence as a residential resort: a quiet life, facing the river and the outdoors. In summer the rambla comes alive with the movement of the season; the rest of the year it keeps a serene, local pace.
The sunset over the Río de la Plata is one of the great gifts of the area: the open horizon of the river, with no shore visible on the other side, offers wide, luminous sunsets. It's a simple and free plan that sums up well the appeal of Ciudad de la Costa.
How to get there: the rambla crosses the whole city; accessed from any resort, by car, bike, on foot or by bus. Best time: sunset, in any season; summer for the atmosphere. Tips: ideal for cycling (there are stretches with a bike path); bring a thermos and mate, and warm clothes if you go at sunset outside summer, because the river wind usually picks up.
ℹ️ Location: Runs along the whole coast of the city, from west to east · Best time: Sunset, in any season · Admission: Free (public space) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours
3
Resorts and local life (Solymar, Lagomar, Shangrilá, El Pinar)
Exploring the different wooded resorts that make up the city, each with its atmosphere and its corner.
Read more ↓
One of the most authentic ways to get to know Ciudad de la Costa is simply to explore its resorts and soak up its local life. The city is, at its core, a succession of former resorts that grew and merged: Carrasco Este, Solymar, Lagomar, Shangrilá, El Pinar, Parque del Plata, Lomas de Solymar and others. Each keeps a certain identity, with its tree-lined streets of pines and eucalyptus —a legacy of the forested subdivisions of the mid-20th century—, its summer houses and permanent residences, its small shopping areas and its beach accesses.
Shangrilá, for example, has an endearing and somewhat nostalgic air; Solymar and Lagomar concentrate more services and activity; El Pinar is among the greenest and quietest. Strolling its inner streets, moving a bit away from the rambla, lets you see what everyday life is like on this residential coast, among the greenery, the bicycles and the slow pace of the area.
It's not about great attractions, but about absorbing the atmosphere: a coffee or an ice cream in a resort center, a walk under the pines, an unhurried afternoon at the beach. It's the kind of quiet experience that defines Ciudad de la Costa and sets it apart from more intense tourist destinations.
How to get there: the resorts are spread along the Avenida Giannattasio and the rambla; the most practical is to get around by car or bike, though there are suburban buses. Best time: any moment; summer for full atmosphere. Tips: combining the tour of the resorts with the rambla and the beach makes a full and relaxed day; ask about the local beach bars and ice cream parlors.
ℹ️ Location: Along the Avenida Giannattasio and the coast · Best time: Year-round; summer for full atmosphere · Admission: Free (open tour) · Duration: Half a day
5
Shore sport fishing and jetties
Shore fishing, one of the area's traditional activities, from beaches and improvised jetties.
Read more ↓
Shore fishing is a deeply rooted activity among the residents of Ciudad de la Costa and a good way for the visitor to experience the local rhythm. Along the rambla and at various points of the coast gather amateur anglers seeking silverside, croaker and other Río de la Plata species, especially at sunset and in the cooler months of the year.
You don't need much equipment or experience to join in: a simple rod and a bit of patience is enough. It's a quiet, social and free activity, which combines well with a walk along the rambla or with the sunset. Some stretches of the coast have small breakwaters or jetties that are classic fishing spots.
How to get there: at various points of the rambla and the resort beaches; accessed on foot or by car. Best time: autumn and winter tend to be good fishing months; it's also practiced in summer at sunset. Tips: check the current fishing regulations (closed seasons and minimum sizes); basic equipment is available at fishing shops in the area.
ℹ️ Location: Rambla and beaches of the different resorts · Best time: Autumn and winter; also summer at sunset · Admission: Free (open activity; check fishing regulations) · Duration: 1 to 3 hours
6
Carrasco International Airport (lookout and arrival)
The modern air terminal, a stone's throw from the city, with its iconic architecture and its role as the gateway to the country.
Read more ↓
Carrasco International Airport, inaugurated in its current version in 2009 with a design by Rafael Viñoly's studio, is practically at the western edge of Ciudad de la Costa and is, for many travelers, the first image of Uruguay. Its modern architecture, of curved lines and ample spaces of natural light, earned it international recognition and is worth observing even if you're not flying, whether passing by or from one of its accesses.
Beyond its airport function, the surroundings of the airport and its closeness to the resorts make this area a key reference point for organizing the trip's logistics: car rental, first purchases, currency exchange and an immediate connection with Ciudad de la Costa and Montevideo. For those with a long layover or arriving in the early morning, staying in the area and using the airport as a departure point toward the beach is a practical and increasingly chosen option.
How to get there: on the Ruta Interbalnearia, at the western edge of the area (car, taxi, bus). Best time: year-round. Tips: if you have a long layover, it's a good chance to get to know the nearby beaches before continuing; the airport has exchange, car rental and dining services.
ℹ️ Location: Western edge of Ciudad de la Costa, on the Ruta Interbalnearia · Best time: Year-round · Admission: Free (public access to the terminal) · Duration: Variable
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💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Beaches (Solymar, Lagomar, El Pinar and the rest) | Free (public beaches) |
| Coastal Rambla and green spaces | Free (public spaces) |
| Tour of the resorts | Free (open access) |
| Costa Urbana Shopping (access) | Free (open access; you pay for what you consume) |
| Shore fishing from the rambla | Free (your own equipment; check regulations) |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
Family beach day (calm river waters)
Free (public beach)
Bike ride along the coastal rambla
PriceUS$ 5-10 per hour of rental (source: local rentals, verified July 2026)
Shore fishing from the rambla and the beach
PriceFree with your own equipment; rod rental US$ 8-15 per day (verified July 2026)
Sunset and mate by the Río de la Plata
Free
PriceSuburban bus ticket approx. UYU 60-90, with STM card or cash (verified July 2026); taxi/app depending on distance
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
Suburban bus (lines to Montevideo and between resorts)
PriceApprox. UYU 60-90 per suburban stretch depending on distance (source: MTOP/COPSA/CUTCSA suburban fares, in effect since 2025, verified July 2026)
NotesNumerous COPSA and CUTCSA lines run along the Avenida Giannattasio and the Interbalnearia connecting the resorts with each other and with Montevideo. IMPORTANT: Ciudad de la Costa is part of the Montevideo Metropolitan Area, so the bus is paid with the (rechargeable) STM card as well as cash; some lines now only accept STM. This is the big difference from the interior destinations (Rocha, Colonia), where the bus is paid in cash and the STM does not apply
Bus schedule and location app
Free (the app)
NotesBeing in the Metropolitan Area, both the official Cómo Ir app (from the STM, with real-time schedules and arrival times) and Moovit work. Both cover the suburban lines of Ciudad de la Costa (source: Cómo Ir / Moovit, verified July 2026)
NotesThe most comfortable way to get around, given the extent and dispersion of the city. Good avenues (Giannattasio, rambla, Interbalnearia)
Taxi and apps (Uber, Cabify)
PriceApprox. UYU 200-450 for an urban trip depending on distance (source: mobility apps, verified July 2026)
NotesAvailable in the area (Uber and Cabify operate in the metropolitan area), practical for specific trips and toward the airport or Montevideo, especially at night
PriceApprox. US$ 5-10 per hour of rental (source: local rentals, verified July 2026)
NotesIdeal for exploring the rambla and the resorts; the area is flat and there are stretches with a bike path
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
Carrasco Airport (MVD) → Ciudad de la Costa
Avg. priceTaxi/app approx. UYU 350-700 depending on the resort (verified July 2026); suburban bus UYU 60-90 (with STM or cash)
Duration10 to 25 min depending on the resort (the airport is practically next door)
Montevideo → Ciudad de la Costa
Avg. priceapprox. UYU 60-90 by suburban bus (with STM or cash); taxi/app UYU 350-800 (verified July 2026)
Arrival from the east coast (Punta del Este, Rocha) via the Ruta Interbalnearia
Avg. priceapprox. UYU 350-600 depending on the origin (source: COT and other coast companies, verified July 2026)
Buenos Aires → Montevideo → Ciudad de la Costa
Avg. priceFerry from US$ 35-90 + local transfer by suburban bus UYU 60-90 (verified July 2026)
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🏨 Where to stay
No exact prices: a scale from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (luxury), with 2-3 options per category.
Hotels and aparts in the resorts
Recommended optionsA surprising fact worth having before you start looking: Ciudad de la Costa is one of the most populated localities in the country and in the Ministry of Tourism's national registry only TWO lodgings appear with an address in it, both with Activa (active) status: Hotel Bahamas (avenida al Parque Roosevelt 900, tel. 2601 2089) and Hampton by Hilton Montevideo Carrasco (avenida de las Américas 4239, tel. 2603 3333). In the adjoining resorts there is one more, La Toscana Residences (De los Horneros 172, Lomas de Solymar), also Activa, and Hotel Lagomar (Bullrich y rambla) is listed as Inactiva (inactive). The rest of the offer is private houses and apartments that do not go through the registry. no rate published in an official source: neither of the two hotels publishes an open rate on its website. Source of the listing: Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay, national registry of tourism operators, available at
https://www.uruguaynatural.com/ (consulted on 08/08/2026). It is one of the few registries in the region that publishes a status per establishment: Activa (active), Inactiva (inactive) or Clausurada (closed down).
Short-term rental houses and apartments
Recommended optionsUS$ 60-150 per night depending on capacity; much of the lodging offer is seasonal rental houses and apartments, very popular among families summering on the coast. It pays to book ahead for summer
Budget options near the airport
Recommended optionsIf you are looking for activities and not a bed, the registry does list adventure operators in the area with Activa (active) status: Pasaporte Aventura (Stella Maris, block 529, lot 5) and Senderismo para Todos - Ecotrail, in El Pinar. Expedición Uruguay, in Solymar, is listed as Inactiva (inactive). Of the domains the registry publishes, pasaporteaventura.uy no longer resolves;
https://senderismoparatodos.uy/, on the other hand, is online and takes bookings (checked on 08/08/2026). Source of the listing: Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay, national registry of tourism operators, available at
https://www.uruguaynatural.com/ (consulted on 08/08/2026). It is one of the few registries in the region that publishes a status per establishment: Activa (active), Inactiva (inactive) or Clausurada (closed down).
🍴 Where to eat
Grills and Uruguayan food
Options / signature dishUS$ 12-25 per dish; grills and Uruguayan-cuisine restaurants spread across the resorts and the Avenida Giannattasio, where you can try asado, chivito and the country's classics in a family atmosphere
Beach bars and beach food (summer)
Options / signature dishUruguay does not register restaurants or beach bars in its national registry, so the offer on avenida Giannattasio and at the beach stops has no official listing to cite. no rate published in an official source for all of Ciudad de la Costa's food and drink: what there is are seasonal places, most without their own website.
Pizzerias, cafés and ice cream parlors
Options / signature dishUS$ 5-15 per order; neighborhood pizzerias, cafés and ice cream parlors, very present in the centers of each resort, perfect for a snack or an informal outing. Artisanal ice cream is a coastal summer classic
📖 History of Ciudad de la Costa
Origins, formation and what the sources say.
The Canelones coast before the resorts
Before becoming the densely populated city it is today, the coastal strip of southwestern Canelones, east of the Carrasco stream, was a very different landscape: fields, dunes, riverside woodlands and a low, sandy coast on the Río de la Plata, sparsely inhabited. The region is part of the department of Canelones, one of the oldest and most populated in Uruguay, traditionally tied to the agricultural, wine-producing and farming production that supplied nearby Montevideo.
For much of its history, this coast was a rural, pass-through area, crossed by the roads that linked Montevideo with the east of the country. The Río de la Plata, that immense estuary that bathes the whole southern Uruguayan coast, marked the natural boundary of the region. The closeness to the capital —just across the Carrasco stream— would be, over time, the decisive factor that would completely transform this territory.
In the early 20th century, while Montevideo was living its great expansion and modernization, the resort of Carrasco, at the eastern edge of the capital, was consolidating as an elegant residential and summer area. That summer impulse, which had already 'discovered' the value of the coast, would soon jump the Carrasco stream and advance eastward, over the fields and dunes of Canelones, giving rise to the first coastal subdivisions that would be the seed of Ciudad de la Costa.
Canelones, an agricultural department beside the capital
Canelones is historically one of the most populated and productive departments in Uruguay, with a strong agricultural, farming and wine-producing tradition tied to supplying Montevideo. The coastal strip of the southwest of the department, where Ciudad de la Costa is today, was for a long time a rural, dune area before its urbanization.
Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canelones_(Uruguay)
The subdivisions and the birth of the resorts (20th century)
The true origin of what is today Ciudad de la Costa lies in the coastal subdivisions and land parcelings promoted from the mid-20th century. Real-estate companies and developers divided the fields and dunes of the Canelones coast, east of Montevideo, into lots to sell as summer and second-home plots, taking advantage of the appeal of the beach and the closeness to the capital.
To fix the sands and give shade to those bare dunes, much of the area was forested with pines and eucalyptus, which over time became the landscape hallmark of the region: wooded resorts, with streets among the pines, very different from the original open country. Thus were born, one after another, the resorts that make up the present-day city, each with its name, its stamp and its own subdivision: Solymar, Lagomar, El Pinar, Shangrilá, Parque del Plata, Lomas de Solymar, San José de Carrasco and others.
In their first decades, these resorts had a markedly seasonal life: they filled up in summer, when Montevideo families came to spend the season in their summer houses, and stood almost empty the rest of the year. They were places of rest, beach and pine woods, designed for summer leisure rather than permanent life. But that seasonal nature would begin to change profoundly as communications with Montevideo improved and the appeal of living year-round beside the river and the greenery grew.
Forested subdivisions and seasonal origin
The resorts that today make up Ciudad de la Costa were born from mid-20th-century coastal subdivisions over former dunes and fields, forested with pines and eucalyptus. In their beginnings they had a markedly seasonal character, as summer and second-home areas for Montevideans, before turning into areas of permanent residence.
Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_de_la_Costa
From resorts to city: explosive growth
From the last decades of the 20th century, the Canelones coastal strip east of Montevideo experienced an accelerated transformation. What had been summer resorts began to be populated permanently: more and more Montevideo families chose to move there for good, drawn by the possibility of living near the river, among the greenery and the pines, with a home of their own and at the same time a few minutes from the capital and its sources of work.
Several factors drove that growth. The improvement and consolidation of the routes of communication —the Avenida Giannattasio, the coastal Rambla and, above all, the Ruta Interbalnearia, which connects quickly with Montevideo— shortened the distances and made daily commuting viable. The closeness to Carrasco International Airport and to the Carrasco resort, together with land prices more affordable than in the capital, did the rest. The resorts kept growing and, literally, merging with each other, until the boundaries that separated them were erased.
That process of merging and growth led to the group of resorts being recognized as a single urban entity: Ciudad de la Costa, made official as a city well into the modern period and turned into one of the most populated and fastest-growing towns in Uruguay. From that summer dream of subdivisions beside the river thus arose a large bedroom and residential city, fully integrated into the Montevideo metropolitan area, whose history is, to a large extent, the history of the capital's expansion over the coast.
One of the fastest-growing cities in the country
Ciudad de la Costa is pointed to as one of the towns of greatest and fastest population growth in Uruguay in recent decades, the result of the conversion of the former summer resorts into an area of permanent residence, driven by the closeness to Montevideo, the improvement of communications and the proximity to Carrasco Airport.
Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_de_la_Costa
Coastal identity and life in the metropolitan area
Today's Ciudad de la Costa is a young, extensive and peculiar city: it has no historic center or classic founding core, but is structured as a succession of resorts along the coast and the Avenida Giannattasio. That dispersed, low-density, green morphology gives it an identity different from that of the traditional Uruguayan cities: it's a city of houses with gardens among pines, of tree-lined streets and of a strong relationship with the beach and the Río de la Plata.
Its life is deeply integrated with that of the Montevideo metropolitan area. Many of its inhabitants work or study in the capital and return to the coast to live and rest, in a constant daily flow. At the same time, the city keeps its summer vocation: in summer it welcomes those who come to enjoy its calm-water beaches, recovering something of the resort spirit that gave it its origin. It's, in a sense, two things at once: a permanent residential area and a coastal rest destination.
Without great monuments or spectacular tourist attractions, the appeal of Ciudad de la Costa is that of quiet life beside the river: the coastal rambla for walking and cycling, the wide sunsets over the Río de la Plata, the ritual of mate, the pine woods and the family beaches. Its recent history —that of some summer resorts that became a city— sums up well the way metropolitan Uruguay grew over its coast, turning the dream of the house by the sea into a place to live year-round.
A city without a classic founding center
Unlike the traditional cities of Uruguay, Ciudad de la Costa lacks a single founding core or historic center: it's structured as a succession of resorts along the coast and the Avenida Giannattasio, with a dispersed, low-density and heavily wooded morphology, characteristic of its origin in coastal subdivisions.
Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_de_la_Costa
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Ciudad de la Costa worth visiting?+
As a tourist destination in itself it's modest: it doesn't have great attractions or spectacular postcard beaches. But it's very valuable as a complement: it offers quiet, family Río de la Plata beaches, a pleasant rambla and the enormous advantage of being steps from the airport and minutes from Montevideo. It's ideal as a relaxed base, as a first or last stop of the trip, or for coastal rest near the capital.
What are the beaches like? Are they good for swimming?+
They are Río de la Plata beaches, with calm, warm waters and without the strong surf of the open ocean, which makes them very gentle for families with children. In summer they are suitable for swimming, though the river's water quality can vary depending on the day and conditions, so it pays to check the reported water status in season. For open-sea, postcard beaches, you have to continue toward Maldonado and Rocha.
What's the best time to go?+
Summer (December to March) is the full season, when the beaches and the rambla fill with life. The rest of the year the area stays quiet and residential, pleasant for walks, though winter is cool and windy. For its closeness to the airport and Montevideo, it's practical in any season.
How do I get around the area?+
Given its extent and dispersion, the most comfortable is the car or the bicycle (the area is flat and there's a rambla and bike paths, with rental from about US$ 5-10 per hour, verified July 2026). There are numerous suburban buses, with suburban fares of about UYU 60-90 (paid with STM card or cash), that run along the Avenida Giannattasio and connect the resorts with each other and with Montevideo. For specific trips and at night, taxi or app (Uber/Cabify).
Does the STM card work in Ciudad de la Costa? Which app do I use for the bus?+
Yes. Ciudad de la Costa is part of the Montevideo Metropolitan Area, so the suburban buses (COPSA, CUTCSA) work with the rechargeable STM card; it pays to have it loaded because several lines now prioritize payment with STM. To check schedules, routes and the bus arrival time in real time, use the official Cómo Ir app (from the STM) and Moovit, both with good coverage of the area. This sets it apart from the interior destinations (like the Rocha coast), where the bus is paid in cash and the STM does not apply.
Is it worth staying here instead of Montevideo?+
It depends on what you're looking for. If you want to be in the center of the cultural and urban action, Montevideo is better. But if you prefer a quieter atmosphere, near the beach and the airport, with the capital a few minutes away, Ciudad de la Costa is an excellent alternative base, especially for families or to start and end the trip comfortably.
Is it near the airport?+
Very near. Carrasco International Airport is practically at the western edge of the area, which makes Ciudad de la Costa a very practical option for the first or last night of the trip, avoiding long transfers. From many resorts the airport is just 10 to 25 minutes away, with a taxi or app of around UYU 350-700 (verified July 2026).
What is there to do besides the beach?+
Explore the coastal rambla on foot or by bike, enjoy the sunset over the Río de la Plata with a mate, stroll the different wooded resorts, fish from the shore, go to the Costa Urbana Shopping or the cinema, and use the area as a base to get to know Montevideo and the east coast. It's a destination for rest and quiet life rather than for great attractions.
Sources consulted (19)
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Ciudad de la Costa»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_de_la_Costa
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Canelones (Uruguay)»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canelones_(Uruguay)
- Intendencia de Canelones (official): https://www.imcanelones.gub.uy/
- Ministerio de Turismo del Uruguay: https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-turismo/
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Solymar»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solymar
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Lagomar»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagomar
- Wikipedia (ES) — «El Pinar (Uruguay)»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Pinar_(Uruguay)
- COPSA — servicio suburbano y tarjeta STM (Metropolitan Area, verified July 2026): https://suburbana.copsa.com.uy/informacion
- CUTCSA — boletos suburbanos y tarifas: https://www.cutcsa.com.uy/servicios/boletos/suburbanos
- MTOP — «Nuevos valores tarifarios para transporte suburbano del Área Metropolitana» (2025): https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-transporte-obras-publicas/comunicacion/comunicados/nuevos-valores-tarifarios-para-transporte-suburbano-del-area-metropolitana
- Cómo Ir (official STM app, real-time schedules): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uy.gub.imm.stm.mobile.comoir
- Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco (official): https://www.aeropuertodecarrasco.com.uy/
- Terminal Tres Cruces (official): https://www.trescruces.com.uy/
- Ministerio de Turismo del Uruguay: https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-turismo/
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Gastronomía de Uruguay»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastronom%C3%ADa_de_Uruguay
- Ministerio de Turismo de Uruguay — registro nacional de operadores turísticos: https://www.uruguaynatural.com/
- Hotel Bahamas (avenida al Parque Roosevelt 900): https://www.hotelbahamas.com.uy/ · Senderismo para Todos - Ecotrail (El Pinar): https://senderismoparatodos.uy/
- link out of service — pasaporteaventura.uy, published by the MINTUR registry, does not resolve (08/08/2026)
- no rate published in an official source — no lodging in Ciudad de la Costa publishes a price on its own website
