▼Uruguay SKETCH SCORE: 78/100▼Uruguay moved -2 this week▪No major changes since yesterday.▼Uruguay SKETCH SCORE: 78/100▼Uruguay moved -2 this week▪No major changes since yesterday.
Uruguay

Go, but pay attention.

No major changes since yesterday.

Verified Sep 9, 2026Confidence high▼ -2 this week
78Sketch Score
90-day trend

Governments, one trip

What they're telling their own citizens about Uruguay

United States

Lv 2

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

United Kingdom

Lv 1

See FCDO advice.

Canada

Lv 1

Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)

The real score

The breakdown

89advisoryConsensus
76Political Stability
69Police Trust
76Health
65Road Safety
72Natural Disaster
90LGBTQ+

See it from your perspective

78

Go, but pay attention.

The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.

Don't fall for it

Scams to know

Parking Keepers

People present themselves as keepers who allegedly watch your parked car for a fee. They do not typically ask for payment in advance or behave in an intimidating manner.

Don't do this

Laws that jail tourists

Cannabis Possession Limits

Possession of minor quantities is not penalized. Possession of major quantities, such as one kilogram, is illegal and punishable by law.

Cannabis Legalization Restrictions

Legal sale, growth, and distribution for personal use is restricted to Uruguayan citizens aged 18 and older with legal capacity.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving with any blood alcohol level greater than zero is prohibited. Driving under the influence of marijuana is also prohibited and carries a fine.

Public Smoking Ban

Smoking is prohibited in all public enclosed spaces throughout the country. Violation of this policy carries fines.

Staying healthy

What to watch out for, health-wise

Active notices

  • • Global Measles

Tap water safe to drink: Yes

Vaccines

Recommended: Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid

Source: CDC Travelers' Health →

Getting in

What you'll need at the border

Visitors to Uruguay must obtain a visa from one of the Uruguayan diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries.

Source: Wikipedia →

Real, not invented

Terrorism

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Uruguay, attacks cannot be ruled out.

Source: UK FCDO →

Real, not invented

Cultural & legal notes

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex marriage is legal and there are anti-discrimination laws. Uruguay also recognises same-sex civil unions. It is common to see same-sex couples together in public, and hostility or discrimination towards LGBT+ visitors is rare. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .

Source: UK FCDO →

Right now

In the news the last few days

Real talk

What travelers actually say

Travelers describe Uruguay as a pleasant, well-kept, and serene country. While specific safety-related warnings for Uruguay are absent from the provided reports, travelers generally characterize the region as safe for those who exercise common sense. There is no evidence of specific scams or violent crime patterns reported for Uruguay in these accounts. Visitors find the country easy to navigate, and the overall consensus among those who have visited is that the destination is comfortable and welcoming for tourists.

“

And Uruguay is a pleasant, well-kept country, with Colonia del Sacramento being one of the quaintest towns in all of Latin America.

— r/travel
“

Uruguay is one of the most pleasant and serene corners of Latin America.

— r/travel
“

I’m not stupid, I understand Latin America is not as safe as my home country of Australia but I was under the impression if I don’t do anything stupid I’ll be fine, and anything that does happen is just wrong place wrong time (can happen anywhere).

— r/travel

Pack this, know this

The little things that trip people up

🔌

Plug & voltage

C / F / I / L · 230V

🚗

Driving side

right

🚨

Emergency

police: 911 / ambulance: 911 / fire: 911

💵

Tipping

Tipping is not mandatory. Usually 10% in restaurants will be enough. Tipping taxi drivers is entirely optional.

Cash vs. Card

The Uruguayan currency is the peso (ISO code: UYU). Prices are quoted using the U$ symbol, which may be easily confused with the US dollar symbol.

Source: Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA) →

Zoom in

One Uruguay city on SKETCH.WORLD

Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.

Montevideo · 73
Show the receipts (9 sources)
Printable pre-trip checklist for Uruguay →