Before you go

Your trip to Canelones.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Canelones – Canelones Capital

How to get there

Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco (MVD) Ciudad de la Costa · 59 km
Terminal Tres Cruces Montevideo · 51 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

From Montevidéu it's about 45 to 50 km via Ruta 5, around 50 minutes by car, and there are regular buses. Carrasco Airport (MVD) is about 60 km away. Check before booking.

How many days

One day is enough for Plaza 18 de Julio, the cathedral and two or three wineries with lunch. With two days you can also include the wineries on the border with Montevidéu, such as Bouza, Carrau and the Antigua Bodega.

When to go

From spring to autumn the climate is mild for the vineyards, and the harvest usually takes place from late February to March. Summer, from December to March, is hot. From June to August it's cold and windy, and visits are concentrated in the cellars. In December the city celebrates the creation of the flag.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

For the plaza and the cathedral, no: they are together in the centre. For the wineries, spread across the rural area, a car helps, but the driver should not drink. The option is an organized tour, a driver, or the transfer offered by some wineries.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Canelones

Morning
Plaza 18 de Julio and Juanicó
See the Monumento a la Bandera and the cathedral in central Canelones, then follow Ruta 5 for 12 km to Establecimiento Juanicó to visit the Cava de Preludio.
Afternoon
Lunch at Pizzorno
Drive down to Canelón Chico and have lunch at Pizzorno after touring vineyards, the bodega and the cava, with a prior reservation.
Late afternoon
Castillo Viejo
Less than 2 km away, finish at Castillo Viejo's century-old cava, with a scheduled tasting.
Evening
Return to Montevidéu
Return to Montevidéu, about 35 km away, or dine in Canelones. Remember that dinner in Uruguai usually starts after 9 p.m.

2 days in Canelones

Day 1

Morning
Canelones city center
Start at Plaza 18 de Julio, with the Monumento a la Bandera, and enter the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.
Afternoon
Juanicó with lunch
Take the guided tour of Establecimiento Juanicó and have lunch at the winery's restaurant, with a seasonal menu.
Late afternoon
Pizzorno or Castillo Viejo
Head to Canelón Chico and do a tasting at Pizzorno or Castillo Viejo, neighboring wineries, by appointment.
Evening
Dinner and rest
Dine in Canelones or in Montevidéu, where most of the accommodation is located.

Day 2

Morning
Bodegas Carrau
Take the morning visit at Carrau's 1887 bodega in Colón, with a tasting between the colonial house and the park.
Afternoon
Lunch at Bouza
A few kilometres away, have lunch at Bodega Bouza in Melilla and stop by the garage of classic cars and motorcycles.
Late afternoon
Antigua Bodega
Drive up Ruta 5 to Santos Lugares to see the vineyards on pink granite at Antigua Bodega, with a reserved visit.
Evening
Montevidéu
Return to Montevidéu, about 25 km away, to have dinner.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth staying overnight in Canelones?

For those who want to stay near Establecimiento Juanicó and the historic centre, yes. But most wineries are between Canelones and Montevidéu, and many people prefer to stay in the capital and do everything as a day trip.

How to get from Montevidéu to Canelones without a car?

There are regular buses between the two cities along Ruta 5.

Why is Canelones called the cradle of the flag?

Because it was there that, on December 18, 1828, the Asamblea General Constituyente y Legislativa created the first national flag, at the initiative of Joaquín Suárez.

Which winery is closest to the city of Canelones?

Establecimiento Juanicó, of the Familia Deicas, about 12 km along Ruta 5 toward Montevidéu.

Can you combine Canelones with Montevidéu on the same trip?

Yes. The two cities are about 45 to 50 km apart, and the winery itinerary works as a one- or two-day outing from the capital.

Back to Canelones