Is Montevideo Safe in December 2026?

Scammers post luxury apartments and beachfront chalets on Airbnb, Vrbo, and local rental sites with stunning photos stolen from real listings. Travelers transfer deposits but the property is either non-existent, occupied, or completely different from advertised. This is especially common for summer bookings along Pocitos and Carrasco beaches.

How to avoid: Book through verified platforms only and verify properties by calling the landlord directly. Request video tours before paying. Check Google Street View to confirm the address exists. Use escrow payment options offered by legitimate platforms.

Teams of pickpockets operate in the Mercado Agrícola, the Ciudad Vieja, and on crowded buses, using distraction techniques like shoulder-tapping or manufactured bumping.

How to avoid: Keep bags zipped and worn in front. Be alert to any unexpected physical contact from strangers.

Unofficial taxis at Carrasco International Airport charge tourists far above standard rates or take long detours. Some drivers claim the meter is broken to justify a flat rate.

How to avoid: Pre-book a transfer through your hotel or use the Uber app. Confirm the price before getting in.

At informal currency exchange booths and among street changers operating near Avenida 18 de Julio and the Mercado Ferrando area, visitors exchanging US dollars or Argentine pesos are shortchanged through sleight of hand or miscounted bundles. A common technique involves the exchanger counting the bills openly before handing them over, then palming several notes in the final exchange. The rate offered is typically better than official rates as an initial lure.

How to avoid: Use only official casas de cambio with signage and receipts, or withdraw Uruguayan pesos from a Banred or Redbanc ATM inside a bank. Count your bills yourself at the counter before walking away, and never exchange money with individuals approaching you on the street.

Some informal money changers and even a few licensed cambio houses near the Old City give change in Uruguayan pesos when tourists expect Argentine pesos, or vice versa, relying on the visitor being unfamiliar with the different notes. The rate difference is significant: Argentine pesos are worth far less than Uruguayan pesos. In busy periods, staff may count bills rapidly to prevent careful examination.

How to avoid: Identify the currency by the word on the note before counting: Uruguayan notes say Banco Central del Uruguay, Argentine notes say Banco Central de la República Argentina. Count all change slowly before leaving the counter.