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Montevideo

Montevideo is the capital city of Uruguay, on the east bank of the Rio de la Plata. Though sometimes overlooked beside nearby Buenos Aires, Montevideo is the cultural and political center of the country. The city has a vibrant cultural scene, natural places, rich cuisine and historic neighborhoods, making it a cosmopolitan city with a nostalgic touch ideal for enjoying Uruguayan culture.

It was home to 1.3 million people in 2011, more than ten times the size of the next largest Uruguayan city. The metro area has around two million — half of the population of Uruguay — but the friendliness and helpfulness of the residents will make you think you're in a much smaller city.

History
There are several theories about the origins of the city's name. The "monte" part is generally considered to be the hill where the Cerro fort is now. According to one theory the hill was named "Monte-VI-D-E-O(este)", which translates to Mountain six (VI in Roman numerals) From East to West. Another popular theory is that a member of Ferdinand Magellan's world circumnavigation would have shouted "Monte vide eu!", which translates to "I see a mountain!" when seeing the hill – however, the circumnavigation happened two centuries before the foundation of the city so it might well have been another mountain he saw.

Construction of the Cerro fort, at the time called Montevieu fort, was started by the Portuguese in 1723. The following year the Spanish started building the city of Montevideo on the opposite side of the bay where Ciudad Vieja is now, and occupied and colonized the rest of the region. During its almost 300 years of existence, Montevideo has been part of the Spanish and Portuguese empires, occupied by the British for a few months in 1807 and afterwards a part of Brazil and today's Argentina before finally becoming the capital of the newly-founded Republic of Uruguay in 1828.

The unrest of the mid-19th century, including an eight-year siege, was followed by a time of prosperity, and the region was a popular destination for European immigrants. The pompous villas and parks that can be seen for example in the Prado district date from this period. In the 1950s, an economic collapse led to the emergence of a left-wing guerrilla movement, followed by a military dictatorship lasting until 1985, when democracy was restored. Today, Uruguay is run by the democratic socialist party of the former guerrillas, and it is one of the safest Latin American countries with the GDP per capita being among the highest.

Climate
Since Montevideo is south of the Equator, it is summer there when it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. Montevideo is in the subtropics; in the summer months, temperatures above +30°C are common during the day, but nights are often chill. The winter can be deceptively chilly: temperatures rarely go below freezing, but the strong winds wind and high humidity combine to reduce apparent temperature. There are no particular "rainy" and "dry" seasons: the average rainfall is similar throughout the year.

After it rains, loose sidewalk tiles can hide puddles of dirty water. Watch your step to avoid getting splashed.

Central areas
The city of Montevideo extends from the extreme southeast of Rio de la Plata along a circular gulf that offers a natural harbor.

The most interesting area for visitors is the old town (Ciudad Vieja) and Centro. The city's major sights, monuments and museums but also accommodation, theater and shops can be found there. The old town stretches along a small peninsula that abuts Montevideo Bay and the Centro immediately to the east.

Avenida 18 de Julio starts at Plaza Independencia, dominated by Palacio Salvo, an Art Deco highrise of 102 m that is considered the symbol of Montevideo. Another point of interest in the old town is Plaza Constitución, colloquially named Plaza Matriz. Another sight is the former city hall palace (El Cabildo).

Towards the north of the old town one can find architecture reminiscent of Buenos Aires, and in the south it is delimited by the seaside promenade La Rambla that continues all the way to Parque Rodó. This is a popular area for outdoor activities like fishing, strolling or biking.

 * Barrio La Aguada is an extension of the Centro towards north whose major point of interest is the parliament, built in neoclassical style.
 * Barrio Tres Cruces is an important traffic center in the other end of Avenida 18 de Julio. The intercity and international bus station is there, together with a big shopping mall.

Eastern and Southern Montevideo
The coast east of Parque Rodó is known for its beaches. Its principal artery is Avenida Italia, a lively road connecting the city to the airport. The Rambla runs along the coast. The most important districts in this part of the city are:

 * Palermo - A district associated with candombe and the Afro-Uruguayan community.
 * Punta Carretas – Upscale district includes golf greens and Hotel Sheraton and Punta Carretas Shopping, a major shopping mall that is built on the remains of a prison (they preserved the prison gate inside the mall).
 * Pocitos - This barrio lies about 3 km south-east of the city center. The Pocitos beach runs east from Punta Trouville for about 1.5 km. Highrise apartments ring the beach along the Rambla, but going inland a few blocks brings you into an older neighborhood reminiscent of San Francisco's Marina district.
 * Buceo - East along the Rambla, home to one of the city's many beaches and the World Trade Center with its adjacent shopping mall.
 * Malvín - Yet another upscale barrio with a long beach.
 * Carrasco - Very upscale district with a variety of architectural styles in the easternmost part of the city.

Northern and western Montevideo
The northern and western parts include a couple of sights. The few dangerous barrios of Montevideo are in the northwestern outskirts.

 * Barrio Reus – A small neighbourhood with charming colorful houses.
 * Peñarol - The name of the world-famous football team, and a well-preserved railway district among the oldest in South America.
 * Cerro - Seedy neighborhood best known for its fort overlooking Montevideo from the western side of the bay.

Visitor information

 * Discover Montevideo website

Get in
Montevideo is on the north bank of the Rio de la Plata.

By plane

From the airport there are two kinds of buses to central Montevideo. Public transit buses travel from the airport to the, a few blocks north of Plaza Independencia. The bus stop is right out the airport to the left where a big bus sign is visible. Take any bus showing "Montevideo"—all go into the centre. They go every 10-20 min, take 1-1.5 hr and tickets are U$59. You can get off at any stop before the station in case you have an accommodation somewhere between Pocitos and Cordón.

The second type of bus transportation is the intercity coaches, travelling eastbound to places like Punta del Este, or travelling westbound into the city. The westbound buses will take you to Tres Cruces bus station east of the city centre. A one-way ticket into the city on the COT line costs U$134 (Uruguayan pesos). As you exit the terminal, walk to the right, buy a ticket in the COT office (or you can buy it on board the bus) and walk further 20 m forwards, where the stop for those buses is. Since both eastbound and westbound intercity buses stop at the airport, be sure to check that you're getting on a bus going in the right direction.

A private company also offers airport taxi service for a hair-raising US$60. That same company ostensibly offers a shuttle service that will run when enough passengers buy tickets. However, with the same company offering both services and the margins on the taxis service being much more profitable, the shuttle service is, surprisingly, never available.

Exchanging money at the airport is notoriously expensive, with rates about 20% off the official interbank rates. So, better to opt for a "cambio" in the city centre, where rates are just about 3 % off.

By ferry
Another possibility for travelers who are heading to Montevideo from nearby Buenos Aires is to take the high-speed ferry operated by Buquebus. A one-way ticket, tourist class, costs about U$940 and takes about 2.5 hr. There are several boats a day. The ferry arrives in the district of Montevideo, situated very close to downtown - a cab ride to a hotel in El Centro or Pocitos is much shorter and cheaper than from the airport.

Ferry service from Buenos Aires is also available via the same company Buquebus via Colonia. The ticket can include the bus to Montevideo from Colonia. This route is cheaper and about 1-2 hr longer than the direct crossing. The crossing from Buenos Aires to Colonia by fast ferry takes about one hour. The city of Colonia itself with its old buildings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and certainly worth visiting. The bus ride from there to Montevideo's main bus terminal takes 2-3 hr and bus tickets cost around U$188. One traveler paid U$179 one-way to Colonia, about 2-3 hr. Efficient and on time.

Grimaldi Lines offers transport by freighter from European ports, the journey taking several weeks. Montevideo is occasionally also visited by cruise ships.

By bus

Like the rest of Latin America, overland transportation is in practice synonymous with taking the bus. There are frequent buses to and from all main cities in Uruguay and from destinations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay.

If you arrive in Tres Cruces Terminal and plan to use public transit, take the opportunity to make your free STM card at the Abitab shop on the terminal floor, as this will save you money on the bus fares.

To Brazil
Two companies operate the route Montevideo/Porto Alegre: EGA and TTL, both offer executivo and leito/cama class of buses (US$ 90-100 each way). TTL Brazil sells tickets online, and EGA Brazil sells them over the phone. It's also possible to get an open-date refundable ticket valid for one year if you buy it in Brazil.

A cheaper service is to travel to the border town of Chuy on the Uruguayan side (many companies, 5 hours, US$ 25 each way), walk a few blocks and cross into the town of Chuí on the Brazilian side and catch a Planalto bus to Porto Alegre (2 services a day at 12:00 and 22:00, 8 hours, US$ 35-70 each way).

(Chuí-Porto Alegre tickets can only be bought in person at the Chuí bus station, but the timetable and prices are the same in both directions, so check updated information on Busca Ônibus or other search engines)

By car
If you are driving into central Montevideo, be aware that many hotels do not have their own parking spaces and it can be challenging finding somewhere to park. Parking houses in the city charge per hour and long term parking is generally expensive. They also do not take responsibility for the cars parked there.

For those leaving from Porto Alegre, Brazil, there are two options: one that enters Uruguay via Chuí and another via Jaguarão. For both, you start by taking the route BR-116 up to Pelotas. Next, if you want to visit Chuí, the southernmost city of Brazil, or the Santa Teresa Fortress or even see the beautiful beaches of the coast of Uruguay, then, at Pelotas, take the route BR-392 to Rio Grande and next the route BR-471 all the way to Chuí. Takes about 6 hours and 30 minutes to go from Porto Alegre to Chuí. as of 2010 there were 5 tolls between those cities, a total of R$34.60, and they only accept Brazilian reais). Around 30 minutes after crossing the border, you can visit the Santa Teresa Fortress. An option is to stay a night at Punta del Diablo, in case you are too tired to keep driving to Montevideo. From Chuí to Montevideo, just stay on route 9. It takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes. Again, there are three tolls between Chuí and Montevideo, each cost U$45. In this case, they do accept foreign money. However, it's strongly recommended that you pay in Uruguayan pesos, as they charge a lot more if you pay in reals or dollars.

If you want the fastest route to Montevideo (about 2 hours shorter than the first one), you should cross the border at Jaguarão. To reach this city, just stay in route BR-116. After that, take route 8 to Montevideo.

By bus

Buses are the only form of mass public transit available in town, so it's likely you'll use them at some point.

STM transit cards are free, give discounts on the many types of fares and allow for buses integration: U$29 for 2 buses in 1 hr or U$44 for any number of buses in 2 hr, against U$36 for the normal fare paid in cash. You can get yours at the Abitab shop on the ground floor of Tres Cruces Terminal, or in any other agreed post. Abitab minimal top-up is of U$100.

Be aware that there are no route maps at the bus stops, that the lines deserving a certain stop might not be indicated, and that the bus stop might not have any mark at all.

There are a few routing tools to help with the task of figuring out the bus system: Moovit app is a traveller's favorite because it's available in many other cities around the globe and has an intuitive interface in many languages (most notably English, Portuguese and Spanish) and Cómo ir is the official app launched by the Montevideo Administration. Other options are MontevideoBus and Bondi.

Montevideo buses are entered through the front door. The fee is paid either to the driver or to the collector (if present) sat to the right. There are many types of tickets available and you are supposed to say which one you want: if you don't know, say una-hora. Remember to take the receipt and keep it with you for the duration of your trip because control officers might board the bus and ask for them. In many buses, the "please stop" button is over the doors - observe others if in doubt.

Notice that the line CA1, which connects Tres Cruces Terminal to Ciudad Vieja, is exceptionally included on the "boleto céntrico" type of fare, so it's cheaper: U$20 if paid by card, U$26 if in cash (against U$29/36 for other lines on the same route).

On foot
Montevideo is a relatively safe city and if you are getting around by foot, you will have time to see the beautiful architecture of Montevideo. The city is built on a slight hill, the spine of which extends into the Rio de la Plata to create the point that was the original city (Ciudad Vieja). From the Plaza de la Independencia, the main street that extends east from the plaza is 18 de Julio Ave. El Centro (downtown) is in this area and there will be lots of shops and places to change money.

If you are arriving at the central bus station you can walk south along General Artigas until Parque Rodo looking at old buildings. From there you can walk east along the beach promenade which reminds of Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro. Another alternative is to walk east from the bus terminal to Parque Batlle and its Estádio Centenário - the home of Uruguay's football team and site of the 1930 FIFA World Cup. A third alternative is to walk towards the city center and the old town along 18 de Julio, it's around 4 km to Plaza Independencia.

Separate traffic lights for pedestrians are rare, in general there is just one traffic light for all traffic. Jaywalking and crossing the street outside of zebra crossings is very common. Cars are fairly respectful of pedestrians especially in the old town and elsewhere where they drive slowly. On the other hand, you're not in Northern Europe, and at the Rambla where highway speeds seem to be common, stepping out in the front of cars is an utterly bad idea!

You can walk around without worry almost anywhere, and there are lots of side streets and areas you can explore: be aware that the port area, just off the main tourist and port terminal areas, is considered dangerous by locals as much as by the police. Parts of the city may appear run-down, but do not confuse this with it being a bad neighborhood. Along with Buenos Aires, this is one of the few cities in South America where poverty is not overly prevalent. That being said, there is simply not enough money in Uruguay to construct lots of new, modern buildings, so buildings are kept in use for long periods of time.

By taxi
Taxis are plentiful but not too cheap. It helps to know a little Spanish. A ten-minute cab ride costs about U$100. Taxis are metered and upon the end of your ride you are shown a chart depicting distance and cost (though on some vehicles this chart will be on the window between you and the driver). Generally there are two fare schedules. The first is for Monday-Saturday from morning to mid-evening. The second fee schedule is for Sundays and late at night, and is slightly more expensive. Tipping is not expected, but you might round up to an even number to be polite. It is also not uncommon to sit in the front. If you are interested in a more private and secure option, you can hire a Transfer Service. This service works with prior recruitment, often has a wide range of vehicles, and can be paid by credit card.

If you can, take an Uber instead—they're more popular, cheaper, and safer.

By car
Car rental is cheaper if booked ahead but be aware that places like the airport and the ferry terminal charge higher rates then the same agencies in other locations around the city. A few phone calls and a cheap taxi ride to a location other than the air or sea ports will save you half the rate for the same car at the same company. Gasoline costs around US$2 per litre. If moving around by car, be aware that signs and lane markings are often poor or non existent, and it's hard to see how many lanes the street really has. Drivers often yield to pedestrians, and you should not drive to close to the car in front of you as it, even while driving at high speed, might suddenly brake to let a pedestrian cross. Gas stations and their mini markets do not handle cash and only accept credit cards at night.

By train
There's no rail traffic in the city itself. Administración de Ferrocarriles del Estadoä (AFE) operates local trains from suburbs and towns northwest of Montevideo in the departments of Canelones, San José and Florida.

By bicycle
Less windy days are good for bike rides along the beach promenade. If something on your bike breaks, head for one of the Bicipuntos service points. Most city streets do not have designated bike lanes, so cycling around can be challenging, especially on weekdays. However a bike is a good way for getting around the parks in and around the city.

Bikes can be rented at reasonable rates at some hostels and at Plaza Matriz in the old town.

Plaza Independencia
The Independence square is a symbol of Montevideo and lined by several prominent landmarks.

Ciudad Vieja
Probably half of what Montevideo has to offer visitors is concentrated in the area immediately west of Plaza Independecia — the old town.

Buildings and monuments

Along Avenida 18 de Julio
Sights along or near Avenida 18 Julio from Plaza Independencia to the football stadium, in other words, the commercial center of Montevideo.

South and east
Sights in the Parque Rodó and Punta Carretas districts and eastwards along the Rambla which features seemingly endless beaches.

North and west
Sights north of central Montevideo. The area with most points of interest here would be Parque Prado and its surroundings with interesting residential buildings from the early 19th century.

Do

 * There are practically no old movie theaters left in Montevideo: they have been rebuilt into churches. However there are good movie theaters with the newest movies in the shopping malls. All foreign movies are in the original language with Spanish subtitles.
 * Take a boat trip in a small boat from the pier near Mercado del Puerto.
 * Watch a football match at . The national stadium is where the first football (soccer) World Cup was held, won by the host nation. Today it is used by the national team and by the clubs of the city.
 * In some parks there is public training equipment.

Events

 * New Year - Uruguayans celebrate the new year a bit differently from others. Festivities start before noon on December 31st in the old town. In the evening people spend time with their families, but as midnight approaches people gather at Pocitos beach to welcome the new year. After that they continue partying at bars in Pocitos.
 * Carnival - The carnival of Montevideo is not as famous as the ones in Brazilian cities. However it goes on for about 40 days, starting the last week in January and considers itself the longest carnival in the world. As other Latin American carnivals it contains both European and African elements. European influences include the parade with colorful carnival dresses and the most visible African feature are the drums around which the music style candombe is centered. This music style is traditionally associated with Uruguayan carnivals and it's inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The highlight of the Montevidean carnival is actually the Parade of the calls (desfile de llamadas) and subsequent music festival on the streets of Montevideo held the first Saturday in February - both focusing on candombe music. Another important part of the festivities are the murgas, musical-like stage performances by actors in carnival costumes held in several parts of the city.

Cultural events can be found at the Montevideo Ciudad y cultura, Descubrí Montevideo and Cartelera.

Learn

 * Spanish — there are language institutes offering language courses of one or several weeks. Examples include Academia Uruguay and La Herradura.
 * Tango — one of the world's most famous partner dances and the music style accompanying it originated in this region a century ago. Today UNESCO has it listed as an Uruguayan and Argentinian Intangible Cultural Heritage. Tango balls are called milongas and classes are usually offered before they start - check Hoy Milonga Montevideo for up-to-date information. Joven Tango is also a traditional tango school.

Work
Foreigners are required to have a work permit, which reportedly is easy to get (Citizens of Mercosur countries are allowed to live and work freely here). Many native English speakers work as language teachers; however, the pay is not always good. As most Uruguayans only speak Spanish, Spanish language proficiency is needed if you intend to work and live in the country.

Buy

 * Many establishments also accept payment in American dollars or Brazilian reales (in addition to pesos and cards). However, as in most other parts of the world, the exchange rate in the stores is lousy; hence, it's advisable to exchange your foreign currency to pesos first.
 * Often stores do not open before 10:00.

Shopping malls

 * The main street of Montevideo, Avenida 18 de Julio, has many stores is considered "the largest shopping mall in the country".

Eat
Potatoes, rice, salad and such is usually ordered separately. If you just order e.g. a steak as it is stated in the menu and you will literally only be served a steak. Portions are usually large. In areas frequented by tourist restaurants often offer menus with several courses.

Cover charges (cubierto) are frequent in Montevideo's restaurants. They are usually around U$50.

Typical food is:

 * Meat — Uruguay is renowned for its meats, and Montevideo has many parrillas where they are grilled up to perfection. If you would like a large beef meal, you should head to Mercado del Puerto in the old town. In and around the Mercado there are several such restaurants. Good paella is also available there.
 * Chivito — This is the local sandwich, made with meat and vegetables. It can be served al plato (on a plate), which means it is going to take a fork and knife to eat it. It is tastier, cheaper and much bigger than a hamburger. is one of the best places in Montevideo to get these tasty treats, as well as, and some "Carritos". An excellent choice is to try chivitos in.
 * Milanesa — is a common meat dish mostly in South America, including Uruguay. It consists of a thin slice of veal, chicken or sometimes beef. Each slice is dipped into beaten eggs, seasoned with salt, and other condiments according to the cook's taste (like parsley and garlic). Each slice is then dipped in breadcrumbs (or occasionally flour) and shallow-fried in oil, one at a time. Some people prefer to use very little oil and then bake them in the oven as a healthier alternative. Sometimes it may include a fried egg on top.
 * Fresh Pasta and Fresh Gnocchis — they are everywhere on the menus, with all types of vegetarian or meat sauces... usually a cheap, filling and delicious option!
 * Desserts — In Uruguay, desserts are huge and plentiful. There is dulce de leche on almost everything and stores that sell nothing but caramels. Many places sell nothing but dessert, so pick the one with the best looking pastries and cakes and enjoy!
 * Churros — Find them for sale at the "Parque Rodó". Try the sweet versions - they come with sugar on top, or filled with chocolate, dulce de leche or cream filling - or the cheese-filled ones.
 * Pizza — There are "pizzerías" all around Montevideo. Most make square pizzas, a traditional form in Uruguay. "Muzzas" (mozzarella) are most popular.
 * Fainá — made from chickpea flour and baked in the pizza oven. Quality varies among pizzerías, most delicious is the thin or "de orillo" part which is crunchier!

Budget
Sidewalk cafes are abound in the city center and along the pedestrian streets in the Ciudad Vieja.

All these are in the city center:

Mid-range

A good selection of medium level restaurants are to be found in Pocitos and Punta Carretas in the south of the city.

Drink
There's a wide choice of places in Montevideo for going out for a drink. However, before midnight there is very little going on, and while bars are open before that you might be the only patron. In the old town it is not hard to find cafés and dance and music locals where you can experience the local culture. The street Bartolomé Mitre in the pedestrian area of the old town has plenty of cafés and bars to choose among, but prices tend to be higher than elsewhere in Montevideo. Many establishments have a happy hour and by good weather you can enjoy your drink outside. The streets of 25 de mayo (Bacacay) and Sarandi are pedestrianized and have a range of bars and restaurants with good atmosphere. A little bit to the east, the streets San José and Soriano run parallel to Avenida de 18 Julio. On both of those streets you can find good places to spend the night. Finally, district of Pocitos is also a popular place for drinking and partying with several popular bars.

Sleep
Many hotels in central Montevideo are dated and badly maintained, but this does not apply to all hotels there. The ones near Plaza Independencia are of high standard and popular among foreign dignitaries. Districts to find good hotels include Parque Rodó, Punta Carretas, Pocitos, Buceo, Punta Gorda and Carrasco.

In Uruguay it is not uncommon that hotel rooms are priced in American dollars.

Budget
If you're traveling on a shoestring it's advisable to pick hostels or hotels that are simpler equipped but better located and cheaper. Hostels generally do not have private rooms, only dormitories. Usually, cooking and washing facilities are available and wifi is included; some hostels also have computers with Internet access and a TV room.

Security
Montevideo used to be safer before, however it is still a safe city compared to e.g. Brazilian cities. Pickpocketing occurs downtown so backpacks and handbags should preferably be worn so that you can see them. Robberies are known to happen, including "smash and grab" attacks where the robber smashes a car window, grabs a bag or other item from the seat, and runs.

The most secure neighbourhoods, according to a report from a realtor magazine, are Buceo, Pocitos, Punta Carretas and Parque Rodó, followed by Colón, the downtown, Sayago and Conciliación.

The old town outside the pedestrian area is considered dangerous after dark. This also applies to the beach promenade outside the old town. In the daytime there are frequent police patrols on old town's streets and many establishments have security guards standing outside the door. In the summer the beaches of Ramírez and Pocitos should be avoided at nighttime.

If you are an obvious foreigner you are more frequently targeted by beggars. However they aren't violent. Near attractions there are often people presenting themselves as "keepers" that allegedly will look after your parked car for a fee. Unlike in other places they reportedly don't ask for payment in advance and don't behave in an intimidating way.

Tourists are advised not to visit certain peripheral suburb neighbourhoods known for being sources of insecurity, such as 40 semanas, Barrio Borro, or the outskirts of Casabó. Although some of them are not slums at all, the level of crimes is higher than the downtown or the suburbs. The Cerro district west of the bay, famous for its fort, is also reportedly one of the districts you should not be wandering around in as a tourist and absolutely not alone, specially at night.

The police can be called by dialing 911.

Drugs
Like elsewhere in Uruguay, driving with any blood alcohol level greater than 0 is prohibited. Do not drive under the effects of alcohol. Also in Montevideo as well as the rest of the country, smoking is prohibited in public enclosed spaces. Violation of this policy may carry fines.

Regarding the legality of marijuana, possession for personal use is not penalized if it concerns minor quantities (a few grams). Possession of major quantities is illegal and punishable by law. Remember that the legalization of this drug in 2013 as for the personal use (medicinal or recreational), sale or storage of the plant (~480 grams per year) is only for Uruguayan citizens of 18 years and above (natural or legal citizenship) with legal capacity. Likewise with alcohol, driving under the influence of marijuana is not allowed, and such breach may carry a fine.

Stay healthy
The city has several public and private hospitals, with a cluster of them in the area around Tres Cruces bus terminal. Among the publics, there are:

Among the private institutions, there are: British Hospital, Italian Hospital, Médica Uruguaya, Asociación Española, and some other minor ones. Also, there are many policlínicas (medical consultories) for minor cases around the city. The Hospital Policial and Hospital Militar are for the police and the armed forces respectively — these are not open to the public.

The emergency number is 104.

Connect

 * Wireless Internet is popular and can be found at Carrasco Airport, Tres Cruces bus terminal, most hotels and many restaurants and bars (usually they are advertising it with a sticker in the window). Many of them are free to use and reportedly connections are fast and reliable enough for Skype communication. Some public parks also advertise Wi-Fi availability, and so do most public schools.

Embassies

 * 🇦🇷 Argentina
 * 🇧🇴 Bolivia
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇱🇧 Lebanon
 * 🇵🇹 Portugal
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Korea
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
As the national capital, Montevideo has bus connections all over the country, indeed many of Uruguay's attractions can be visited even as a daytrip by bus or car.

 * Colonia – A pleasant little World Heritage colonial town, 180 km west. A nice chance to get away from the noisy city and relax for a while and certainly worth seeing if you are interested in history.
 * La Paloma – Beach resort further east, also contains some historical buildings, 227 km to the east.
 * Piriapolis – A smaller and more laid-back version of Punta del Este, also containing a castle. 100 km east.
 * Punta del Este – The most important beach resort town in the country, 120 km east of Montevideo.
 * Salto – Hot springs, a spa resort and a hydroelectric dam. A 6 hour direct bus service is available at Tres Cruces - several depart throughout the day/night.

title: Montevideo


text:
Montevideo (Minnesota)

Montevideo is in Southern Minnesota.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Montevideo (Minnesota)


text:
Montezuma

Montezuma is a town near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Get in
Take the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera (a couple of US dollars per person, or about $9 per car), and then drive or take a bus. The road from Paquera is Cobano is pretty well paved, though from Cobano to Montezuma the road is rather poor. By car, it will take about one hour to drive from Paquera to Montezuma. Obey the speed signs, as you may encounter traffic police.

Alternatively, you can fly from San José to the small airstrip at Tambor and then take a taxi. Sansa has daily flights, which take around 30 minutes. Flying is much more expensive than using ground transportation, but if you are short on time, flying is the way to go. Coming from Tamarindo or anywhere further north on the Nicoya Peninsula, there are shuttles available for the trip.

There are also taxi boats from Herradura to Montezuma.

Get around
The town is very compact and walking is the best way to get around. There is very inexpensive bus service from Montezuma to Cabo Blanco National Park and Mal Pais.

See

 * Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve Take the 8AM bus there to ensure you have enough time. It is a 2-hour hike from visitor's center to the beach. US$10 entry fee per person.
 * Waterfalls. There are 3 sets of waterfalls flowing into each otherwith pools to swim in on the bottom of each one. It's a very steep, somewhat dangerous climb to the 2nd part of the falls. Shoes are best but it can be done in sandals. To get to the falls just follow the creek up for 15 minutes and you'll see them. Ask any local for directions.
 * Horseback riding
 * Hanging out on the beach

Do

 * A variety of tour companies in Montezuma offer ATV/dirt bike rentals (about US$65 a day), horseback riding, and snorkeling tours.
 * Walk south from the village to get to some very nice and more secluded beaches.
 * Take the trail heading up the hill from Amor de Mar to get you to a beautiful three-tiered waterfall. Many jump from the top of the second one about into the pool below, but catastrophic injuries are not uncommon.
 * Proyecto Montezuma - TEFL Certification, Surf School, Spanish Classes, Tour Agency

Buy
Bring enough cash ($ or colon) to last your stay in Montezuma as there is only one ATM and it is almost always not working. The nearest bank is in Cobano, about 7 km away, and though it has ATMs, a taxi ride there and back will cost you around ₡10,000. Some stores do accept credit cards but not all of them. There are quite a few stores to purchase clothing, bathing suits, sunglasses, souvenirs, and so on. There are 2 medium-sized supermarkets, which will accept credit cards but won't provide cash back. Two internet cafes offer speedy, reasonably-priced Internet access.

Itinerant merchants and craftspeople line the streets of Montezuma, and their wares are often quite unique and interesting.

Eat
If you are coming in from other parts of the country, be prepared for high prices. Even the casadas will cost you US$5 and up. The majority of restaurants/sodas cater to an American audience with hamburgers, muffins, sushi, pancakes, and pizza on the menu. Not your regular Costa Rican food.

 * Playa de los artistas, great decor and great food, the menu changes daily.
 * Cafe Organicos, vegetarian and vegan food.
 * There's a restaurant in a somewhat hidden area, near the centre of town that serves a lobster buffet for US$12.
 * El Sano Banano, Montezuma - El Sano Banano offers nightly movies for free with the purchase of a meal over US$5. They also have great sushi offerings and good service.
 * El Sano Banano, Montezuma - El Sano Banano offers nightly movies for free with the purchase of a meal over US$5. They also have great sushi offerings and good service.

Drink

 * Chico's Bar - Chico's is in the center of town. Great place to hang out with locals and other tourists.

Sleep

 * Lucy's is north of town, and on the beach. US$10 per person.
 * There is a pretty cheap camping site. US$2 per person. Two-person tent costs $2 a night.
 * Many other accommodations are available, to suite all budgets. Some very swanky places, such as Anamaya Resort and Ylang Ylang, will be amenable to wealthy travellers looking for a good beach and some luxury.
 * Hotel Aurora, Montezuma - Offers hot water, air conditioning, television, and refrigerators in some rooms. Also features a shared kitchen. Rooms start at US$30 a person during high season.
 * Many other accommodations are available, to suite all budgets. Some very swanky places, such as Anamaya Resort and Ylang Ylang, will be amenable to wealthy travellers looking for a good beach and some luxury.
 * Hotel Aurora, Montezuma - Offers hot water, air conditioning, television, and refrigerators in some rooms. Also features a shared kitchen. Rooms start at US$30 a person during high season.
 * Many other accommodations are available, to suite all budgets. Some very swanky places, such as Anamaya Resort and Ylang Ylang, will be amenable to wealthy travellers looking for a good beach and some luxury.
 * Hotel Aurora, Montezuma - Offers hot water, air conditioning, television, and refrigerators in some rooms. Also features a shared kitchen. Rooms start at US$30 a person during high season.
 * Hotel Aurora, Montezuma - Offers hot water, air conditioning, television, and refrigerators in some rooms. Also features a shared kitchen. Rooms start at US$30 a person during high season.
 * Hotel Aurora, Montezuma - Offers hot water, air conditioning, television, and refrigerators in some rooms. Also features a shared kitchen. Rooms start at US$30 a person during high season.
 * Hotel Aurora, Montezuma - Offers hot water, air conditioning, television, and refrigerators in some rooms. Also features a shared kitchen. Rooms start at US$30 a person during high season.

Go next
If you are trying to make your way back to the San José airport, take a US$40 express 1-hour water taxi ride which takes you to Jacó. You can then take a US$60, 2-hour taxi ride (with air conditioning) to San José. Inter-city buses (no air-conditioning) run from Jacó to San José every few hours for about $5. The bus station is located across the road not far from the Best Western in Jacó.

To Monteverde by public bus: Take the morning bus in Monteverde to Paquera (₡ 1800). In Paquera take the ferry to go to Puntarenas (₡ 810). From the harbour take a taxi to the bus station (approx. ₡ 750). Wait 2 hours at the bus stop or have some food in a nearby cornershop. From there leaves a public bus directly to Monteverde (₡ 1450).

title: Montezuma


text:
Montfort-sur-Meu

Montfort-sur-Meu is a town in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany. It is in northwest France, 20km from Rennes and surrounded by Iffendic, Bédée, La Nouaye, Breteil, Pleumeleuc, Talensac, and Saint-Gonlay.

Understand
It is noted as the birthplace of the Roman Catholic Saint Louis de Montfort, who is considered to be the pioneer of the field of mariology. The saint's birthplace is at 15, rue de la Saulnerie. It is now jointly owned by the three Montfort congregations he formed: the Community of the Holy Spirit, the Daughters of Wisdom, and the Brothers of Saint Gabriel. It is the destination of frequent pilgrimages.

The town is at the convergence of the Meu River and the Garun River, in a farmland region. It was in the past in the "Poutrecoët" ("the district in the woods"), because it was covered by the forest of Brocéliande. It is the administrative town of a county.

By car

 * RN12 (Rennes - Saint-Brieuc), exit Montfort-Bédée-Pleumeleuc.
 * RN24 (Rennes - Vannes-Lorient), exit Talensac-Montfort.

By plane
The closest airport is in Rennes.

By train
Montfort-sur-Meu train station has direct services to and from Rennes.

By bus
The following Illenoo bus services connect Montfort and the surrounding area to neighbouring towns and cities.

 * line 1 : Talensac
 * line 2 : Breteil, Iffendic, La Nouaye, Montfort-sur-Meu
 * line 7a : Bédée
 * line 7b : Bédée, Pleumeleuc
 * line 12 : Bédée

Go next
The towns next to Montfort-sur-Meu are Iffendic, Bédée, La Nouaye, Breteil and Talensac, but you can also find Saint-Gonlay and Pleumeleuc nearby.

title: Montfort-sur-Meu


text:
Montgomery

Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, in the River Heritage region of the state. Montgomery has also been recognized nationally for its downtown revitalization and new urbanism projects.

Understand
Montgomery briefly held the title of capital of the Confederacy and was also the site of Jefferson Davis' inauguration. Montgomery was also a pivotal location during the civil rights movement, seeing the arrest of Rosa Parks and the ensuing bus boycott, as well as numerous non violent protests led by Dr. Martin Luther King.

Montgomery's central location in Alabama's Black Belt has long made it a processing hub for commodity crops such as cotton, peanuts, and soybeans. Due to its location along the Alabama River and extensive rail connections, Montgomery has been and continues to be a regional distribution hub for a wide range of industries. Since the late 20th century, it has diversified its economy, achieving increased employment in sectors such as healthcare, business, government, and manufacturing.

In 2019, it was home to just under 200,000 people.

Tourist information

 * Montgomery travel information from Alabama Department of Tourism
 * Montgomery travel information from Alabama Department of Tourism

Climate
Montgomery has short, mild winters, warm springs and autumns, and long, hot, humid summers. The daily average temperature in January is 47 °F (8 °C), and there are 3-4 days of sub 20 °F (−7 °C) lows; 10 °F (−12 °C) and below is extremely rare. The daily average in July is 82°F (28 °C), with highs exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) on 86 days per year and 100 °F (38°C) on 4. Summer afternoon heat indices, much more often than the actual air temperature, are frequently at or above 100 °F.

Rainfall is well-distributed throughout the year, though February, March and July are the wettest months, while October is significantly the driest month. Thunderstorms bring much of Montgomery's rainfall. These are common during the summer months but occur throughout the year. Severe thunderstorms – producing large hail and damaging winds in addition to the usual hazards of lightning and heavy rain – can occasionally occur, particularly during the spring. Severe storms also bring a risk of tornadoes. Sometimes, tropical disturbances – some of which strike the Gulf Coast as hurricanes before losing intensity as they move inland – can bring very heavy rains.

By car
The two major interstate highways that serve Montgomery are I-85, which connects Montgomery with Atlanta, Georgia; and I-65 which connects Montgomery with Birmingham to the north and Mobile to the south.

Get around
Montgomery Area Transit System (MATS) operates the bus and trolley system in Montgomery.

See

Do

 * The Capri Theatre, 1045 E. Fairview. Montgomery's only independent movie theatre.
 * Montgomery Biscuits, 200 Coosa St, minor league baseball team playing at Montgomery Riverfront Stadium. 334-323-2255
 * The Capri Theatre, 1045 E. Fairview. Montgomery's only independent movie theatre.
 * Montgomery Biscuits, 200 Coosa St, minor league baseball team playing at Montgomery Riverfront Stadium. 334-323-2255
 * Montgomery Biscuits, 200 Coosa St, minor league baseball team playing at Montgomery Riverfront Stadium. 334-323-2255
 * Montgomery Biscuits, 200 Coosa St, minor league baseball team playing at Montgomery Riverfront Stadium. 334-323-2255

Learn

 * Alabama State University.
 * Southern Christian University.
 * Auburn University Montgomery.
 * Faulkner University. Is a small Christian university.
 * Huntingdon College. A small United Methodist affiliated college.
 * Air University. AU is operated by the U.S. Air Force.

Eat
Montgomery's diners tend to be very basic eaters. Lunch times are often served as a "meat and three plate". That is where a restaurant, during the lunch hour, serves a meat course and three sides (vegetables or potatoes). It tends to be very filling (perhaps too filling) but reliable quantity and quality wise.

There seems to be a preference for corporate generic restaurants (Outback, Olive Garden, Red Lobster). If they have a franchise, Montgomery probably has one.

You need to understand a few southern cuisines when dining in Montgomery and these are applicable throughout the Alabama and Mississippi area.

Most restaurants serve "sweet" tea—sweetened with sugar, and may be too sweet for some. when ordering iced tea, "unsweetened" is also an option.

Bar-B-Que means that meat is slow cooked over a wood fire. Sauce is served seen the full range of sauces (mustard type, tomato based, Tex-Mex).

Montgomery is home for the Hyundai automobile plant. Look for several fine Korean and Pan Asian restaurants and interesting menu items.

Montgomery is in lower Alabama and you can expect, in some of the better restaurants, some Cajun influence.

Mid-range

 * Cafe Louisa, 1034 E. Fairview. Coffee and bakery with affordable sandwiches and other cafe fare
 * El Rey Burrito Lounge, 1031 E. Fairview. Tex-Mex with a contemporary flair.
 * Dreamland BBQ, 12 W Jefferson St. Noted BBQ eatery in town.
 * Dreamland BBQ, 12 W Jefferson St. Noted BBQ eatery in town.

Drink

 * Tavern & Porter Room, 12 W. Jefferson. Bar with subdued lighting.

Connect
Montgomery's area code is 334.

Stay safe
For emergencies dial 911 for medical and police assistance. Avoid the West and Southwestern parts of the city, as these tend to be where most of the crime is concentrated. Carjacking is not uncommon, so keep your doors locked when not around your vehicle. The Eastern portion of the city, specifically from the Eastern Blvd onward, offers many safe and family friendly shopping attractions and venues.

Cope
During the months of April through October, Montgomery experiences periods of high heat and humidity. Plan your "outside" days accordingly. Be sure to acclimatize to the heat (this should take a few days), take advantage of early mornings and evenings, drink plenty of water.

Go next

 * Birmingham

title: Montgomery


text:
Montgomery (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Montgomery:

United Kingdom

 * Montgomery (Wales) - A town in Powys

United States of America

 * Montgomery - The capital of the state of Alabama.
 * Montgomery (Georgia) - A town in the state of Georgia.
 * Montgomery (Illinois) - A town in the state of Illinois.
 * Montgomery (Massachusetts) - A town in the state of Massachusetts.
 * Montgomery (Minnesota) - A town in the state of Minnesota.
 * Montgomery (New York) - A town in the state of New York.
 * Montgomery (Ohio) - A town greater Cincinnati area.
 * Montgomery (Pennsylvania) - A town in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Montgomery (Texas) - A town in the state of Texas.
 * Montgomery (Vermont) - A town in the state of Vermont.
 * Montgomery (West Virginia) - A town in the state of West Virginia.
 * Montgomery Township- located in New Jersey and consists of two towns, Belle Mead, and Skillman.

See also Montgomery County

title: Montgomery (disambiguation)


text:
Montgomery (New York)

Montgomery is a city in New York.

Sleep
Mead-Tooker Bed and Breakfast, 136 Clinton Street, (845) 457-5770 (Fax: (845) 457-4585),. Listed on the National Register of Historic Houses, this wonderful house was built in stages starting in the late 1700s in the tranquil village of Montgomery, New York. Montgomery is nestled into the Hudson Valley, in Orange County. This house is actually three houses attached and is now one big house sitting majestically on top of the hill on Clinton Street.

title: Montgomery (New York)


text:
Montgomery (Vermont)

Montgomery is a small town at the eastern edge of Franklin County near Jay Peak Resort. There are several lodging and dining opportunities for visiting skiers. This article also covers the nearby villages of Enosburg Falls and Richford.

title: Montgomery (Vermont)


text:
Montgomery (Wales)

Montgomery (Welsh: Trefaldwyn, meaning "Baldwin's town") is a market town in Powys. Montgomery has retained an "unspoilt" feel, with some fine examples of Georgian and early Victorian architecture.

Understand
As the English name implies, it was historically the county town of Montgomeryshire and as such, was a prosperous community and important political and commercial centre in the 17th-19th centuries. After the mid-19th century it began to be eclipsed as a commercial centre, and subsequently politically, by the nearby Newtown and Welshpool, due to those two towns being located on the River Severn, Montgomery Canal, and Cambrian Railway.

As of 2011, it was home to 1,300 people.

By road
Montgomery is missed by the major 'A'-road network, lying a few miles to the east of the main A483 Swansea - Chester road, roughly half-way between Welshpool and Newtown.

By rail
The nearest stations are at Welshpool and Newtown, on the Cambrian line.

By bus
Local services are provided by Tanat Valley Coaches. Service 71b runs Welshpool-Montgomery-Newtown and service 558 runs from Shrewsbury to Montgomery via Worthen and Chirbury.

Get around
As a small market town, Montgomery is easy to get around on foot, though the climb up to the castle is quite steep. The best way to explore the surrounding countryside is by bike.

Do

 * Cycling is popular in the area. The town lies at the centre of a network of quiet, rolling country lanes. A set of leaflets has been produced showing suggested circular routes from Montgomery. Pick these up from various outlets in the town, or check out the routes on the information board on the side of the Town Hall.

Buy

 * There are a number of art and craft galleries and gift shops around Broad Street and Kerry Street in the town centre.

Drink

 * Dragon Hotel - see Eat above.
 * Dragon Hotel - see Eat above.

Sleep

 * Dragon Hotel - see Eat above.
 * Dragon Hotel - see Eat above.

Go next

 * Newtown
 * Welshpool
 * Llanfair Caereinion
 * Bishop's Castle
 * Shrewsbury (England)

title: Montgomery (Wales)


text:
Montgomery County

There is more than one place called Montgomery County:

United States of America

 * Montgomery County (Maryland).

 * Montgomery County (Alabama).
 * Montgomery County (Arkansas).
 * Montgomery County (Georgia).
 * Montgomery County (Illinois).
 * Montgomery County (Indiana).
 * Montgomery County (Iowa).
 * Montgomery County (Kansas).
 * Montgomery County (Kentucky).
 * Montgomery County (Mississippi).
 * Montgomery County (Missouri).
 * Montgomery County (New York).
 * Montgomery County (North Carolina).
 * Montgomery County (Ohio).
 * Montgomery County (Pennsylvania).
 * Montgomery County (Tennessee).
 * Montgomery County (Texas).
 * Montgomery County (Virginia).

title: Montgomery County


text:
Montgomery County (Maryland)

Montgomery County is in the Capital Region of Maryland, right on the border with Washington, D.C., and is home to about one million people. It is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, in no small part due to how highly educated its populace is—it holds the country's record for post-graduate degrees per capita. Its largest cities—such as Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, and Germantown—many of which remain unincorporated, are major business, shopping, and entertainment centers for the Washington, D.C. metro area. The county is quite international, with more than a quarter of its population being foreign-born, with especially large Southeast Asian and Central American communities. While many of its residents commute to D.C. to work in government or related fields, the suburban cities support huge numbers of jobs of their own, with the county being a major hub especially for the biotech, hotel, and retail sectors.

Other destinations

 * — regular free concerts in the woods during the summer, and younger kids will love the elaborate playgrounds.
 * — a beautiful park alongside the Potomac River, home to the impressive Great Falls.
 * — 50 acres of beautiful and diverse landscaped gardens, both indoor and outdoor.
 * — a historic amusement park by the Potomac, dating from the nineteenth century, with a still-active antique carousel, a historic electric street car, frequent festivals and plays, and perhaps the D.C. region's largest social dance scene.
 * — the Maryland portion of the famous National Park, with one very long bike/pedestrian path through the woods, and plenty of small parks for sports, playgrounds, etc.

By plane
Like the rest of the Maryland Capital Region, Montgomery County is served by the nearby airports of Dulles International, Baltimore-Washington International, and Reagan National.

By car
Traffic comes in from the northwest on I-270, and pours in from east and west on the habitually clogged Beltway, I-495, which brings in drivers from I-95 in the northeast, and from Virginia to the south. There are no highways leading here from Washington, D.C. (and this contributes greatly to the traffic). The major arteries from west to east include Wisconsin Ave, Connecticut Ave, and Georgia Ave.

By train
Montgomery County is served by both the northeast and northwest sections of the D.C. Metro Red Line. The northwest section includes stops right in the thick of Friendship Heights, Bethesda, Rockville, and Gaithersburg; the northeast section in Takoma Park, Silver Spring, and Wheaton. It is also served by the Brunswick line of the MARC commuter train to/from Union Station in Washington, D.C., as well as service to/from Frederick, Harpers Ferry, and Martinsburg.

By bus
Generally it's easiest to take the Metro from D.C. and then transfer to bus from the Metro stop, but there are a few major Metrobus routes to Montgomery County from the city: #30-36 run up Wisconsin Ave to the Friendship Heights Metro station, and #70-71  run up Georgia Ave to the Silver Spring Metro station. From these stations you will have to transfer to another bus to keep going.

By car
The U.S. is an automotive country, and Montgomery County, despite having quite impressive public transport, is no exception. Driving is without a doubt the most convenient way of getting around, but be forewarned that the county has some of, if not the worst traffic in the entire nation (it vies for that dubious distinction with neighboring counties in Virginia). The aforementioned north-south arteries, as well as the east-west Beltway and northwesterly I-270 and the Rockville Pike between Bethesda and Rockville are the main routes around the densely populated parts of the county.

By bus
Montgomery County has an excellent bus system, and while it may take you a while to get where you are going, you can reach just about any major destination in the county by bus alone. WMATA's Metrobus has a respectable network of bus routes right in the inner suburbs, while Ride On Bus is the county bus service, with very comprehensive coverage of the densely populated portion of the county. Note that WMATA's SmarTrip card works for Ride On buses as well as the Metro and Metrobus.

See

For sightseeing, you are best off heading south into D.C., which has more major attractions than you can shake a stick at. But if you've been there, done that, there are some off-the-beaten-path attractions in Montgomery County. There are several quite unusual destinations that can make for a good trip. The National Mormon Temple in Kensington is enormous and impressive, famously drawing comparisons to the Oz's Emerald Palace from daredevil Beltway graffiti artists. You can't go inside, but you can take pictures from the outside and learn about the temple and the Church of Latter Day Saints at its visitor center. Nearby in Forest Glen is the very weird collection of exotic buildings at the half-abandoned National Park Seminary: a Japanese pagoda, a Swiss-style castle, a Dutch windmill, etc. Glen Echo is a unique "antique amusement park," still operating a carousel, a Spanish ballroom for dance lessons and events, dramatic theater, and other attractions.

The one truly big attraction worth seeking out, though, is the imposing Great Falls on the Potomac River in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The Maryland side boasts the best views of this massive collection of rapids and waterfalls, and makes for a great picnic. The park itself would be worth visiting even without the draw of the falls for its historic charm. For more outdoor attractions, try Wheaton's lovely Brookside Gardens.

Buy
In particular, Rockville and Bethesda have many shops from which to buy clothes, trinkets, antiques, and souvenirs. Gaithersburg and Germantown, on the other hand, generally cater more to local suburbanites but have a few interesting options as well. True to its bohemian roots, Takoma Park (and to a lesser extent, [[Silver Spring) hosts several quirky independent stores, bookstores and galleries that make it worth the trip from D.C.

Eat

Given how affluent and international Montgomery County is, it's hardly surprising that there is a lot of good food to be had. For a downtown dining experience, Bethesda is the unchallenged leader, with a huge variety of mid-range and upscale restaurants, running the gamut from Spanish tapas to Maryland crabs, gourmet Indian to Philly cheesesteaks, with a host of great options in between. There are gems throughout the other major cities, like Silver Spring, Rockville, Gaithersburg, etc.—albeit quite crowded out by legions of mid-range chain restaurants both in the respective downtown areas and on the endless strip malls throughout.

If you have a taste for cuisines around the world, you are in luck, and won't have to spend too much money. Wheaton has arguably the best cheap ethnic eats in the whole D.C. metro area, especially for great Asian and Central American food, due to its significant Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Guatemalan, Honduran, and especially Salvadoran communities. For each of those categories, you simply will not find better outside Wheaton. It's not too shabby for Korean, Ethiopian, Peruvian, or even Scottish, for that matter. Rockville, Silver Spring, and Takoma Park cannot boast the sort of density of ethnic restaurants as Wheaton, but are nonetheless also good bets for Asian, African, and Latin American food.

Drink
As with restaurants, Bethesda has the county's largest and liveliest nightlife scene, with a ton of bars and a good handful of night clubs. In the past decade, however, Silver Spring and Rockville have become a legitimate challengers, especially so with younger residents and you'll find plenty after dark right in both their respective downtowns. Both offer cheaper and more diverse options, than upscale Bethesda. For an even more diverse and certainly more offbeat experience, Takoma Park has only a few options, but they are a lot of fun.

You won't have trouble finding your basic bar in any of the other major communities throughout the community, but options are fairly limited by way of clubs. Not to worry, though, since D.C. is right next door!

Sleep

Hotels, of which there are many—Marriott is headquartered in Bethesda—are to be found mostly around the county's major downtown cores and near Metro stations. Those of Bethesda and Silver Spring cater more to tourists, looking to enjoy easy access to the D.C. Metro and the nearby restaurants and entertainment, while those of Rockville, the Rockville Pike, Gaithersburg, and Germantown cater more to business travelers. If you are looking for roadside motels off I-270 or the Beltway, you might actually be surprised at just how few options there are—you'll likely need to head a good ways off the highway into town.

Stay safe
Aside from car accidents, which are indeed a problem, Montgomery County is about as safe a highly populated area as you'll find anywhere in the United States. The gang crime and robbery problems that plague the nation's capital simply do not spill across the district borders, with a robbery rate of just 100 per 100,000 residents in 2007. You might occasionally hear murmurs of Silver Spring or Wheaton having a crime problem, but this notion simply does not align with reality as shown by police statistics. Unless wandering alone late at night in an isolated part of a deserted downtown area, you are quite unlikely to become a victim of a crime.

Go next
The obvious nearby destination is of course Washington, D.C., the capital of the U.S., home to a mind-bogglingly long list of attractions, some of which are either a short drive down Connecticut Ave or a ride on the Metro's Red Line. The National Zoo, the Hillwood Estate, the Uptown Theatre, and the National Cathedral are all within easy striking distance from Bethesda. If you are east of Rock Creek Park by Silver Spring or Takoma Park, it's a short drive down Blair Rd to North Capitol St to get to Brookland to see the National Shrine. To get to the National Mall, or the city's principal wining and dining centers, you'll have to travel a bit further, but the Metro will take you right there without hitch.

There is more to see other than the obvious neighbor to the south, though. Baltimore is a city very rich in history, museums, and seafood, and is a very short trip up I-95. Staying even closer to Montgomery County, try going east on the Beltway into Prince George's County to see the NASA Goddard Visitor Center at Greenbelt, or Six Flags Amusement Park in Largo.

title: Montgomery County (Maryland)


text:
Montgomery County (Pennsylvania)

Montgomery County (known sometimes as "Montco") is a county northwest of Philadelphia. It ranges in character from farm country to suburbia. It has a population of over 830,000 (2019), making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania. The county seat and largest community is Norristown.

Cities

 * — named for naturalist John James Audubon, who lived there as a young man; including Oaks, Eagleville, and Mont Clare
 * — home of Ursinus College; including Skippack, Schwenksville, Trappe, and Spring Mount
 * — including Ambler, Spring House, and Flourtown
 * — including North Wales, Souderton, Kulpsville, Harleysville, Doylestown, and Montgomeryville
 * — including Bridgeport, Gladwyne, Jeffersonville, Conshohocken and Lafayette Hill
 * — including Green Lane, Greenville, East Greenville, Macungie, Palm, Spinnerstown, Red Hill, and Quakertown
 * — including Gilbertsville, Limerick, Sassamansville, Royersford and Linfield
 * — including Horsham, and Hatboro
 * — including Ambler, Spring House, and Flourtown
 * — including North Wales, Souderton, Kulpsville, Harleysville, Doylestown, and Montgomeryville
 * — including Bridgeport, Gladwyne, Jeffersonville, Conshohocken and Lafayette Hill
 * — including Green Lane, Greenville, East Greenville, Macungie, Palm, Spinnerstown, Red Hill, and Quakertown
 * — including Gilbertsville, Limerick, Sassamansville, Royersford and Linfield
 * — including Horsham, and Hatboro
 * — including North Wales, Souderton, Kulpsville, Harleysville, Doylestown, and Montgomeryville
 * — including Bridgeport, Gladwyne, Jeffersonville, Conshohocken and Lafayette Hill
 * — including Green Lane, Greenville, East Greenville, Macungie, Palm, Spinnerstown, Red Hill, and Quakertown
 * — including Gilbertsville, Limerick, Sassamansville, Royersford and Linfield
 * — including Horsham, and Hatboro
 * — including Green Lane, Greenville, East Greenville, Macungie, Palm, Spinnerstown, Red Hill, and Quakertown
 * — including Gilbertsville, Limerick, Sassamansville, Royersford and Linfield
 * — including Horsham, and Hatboro
 * — including Horsham, and Hatboro
 * — including Horsham, and Hatboro

Get in

 * Philadelphia International Airport : Fly in from any major airport. Approximately 30-minute drive from Philadelphia.
 * SEPTA Regional Rail Connects Philadelphia to Montgomery County. See Schedules
 * By car from Philadelphia: I-76 West, I-95 North.
 * By car from Allentown: I-476
 * By Greyhound bus twice a day from the New York Port Authority bus terminal on 8th Ave. between 40th and 41st St. in Manhattan., $27-45, 2¼hr
 * By Bieber Tourways bus four times a day from the New York Port Authority bus terminal, $24-35, 2¼hr

See
There are historic sites all over Montgomery County, each representing a unique aspect of its history.

There are several beautiful parks in Montgomery County, which are great for fishing, barbecuing, and nature hiking.

Do

Montgomery County parks and historical sites are a must see when visiting this area. This is an excellent destination for eco-tourism because there is an abundance of wildlife and outdoor activities to enjoy.

title: Montgomery County (Pennsylvania)


text:
Montgomery Creek

Montgomery Creek is a city in the Shasta Cascades region of California.

Get in
You have to go by car to Montgomery Creek.

Get around
Walk for scenery, but to go quicker, drive a car.

See
There isn't much tourism in Montgomery Creek (besides natural recreation).

Do
There are plenty of things to do here, including fishing, picnicking, or even just walking. It's a short distance away from Burney and Redding.

Buy
There aren't any major shopping areas in Montgomery Creek.

Sleep
There are no listed accommodations in Montgomery Creek. However, there are some in Burney to the east.

title: Montgomery Creek


text:
Montgomery Township

Montgomery Township is in Somerset County.

Understand
Montgomery Township is located in New Jersey and consists of two towns, Belle Mead, and Skillman. There is also a part with a Princeton address. It is located in Somerset County in Central New Jersey. Two neighboring towns are Princeton and Hillsborough. It is about an hour from New York City and Philadelphia.

Get in

If you are driving you can get there on 95 and NJ Turnpike which are the most popular roads to take. Route 206 also runs through the center of montgomery from Princeton to Hillsborough and is the major thruway of the town.

Get around
You need a car to get around. There is also public transportation in the form of bus stops which run along route 206.

title: Montgomery Township


text:
Monticello

There is more than one place named Monticello:

United States of America

 * Monticello (Arkansas) - a town in Arkansas.
 * Monticello (Florida) - a town in Florida.
 * Monticello (Georgia) - a town in Georgia.
 * Monticello (Illinois) - a town in Illinois.
 * Monticello (Indiana) - a town in Indiana.
 * Monticello (Iowa) - a town in Iowa.
 * Monticello (Kentucky) - a town in Kentucky.
 * Monticello (Louisiana) - a town in Louisiana.
 * Monticello (Maine) - a town in Maine.
 * Monticello (Minnesota) - a town in Minnesota.
 * Monticello (Mississippi) - a town in Mississippi.
 * Monticello (Missouri) - a town in Missouri.
 * Monticello (New York) - a town in New York (state).
 * Monticello (Utah) - a town in Utah.
 * Monticello (Green County, Wisconsin) - a town in Green County, Wisconsin.
 * Monticello (Lafayette County, Wisconsin) - a town in Lafayette County, Wisconsin.

Also:
 * Monticello, the residence of Thomas Jefferson near Charlottesville, Virginia.

title: Monticello


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Monticello (Illinois)

Monticello is a city of 5,500 people (2019) in Central Illinois. For the visitor, it offers a railroad museum, an art-and-sculpture garden, and some beautiful historic homes.

History
Monticello's first resident was George Haworth. Haworth came to the area in 1822 to serve as a U.S. liaison agent to local Native American tribes. Haworth did not remain, but in 1829, James A. Piatt purchased Haworth's small log cabin. Soon more settlers arrived.

In 1837, residents decided to form a new town which was christened Monticello – after the home of Thomas Jefferson. Monticello was incorporated as a town on July 1, 1837. Townsfolk held a celebration on July 4. Monticello continued to grow as the population increased over the next decade.

A new county was established on Jan 27 1841: Piatt County - named in honor the first permanent settler, James A. Piatt. As it was the only town in the area at that time, Monticello was named the county seat. The county began legal functions on April 5, 1841 in the "Old Fort." In 1843, the first courthouse was built on land donated by William H. Piatt.

Monticello's star resident arrived in 1885. Dr. William B. Caldwell came to practice medicine in Monticello but his homemade mixture of senna and pepsin brought Monticello to a level of national prominence. The Pepsin Syrup Company was founded in 1893, and became the leading employer in the city for decades until its closure in 1985.

Get in
Monticello is just off of Interstate 72 at the junction of CR-5 and IL-105. It is approximately 150 miles southwest of Chicago, 150 miles northeast of St. Louis, and 60 miles east of Springfield.

See

 * Abe Lincoln - Monticello was part of the 8th Judicial Circuit that Lincoln served in from 1847-1859. The Monticello Railway Museum has a "Looking for Lincoln" wayside storyboard sign which tells the story of how Abraham Lincoln promoted and contributed to the expansion of railroads in Piatt County. This sign dedication is unique, symbolic and illustrates Abraham Lincoln's contributions, vision and promotion of building and expanding not only the network of railroads within Illinois, but in linking the west and east coast of the United States with the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, which was completed on May 10, 1869.
 * Allerton Park - The Robert Allerton Park is a 1,517-acre (6.0 km²) park, nature center, and conference center near Monticello on the upper Sangamon River. It has been described as "a vast prairie turned into a personal fantasy land of neoclassical statues, Far Eastern art, and huge European-style gardens surrounding an English Tudor-style". It has been given National Natural Landmark and National Register of Historic Places designations.
 * Monticello Sages - Homecoming festivities – Every year, Monticello High school has a parade celebrating their homecoming festivities. Friday afternoon, the homecoming parade begins from the high school promptly at noon. Friday evening's festivities will begin in the high school Media Center with the Hall of Fame. At 6:45PM, the festivities continue as everyone proceeds to the football field. For more information call the high school office at ext. 1210.
 * Monticello Sages - Homecoming festivities – Every year, Monticello High school has a parade celebrating their homecoming festivities. Friday afternoon, the homecoming parade begins from the high school promptly at noon. Friday evening's festivities will begin in the high school Media Center with the Hall of Fame. At 6:45PM, the festivities continue as everyone proceeds to the football field. For more information call the high school office at ext. 1210.

 * Millionaire Row & Historical Homes - The founders of the Pepsin Syrup, a notable patent medicine company, contributed to the spawn of construction of mansions on North State Street that became known as "Millionaire's Row. South Charter Street: The South Charter Street Historic District represents some of the city's first growth outside of the original town plat and was basically the first of the city's premier residential addresses. In contrast to the North State Street Historic District, the architecture of the South Charter Street Historic District is more varied and is generally less high style.

Do

 * 1st Friday on the Square - On Fridays, from 5pm - 9pm it's Shopping, Dining and a Movie in beautiful downtown Monticello. On the 1st Friday of each month, Monticello invites you to visit the restaurants, cafes, galleries and shops while enjoying live music, children's activities and more.
 * Barn Tour - Every year, Piatt County celebrates its rich agricultural history along a 35-mile historic and scenic route through Goose Creek Township. Guests can visit 20 barns, explore Centennial farms, discover restored pioneer cemeteries and other historic sites including part of a trail traveled by Abraham Lincoln while he practiced law as a circuit-rider throughout Central Illinois.
 * Christmas in July - Come join the merchants of Courthouse Square for an early look at Christmas. Activities are set for children and adults alike to bring a breath of fresh air to the middle of summer.
 * Chocolate Fantasy - The Annual Chocolate Fantasy, held just days before Valentine's Day, will be filled with great ideas for all of the special people in your lives.
 * Farmer’s Market - On State and Livingston Streets join Monticello’s Main Street Farmer's Market featuring many of your favorite vendors selling seasonal fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, breads, and more.
 * May Market - You know it's Spring when the Monticello Main Street May Home & Garden Market is around the corner! There are plants, herbs, garden containers and garden accessories. Early May.
 * Monticello car show - The Monticello Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show takes place at the Courthouse Square in downtown Monticello. Judging starts at noon for Best of Show, Best Truck, Best Motorcycle, and distance travelled, and Club participation.
 * Monticello Celebration - That's Main Street’s Annual Monticello Celebration is filled with a great variety of Art and Craft vendors throughout the downtown square. Don’t miss the very popular Pet Parade and Contest or Kid’s Activity Area including a Bounce House, Giant Slide, Obstacle Course and Giant Choo-choo.
 * The Monticello Country Club - A semi-private golf course, inviting both memberships and public play has majestic oaks, meandering creeks and ponds providing an excellent setting for this challenging, but enjoyable 18-hole championship course.
 * Monticello Main Street Ornaments - Monticello Main Street is proud to offer a collection of holiday limited edition ornaments, all depicting scenes from historic Monticello. They are hand sculpted in a material called “bonded marble” and then hand-painted in a holiday scene.. These ornaments will be offered for sale at most of the restaurants and shops in Courthouse Square in downtown Monticello. or email info@monticellomainstreet.org.
 * Monticello Main Street Ornaments - Monticello Main Street is proud to offer a collection of holiday limited edition ornaments, all depicting scenes from historic Monticello. They are hand sculpted in a material called “bonded marble” and then hand-painted in a holiday scene.. These ornaments will be offered for sale at most of the restaurants and shops in Courthouse Square in downtown Monticello. or email info@monticellomainstreet.org.

title: Monticello (Illinois)


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Monticello (Minnesota)

Monticello is a city in Minnesota.

title: Monticello (Minnesota)


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Monticello (Utah)

Monticello is a cool haven in the midst of the Canyon Country region of Utah. Located at the base of the Blue Mountains (aka "Abajo" Mountains) in the center of San Juan County, Monticello typically has cooler weather than the surrounding desert. This makes it ideal for summer hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorsports and a delightful place to cross country ski or snowmobile in the winter. From the Blue Mountains you can see the Four Corners Region, consisting of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

By car

 * from Moab and I-70: travel south on Highway 191; Monticello is one hour south of Moab
 * from Cortez, Colorado and Mesa Verde National Park: travel west on Highway 491; Monticello is one hour west of Cortez
 * from Flagstaff, Arizona, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Navajo Nation: travel north on Highway 191; Monticello is four hours north of Flagstaff and one and a half hours north of Monument Valley

By bus

 * Salt Lake Express stops in Monticello on its route between Salt Lake City and Blanding.

By air
The Monticello Municipal Airport has limited facilities. Contact the city offices at 435-587-2271 for information.

Go next

 * Canyonlands National Park. Monticello is the closest town to the park's Needles District, home to excellent hiking opportunities among impressive and odd rock spires.

title: Monticello (Utah)


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Montignac (Dordogne)

Montignac is an old town close to Lascaux, on the Vézère River, in France.

By car
There are at least three car parks in Montignac, and many roads leading in.

Get around
There are quite a few roads through Montignac; at least a quarter are pedestrianized, so it is mostly best to walk. If you are driving, be aware that the town operates a one way system.

See

 * The small festival, held every summer on the bridge, with fireworks.
 * The small festival, held every summer on the bridge, with fireworks.

Do

 * Walk over the bridge, especially quite late at night, as it is beautiful at this time.
 * Visit the Chateau de Reignac
 * Hire a canoe from one of the many kayak tours and enjoy up to 6hours of river scenery. Don't forget the sunscreen even if its overcast!
 * Crazy Golf course. Can be found by following the footpaths under the new bridge.

Buy
There are several shops, and, of course, the busy market place. It really is very busy on market days, so be careful where you walk (and what you buy of course).

Beside the tourist office and the ticket office for Lascaux's Cave II there is an exhibition area selling local goods and produce and along near the main car park is another building that specialises in selling goods from South American, African and Asians countries.

Eat
Several restaurants are existent around the town, with good French food.

title: Montignac (Dordogne)


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Montone

Montone is a town of 1,600 people (2019) in Umbria in central Italy. It is a peaceful hill town in a beautiful panoramic position between two tributaries of the Tiber river.

Understand
It used to be controlled by the families which dominated the area, such as the Del Monte, the Fortebraccio and the Vitelli families. However, around the middle of the 16th century the town was ceded to the Papal State.

Today it is a lively, typical Italian hamlet and was elected one of Italy´s most beautiful villages. Situated high up on a ridge, it watches over the valley of the river Carpina, facing the Appenin peaks far in the back, a fully preserved surrounding wall, on top of it the small houses with colorful fronts, nestled around the piazza.

Get in
Montone is just off the E45 highway going north-south from Cesena to Perugia.

Sleep
Montone offers a variety of places to stay - from hotels in town to country houses in the vicinity.

Go next
Montone is a pleasant base for trips to a whole range of other towns in northern Umbria and southern Tuscany, including Arezzo, Perugia, Assisi and Gubbio.

title: Montone


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Montorio al Vomano

Montorio al Vomano is a communal city in Province of Teramo and in the Abruzzo Region of Italy.

Get in

 * By car via the SS 80 from Giulianova or L'Aquila

See

 * The town market on Wednesday mornings

Do

 * I Piatti del Parco (Dishes in the Park) - an outdoor festival held in early July each year. Featured are the gastronomic delights of Montorio and the surrounding area.

Eat

 * Bocconotti - a type of cookie with marmalade, a speciality of Montorio

Splurge
Totò - Via Gramsci, 3 Montorio - member of the Slow Food organization (tel +39 0861 598508)

Sleep

 * Hotel Tittina

Go next
Suburbs and surrounding hamlets (Frazioni): Altavilla, Colledonico, Collevecchio, Cusciano, Faiano, Leognano, Piane di Collevecchio, San Lorenzo, San Giorgio, San Giovanni, San Mauro, Schiaviano, Villa Brozzi, Villa Maggiore, Villa Vallucci

title: Montorio al Vomano


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Montpelier

Montpelier is the capital city of Vermont, the smallest state capital in the United States with a population of 8,074 as of the 2020 census.

Understand
Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the United States. It is also the only state capital that does not have a McDonald's restaurant.

Tourist information

 * Montpelier Alive website

Climate
Downtown flooding has become more common in the last few years. While it is not a danger to people, some shops or roads in the downtown area may be closed for a few days in the early spring.

By car
A common way to get to Montpelier is by auto. It is located along Interstate 89. It is about 3 hours from Boston and Montreal.

By plane
You can also fly into Burlington, Vermont, which is about a 45-minute drive from Montpelier. Or, if it is a weekday, you can take the bus from Burlington to Montpelier.

By train

 * Route stopping at Montepelier:
 * Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and New Carrollton.
 * Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and New Carrollton.

By bus

 * Greyhound serves downtown Montpelier with buses that connect to Boston, Montreal, and Manchester NH airports. Buses stop in front of city hall at 39 Main St.
 * Megabus connects Montpelier with Boston. Buses stop at the Dog River Park & Ride, off of exit 8 on Interstate 89.

Get around

 * Walking - It is a very small town, so walking is an excellent way to get around from the State House and downtown area. You will find that people park their vehicle downtown and then can walk all of downtown and the State House area. Montpelier is a very compact town. Drivers are very courteous to pedestrians at the frequent cross walks you find in the downtown area.
 * Green Mountain Transit bus service covers Montpelier and other area communities. A Capital Shuttle operates seasonally.

Learn

 * New England Culinary Institute (NECI), +1-877-223-6334 (email:info@neci.edu), has a campus in Montpelier and operates the La Brioche bakery, Main Street Bar & Grill, and the Chef's Table.
 * Center for Arts and Learning, 802-595-5252 (email:info@cal-vt.org), is an arts and education center in downtown Montpelier which is committed to enhancing the cultural life of central Vermont through its founding member organizations, as well as embracing individual artists, musicians, and other non-profits in a collaborative and welcoming community.

Book stores
Enjoy shopping the fine book stores in Montpelier, all within close walking distance.

Connect

 * The local newspaper is the Times-Argus.

Go next
Montpelier is an excellent place to stay and get out to see other area sites.

 * Stowe, Vermont Ski Resort Area, with hiking, shops and restaurants.
 * Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Take a factory tour.
 * Cabot Creamery, in Cabot. See how cheese is made.
 * Church Street in Burlington. Great shopping, food and bars.
 * Rock of Ages Quarry, in Barre. The Quarry is located just a few miles from Montpelier. Take tours of an active granite quarry over 600 feet (182 m) deep.
 * Hope Cemetery in Barre, has tombstones of granite that are works of art and in some cases unique. Examples are a race car, soccer ball, a cube balanced on one corner, a biplane and a husband and wife that are side by side in bed overlooking their tombs.

title: Montpelier