//
Capital city in Uruguay
Photo: Disman Anchieri, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Durazno is a city in the Central Interior region of Uruguay. Founded in 1821, it is the capital of Durazno Department and has a population of about 35,000. The center of Durazno feels like the small city that it is, with shops, restaurants, and historic buildings—but you don't have to walk far to feel like you're out in the country, with chickens squabbling and horses walking over to say hello.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Casa de Rivera
The regional museum with rooms about Uruguayan archaeology (including prehistoric artifacts), local history and Gaucho art, located in a historic building.
Casa de la Cultura
Art museum in a historic building.
Only if you are very interested, it's far from a spectacular museum.
A church by famous architect Eladio Diesde. Nothing to make a special trip for, but the brick interior is architecturally interesting.
Sandy beach on the River Yí.
A 14-meter column unveiled in 1892 for the 400th anniversary of Columbus's voyage. On top of it is a spherical time capsule which was filled in 1892 and opened 100 years later, in 1992. Then the city's inhabitants replaced its contents with new messages, to be read in 2092!
A monument to the tabor (tamboril), a type of drum—the only such monument in the world!
Durazno Month
Celebrated every October to commemorate the founding of the city. Come to the parks and plazas, including Parque de la Hispanidad, to see celebrations and folklore.
A big rock festival held in October. The first one, years ago, was like the Woodstock of Uruguay—so unexpectedly big that people were renting out their backyards for concertgoers to camp in.
A popular place.
Pizza and other typical Uruguayan food, with nostalgic decorations. Stays open later than most restaurants in town—usually until sometime around midnight, give or take, depending on how much traffic they're getting.
A quiet café that still has the original chairs and marble-topped tables dating back to its establishment in 1942. Formerly part of a chain, the Durazno location is the only one in the country that's still open.
A nice, quiet campground in the woods, next to Playa El Sauzal by the River Yí.
Beautiful, if a bit far from the main part of the city.
By car
Durazno is on Route 5, which connects it with Montevideo to the south and Rivera to the north.
You can just walk around, it's a small city. There are taxis waiting at the bus terminal though. You can also call a taxi at +598 4362 6070 or +598 4362 4040.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Ciudad de la Costa · International · MVD
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Durazno and Uruguay.
ItinerariesExplore our Punta del Este travel guide. Discover Playa Brava, Casapueblo sunset ceremonies, beach clubs, seafood dining, and Jose Ignacio day trips.
8 min read
InspirationDiscover 10 rewarding emerging travel destinations for 2027. Escape crowded tourist hubs and explore quiet spots with rich culture and great food.
8 min read
ItinerariesThe coast of Uruguay is where both the country's population and its tourist destinations tend to be concentrated—not to mention its many beaches.
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureUruguay has 17 national parks including a number that are monuments or geological parks that are administered by the federal government but that aren't specifically called "national parks".
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.