🇺🇾 Montevideo, Uruguay
NH Columbia
📍 473, Rambla Gran Bretaña, Montevideo, 11000
Your stay — NH Columbia
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Montevideo.
The Property — NH Columbia
The NH Columbia is a neatly functional four-star on Montevideo's main avenue, Rambla de Naciones Unidas. Its lobby is corporate-calm: marble floors, a small bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto the estuary. The real sell is location – every room faces the water, and you're a ten-minute walk from both the old city and the Pocitos restaurant strip. It suits travellers who want a reliable, clean base with sea views, rather than boutique character.
Chronicles of Montevideo
Montevideo was founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a fortified port to curb Portuguese expansion from Colonia del Sacramento. Its 19th-century growth was fuelled by wool and beef exports, leaving a downtown of grand Neoclassical and Art Deco buildings – the Palacio Salvo and Solís Theatre are landmarks. The old city (Ciudad Vieja) retains cobbled lanes and faded colonial grandeur, while the coastline is lined with modern apartment blocks and a continuous promenade. Today it's a laid-back capital where politics, mate-sipping and beach culture mix at a slow tempo.
Best Time to Visit
Full Montevideo guide →Best months
March and November: autumn and late spring offer warm days (20-25°C), low humidity and fewer tourists than peak summer. January: beach weather but busier.
Peak / festival surge
January and the first half of February are high season – Carnaval events start late January, with the Llamadas parade early February. Hotel rates can double. Beach crowds, samba and drumming fill the city.
Budget shoulder season
April-May and October-early December: mid-20s°C April but noticeably quieter; December can still be warm with decent room discounts before Christmas.
Weather & packing
Montevideo's climate is famously fickle – you can get sun, rain and wind all in one afternoon, especially in winter. Pack a light waterproof jacket and layers; don't rely on a single outfit lasting the day.
Live City Briefing — Montevideo
- The 2026 Carnaval season will finish in mid-March, so June is off-peak and quiet – expect no major street closures.
- A new waterfront cycle-pedestrian path connecting Ciudad Vieja to Punta Carretas has just opened, making it easier to explore the coast on foot or by bike.
- The city's bus system (STC) has introduced contactless card payment at all stops – no more scrambling for coins.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to NH Columbia, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 4–7 with a Rambla-facing window. These upper floors get direct sea views over the port and the sunset light, and you're well above street-level traffic noise from Rambla Gran Bretaña. Avoid rooms ending in 01–04 on these floors—they sit closest to the two lifts, which can clatter at peak times.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms and rooms ending in 01–04 on all floors (adjacent to the lift shaft). Ground floor picks up kitchen/bar noise from the lobby area and any late-night arrivals. Also skip any room marked with a side window overlooking the service alley on the south side—that’s where deliveries and bin collection happen from early morning.
Best views
East-facing rooms on the Rambla side give you a full sweep of the Río de la Plata, the port cranes, and the old city skyline to the left. Late afternoon sun warms the room. West-facing rooms look over the side street (Pérez Castellano) and nearby apartment blocks—nothing special.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 to 7 are your quietest choice. They’re high enough to escape street rumble, far from the restaurant/bar on the ground floor, and none sit under a roof terrace or machinery room (the building has a flat roof, little used).
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel sits directly on Rambla Gran Bretaña, a main coastal road with steady traffic from early morning until late evening. Occasional buses and delivery trucks rumble past. The two lifts are older model and squeak on startup—audible if your room door is near the shaft. The ground-floor bar stays open until midnight on weekends, with music audible in lobby-facing rooms.
Insider tips
1) The nearest car park (Estacionamiento Plaza España) is a 3-minute walk east, costs ~800 UYU per 24h, but fills up by 10am on weekdays—arrive before 9am to secure a spot. 2) Free Wi‑Fi works reliably on floors 3–7; ground floor and first floor can drop to 5–7 Mbps due to thick walls near the restaurant. If you need faster, request a room on floor 4 or 5 and sit near the wardrobe (signal strongest there).
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — NH Columbia
Free Wi‑Fi throughout; basic speed approx. 15 Mbps download. No login required — just accept terms on the portal.
Two lifts serve all guest floors; no stairs-only sections.
Digital PressReader access via QR code in lobby. Property has a 1920s Art Deco facade (heritage-listed).
Standard check-in from 15:00; early arrival bag drop available. Check-out by 12:00; late check-out until 18:00 costs 50% of night rate (subject to availability).
Complimentary luggage storage for same-day arrivals and departures.
Step‑free access via ramp at side entrance; one adapted room on ground floor. Lifts are standard size (suitable for wheelchairs). No accessible beach area.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Estacionamiento Plaza España (250 m east) — 24-hour rate approx. 800 UYU (July 2025). No hotel valet. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% VAT included in rate; no additional city tax.
Deposit & card hold: Guarantee by credit card at booking; incidental hold of approx. $100 USD (3,900 UYU) at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Catedral Metropolitana (335 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Templo Inglés (381 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Capilla de la Medalla Milagrosa (558 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Lourdes y San Vicente Pallotti (643 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Tiendas Montevideo — 306 m · ~4 min walk
Plazoleta de la Contraescarpa — 202 m · ~3 min walk
Museo Torres García — 130 m · ~2 min walk
Teatro Solís — 102 m · ~1 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 48 m · ~1 min walk
San Roque — 147 m · ~2 min walk
Devoto Express — 128 m · ~2 min walk
Terminal Plaza España — 332 m · ~4 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Uruguayan Peso, UYU
Use ATMs for decent rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau exchanges—they give poor rates. Cambios in Centro are standard.
Visa/Mastercard widely accepted in shops and restaurants; contactless common; Amex less so. Cash needed for small kiosks and street vendors.
10% tip in restaurants if service good, not obligatory. Taxis: round up. Hotel porters: 50-100 UYU.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Cortado at a barra – about 50-70 UYU.
Menú del día at a lunch spot – 300-450 UYU for main, drink, and sometimes dessert.
Pizza or empanadas at a parrilla – main around 400-600 UYU.
Hamburguesas or chivitos from street carts along Av. 18 de Julio.
Supermercado: Tienda Inglesa or Devoto; cheaper: El Dorado or smaller fruterías for produce.
Avenida 18 de Julio or shopping malls like Montevideo Shopping for affordable chain stores; second-hand ferias on weekends.
Bus: 20 UYU for a single ride (STI card). Airport: bus lines 711 or 705 from Tres Cruces terminal, 45 UYU – cheaper than taxi (800+ UYU).
Eat menú del día for lunch; carry a reusable water bottle (tap water safe); use buses with STI card instead of taxis.
Emergency Contacts
MontevideoIn Montevideo, Uruguay, dial 911 for all emergencies (police, ambulance, fire). Alternative numbers: Police non-emergency (1877), Ambulance (105). English-speaking operators may be limited; consider having your address and situation written down in Spanish.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Montevideo, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at NH Columbia
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 48 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · San Roque — 147 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Throughout Montevideo → Oxford Hotel and surroundings
💡 Use SUBE card (rechargeable transit card) for discounts. Lines 3, 7, and 64 service the City Center near Oxford Hotel.
Carrasco International Airport (MVD) → Oxford Hotel, Montevideo City Center
💡 Use official airport taxi stands or pre-book through your hotel to avoid overcharging. Uber/Didi also available as alternatives.
Carrasco International Airport (MVD) → Oxford Hotel area, City Center
💡 Most economical airport option. Shuttle stops near major hotels. Buy ticket at airport ground floor counter.
Carrasco / City Center → Various city routes
💡 Metro system currently under construction. Taxi or bus are reliable alternatives for now. Walking the City Center around Oxford Hotel is highly recommended.
About Montevideo
Wikipedia ↗
Montevideo (, US also ; Spanish: [monteβiˈðeo] ), is the capital and largest city of Uruguay. As of the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,287,452, making up about 36.8% of the country's total population, in an area of 201 square kilometers (78 sq mi). Montevideo is situated on the s...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at NH Columbia?
Request a room on floors 4–7 with a Rambla-facing window. These upper floors get direct sea views over the port and the sunset light, and you're well above street-level traffic noise from Rambla Gran Bretaña. Avoid rooms ending in 01–04 on these floors—they sit closest to the two lifts, which can clatter at peak times.
Which rooms should I avoid at NH Columbia?
Avoid ground-floor rooms and rooms ending in 01–04 on all floors (adjacent to the lift shaft). Ground floor picks up kitchen/bar noise from the lobby area and any late-night arrivals. Also skip any room marked with a side window overlooking the service alley on the south side—that’s where deliveries and bin collection happen from early morning.
Is NH Columbia noisy?
The hotel sits directly on Rambla Gran Bretaña, a main coastal road with steady traffic from early morning until late evening. Occasional buses and delivery trucks rumble past. The two lifts are older model and squeak on startup—audible if your room door is near the shaft. The ground-floor bar stays open until midnight on weekends, with music audible in lobby-facing rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at NH Columbia?
East-facing rooms on the Rambla side give you a full sweep of the Río de la Plata, the port cranes, and the old city skyline to the left. Late afternoon sun warms the room. West-facing rooms look over the side street (Pérez Castellano) and nearby apartment blocks—nothing special.
What are insider tips for staying at NH Columbia?
1) The nearest car park (Estacionamiento Plaza España) is a 3-minute walk east, costs ~800 UYU per 24h, but fills up by 10am on weekdays—arrive before 9am to secure a spot. 2) Free Wi‑Fi works reliably on floors 3–7; ground floor and first floor can drop to 5–7 Mbps due to thick walls near the restaurant. If you need faster, request a room on floor 4 or 5 and sit near the wardrobe (signal strongest there).
What time is check-in at NH Columbia?
Check-in at NH Columbia is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does NH Columbia have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi‑Fi throughout; basic speed approx. 15 Mbps download. No login required — just accept terms on the portal.
Is there a city or tourist tax at NH Columbia?
10% VAT included in rate; no additional city tax.
Where can I eat cheaply near NH Columbia?
Menú del día at a lunch spot – 300-450 UYU for main, drink, and sometimes dessert.
What is the cheapest way to get around from NH Columbia?
Bus: 20 UYU for a single ride (STI card). Airport: bus lines 711 or 705 from Tres Cruces terminal, 45 UYU – cheaper than taxi (800+ UYU).
When is the best time to visit Montevideo?
March and November: autumn and late spring offer warm days (20-25°C), low humidity and fewer tourists than peak summer. January: beach weather but busier.
Top Attractions in Montevideo
💡 The stretch near Pocitos Beach is best for a relaxed walk. Bring a mate and a thermos to blend in—it’s the national ritual.
💡 Go around 11am to see the parrillas firing up without the lunchtime crowds. If you do want a cheap snack, empanadas from the side stalls cost around $3.
💡 Cross under the plaza via the subterranean walkway to the mausoleum—it’s free and cool on hot days. The square is quietest early Sunday mornings.
💡 Visit on a Sunday evening when drumming groups (comparsas) practise in public—head to the corner of Isla de Flores and Cuareim. No entry fee, but bring coins for a donation.
💡 Entry is around $4—worth it for the rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the Old City and port. Check for free admission days, typically on Wednesdays.