Located only a short 1-1.5 hour ferry from Buenos Aires is one of our favourite day trip locations.. the charming Colonia del Sacramento. From the moment we stepped foot in the UNESCO world heritage town, we fell in love with the sleepy streets and vibrant colours. Colonia del Sacramento is a fusion of Portuguese, Spanish and Uruguayan influences.. the result being a gorgeous little town. It didn’t take long until Uruguay’s jewel had us in her charm.
5 things you must do when you visit Colonia del Sacramento
Wander the bougainvillea lined streets!
Get lost in the photogenic streets! Seriously, this town is a postcard! Bougainvillea line most of the streets, doors, shops and café’s. The buildings are colourful, and the streets are just begging to be explored. Wandering the whole town and squares will only take an hour or 2, so take your time, and visit the little alleyways!
Get lunch at one of the top class eateries
Colonia del Sacramento is home to a few excellent eateries! In particular, Bohemia Bistro and Charco are highly recommended. We researched in advance, choosing Bohemia Bistro for lunch, and were delighted with our choice! Top quality food, amazing service, and a cute courtyard.
Enjoy a coffee at one of the vibrant café’s
Almost every one of the restaurants and café’s in Colonia del Sacramento are gorgeous. Some have vine-lined walls, others have rainbow tables. A few café’s have rooftops with a view (see Serrano Café), while some are just a splash of colour. A short walk around will show a plethora of great options!
Head to the harbour and beach
The Colonia del Sacramento harbour is worth walking to for the view and the fresh salty breeze. You can also wander you way down to the local beaches like Playa Urbana. If the sun is out it makes a lovely spot for sunbaking, and the walk there is along picturesque streets.
Browse the boutique shops
Numerous boutique and artisan shops line the little streets of Colonia. Spend some time checking out these stores, with many located under beautiful bougainvillea or in colourful buildings. We found these stores a little less touristy than some day trip towns.
Enjoy the vibe!!
As you can likely tell from our guide, Colonia del Sacramento is small, sleepy, but super charming. The atmosphere is lively, and the locals are really friendly. Get lost in the tiny alleyways and soak up the vibe.
A few things to know for you visit!
- How to get to Colonia del Sacramento: Catch the ferry from the Buenos Aires La Boca ferry port (located around 15-20minutes from the heart of town). Ferries run regularly, and tickets can be purchased online.
- You will need your passport to get to Colonia del Sacramento: Bring your passport and allow time to clear customs.. you’re heading to another country!
- How long should you spend in Colonia del Sacramento: A day is more than enough. The town is gorgeous, but also tiny. While we have heard spending a night can be charming (see accommodation options), 4-6 hours should be enough to explore the town and get a tasty lunch!
- Is Colonia del Sacramento safe? Extremely! Not only is Uruguay one of the safest countries in South America, we had non moments of feeling unsafe during our day trip.
- Get to Colonia del Sacramento early if you can! An earlier ferry allows you to arrive before most of the other tourists do. The town started to get a little busier around 10.30-11am, so see if you can get there before then! Even with the ‘crowds’ the town was still pretty quiet!
So should you visit Colonia del Sacramento for a day trip from Buenos Aires? Absolutely! We loved our visit and highly recommend it to everyone visiting Buenos Aires!
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