Montevideo is the capital, largest city, and chief port of Uruguay. Given that it is more than twice as large as any other city in the country, it is considered a primate city. Montevideo has a privileged harbour, one of the most important in the Americas. Also, it has beautiful beaches, like Pocitos, Buceo, Malvin, Playa de Los Ingleses, Playa Verde, Punta Gorda and Carrasco.

Many monuments and museums cover the city, as well as historic buildings and squares. According to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Montevideo is the Latin American city with the highest quality of life (followed by Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile). It is also one of the 30 safest cities in the world.