Paysandú is a city in the northern interior of Uruguay. The capital of Paysandú Department, it is located across the Uruguay River from Colón, Argentina.

Understand

Paysandú is located in western Uruguay, on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina. It has a population of 76,412 people.

Get in

By car

Paysandú is on Uruguay Route 3 from Montevideo and Salto and Route 90 from Guichón.

If you're coming from Argentina, take General Artigas Bridge just south of Colón.

By bus

The bus terminal is located at Bulevar Artigas 770. Bus service is available from many cities in Uruguay, including Montevideo, Rivera, Salto, and Tacuarembó, and from Concepción del Uruguay and Colón, Argentina. Service is provided by companies such as COPAY and Agencia Central.

By plane

Tydeo Larre Borges International Airport is not served by commercial airlines. The nearest major airport is in Montevideo.

Get around

Local bus service is provided by COPAY.

See

• 1 Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, 18 de Julio and Montecaseros, ☏ +598 4722 9118. Old church including a bronze bell that dates to 1689. (updated Aug 2017)
• 2 Monumento General Leandro Gómez, Plaza Constitución, 18 de Julio and Montecaseros. Mausoleum and statue of General Leandro Gómez. Established in 1984 by Walter Castelli, who designed this impressive and fascinating monument to represent Leandro Gómez's nationalism. Plaza Constitución, where it is located, is a famous place in its own right. The mausoleum is operated by the government of Paysandú. The monument includes the remains of General Leandro Gómez, and you can see important historical documents. (updated Aug 2017)
• Hipódromo San Félix (Horse racing track). 

Do

• Semana de la Cerveza (Beer Week). Uruguay's annual beer festival, held during Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter) in Paysandú. Come for food, music, culture, and more! (updated Apr 2017)
• Termas de Guaviyú, hot springs about 60 km north of the city, are easily reachable by car or bus for a day trip
• Paysandú Yacht Club. 

Eat

Paysandú has a typical dessert called "chajá", and you can find it in every restaurant in the city. One of the most typical Uruguayan desserts, it was invented by the owner of a tearoom in northern Paysandú Department. That tearoom created this lovely sweet dessert and invited a friend to try it. The friend said it was light and soft like foam, just as the chajá bird was! And from then on, it is called postre chajá, the chajá dessert!

Many times other people have tried to copy it, but nobody knows the exact recipe for the distinctive meringue. Since 81 years ago, when it was invented, the recipe has always remained in the family, and the same family is still making this dessert after three generations! In its origin, it was made with strawberries, but as they couldn’t be found fresh in Uruguay in certain months of the year, they decided to use peaches instead. The most popular postre chajas you can buy are individual ones, each little dessert is made separately. But then you can also make or buy a family dessert if you choose.

The most famous Uruguayan dish is roast beef, a dish of beef which is roasted in an oven. Essentially prepared as a main meal, the leftovers are often used in sandwiches and sometimes are used to make hash. And there are more options for people who prefer eating fast food like hot dogs, hamburgers, chivitos, french fries and subs.

Sleep

• 1 Bulevar Hotel, Bulevar Artigas 960, ☏ +598 4722 8835. $U1790. 
• 2 Cabañas Tacuabé (Guaviyú bungalows), Termas de Guaviyu (65 km north on route 3), ☏ +598 4755 2478. A quieter place. Hot springs await. $U2131. 

Go next

• Colón
• Salto

Routes through Paysandú

Salto ←	N  S	→ Trinidad → Montevideo
Merges with ←	N  S	→ Junction → Mercedes
Ends at ←	W  E	→ Tacuarembó