Is it safe to withdraw cash in Uruguay or not?
I travelled solo through Uruguay in May and made a point to avoid night-time ATM use unless I was in a very busy part of town. In Montevideo, I used a Scotiabank ATM near Tres Cruces terminal around 10 pm it was well-lit and there were security cameras visible. I felt okay doing it, but I wouldn’t recommend using any outdoor ATM after dark if you're alone or carrying bags. Plan ahead during the day if you can, and when you do need to take cash out late, stick to bank-affiliated machines in secure areas.
During my recent trip across Uruguay, I mostly withdrew money during the day, but I had to get cash one night in Colonia del Sacramento. I found a RedBROU ATM inside a bank vestibule you could access it with your card even after hours. The street was well-lit, and a police car passed by while I was there, which actually made me feel safer. I probably wouldn’t use outdoor ATMs after 8 or 9 pm, especially in smaller towns, but in central areas, it didn’t feel sketchy at all.
I stayed in Punta del Este for a few weeks and had to withdraw cash late in the evening more than once. Honestly, it felt pretty safe overall the city is quiet and well-lit, especially near the beachfront and main avenues. I used an HSBC ATM inside a shopping center that was still open past 9 pm. Still, I always scoped out the area first, made sure no one was hovering nearby, and kept my wallet and phone close. I wouldn’t say night withdrawals are risky in Uruguay, but being situationally aware definitely helps.
I was in Montevideo this past April and did use ATMs at night a couple of times, but I was careful about where. The safest options were always ATMs located inside actual bank branches like BROU or Santander, especially the ones in Pocitos or Ciudad Vieja where there’s decent lighting and some foot traffic even after dark. I avoided standalone machines and never used ones at gas stations or outside supermarkets late at night. It didn’t feel dangerous, but as a solo female traveller, I preferred to take out cash in the daytime unless it was urgent.
Banco Republica in Uruguay had ATMs and branch access. Visa and Mastercard accepted. Location felt safe at night.