Cutcsa 701 bus takes about 45–60 minutes into Montevideo
This is the cheap option from Carrasco T1: Cutcsa 701 runs between the airport and central Montevideo for roughly the price of a local city fare, usually under USD $2–3 per person. It runs as a regular city bus, not an airport shuttle, so expect multiple stops along Avenida Italia and 18 de Julio before you reach downtown or Tres Cruces.
The 701 stop sits just outside the T1 arrivals area, across the access road from the main terminal doors, and you buy your ticket directly from the driver in Uruguayan pesos. Buses typically operate from early morning to late evening, but not 24/7, so if you land after 23:00 it’s safer to assume you’ll need a taxi or rideshare instead.
Compared with the roughly USD $35–40 taxi fare into the center, the 701’s sub-$3 ticket makes sense if your hotel is near its route along Avenida Italia or downtown Montevideo. Travel time is usually 45–60 minutes depending on traffic on Route 101 and Avenida Italia, versus 30 minutes by taxi in light traffic.
Cutcsa 701 is a standard urban bus with forward-facing seats, overhead rails, and space near the front door where you can stand with a medium suitcase. There’s no dedicated luggage rack, and reviews of Montevideo buses in general note that drivers may not speak English, so it helps to have your stop name written down in Spanish, like “18 de Julio y Ejido” or “Tres Cruces.”
Frequency on the 701 line can drop to every 30 minutes or more outside peak times, compared with city intervals of about 10–15 minutes during weekday rush hours. If you land at MVD around 07:00–09:00 or 17:00–19:00, expect the bus to be crowded with commuters between Carrasco and the city, especially near the Zonamerica and Portones area.
One last tip: have small bills or coins in pesos ready before you leave T1, ideally from the airport ATM near arrivals, and tell the driver clearly “Centro” or “Tres Cruces” as you board so you don’t miss your stop along the 701 route.