Colonia

A famous former Portuguese colonial outpost, Colonia feels like a step back in time.

Wander slowly past old, pretty colonial buildings set along picturesque, quiet streets which now for part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

There are two or three good restaurants to try, visit some small museums, and swim in the refreshing Rio de la Plata.

El Buen Suspiro (the good whisper) is Colonia’s most famous street. Some say its name derives from the enticing whispers of the prostitutes that worked here; others say it was the last breath of animals that were slaughtered here.

Remember to check out the wooden drawbridge and the 19th-century lighthouse, too.