The Rambla is Montevideo's great democratic public space — a continuous coastal promenade running 22 kilometres from the old port along the inner bay, past the beaches of Pocitos and Buceo, to the eastern edge of the city at Carrasco. It is the civic heart of Montevideo in a way that no plaza is: all classes, all ages, all purposes.
The best stretches for walking are from the Ciudad Vieja along to Pocitos, where the promenade is widest and the views across the Río de la Plata most open. At sunset the sky over the river turns extraordinary colours, especially in winter. Mate thermoses are the standard equipment of anyone sitting on the sea wall. Cycling the full length is feasible and rewarding — bike rental shops operate near the Centro.