Montevideo is located on the River Plate estuary and is a modern metropolis with a historical old town dating back to colonial times. Surrounding the whole city lies an uninterrupted stretch of clean white sandy beach. Like Buenos Aires across the estuary, the city has a distinctly European feel with wide avenues and leafy green parks. Highlights include the Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) with its 18th century buildings, the vibrant Mercado del Puerto, a lively market with open-air restaurants at one end, and the bustling commercial activity of Avenida 18 de Julio and its cultural offerings, theatres, museums and art galleries.
