Piriapolis is Uruguay's older, quieter answer to Punta del Este. It was laid out by the entrepreneur Francisco Piria as a seaside resort of the future, with a grand hotel, a rambla, a castle, and hills used like stage scenery behind the beach.
That slightly theatrical origin is still the point. The town has a broad bay, a long waterfront, the old Argentino Hotel, and viewpoints on Cerro San Antonio. A few kilometres inland, Castillo de Piria feels like the key to the whole project: part residence, part symbol, part eccentric sales pitch for a resort that never became as hard-edged as Punta.
Piriapolis is best for a relaxed day or two rather than a full itinerary. Walk the rambla, go up the hill for the bay view, swim if the weather is kind, and leave time for Cerro Pan de Azucar if you want a proper climb and wider views of the Maldonado coast.