Reviews

We did a shore excursion of Montevideo with our group of 12 people. Wow! What a day it was with the incredible, charming,Fanny Margolis! From our first contact, everything was seamless. We saw so much of this beautiful city both Jewish and other highlights and learned so much about its history. Fanny is a wealth of information and she presents if so well in wonderful English. She also had a great driver and very comfortable mini bus. We enjoyed the tour so much we would have been happy to listen to more of her fascinating stories but our ship was leaving. I would also like to mention that Fanny's tour is extremely well -priced. Thank you Fanny for the wonderful day. You are one of the best guides we have ever had!

Fantastic Jewish Tour Experience in Montevideo

Fanny provided an amazing Jewish tour of Montevideo. Her friendly nature and wealth of knowledge made the tour not only informative but also highly enjoyable. Fanny's excellent English and her consideration of our group's interests and background added a personalized. The tour was well organized, and we would happily recommend Fanny's services to anyone seeking a captivating and enriching exploration of Montevideo's Jewish heritage.

Jasmineguard,

Leeds, United Kingdon

Visited February 2024

Fanny was simply wonderful

She wealth of knowledge, insight and communication skills were all excellent. Inasmuch as we booked with her at the last moment, she put a great trip and presentation together with provided us with an understanding of the history and diversity of not just Jewish, but all of Montevideo, as well the nation of Uruguay, which cannot be accessed from tourist books alone. We highly recommend booking her tours... But a word of advice... Book well in advance of your arrival in order not to miss out on seeing anything that Fanny can show and teach you about this fantastic city!

Pissed Off,

USA

Visited Nov 2023

Incredible experience!

This tour was an outstanding experience! Fanny showed us Montevideo and its Jewish side with high expertise and lots of passion for her hometown and community. She helped us to get in contact with the Jewish Community and planned every detail of our tour with us in advance. Fanny was always open for questions and provided us with further material. This tour is an amazing way to get to know Montevideo, its Jewish Community and experience its rich culture with a wonderful guide!

Paula K,

Vienna, Austria

Visited July 2023

One of the best tours I've ever taken

Fanny provides an unbelievable interactive tour of Montevideo with a fair amount of Jewish history. It was the first day of Passover and the synagogue we wanted to visit was closed. Fanny however made it happen! She’s amazing and I would only recommend using her. She picked us up at our cruise ship in her own car with her drive. Overall I loved this experience and was so happy we chose this tour as our original tour was cancelled from our cruise line.

Thank you Fanny
Lana and Adam

AF,

Toronto, Canada.

Visited Apr 2023

Amazing Fanny

We recently took a Celebrity cruise from Buenos Aries to Santiago Chilie. It included a stop in Montevideo. The ship offered a Jewish tour in Montevideo. so, we booked it. 24 hours before we were to leave for Buenos Aries, Celebrity sent us an email informing us that the tour was cancelled. That left us scrambling. I went online and found Fanny's website. So, I reached out to her. She responded within a few hours. At the same time my wife reached out to close friends who had taken the same Cruise. By chance they had also taken Fanny's tour and raved about her. So, we booked Fanny.

Fanny's tour was amazing. Two other couples joined the tour (lowered our cost). She picked us up at the cruise port with a nice van and driver. She took us to all key Jewish spots and gave us wonderful history lesson at each location. She also got into where the Jewish community in Uruguay was headed. She combined the tour with a nice city tour. Which gave us a great feel for the city.

Charles C,

Illinois, USA.

Visited Mar 2023

Fanny fantastic!!!

We just had a fabulous tour with Fanny Margolis. She had a group of 10 of us in a comfortable minibus with plenty of room for us all. She is really knowledgeable and obviously loves her city. Not only did she take us to numerous Jewish places of interest, but also to general city landmarks too. Her explanation of the amazing Holocaust memorial was exceptional and left us all moved and inspired. She is a fantastic guide and I would highly recommend her tour. It was memorable.

Joanna19,

London, U.K.

Visited February 2023

A great morning with Fanny

We recently joined Fanny Margolis for her Jewish Tour of Montevideo. We were very impressed with every aspect of this tour. Fanny was a pleasure to deal with in advance of our tour; all her communications were very clear. She was easy to find, right outside our ship terminal. We were so fortunately to be able to attend a small shabbat service in the centre of town. Also, a highlight was the Holocaust Memorial. Fanny's knowledge of Montevideo was extensive, given that it is her home town. Also, we were happy to have secular sites interspersed as well in the tour. It was a very enriching way to spend a day. Thank you Fanny.

Deborah A,

Toronto, Canada

Visited Febrruary 2020

Great Combination of Jewish and Secular Sites in Montevideo

We took a 6 hour tour of Montevideo which combined visits to Jewish and secular sites. Our tour guide was Fanny. It was a really great tour. We visited a holocaust memorial, a combined school and recreational center and drove through a number of interesting areas in the city. We also drove and walked through several secular sites. I really did not know much about Uruguay before taking the tour. Now I have some appreciation of what makes Uruguay an unusual and special country in South America and how she deals with being a small country sandwiched between 2 big countries. If you visit Uruguay, I recommend taking this tour.

Donald S,

Jerusalén, Israel

Visited Febrruary 2020

Very enjoyable tour

We booked this tour as a private excursion from our cruise ship. There were 3 other couples from the ship who joined us. I found Fanny very engaging and knowledgeable about the city's history. Her detailed explanation of the symbolism of the Holocaust memorial was great. I don't think a general city tour would have included any Jewish sites. The combination of general and Jewish highlights made this a perfect combination for us.

susiebEdmonton

Edmonton, Canadá

Visited Febrruary 2020

Jewish tour of Montevideo

We had a wonderful experience with Fanny Margolis. We very much enjoyed the places she took us, especially the Holocaust monument area, and also the Jewish day school called Yavneh. We liked learning about and understanding her place within the community as well as how the Jewish community there has evolved. And she allowed us to sign up at the very last minute and we got a private tour, so that was so nice of her. Thanks, Fanny.

Newton, Massachusetts

Visited June 2019



Dear Fanny,

After months of planning it was finally nice to meet you and to see your lovely city. We have just returned from our fabulous tour of Antartica and I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the lovely tour of the Jewish Highlights of Montevideo. Your insights and knowledge of life in Montevideo made this a very memorable day. I will certainly recommend you and your company if anyone I know is planning a trip to Uruguay.

All the best,

Arlene Esgar

Visited Febrruary 2019

Must do if a Jew!

We try to visit Jewish places when we travel. This was an amazing tour. Very informative, easy to understand. We found this through cruise critic where cruisers arrange private small group tours at the ports of call and save on the ship based tours. I mention this so fellow cruisers can find or arrange this tour. We had a small comfortable bus with plenty of room. The group was manageable - I hate groups of 60, it takes so much time off and on and you can never get close to hear the guide. This tour was great she was very accessible and engaging. Definitely recommend this as a private tour or a small group. Contact her she may be able to add you to a group she is doing. .

Janice N

Stamford, Connecticut

Visited February 2019

Outstanding and Comprehensive Tour

It is clear that Fanny loves Montevideo, Uruguay, and her Heritage. It is evident in the way she engages her tour guests on the tour. She is not merely a guide who points out sites and photo opportunities, both non secular and secular, but provides historical perspective bringing each place to life. Among the many highlights of the 6 hour tour, two stood out for me. The first was the opportunity to participate at a local synagogue and their welcoming congregation at the end of services on Shabbat. The second was the Holocaust Memorial on the Rambla. Fanny's descriptions of each part of the large installation made it all the more meaningful and moving. Overall, this was one tour I did not wish to end.

IMLady_Marion

Estados Unidos

Visited February 2019

Our cruise stop on Princess Emerald in Montevideo

Wonderful tour by Fanny. Our group of 6 will treasure our lovely day in Montevideo.After much research we decided to book Fanny Margolis because her tour included a city tour of Montevideo with Jewish heritage. We were not disappointed, her knowledge of her home city is amazing and shares it all in a most engaging way.The visit to the synagogue and Jewish school was most uplifting and the whole day will stay in our memories fondly for many years.We would certainly recommend Fanny to anyone who has a short time to visit Montevideo.

Susan B.

Essex, UK

Visited March 2018

Fantastic time with Fanny

My wife was fortunate to hear about Fanny and we booked a tour with Fanny the day our cruise ship arrived. Fanny met us at the port exactly at the time/place she told us to be. She had an air-conditioned vehicle and her driver was excellent.

Fanny showed us and educated us (and the two other couples) as to the history of Jewish people in Montevideo.

Having travelled quite a bit in my time, I truly appreciated her attention to detail and every word that came out of her mouth. She was so darn knowledgeable

Whatever you do, if you want to know about the Jewish way of life in Uruguay, get in touch with Fanny.............you'll be glad you did!!

Martín O.

Visited February 2018

Informative and fun!

Fanny is a wonderful lady thoroughly committed and passionate about her home, her heritage, her country and her career. Time well worth the cost and a beautiful cultural experience. Fanny is extremely well organised and thorough in her reservations and pick up plans. Montevideo is a lovely city, the tour is well worth this fun and informative experience.

Enlightening morning!

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Fanny because of the professional, yet friendly and personal way she explained the history and present situation of Jews in Uruguay. Fanny was able to answer all of our questions. The highlight of the trip, beside the Jewish Uruguayan history was the Holocaust Memorial. At first glance, it looks like a scattered bunch of stones and slabs. But Fanny's explanation brought this powerful memorial to clarity. it was wonderful and will remain in my memory forever!

Andrea D.

California, US

Visited January 2018

Fabulous tour of Montevideo!

My husband and I have just returned from an amazing South American cruise. One of the highlights of our trip was a wonderful private tour for four of Montevideo, which was led by Fanny Margolis of Montevideo Jewish Tours. Fanny’s expertise, knowledge, and warmth, along with her apparent love for her country, made for a thorough, informative, and enjoyable journey through the most notable and important sites of the city, with an emphasis on Jewish history and culture. Our six hours with Fanny were packed with information and memorable experiences, provided by an excellent guide that made us feel connected to her as well as to her beloved city. This was one of our favorite tours and tour guides and we highly recommend it!

Anat E.

California, US

Visited January 2018

Fanny Was Terrific!

Six of us traveling on the Celebrity Infinity engaged Fanny Margolis and we were not disappointed. We spent six hours with Fanny, learning about the history and culture of Montevideo and Uruguay with an emphasis on the migration and settlement of Jews in the region. Fanny also arranged a similar tour for us in Punta del Este, though there was not nearly as much religion based history in this beautiful city and its surrounding areas. If I know the name of the tour group Fanny hired, I would give them a great review, as we hit all the high points and really enjoyed the half day we spent there.

Weston, Florida, United States

Visited March 2017

Fantastic

Our stop in Montevideo from our cruise ship was made so wonderful thanks to Fanny Margolis. She was waiting for us at the peer and we felt an immediate connection with her. We spent 4 hrs with her touring the city. She most definitely knows her city and is extremely knowledgeable of the Jewish History of Montevideo. She answered each and every question asked by the group. I would highly recommend taking her tour, you will not regret it. It will be money well spent. After the tour she pointed us to the harbor side where we ate a nice meal in the market place.

Cgalow
New York City

Visited February 2017

Excellent way to learn about Montevideo and the Uruguayan Jewish community

We, with five other friends, were on a cruise that stopped in Montevideo Uruguay and we had booked a private tour with Fanny Margolis rather than take one of the ship's tours. We added another couple from the ship, making nine people altogether. Fanny was very accommodating, even changing the time of the tour, from afternoon to morning, because our ship came in earlier than expected. She is extremely knowledgeable about the history of Uruguay and the Jewish community and her English is excellent (she is/was an English teacher).

She is very proud of her country and of her Judaism and is able to discuss almost any topic that we thought to raise. She answered all our questions clearly and with honesty. We saw all the sights that would be of interest on a city tour of Montevideo, but she also was able to show us where the Jewish community first started and where the community now lives. We were lucky enough to be able to enter the Sephardic synagogue in the old town as well as go into Yavne, the communal compound that houses the smaller of the Jewish schools - from kindergarten to high school, a synagogue, a kosher bakery, gift shop and various other communal organisations. Her explanation and subsequent walk through of the Holocaust memorial was excellent. We had an wonderful four hours and even though we went slightly over the time, due to our slowness at times in returning to the comfortable van, there was no thought of asking for extra payment. We would not only recommend Fanny Margolis as a tour guide, we would say that if you are interested in Jewish Uruguay, taking a tour with Fanny is an absolute must.

Rose
Sydney, Australia

Visited January 2017

Fanny is the very best!

In short, Fanny made us fall in love with Montevideo. We strongly recommend using her as a tour guide. We consider ourselves so fortunate to have spent the morning with this smart, warm and knowledgable lady. An outstanding tour guide, Fanny weaves pieces of her own family's story with the history of Montevideo, Uruguay and the country's Jewish community. We will always remember sharing biscochos with the wonderful Fanny Margolis.

Rawendy
Mercer Island, Washington

Visited March 2016

Great city and Jewish tour of Montevideo

Two other couples and husband and myself went with Fanny Margolis (info@jewishtours.com.uy) as a private tour from a cruise. We had a very comfortable mini van and wonderful driver, Victoria. The tour was excellent, as was Fanny; Fanny is an outstanding guide, who wants to show you her city and the Jewish sites as well. She is very knowledgeable about the country and in Jewish matters as well. She was able to answer all questions about the country-political, economic, educational, etc. She also gives you her family history which is a part of the history of Montevideo as well as the jewish immigration into Uruguay. It was a wonderful tour and very reasonable. I would certainly recommend Fanny and this tour.

Helen
Chicago

Visited February 2016

Fanny was great!

I booked a tour for a group from our cruise line. Fanny was easy to find and her tour was great. She covered the history of the city, the history of the Jewish community and took us to several important sites. We toured the old synagogue which is under renovation It is awesome and very large - a testament to the size and prosperity of the original community. We went to the Bouza winery for a great tasting . Their wines were very good and we bought to take on the ship. The owner of the winery has an amazing antique car collection which added to the visit, We ended the day with a tour of the newer neighborhood of Montevideo, the public Holocaust monument (amazing for the country of Uruguay) and a Jewish school and community center. The tour covered more than we hoped and Fanny was charming and enagaging, Well worth her fee.

Chadds Ford, PA

Visited February 2016

Reviewed February 15, 2016

Meeting you and having your Tour

Hi Fanny: We were on your tour last Saturday, January 30th. We arrived in Montevideo aboard the Star Princess and were privileged to have you show us around your beautiful city as well as the Jewish tour. We learned so much from you and enjoyed the tour immensely. You have a wealth of knowledge and present everything in a most informative and pleasant way. Thank you for providing us with a different insight as to the Jewish community in a lovely South American city. You made that day of our trip very special and we thank you. Perhaps some day in the future our paths will cross again. Until then, many thanks. Shalom.

Carolyn and Chuck G.
Sharon, Massachusetts