Brazil's South-East Region
Belo Horizonte Travel Guide
Eat and drink in one the birthplace of Pão de Queijo, and visit the world's best outdoor museum
Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, is Brazil’s third-largest city and an important cultural and economic hub. It is best know for its food culture, being the birthplace of pão de queijo (cheese bread), and for its locally produced artisanal cheeses. It is also known for its modernist architecture, especially the works of Oscar Niemeyer, the city is surrounded by mountains and parks. The Pampulha Modern Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and nearby historic towns like Ouro Preto make it a popular tourist destination.
Top 5 Things to See & Do in Belo Horizonte
Visit the Pampulha Modern Ensemble and walk around the lagoon
Explore Praça da Liberdade
Tour the Inhotim Museum (tickets)
Shop at the Mercado Central
Visit the Palácio das Artes, designed by Oscar Niemeyer
Find cheap accommodation for your trip.
Where is Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Closest airport
Aeroporto Internacional de Confins / Tancredo Neves (CNF)
Main bus terminal
Terminal Rodoviário de Belo Horizonte
N/A
Main ports
How to get to Belo Horizonte
How to get to Belo Horizonte by Flight
Belo Horizonte is well connected with flights from most major Brazilian cities, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, Manaus, and others. There are also direct international flights from Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Panama City, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Lisbon.
How to get to Belo Horizonte by Bus
There are regular bus connections to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, as well as smaller towns in Minas Gerais such as Ouro Preto.
Click here to see tickets and timetables for busses to and from Belo Horizonte.
How to get to Belo Horizonte from Ouro Preto
Busses run regularly from Terminal Rodiviaro de Belo Horizonte connecting Belo Horizonte smaller towns in Minas Gerais, such as Ouro Preto. The bus to and from Ouro Preto runs hourly (tickets & timetable).
How to get around Belo Horizonte
Getting around Belo Horizonte is relatively straightforward, with several transportation options available. The city's public transportation system includes cheap buses that cover extensive routes throughout the metropolitan area. Up to date routes and timetables are can be found on Google Maps by searching for directions.
Ride-sharing services like 99 and Uber are also widely available and inexpensive, are a safer way to travel after dark.
Things to know before you go
Eating Out in Belo Horizonte
Minas Gerais known for it's amazing food. It's the home of Brazil's famous Pão de Queijo - while you can eat these delicious cheese breads anywhere in Brazil, but the best ones come from here so make sure you try them. Minas has other unique foods such as Feijão Tropeiro, a super satisfying dish of beans mixed with farofa, egg, and a meat such as sausage or bacon.
Visiting Inhotim Museum
One of the main attractions in Belo Horizonte is Inhotim, an extravagant outdoor museum that is a must-see. Visiting requires a little forward planning as it's located approximately 1.5 hours from the center of Belo Horizonte, and some bus tickets need to be purchased in advance.
Tickets for Inhotim Museum:
Entrance to Inhotim is free on Wednesdays, and costs R$50 on all other days.
Opening Times for Inhotim Museum:
Wednesday to Fridays from 9:30am to 4:30pm
Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 9:30am to 5:30pm
How to Get to Inhotim Museum from Belo Horizonte:
There are two bus companies that travel between Belo Horizonte and Inhotim Museum. They depart once per day in the morning, and return in the afternoon at the museum's closing time:
Cia Coordenadas: Departing from the main bus terminal in Belo Horizonte at 8.15am. Tickets can be booked at the time of travel, however you should arrive early to line up for a ticket, especially on Wednesdays, so you don't miss out.
Belvitur: Departing from the Holiday Inn Hotel at 8am. Tickets must be purchased at least one day in advance, and reservations can be made by Whatsapp.
Bus tickets cost R$110 per person for a round trip, so it may be cheaper to rent a car if you have a small group. Parking at the museum is free. See here for up to date bus times and prices.
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