Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, is a city best known for its incredible food. Founded in 1897 as Brazil’s first planned city, it features wide avenues, public squares, and modernist architecture. The Pampulha architectural complex, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an example of Brazil’s mid-20th-century modernist movement. The Mercado Central is a focal point for local and regional foods, handicrafts, cheese, and cachaça.
Surrounded by mountains, Belo Horizonte provides access to nature with parks such as Mangabeiras and Serra do Curral. The city also serves as a gateway to the colonial towns of Minas Gerais, including Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, and Mariana. The city has a strong music and arts scene, with venues, museums, and annual festivals that showcase local and national talent. Known for its bar culture, Belo Horizonte has one of the highest concentrations of bars per capita in Brazil, where locals and visitors alike gather to enjoy live music and traditional Mineiro dishes like feijão tropeiro.
Don't have time to read the whole article? > Find cheap accommodation for your stay in Belo Horizonte > Find cheap cheap bus tickets to Belo Horizonte
This itinerary sets out a variety of activities to help you get the most out of your three days in the city, based on my personal experience visiting Belo Horizonte.
Day 1: Visit Belo Horizonte's Museums & Markets
Morning: Visit Praça da Liberdade and nearby museums
Begin the day with a typical Minas Gerais breakfast - coffee and a Pão de Queijo (cheese bread). A great place to try a stuffed cheese bread, a breakfast you can only find in the state of Minas Gerais, is a cafe called A Pão de Queijaria (map).
After breakfast, spend the morning Praça da Liberdade, a historic square surrounded by a variety of museums and cultural institutions. Explore the museums in the Circuito Liberdade, such as the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center (BBCC) that houses a variety of free exhibitions, Memorial Minas Gerais Vale, and the Mineiro Museum. Walk through the gardens and enjoy the architecture of the surrounding buildings.
Afternoon: Visit Mercado Central for food and cachaca tastings
Head to Mercado Central, a traditional market offering local products, including cheeses, home-made dolce de leite, and cachaça. Wander through the market and taste the various products on offer - and don't forget to purchase your favourites to take with you for later.
Evening: Visit Mercado Novo for Dinner & Drinks
Mercado Novo was established in the 1960s as a commercial space designed to accommodate wholesalers, artisans, and small businesses. In recent years, it has undergone a transformation, and has been revitalised to become a cultural hub that features craft breweries, restaurants, and trendy bars.
Visit Mercado Novo for dinner and drinks. Sample local craft beers and enjoy dinner from one of the restaurants or vendors specialising in Minas Gerais' regional cuisine. Other regional drinks from Belo Horizonte to try include Xeque Mate (rum, guarana, tea, and lime) and Lambe Lambe (comes in a variety of fruit flavours).
Day 2: Day Trip to Inhotim Museum
Full-Day Activity: Inhotim Museum
Dedicate the second day to Inhotim, a contemporary art museum and botanical garden located in Brumadinho. Explore the large-scale art installations, sculptures, and pavilions set within the landscape. Book tickets and transportation in advance, as the museum is located about 60 km from Belo Horizonte. Walk through the gardens, visit key installations by international and Brazilian artists, and take breaks at the museum’s restaurants or cafes.
Tickets for Inhotim must be booked in advance, and entry is free on Wednesdays. See my full guide to Belo Horizonte for more details on visiting Inhotim, including buying tickets and bus schedules.
Evening: Eat dinner in downtown Belo Horizonte
On your way home, stop for dinner downtown. Not far from the museum bus drop-off point is a delicious and inexpensive churrasco (BBQ) restaurant called Ponto da Picanha (map).
Day 3: Architectural and Artistic Highlights
Morning: Visit Lagoa da Pampulha and Oscar Niemeyer's Pampulha Modern Ensemble
Start the day at Lagoa da Pampulha, a huge artificial lake featuring works by architect Oscar Niemeyer. Rent a bicycle and visit the lake's four main landmarks - the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Pampulha Art Museum, the Casa do Baile, and Casa Kubitschek. Keep an eye out for capybaras and other local birds and wildlife while you cycle around the lake. Afterwards, have lunch at a lakeside restaurant.
Afternoon: Visit Palácio das Artes
Later in the afternoon, explore Palácio das Artes, a cultural complex featuring art exhibitions, theaters, and a bookstore. Walk through the galleries to view contemporary and classic art pieces, or attend a performance if available. The Palace sites on the edge of the Américo Renné Giannetti City Park.
Evening: Visit a sunset viewpoint and have dinner in Savassi
Head to the viewpoint Mirante de Mangabeiras (map) to see the sun set over Belo Horizonte. Located at the edge of the Serra do Curral, it offers a panoramic view of the city skyline and surrounding mountains. The site has an elevated platform for visitors and is a popular sunset spot - bring a cold beer and maybe some of your cheese and snacks from the market. Afterwards, head back to Savassi for dinner at one of the many local restaurants serving local dishes.
Have you already visited Belo Horizonte? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!