Brazil's South-East Region
The Ultimate Brazil Travel Guide: Belo Horizonte
Eat and drink in the birthplace of Pão de Queijo, and visit the world's largest open-air 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 10 Things to See & Do in Belo Horizonte
Visit the Inhotim Museum: Located in Brumadinho, about 60 kilometres from Belo Horizonte, Inhotim is one of the world's largest open-air art galleries with botanical gardens across a 140 hectare site. The museum features works by artists such as Hélio Oiticica, Tunga and Yayoi Kusama. Advance ticket purchase is required, and guided tours are available (tickets).
Visit Belo Horizonte's Museums: Several museums in central BH explore the city's history, culture and art. The Museu Histórico Abílio Barreto presents the city’s urban development in a preserved farmhouse. The Museu de Artes e Ofícios, located in the old Central Station, focuses on pre-industrial trades in Brazil. The Palácio das Artes includes galleries such as Galeria Genesco Murta and performance spaces. At Praça da Liberdade, the Circuito Liberdade houses several museums including the Memorial Minas Gerais Vale, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil and Museu das Minas e do Metal.
Visit the Pampulha Modern Ensemble and walk around the lake: This UNESCO World Heritage Site includes works by Oscar Niemeyer, landscaping by Burle Marx and artwork by Cândido Portinari. Highlights include the São Francisco de Assis Church, Casa do Baile and the Pampulha Art Museum, located around a huge lake. The lake path is 17 kilometres long and popular for walking and cycling.
Explore Praça da Liberdade: The square is surrounded by buildings from the early 20th century, now housing museums, cultural centres and administrative offices. The gardens feature fountains and walking paths. It is the centre of the Circuito Liberdade cultural complex.
Shop at the Mercado Central: Operating since 1929, the market includes more than 400 stalls selling cheeses, cachaça, sweets, coffee, crafts, and more. Many stalls offer free tastings of their products.
Eat and drink at Mercado Novo: This revitalised mid-century building houses shops and bars focused on local products, craft beer and contemporary cuisine. It is known for independent retailers, bookshops, designers and live music events, particularly on weekends.
Walk through the Mangabeiras Park: Covering over 2 million square metres in the Serra do Curral foothills, the park features native forest, trails and picnic areas. It offers city views and access to the Mirante do Mangabeiras.
Take in the sunset at Mirante do Mangabeiras: Located at 1,100 metres above sea level, the viewing platform provides a wide view of the city skyline and surrounding mountains. It is a popular site for sunset, and includes open areas for walking and cycling.
Sample regional dishes at a traditional restaurant: Restaurants such as Xapuri, Dona Lucinha and Casa Cheia specialise in Minas Gerais cuisine. Typical dishes include feijão tropeiro, tutu de feijão, leitão à pururuca and various sweets such as goiabada and doce de leite.
Attend a football match at Mineirão Stadium: Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto, also known as Mineirão, is home to Atlético Mineiro and Cruzeiro. It also houses the Museu Brasileiro do Futebol. Tours are available on non-match days and include access to the stands, pitch and locker rooms.
How long should you spend in Belo Horizonte?
Spend a minimum of 3 days to visit Inhotim Museum, explore the city centre including Praça da Liberdade, and to visit the Pampulha lake. You can easily spend more days in the city if you have an interest in visiting several of Belo Horizonte's museums, or attending a football match.
See my detailed travel itinerary for Belo Horizonte:
Travel itinerary: How to spend 3 days in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Where to stay in Belo Horizonte
The nicest areas to stay in Belo Horizonte include Savassi and Lourdes. Savassi is known for its upscale restaurants and nightlife, while nearby Lourdes also has several hotels and restaurants with a slightly more relaxed vibe. Another alternative is Pampulha, located by the Pampulha lake, for those looking for a more tranquil stay.
Find cheap accommodation for your stay in Belo Horizonte, or check out my personal recommendations:
Hotels in Belo Horizonte
Hotel Fasano - best for those seeking an international hotel (see prices)
Ouro Minas Hotel - a luxury hotel with breakfast, gym, and an indoor pool (see prices)
Radisson Blu Savassi - a more budget friendly international hotel (see prices)
Backpacker Hostels in Belo Horizonte
Br Hostel - hostel with lovely staff, ideally located in Savassi (see prices)
Woods Hostel - hostel with pool located on Pampulha Lake (see prices)
Nuhh Hostel - tidy hostel with a garden terrace, located in Lordes (see prices)
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Igreja de São Francisco de Assis) at Lagoa da Pampulha, Belo Horizonte
Where is Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Quick Facts about Belo Horizonte
Population of Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2.42 million (IBGE, 2025)
Nicknames
People from Belo Horizonte are called belo-horizontinos, while people from anywhere else in Minas Gerais State are called mineiros.
Closest airport
Aeroporto Internacional de Confins / Tancredo Neves (CNF)
Main bus terminal
Terminal Rodoviário de Belo Horizonte
Read my free 3 day travel itinerary for Belo Horizonte!
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
See all bus connections and find cheap tickets to Belo Horizonte
Busses run regularly from Terminal Rodiviaro de Belo Horizonte (map) connecting Belo Horizonte to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, as well as to smaller towns in Minas Gerais, such as Ouro Preto and Tiradentes.
How to get to Belo Horizonte from Sao Paulo
The bus between Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte takes around 8+ hours, so it is ideal to take the overnight bus to save time (tickets & timetable).
How to get to Belo Horizonte from 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 various transportation options available. Ride-sharing services like 99 and Uber are widely available and inexpensive, are a safer way to travel after dark.
Public transport fare in Belo Horizonte, 2025
The city's public transportation system includes buses that cover extensive routes throughout the metropolitan area, and one metro line that runs between Eldorado and Vilarinho. The public transport fare in Belo Horizonte is R$5.75 for the bus and R$5.50 for the metro (2025).
Up to date routes and timetables are can be found on Google Maps by searching for directions and selecting public transport.
Car rental in Belo Horizonte
Car rental in Belo Horizonte is a good option for tourists who plan to travel outside the city, such as visiting Ouro Preto, Mariana, Inhotim, or exploring the mountains and countryside of Minas Gerais. Inside Belo Horizonte city itself, driving is often not recommended due to heavy traffic, limited parking, and the availability of Uber and public transport. Still, renting a car may benefit travellers who want flexibility to visit areas that are not well connected by public transport, or who are travelling in groups.
Cars can be rented in the city centre, as well as from both of Belo Horizonte’s airports, Belo Horizonte/Confins International Airport (CNF) and Belo Horizonte Pampulha Airport (PLU). For the best prices, book your car rental in advance online.
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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