BELO HORIZONTE

Visit Beagá and marvel at its beautiful mountains nearby

Locals know the place as Beagá, although the city is growing and bigger than ever, it is a brilliant place to visit to see some natural wonders, charming attractions and great authentic Brazilian times.

Unlike other places in Brazil its third largest city brushes with nature closer than others. There are over 500km of hiking trails in the surround areas with some of the best to be found in Parque Estadual Serra do Rola Moça. If you are the outdoorsy type then this is a brilliant place to come visit.

Those who travel with hiking boots (or just really comfy trainers) will love the area!

Get your hiking boots on and explore the nature and mountains nearby.

Hit the Savassi neighbourhood for a cosmopolitan time

Back it the city there are gems to be found in Savassi. There are plenty of chilled bars to kick back in, lovely restaurants to enjoy and parks to stroll through. In comparison to the mountains this is where the way more relaxed side of Belo Horizonte comes out in abundance.

Dona Luchina is a great place to hop into and sample some real local food. As restaurants go it's certainly top of the list in terms of recommendations for where to eat like a local when in this part of Brazil.

People in Beagá are super friendly and welcoming to tourists and travellers so once you find a couple of spots you like, don't be surprised if you make a few friends.

See the spiritual side of Belo Horizonte when visiting the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

Capela Curial de São Francisco de Assisi (Church of Saint Francis of Assisi) has been opened since the 1940s and is a small but lovely modern church.

There are many churches that are older and noteworthy. We find this more modern take on a house of worship to be novel and worth a visit. It was initially a controversial building design and some officials planned to have it demolished but ultimately sense prevailed and the modern iconography that adorns the building now survives to this day to be shared by locals and travellers alike.

A very unique design for a church compared to older local holy buildings.

Things to do in Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte is Brazil's sixth largest city, and while it isn't a traditional must-see, there are a few things to do there that make it worthwhile to include it on your itinerary. If you intend on visiting Minas Gerais state, we've compiled a list of the top things to do in Belo Horizonte and its environs.

There are numerous cities in Brazil, but Belo Horizonte, often known as Beautiful Horizont, is without a doubt the most beautiful and melancholy. 

Furthermore, Belo Horizonte offers a diverse range of activities to keep you occupied and entertained. 

Despite the fact that the city is not on a pretty standard traveler's path, we planned to visit it not just to be rebels, but rather because we hoped to see the best of what Minas Gerais had to experience, and Belo Horizonte, as the region's largest city, seemed like a wonderful foundation for exploring the nearby region. 

Although Belo Horizonte is unlikely to win the prize for the country’s spectacularly stunning  destination any time in the near future, there are various activities to do around Belo Horizonte that you should include in your ideal Brazil itinerary. 

Apart from the city centre itself which you can enjoy, you can add to that easily by taking a one-day journeys from Belo Horizonte; a great option is one to the outstanding outdoor museum Inhotim and the other to Ouro Preto, one of Brazil's most beautiful & old colonial cities.

The city centre is worth exploring

Whilst in Belo Horizonte, you should go to Praca da Liberdade, also known as Freedom Square, which is a park in the downtown area that is full of greenery and a great place to relax. 

Another interesting place to visit is Mercado Central, in which you can shop numerous food tastes such as cheese, as Belo Horizonte is known for its high-quality dairy products. 

Head towards the point of view at Mirante do Mangabeiras for the best views of downtown, which also includes multiple cathedrals and houses of worship. 

And if you're a big admirer of the most renowned Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer, you should see some of his innovative constructions in Belo Horizonte; however, to see the finest of his career, you should travel to Brasilia, Brazil's capital city.

Ouro Preto

Ouro Preto, Brazil's most picturesque colonial city, is just a couple of hours away by road (drive or take a coach) from Belo Horizonte.

The city was formed in the 17th century, once folks from all around the entire planet flocked towards the region throughout the Gold Rush era, attracted by the region's abundance of gold and minerals.

Ouro Preto translates to "black gold," but it was once known as Villa Rica, or "rich village."

Despite the fact that the gold period is completely gone, the city retains its spirit and grandeur.

Ouro Preto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a great number of churches, paved alleys, and colonial buildings with magnificent balconies, and you can always also visit museums to see how life was centuries ago in Ouro Preto.

The terrain of the city adds to the allure of the place. Some of Ouro Preto's attractions are on the hilly terrain, while others are considerably lower down, so you'll have to go up and down small, steep streets several times to see everything, but believe us when we say it's well worth it.

Simply said, Ouro Preto is not the same as Paraty, another colonial jewel in Brazil worth seeing.

Inhotim Museum

If you don't believe you're a museum person, there's no better place to alter your mind than Inhotim, one of the world's largest outdoor museums. The Inhotim Museum is about an hour's drive outside Belo Horizonte and is a must-see attraction for anybody visiting the city.

You can spend the entire day on the grounds and the Inhotim Museum seems to be a fantastic facility that is unlike any other exhibition we've ever seen.

In general, it is a big botanic garden with several leading contemporary paintings and installations scattered across the grounds, as well as 23 interior contemporary art shows (some of which are permanent).

Although this phrase is broad, it is impossible to predict what you will see at Inhotim since many forms of art will physically assault all of your senses and amaze in equal order.

Take normal public transport from Belo Horizonte's terminal (except Mondays because when museum is shut) or a shuttle offered by the museum if travelling by public transportation to Inhotim.

What to bring with you when visiting Belo Horizonte

When visiting Belo Horizonte, expect excellent weather, however it may be a little cool in the mornings and evenings during the winter months of June to September.

The rainy season in Minas Gerais spans from November to March, so dress appropriately if you want to visit Belo Horizonte or the state of Minas Gerais during this period. You will need to pack to suit the season.

Is Belo Horizonte safe?

To keep safe in Belo Horizonte, avoid walking alone after dark, stick on well-lit streets, don't hail a cab from the street, and don't flaunt your possessions. You should have no problems enjoying your vacation to Belo Horizonte if you use common sense.