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Capital city of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Photo: Marina Campos Vinhal, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Belo Horizonte is Brazil's sixth largest city and the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. With its orderly grid plan and tree-lined avenues, it's a pleasant metropolis. For travelers, it's a good stopping point on the way to the beautiful colonial towns such as Ouro Preto and Tiradentes.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
This 1940s neighborhood has some of the highlights of Brazil modern architecture, including the São Francisco de Assis Church, designed by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer (designer of the United Nations building in NYC and also Brasilia, Brazil's capital) . The building is not shocking by itself, until you realize it was meant to be a church. Not surprisingly, the Catholic Church refused to consecrate it for more than one decade. Next to the church, there's the Parque Guanabara, an amusement park that is small, but worth visiting. In Pampulha lies the world-famous Iate Tenis Clube, founded along with the Pampulha Architectural Complex designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Invitations to the club can be bought at the place (they are free if you know someone affiliated to the club). The Pampulha Modern Ensemble is listed as a world heritage site.
One of the largest and newly renovated stadiums in Brazil, where several matches from the FIFA Federation Coup (2013) and FIFA World Cup (2014) were played including the infamous 1-7 semifinal loss in Brazil v Germany. It is located at Pampulha neighborhood.
This is an amazing place for nature lovers, a place where the Cerrado mixes with the Atlantic Forest, this is a great visit for children and family.
A beautiful palm tree-lined square, sidelined by interesting buildings from the 19th century, including the seat of the State Government, and a curvaceous (yes, you can use this word to describe an Oscar Niemeyer building) edifice from the 1960s. Also museums and a Planetarium (you can get tickets for free).
The Museu de Artes e Ofícios is installed in the 19th-century buildings of the former Central Train Station. Its collection shows the richness of Brazilian popular work and professions before the country's industrialization.
This tower offers a spectacular view of Belo Horizonte and its surrounding mountains. On the main floor is the Hard Rock Cafe - Belo Horizonte.
An oasis of green right in the centre of downtown. Based on French parks, it has small lagoons where you can rent a boat or feed the ducks. It has the Casa Maluca (Crazy House), the Casa dos Pneus and a small amusement park - three places where children always like to play.
Diverse mollusks, whales, and Brazilian forest animals. A new exhibit is under construction.
This museum is dedicated to the history of the city and was created in the only standing farmhouse from the old Curral d'El Rey, farmland replaced by the new planned city.
Chinese
Snack bar
Buffet
It has live music from W-Su (and holidays).
If your food tastes lean toward brown rice and tofu, try Bem Natural. This is both a snack bar with tuna and chicken sandwiches on whole wheat, and a por quilo buffet with stuffed tomatoes, vegetarian feijoada, and brown rice.
Cep:30350-540. One of the most famous restaurants in BH is the steakhouse chain Porcão. Considered to have the best meat in BH, it is also one of the most expensive in town. Some nights there are live performances by some of the more well-known performers in BH.
Rei Do Pasetel is a small little corner bar located in the centre of Savassi. It has cheap shots, cheap food and always has something interesting going on, a great place for backpackers.
Located in the most exclusive area of the capital, 10 minutes walk from Savassi Rock! and Hostel offers a truly Brazilian experience, with comfort, safety and fun.
This hostel is a member of Hostelling International and has a nice swimming pool for its guests. (From Rodoviaria take bus 9801 (Saudade-Santa Cruz), at Rua dos Caetés, or the subway to the Santa Tereza station)
Good value.
The Normandy Hotel highlight is its great location, right at the cultural, commercial and financial hub of Belo Horizonte, making it a good option for travellers looking for commodity and agility when staying in town.
BH's oldest and largest shopping malls, with shops, a food court, movie theatre and games.
Another of BH's oldest and largest shopping malls, with shops, food court, movie theatre and games.
Among the largest shopping malls, with shops, a food court, movie theatre and games.
A very refined (and usually expensive) shopping center.
Also very refined (and usually expensive) shopping center, in the heart of Savassi.
A large, traditional indoor market founded in 1929 where you can find tofu, whole grains, cheese, meat, herbs, traditional foods, religious articles, fruit, live birds, pots, souvenirs and lots of other stuff. It's one of the most visited places in the city.
This artesian fair is one of the largest in the country and offers everything from crafts to jewelry, furniture to souvenir, clothing to food. Receives from up to 100,000 people every Sunday. Definitively worth the visit.
By plane
By car
You can safely drive to Belo Horizonte from major Brazilian cities, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Vitoria. You have to pay toll on the roads from Rio de Janeiro and from São Paulo.
By train
Belo Horizonte is one of very few Brazilian cities with a scheduled long-distance train service.
By bus
BH is well served by buses. The SC buses circulate through the downtown area; others serve outlying neighborhoods.
By train
The Metrô snakes through the city, from Eldorado northeast to Vilarinho, tangential to the north side of downtown.
By taxi
Taxis inside the safe are generally considered very safe (if a bit expensive).
By e-hailing
Belo Horizonte is covered by some e-hailing services, Uber being the largest of them. Notable e-hailing services in the city, are:
By car
You can rent cars at the Confins Airport or at Pampulha Airport. All major car rental companies, like Localiza and Hertz have booths at the airports.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Belo Horizonte · International · CNF
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