If you are hoping to make the most out of your time in the Brazilian Midwest region, there is no better destination than Belo Horizonte. Just over an hour away from Rio de Janeiro by plane, about six and a half by car, Belo Horizonte truly has it all! From a great mercado central to an unesco world heritage site nearby, there are a lot of things to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. It is definetly not as busy as Sao Paulo but you will get a brazilian city experience like any other.
Belo Horizonte, also known as BH for locals, is a different kind of place because the urban sprawl goes beyond the city center. You have as much to do around the city as you have in it! From major attractions to city squares, you can have it all in your itinerary if you plan nicely. And that’s why I’m here! Let’s go together through all of the best things to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil!
1. Visit the Pampulha Lagoon
Recently declared a Cultural Humanity Patrimony, the Pampulha Architectural Complex is first on everyone’s list of things to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Although one day should be enough to see it all, you might get the impression that it is too rushed or you haven’t seen everything. In that case, feel free to set aside a couple of days or a day and a half to explore this part of town.
The main attractions are part of a complex projected by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, the man responsible by famous buildings in Sao Paulo and Brasil’s capital city. Former president Juscelino Kubitschek asked him to project this complex and the unmissable buildings are: the Sรฃo Francisco church, the Kubitscheck House (almost a museum fot the former president’s legacy); the Baile house, the Museum of Modern Art and the Yatch Club.
There are a few green areas throughout the complex, includuing a park, so take your time enjoying them. I highly recommend grabbing a coffee and some famous pรฃo de queijo for an awesome afternoon snack. If you are looking for a proper meal, there are a few restaurants around to choose from.
2. See the Animals at the Zoo
When it comes to exploring, BH sets an easier pace. Most of the things to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, are for a calmer traveler. The Zoo Garden of Belo Horizonte is administered by the City Hall, it is also a mandatory stop for all visitors. Close to both Ouro Preto and the Mercado Central, you could set aside a half day to explor this Belo Horizonte staple. Beyond all of the beautiful animals, the zoo’s charming architecture remains from when it opened in the late fifties.
The zoo itself is arranged in a sort of ring, giving you an easy layout to follow for your visitation. As for ticket prices, they are incredibly cheap but they can’t be purchased online. I’d recommend you take some cash to purchase them there, plus some extra for all the snacks and souvenirs. You can take the public transportion options there, uber or even your rental car since there is plenty of parking available.
Just don’t forget that the zoo means lots of walking. So opt for your comfiest sneakers and breezy clothing! I’d recommend you take some insect repellent too since no one wants to deal with allergies on their day out.
3. Smell the Flowers at the Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden, about thirty minutes away by car from the Mercado Central, is another non-negotiable for your list of things to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. You may be wondering why that is, what makes a garden so important? Locals love it because it is an important place for basic education and also for the research of local plant life. There are many species preserved in these grounds!
Visitors come here to enjoy the lakes with beautiful aquatic species, they do make for gorgeous pictures. And leisure can also be a learning experience since there are a few themed greenhouses! With the Atlantic Forest ones you learn about the most iconic forest in Latin America. You canna also have the best time at the evolutionary greenhouse, it is one of the best places there for interesting pictures.
Everyone is able to enter this space for free, much like the parks in Sรฃo Paulo. Also like them, there are a very defined set of working hours. You can go to the Botanical Garden from Tuesday to Sunday, starting at 8:30 AM through 5 PM.
4. Cheer With Locals at the Mineirรฃo
One of the best things to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil is watching a soccer match at Mineirรฃo. It isn’t a UNESCO World heritage site, it is kind of far from the city center but you won’t regret it. I would say that going to a soccer match is one of the most Brazilian things you can, an experience that will truly immerse you into our culture.
The Cruzeiro team is ahead of the stadium nowadays but there have been many others that helped build its history. Mineirรฃo was inaugurated in 1965, with a game between the “Seleรงรฃo Mineira” and River Plate. Many games happen here every year, across plenty of different championships! Your best chance of catching one is checking out the agenda on the stadium’s website. Parking can also be purchased in advance online too!
If you do go, remember the security rules of these places and bring a transparent bag to help with going through security. Your phone also needs to be fully charged to take a bunch of pictures to remember this moment!
5. Go on a Day Trip to Ouro Preto
When people think Brazil, they think Rio de Janeiro or Sรฃo Paulo. But there is another city that is equally as iconic, though not as big which will give you a different experience. I am talking about Ouro Preto! A city that dates back to the gold rush in Brazil during the eighteenth century, you could easily spend an amazing day or an incredible week there. Every corner will tell you something about Brazilian history.
If you think a day will be enough to get around, see all the best places in town and even have some cheese bread, then you should book a day tour. It will save you the trouble of figuring out transportation, of figuring out how to get around town. Some tours can also include whatever meals you make during your time there! It is always best to do some research before choosing the company.
Now, you may be looking for a fuller experience! For travelers looking for a return to other times, check out our Ouro Preto Travel Guide to help out with the planning part.
6. Shop at the Mercado Central
Born in September of 1929, the Mercado Central came to help everyone who lived in the city. Its original intent was to be a place close to the city center where locals could go for all of their necessities. Over almost a hundred years later, it still is a place where you can find it all. From typical food like the world-famous “pรฃo de queijo” to handmade souvenirs, come over with time and money to spare!
The main reason why visitors love coming here so much is the the Mercado Central cares about tourists so much that you can book guided visitations for free! Just reach out beforehand, either through their phone number or email, to book a time slot! Like that you will get the full experience at one of Belo Horizonte’s main cultural centres.
This isn’t a whole-day kind of program, so you could easily fit it into a morning before you go check out another spot. Oh, there are a lot of cultural events happening here all the time so check out the agenda at their website!
7. Get Some Great Pics at Praรงa Da Liberdade
What I like about coming over to this town is how all of the best things to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, are never that far from each other. You could spend a day at Parque das Mangabeiras then hit Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil for a concert. Or maybe exchange the Parque das Mangabeiras for Praรงa da Liberdade, a spot known for its beauty and much closer to the Centro Cultural.
It was built in the lat nineteenth century to house the city’s power buildings. So the city hall, city council and such. You can also marvel at the Edificio Niemeyer, a building which reminds me of the COPAN in Sรฃo Paulo which was projected by the same famous architect. All of that creates a truly beautiful horizon making good on the city’s name in Portuguese.
Because there is a lot of greenery and flowers in this square, the best time to come over is in early spring for Latin America (meaning September).
8. Explore the Serra Do Cural Park
Although the city itself has an easier to explore urban sprawl, there are a few places to go to if you are a visitor looking for a dose of physical activity. Going to Serra do Cural Park is one of the top things to do in Belo Horizonte for good reason! Inaugurated in 2012, the main reason for it was to preserve Serra do Cural since it is considered a national patrimony.
There are almost a hundred and fifty-five thousand square miles to explore, it will be a lot easier if you follow the lookout route though. It is composed of ten separate spots to choose from, some of them will even let you identify some of the city’s iconic spots like the Pampulha Lagoon. Because some almost extinct species were found there, you can only go until lookout number three without a guide.
Most people will be satisfied with this much exploration, look for a good guide if you want to go any further. That will be your only expense since you won’t need to pay anything to enter the park.
9. Enjoy Your Sunday at the Hippie Street Fair
One of my favorite things to in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, one of my favorite things to do pretty much everywhere actually, is going to a street fair. In BH, the Feira Hippie is one of the city’s hidden gems and a good option. This specific fair is special because it has been around the late sixties and it has endured so much to arrive here, sixty years later with so much history.
I consider the Feira Hippie the perfect place for visitors who want to stray from people who just take international flights, going from place to place without getting to know it. You can take advantage of it to try food or snacks, get some souvenir shopping done and take in local culture. There are over fifteen hundred stalls to browse.
So in case you’re in town on a Sunday, from 7 AM until 2 PM, head over to the city center for this incredible experience. And don’t worry, everyone has to be approved by city hall to be here so you can eat your way through local cuisine.
10. Eat Your Way Through Local Cuisine
Our last thing to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, has to be dedicated to the great food in this part of Brazil. There are many unusual ingredients that just make sense here, making it worth to try everything the late city has to offer. So no matter if you go to the best restaurants or try street food in the area, let’s talk about all the dishes you need to have.
First has to be the famous pรฃo de queijo, a savory cheesy bread with a chewy texture that is a staple in every bakery. And cheese bread is always paired with good coffee, Minas Gerais is the best area of Brazil to try traditional Brazilian coffees. There are a few bean based dishes like Feijรฃo Tropeiro, which is beans mixed with cassava flour and other topping like bacon or boiled eggs. My personal favorite is the Cornmeal Cake with Guava Paste!
Now that you know all of the best places and the best things to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, let’s talk a little bit about what is the best time to come over. Latin America is huge and it has lots of different weathers. Unlike Rio de Janeiro, the best time to visit BH and the surrounding areas aren’t the summer months, december through february. You should plan your trip between the months of April and September! You will have great temperatures with only the occasional rain showers.
There is so much to do in the state of Minas Gerais that, your trip can easily turn into a more scenic experience! You just need to plan your activities ahead of time so you’re not stuck hauling overpacked luggage around. If you need any more tips and tricks beyond things to do in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, check out our blog for a complete Belo Horizonte Travel Guide! You will be able to plan your trip down to which kind of shoes to bring. And if there are any more questions? Just come over and let me know!
