Belo Horizonte
Home to countless attractions, the capital of Minas Gerais State is an amazing destination that combines culture, gastronomy, and creativity.
Nicknamed Beagá by its residents (spelled and pronounced as letters B and H in Portuguese), Belo Horizonte was modern from the moment it was conceived back at the end of the 19th century. It was, in fact, the first ever planned city in the country.
It was in the city of Belo Horizonte that Famous architect Oscar Niemeyer implemented one of his first major projects, Pampulha Modern Ensemble. The Ensemble includes Pampulha Church (formerly the Saint Francis of Assisi Church), the Yacht Tennis Club (formerly the Golf Yacht Club), the Center of Reference in Urbanism (formerly a restaurant and dance hall), and the Pampulha Art Museum (formerly a casino). Belo Horizonte is also home to one of his last projects, Presidente Tancredo Neves Administrative City, built in 2010.
official event links below.
A garden on Liberty Square, Belo Horizonte
The local cuisine in Minas Gerais is an attraction in itself. Everyone must try tropeiro beans (prepared with bacon, sausage, collard greens, eggs and cassava flour), torresmo (super crunchy fried pork rinds), and cachaça (a hugely popular distilled spirit made from sugar cane juice). You can find all of that and more exquisite food at the city’s Central Market.
Whatever you plan to do, don’t miss out on the traditional Minas cheese, white cheese that has been handmade in local farms since the 18th century. It is so popular all over the country that it has recently been added to the Brazilian Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN).
A great local tour is the Liberty Square Cultural Circuit (Praça da Liberdade), on which you can visit the Minas Gerais Memorial, Liberty Palace (Palácio da Liberdade), the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center, and the Museum of Mines and Metal.
Belo Horizonte is also an excellent starting point for those who want to visit the historic cities in Minas Gerais, such as Ouro Preto, Diamantina, Mariana, Tiradentes, and São João Del Rei. Not so far away, visitors will also find Brumadinho, home to Inhotim Institute, a huge open-air museum that contains one of most expressive contemporary art collections in the world.
By Plane
By Bus
+55 (31) 3271-3000
If you are already in Brazil, you can also get to Belo Horizonte by bus. Belo Horizonte Bus Station operates daily routes to and from most Brazilian cities.
Personal Vehicles or Rentals
When driving to Belo Horizonte, the best route if you are making your way from São Paulo is Highway BR-381 (Fernão Dias Highway). If you are going from Rio de Janeiro, Goiás, or the Federal District, you should take Highway BR-040. If you are going from Espírito Santo, the best route is Highway BR-262.
By Bus
There are several bus routes that cover the whole city. For more information, call 156 or visit the BHTrans website.
By Subway
The best way to get to some of the attractions in the city is by subway. Please make sure you check the subway route before boarding.
Taxis and Ridesharing Companies
If you want to get around the city more comfortably, taxis and ridesharing companies are available in the city.
Personal Vehicles or Rentals
A great way to move around the city and to visit nearby destinations is to rent a car.
Useful Numbers
Tourist Information Center Álvaro Hardy:
+55 (31) 3277-9987
Tourist Information Center – Belotur:
+55 (31) 3277-9765
Tourist Information Center – Central Market:
+55 (31) 3277-4691
Military Police: 190
Paramedics: 192
Fire Department: 193
Power Voltage
110V
Local Weather
Summer in the city of Belo Horizonte is hot and wet, while winter is dry and has mild temperatures. The hottest period, between the months of October and March, is also the period when it rains the most. On the other hand, rains are rare and temperatures are lower between the months of April and September.