Skip to content
Compare destinations

Which is better: Belo Horizonte or Ouro Preto?

Short answer

Belo Horizonte is in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), while Ouro Preto is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG): different regions of Brazil. Belo Horizonte: capital of Minas Gerais, a mountain city with a boteco (neighborhood bar) on every corner and Niemeyer's architecture on the shores of Lagoa da Pampulha; Ouro Preto: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital. The weather is similar in both this month. The two are about 100 km (62 mi) apart, 1h48 by car; you can combine them in a single trip.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Belo HorizonteOuro Preto & Mariana Day Trip★ 8.9 · 197 reviews · from US$ 71 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in Ouro PretoJardineira Tour★ 8.6 · 145 reviews · from US$ 19 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Belo Horizonte Ouro Preto
Best time to visit May → Aug May → Aug
Weather this month 29° · 8 days of rain 29° · 8 days of rain
By car R$ 360 · from São Paulo R$ 63 · from Belo Horizonte
Ideal stay 3–4 days 2–3 days
Best for Food, Family, Romantic, Adventure Romantic, Food, Family
Choose Belo Horizonte if

you want a trip for food lovers and families: capital of Minas Gerais, a mountain city with a boteco (neighborhood bar) on every corner and Niemeyer's architecture on the shores of Lagoa da Pampulha. The gateway to the historic interior of Minas.

See guide
Choose Ouro Preto if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital.

See guide
Comparison tool
Compare Belo Horizonte and Ouro Preto with any other destination
Build your own side-by-side table with up to 3 destinations.
Open the comparison tool
Where to stay

Where to stay: Belo Horizonte or Ouro Preto

The average nightly rate is around R$ 391 in Belo Horizonte and R$ 527 in Ouro Preto; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Belo Horizonte on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Ouro Minas Hotel Belo Horizonte, Dolce by Wyndham in Belo Horizonte 8.8 ★★★★★ · 128 reviews Ouro Minas Hotel Belo Horizonte, Dolce by Wyndham See on Booking → Nobile Inn Pampulha in Belo Horizonte 8.6 ★★★ · 106 reviews Nobile Inn Pampulha See on Booking →
See all hotels in Belo Horizonte

Compare hotels and places to stay in Ouro Preto on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Pousada Sinhá Olímpia in Ouro Preto 9.5 ★★★★ · 71 reviews Pousada Sinhá Olímpia See on Booking → Hotel Solar de Maria in Ouro Preto 9 ★★★★ · 14 reviews Hotel Solar de Maria See on Booking →
See all hotels in Ouro Preto

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Belo Horizonte or Ouro Preto: which is better?
Belo Horizonte is in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), while Ouro Preto is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG): different regions of Brazil. Belo Horizonte: capital of Minas Gerais, a mountain city with a boteco (neighborhood bar) on every corner and Niemeyer's architecture on the shores of Lagoa da Pampulha; Ouro Preto: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital. The weather is similar in both this month. The two are about 100 km (62 mi) apart, 1h48 by car; you can combine them in a single trip.
What is the best time to visit Belo Horizonte and Ouro Preto?
The best time to visit Belo Horizonte is from May to August; for Ouro Preto, it is from May to August, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from São Paulo, Belo Horizonte is 586 km (364 mi) and costs about R$ 360 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto is 100 km (62 mi) and costs about R$ 63 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Belo Horizonte or Ouro Preto?
Averaged over the year, Belo Horizonte has 8 rainy days a month and Ouro Preto has 8. The two are practically tied over the year, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Belo Horizonte is December and in Ouro Preto, December. For temperature, both have the same average high, 27°.
How many days should you spend in Belo Horizonte and in Ouro Preto?
To see the main sights without rushing, Belo Horizonte calls for 3–4 days and Ouro Preto, 2–3 days. Since the two are 100 km (62 mi) from each other, anyone with 5 days or more can combine them in a single trip.
Belo Horizonte or Ouro Preto with kids?
Both work with kids: Belo Horizonte (capital of Minas; boteco and food; Niemeyer architecture) and Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais Baroque, UNESCO heritage, and historic city). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure.
Can you visit Belo Horizonte and Ouro Preto on the same trip?
Yes. The two are about 100 km (62 mi) apart, 1h48 by car. Combining them in a single itinerary is common, with a few days in each.
What should you not miss in each?
In Belo Horizonte: Praça da Liberdade, Mercado Central, Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Pampulha). In Ouro Preto: Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Tiradentes Square, Inconfidência Museum. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.