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Which is better: Brumadinho or Mariana?

Short answer

Brumadinho is in Belo Horizonte and its surroundings (MG), while Mariana is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG): different regions of Brazil. Brumadinho: a satellite town of Belo Horizonte that has become synonymous with contemporary art; Mariana: the first capital of Minas. The weather is similar in both this month.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap

Most reviewed activity in BrumadinhoInhotim Institute Tickets★ 8 · 6 reviews · from US$ 14 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →

	Brumadinho	Mariana
Best time to visit	May → Aug	May → Aug
Weather this month	29° · 8 days of rain	29° · 8 days of rain
By car	R$ 334 · from São Paulo	R$ 70 · from Belo Horizonte
Ideal stay	1–2 days	2–3 days
Best for	Romantic, Family, Relax, Adventure	Romantic, Family, Food

Choose Brumadinho if

you want a trip for couples and families: home to the Inhotim Institute, the country's largest open-air museum, set among tropical gardens and mountain waterfalls.

See guide

Choose Mariana if

you want a trip for couples and families: gilded Baroque carving, cobbled hills and the German organ of 1701 that still plays in the Sé Cathedral.

See guide

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Where to stay

Where to stay: Brumadinho or Mariana

What usually tips the balance for your wallet is the rate on your travel dates. Check current prices for each city before deciding.

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

9 ★★★★ · 11 reviews Villa Rica Pousada See on Booking →

8.4 ★★★★★ · 1 review Pousada Verde Villas See on Booking →

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

See all hotels in Mariana

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

Frequently asked questions

Brumadinho or Mariana: which is better?

What is the best time to visit Brumadinho and Mariana?

The best time to visit Brumadinho is from May to August; for Mariana, 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, Brumadinho is 539 km (335 mi) and costs about R$ 334 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from Belo Horizonte, Mariana is 112 km (70 mi) and costs about R$ 70 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, Brumadinho or Mariana?

Averaged over the year, Brumadinho has 8 rainy days a month and Mariana has 8. The two are practically tied over the year, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Brumadinho is December and in Mariana, December. For temperature, both have the same average high, 27°.

How many days should you spend in Brumadinho and in Mariana?

To see the main sights without rushing, Brumadinho calls for 1–2 days and Mariana, 2–3 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.

Brumadinho or Mariana with kids?

Both work with kids: Brumadinho (Brazil's largest open-air museum, contemporary art, and botanical garden) and Mariana (Minas Baroque, first capital of Minas, and historic center). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure.

What should you not miss in each?

In Brumadinho: Inhotim Institute, Adriana Varejão Gallery, Serra do Rola-Moça State Park. In Mariana: Praça Minas Gerais, Sé Cathedral Basilica, Church of São Francisco de Assis. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.