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Which is better: Campos do Jordão or Petrópolis?

Short answer

Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while Petrópolis is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; Petrópolis: the Imperial City in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro state. For this month's weather, Petrópolis has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Campos do JordãoCampos do Jordão Sightseeing Tour★ 9.1 · 72 reviews · from US$ 20 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Campos do Jordão Petrópolis
Best time to visit Jun → Sep Apr → Oct
Weather this month 21° · 12 days of rain 25° · 9 days of rain
By car R$ 94 + tolls · from São Paulo R$ 359 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 3–4 days 2–3 days
Best for Romantic, Food, Family, Relax Romantic, Food, Family, Relax
Choose Campos do Jordão if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: the "Brazilian Switzerland" of cold weather, pine nuts and the Winter Festival.

See guide
Choose Petrópolis if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: palaces, mountain weather and craft beer an hour from Rio.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Campos do Jordão or Petrópolis

The average nightly rate is around R$ 197 in Campos do Jordão and R$ 303 in Petrópolis; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

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

Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.5 ★★★ · 85 reviews Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking → Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.6 ★★★★ · 35 reviews Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking →
See all hotels in Campos do Jordão

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

Hotel Vila Bavaria Petropolis in Petrópolis 8.6 ★★★ · 102 reviews Hotel Vila Bavaria Petropolis See on Booking → Hotel Solar do Imperio in Petrópolis 9.3 ★★★ · 10 reviews Hotel Solar do Imperio See on Booking →
See all hotels in Petrópolis

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

Leaving the city of São Paulo, it is only 170 km to Campos do Jordão, a little under three hours on the road.

Frequently asked questions

Campos do Jordão or Petrópolis: which is better?
Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while Petrópolis is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; Petrópolis: the Imperial City in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro state. For this month's weather, Petrópolis has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Campos do Jordão and Petrópolis?
The best time to visit Campos do Jordão is from June to September; for Petrópolis, it is from April to October, 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, Campos do Jordão is 170 km (106 mi) and costs about R$ 94 each way (fuel only, tolls not included); leaving from São Paulo, Petrópolis is 450 km (280 mi) and costs about R$ 359 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, Campos do Jordão or Petrópolis?
Averaged over the year, Campos do Jordão has 11 rainy days a month and Petrópolis has 10. Petrópolis is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Campos do Jordão is January and in Petrópolis, January. For temperature, Petrópolis is the warmer one (average high of 25° versus 21°).
How many days should you spend in Campos do Jordão and in Petrópolis?
To see the main sights without rushing, Campos do Jordão calls for 3–4 days and Petrópolis, 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.
Campos do Jordão or Petrópolis with kids?
Both work with kids: Campos do Jordão (Brazil's highest town, mountain cold, and Winter Festival) and Petrópolis (imperial legacy, mountain climate, and craft beer). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Petrópolis has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Campos do Jordão: Campos do Jordão State Park (Horto Florestal), Morro do Elefante, Pico do Itapeva. In Petrópolis: Imperial Museum, Crystal Palace, Santos Dumont House. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.