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Which is better: Ouro Preto or Paraty?

Short answer

Ouro Preto is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG), while Paraty is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Ouro Preto: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital; Paraty: a colonial historic center and a bay of islands. For this month's weather, Ouro Preto has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Ouro PretoJardineira Tour★ 8.6 · 145 reviews · from US$ 19 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in ParatyParaty Islands Tour★ 8.9 · 47 reviews · from US$ 24 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Ouro Preto Paraty
Best time to visit May → Aug Jun → Aug
Weather this month 29° · 8 days of rain 28° · 14 days of rain
By car R$ 63 · from Belo Horizonte R$ 155 + tolls · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 2–3 days 3–4 days
Best for Romantic, Food, Family Romantic, Food, Adventure, Relax
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
Choose Paraty if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: uneven cobblestones, whitewashed houses and craft cachaça on the Costa Verde.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Ouro Preto or Paraty

The average nightly rate is around R$ 527 in Ouro Preto and R$ 507 in Paraty; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

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

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

Pousada Porto Imperial in Paraty 9.5 ★★★★ · 11 reviews Pousada Porto Imperial See on Booking → Pousada das Pedras in Paraty 8.4 ★★★★ · 412 reviews Pousada das Pedras See on Booking →
See all hotels in Paraty

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

Frequently asked questions

Ouro Preto or Paraty: which is better?
Ouro Preto is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG), while Paraty is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Ouro Preto: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital; Paraty: a colonial historic center and a bay of islands. For this month's weather, Ouro Preto has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Ouro Preto and Paraty?
The best time to visit Ouro Preto is from May to August; for Paraty, it is from June 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 Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto is 100 km (62 mi) and costs about R$ 63 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from São Paulo, Paraty is 280 km (174 mi) and costs about R$ 155 each way (fuel only, tolls not included). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Ouro Preto or Paraty?
Averaged over the year, Ouro Preto has 8 rainy days a month and Paraty has 14. Ouro Preto is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Ouro Preto is December and in Paraty, January. For temperature, Paraty is the warmer one (average high of 28° versus 27°).
How many days should you spend in Ouro Preto and in Paraty?
To see the main sights without rushing, Ouro Preto calls for 2–3 days and Paraty, 3–4 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.
Ouro Preto or Paraty with kids?
Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais Baroque, UNESCO heritage, and historic city) is the better pick of the two for families. Paraty (colonial historic center, boat trip, and waterfalls in the mountains) is geared more toward adults or couples. With small children, weather matters: Ouro Preto has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Ouro Preto: Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Tiradentes Square, Inconfidência Museum. In Paraty: Colonial historic center, "Pé de moleque" streets, Paraty Bay and boat trip. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.