Things to do & places to visit in State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

State of Minas Gerais #7 destination in Brazil 2023. The average rating score is 4.40 based on 281.1k traveler reviews, of 2.152 attractions. Timezone: America/Sao_Paulo, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 12:04.

Top things to do (35)

Top destinations in State of Minas Gerais 100

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Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Inhotim (8.527 reviews)
- Highlight of my trip
Monday: Spent More than 3 hours Parks • Art Museums

Tue-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-5.30pm See more..
5.0 Canyons de Furnas (2.598 reviews)
- The fantastic place
Spent 2-3 hours Canyons • Lookouts

You can't visit Capitolio and not see the Canyons, the view is inacredible, the best and beautiful part of the trip. See more..
5.0 Nefelibatas Expedições & Aventuras (1.282 reviews)
- Magnific!!!
Monday: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM River Rafting & Tubing • Canyoning & Rappelling Tours • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Kayaking & Canoeing

It was all wonderful! Staff very knowledgeable and attentive. Wonderful sceneryand lots of adrenalin. It was perfect!!! See more..
5.0 Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca (942 reviews)
- excellent park
Monday: Parks

Wondeful . A well protected State park. Lots of nature and silence..friendly people living in the surrounding Ibitpoca village..with around 300 habitants..\Worth the visit if you are in the State of Minas Gerais..The closest airport is a smal one in the city of Juiz de Fora or Rio de Janeiro Airport and then by bus or car towards the city of Juiz de Fora and then towards the city of Lima Duarte. Get into Lima Duarte entrance and drive thru this small town with 20.000 habitants. follow the signs to Ibitipoca village...Lots of small hotels in the village. with goos prices excellent food and regular accomodations.. To rest and relax for a few days there is no better place. River, waterfall, caves, exotic plants and birds. Only 200 visitors per day to preserve the fauna and the entire environment See more..
4.5 Mercado Central de Belo Horizonte (15.0k reviews)
- Great guide
Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Farmers Markets

Great guide and very passionate and knowledgeable regarding this city he is born and raised in. Definitely recommend him! See more..
4.5 Praca da Liberdade (10.9k reviews)
- Night Cray
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Totally bonkers and all dolled up for Christmas, our after dark stroll was an extravaganza. People dressed as reindeer, lights everywhere, someone butchering Guns N Roses on an acoustic guitar, and a full choir. Feliz Natal! See more..
4.5 Trilha da Pedra Redonda (6.119 reviews)
- It's worth the hiking
Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Hiking Trails

You can either hire a 'Jeep tour service" or go by your own car if it's not too low. My Renault Sandero could make it. On Av Das Montanhas drive up for about 3.5 km and get to a parking area. From there a hike of about 1 km, Not very hard. The worst are some slippery parts. Wear sneakers, avoid new ones cause they get mudded.. It takes about 30/40 minutes to the top but it's really worth the view and it's safe up there. On the way there's a belvedere where you can have a taste of the view. In fact the trail goes up to two of the rock peaks. At a certain point you can go either way to PEDRA REDONDA E PEDRA PARTIDA See more..
4.5 Centro Historico de Ouro Preto (5.104 reviews)
- Ouro Preto - Beautiful colonial town
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Absolutely stunning colonial town of Ouro Preto is world away from São Paulo hussle & bussle. It's beautifully preserved & the people are so warm & friendly! We hired a guide to tour this historical town who we highly recommend: João Batista - Guia de Turismo who speaks excellent English, he also speaks 3 other languages: Portuguese, Spanish & French. João carries a wealth of knowledge and made our trip that much more special. Give João Batista a try while you are there - [email protected] (+55 31 8831-6325 / +55 31 9274-5231) See more..
4.5 Estádio Mineirão (4.417 reviews)
- Once inside everything is great
Sports Complexes • Arenas & Stadiums

The new stadium is fantastic. Perfect viewpoints from any seat. Good structure and very well kept. But to get inside is so troublesome. It can literally take you 45 mins to get to your seat. And if you park your car in the stadium parking lot, give it an hour or so to get out. This should be taken care of See more..
4.5 Parque das Aguas (4.294 reviews)
- Great outdoors walking
Parks • Roman Baths • Thermal Spas

It was city holiday so no entrance fee. I was surprised that the gardens are so well taken care. It was a pity I did not have much time to spend at least half day in the park. Did not find any negative point so I am giving 5 stars, i only have reasons to return. See more..
4.5 Igreja Matriz De Santo Antônio (4.064 reviews)
- Santo Antônio Church
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Churches & Cathedrals

What a fantastic example of the Brazilian Barroc art. Beautiful sculptures and silver pieces alongside of the church. See more..
4.5 Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil Belo Horizonte (3.953 reviews)
- If you're going soon, don't miss the Man Ray exhibit
Monday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Art Galleries • Theaters

The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil Belo Horizonte occupies a building from 1930, fully renovated in 2009, with six floors and 12 thousand square meters of constructed area - 8 thousand square meters open to the public and 4 million square feet that will be open in a next phase of reformations - which puts the CCBB BH amongst the greatest cultural centers of Brazil. Theatre with seating capacity of 264 people, a multipurpose room for audiovisual, a library and two cafeterias fill the neoclassical architecture, as well as large exhibition galleries. Visits to the building and the exhibits are free. Tickets for theater performances of dance and music cost R$ 10 (full) and R$ 5 (half). Open Wednesday to Monday from 9am to 21pm. See more..
4.5 Mirante Mangabeiras (3.806 reviews)
- Wonderful city view !
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Magnificent City view from the top of a mountain with access by car ! You can watch a amazing sunset between a beautiful landscape ! See more..
4.5 Igreja Sao Francisco De Assis (3.466 reviews)
- astonishing
Monday: 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Architectural Buildings

Most beautiful and fresh air place to visit alone or with someone you love. Astonishing sunset to be seen at the lake See more..
4.5 Museu da Inconfidência (3.444 reviews)
- Dont miss
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Art Museums • History Museums

Museu da Inconfidência or Museum of the Inconfidência is a history museum dedicated to those who died in a failed rebellion movement Inconfidência Mineira for Brazilian independence from Portugal. With over four thousand pieces, its collection holds objects of the Minas Gerais universe from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and works of artists such as Antônio Francisco Lisboa, famously known as Aleijadinho. It is located in Tiradentes Square in Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais in a former Jail. It was declared as a National Museum of Brazil in 1990 See more..
4.5 Conjunto Moderno da Pampulha (3.268 reviews)
- It is great to see!!!!
Architectural Buildings

The architecture by Oscar Neymeir is fantastic. The Pampulha Museum is very nice and I had the opportunity to see a contemporary performance there. I think if you are in BH you can't miss this place at all. See more..
4.5 Memorial Minas Gerais Vale (2.949 reviews)
- great visit
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Art Museums • History Museums

The Memorial is an “experience museum”. It makes use of technologies, sensorial environmental and educational activities to address culture, art and history. Its exhibitions bring together sets, lights, sounds, video footage, images, besides objects and works that retell the story of Minas Gerais from the 18th through the 21st century. Opened in 2010, Memorial Minas Gerais Vale (MMGV) is located at Praça da Liberdade in the heart of Belo Horizonte. Memorial Minas Gerais Vale is run by the Vale Cultural Institute and is a part of the Liberty Circuit, a cultural corridor located in Belo Horizonte. Visitation is open to everyone, free of charge Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with doors open until 6 p.m. Thursday: from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with doors open until 10 p.m. Sunday: from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with doors open until 4 p.m. ATTENTION: Due to the social distancing measures, Memorial Minas Gerais Vale is temporarily closed. See more..
4.5 Lagoa Da Pampulha (2.705 reviews)
- Awesome lake, not used for nautical sports
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Bodies of Water

An artificial lake wild a greater than 10 miles walkway around it. Worth visiting for the Niemeyer’s buildings. See more..
4.5 Palacio das Artes (2.673 reviews)
- Good events, great cafe, beautiful building
Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries

Nice cafe for a relaxing break or meal in the city centre. Free music events in the cafe every wednesday (7:30pm). Other excellent events (see website). See more..
4.5 Parque das Mangabeiras (2.498 reviews)
- It is located up in Magabeiras, very close to the Belo Horizonte´s mountains. Nice place to spend a few hours among a
Parks

true park very close to downtown and also near one of the most beautiful distrit in Belo Horizonte: Magabeiras. See more..
4.5 Praça Tiradentes (2.486 reviews)
- Scenic and Historical
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks

Praca Tiradentes is the main square of Ouro Preto, the former capital of Minas Gerais State and one of my favorite cities in the world. At its ends are two museums, one devoted to the early 19th century insurrection headed by a dentist, "Tiradentes" ("tooth-puller"), the other a geological museum exhibiting gems mined in the area ("Minas Gerais" means "general mines.") Between the museums, on either side of the Praca, are jewelry and souvenir shops, restaurants, and travel and guide facilities. One interesting exhibit in the historical museum: copies, in Portuguese, of the American Declaration of Independence and the U S Constitution. See more..
4.5 Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Pilar (2.429 reviews)
- The One Church to see in OP !
Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals

This baroque style church is very lavish inside, reflecting a period in which religious orders competed with each other to build the richest church. See more..
4.5 Casa dos Contos Museum (2.109 reviews)
- Nice exposition on history of Brazilian currency and slavery
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours History Museums

Museu administrado pelo Ministério da Economia, instalado no suntuoso imóvel construído em 1784 pelo contratador português João Rodrigues de Macedo. Palco de importantes acontecimentos durante a repressão à Conjuração Mineira, o imóvel teve diversos usos ao longo de sua história. É assim chamado porque no local se instalou, em 1792, a Sede da Administração e Contabilidade Pública da Capitania de Minas, a "Casa dos Contos", como se denominavam as repartições fazendárias portuguesas até o final do século XVIII. See more..
4.5 Church of São Francisco de Assis (2.099 reviews)
- Church and Museum
Monday: Spent < 1 hour Churches & Cathedrals

Nice Baroque church with impressive ceiling paintings and altarpiece. 10 reais to enter, but it includes the small but interesting museum dedicated to the famed leper sculptor Aleijadinho. Some of his works are there as well. See more..
4.5 Shopping Contagem (2.051 reviews)
- Finest mall in town
Shopping Malls

It is a great place to go shopping, watch a movie and hang out with your friends and family. I recommend. See more..
4.5 Parque do Sabia (1.982 reviews)
- Excellent views
Monday: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Parks • Playgrounds

The parque do Sabiá is very beautiful. The place hás small kiosks tô drink a Juice or coconut water. One lap inthe Park hás 5.2km and is ideal for a run. See more..
4.5 Mirante dos Canyons (1.719 reviews)
- Awesome View - Amazing in a Sunny Day
Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Lookouts

I would just recommend you to go there as early as you can. Since is in the middle of the highway, a lot of people visit this spot so you might get in there early to take nice photos. They open at 7:30. There are some waterfalls around it, but they are not "swimmable" See more..
4.5 MM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal (1.700 reviews)
- Great Museum
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

The MM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal , part of the "Liberty Square Cultural Circuit", was designed to highlight the remarkable relations between the history and the cultural expressions of the State of Minas Gerais, with the wealth of its mines and natural resources, and even to celebrate the identity of the State and its people. The Museum presents a process that translates the formation and the development of a region, revealing two of the main economic activity of Minas Gerais: mining and metallurgy. See more..
4.5 Tiradentes Historic Center (1.470 reviews)
- Colonial gem
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours Scenic Walking Areas

Tiradentes is another city on the Minas gold trail. However, it is more than that. It truly is a colonial gem with lovely cobblestone streets, quaint brightly coloured houses with well preserved churches and buildings. Although it is a small city with a vast majority of the major attractions all within walking distance. Allow a half to full day to truly explore this exquisite city. There are many craft and specialty shops to explore. Also has many lovely restaurants to dine in which are concentrated around and near to the central square. For a unique experience take a horse drawn tour around town. Is better if you have a guide to fully appreciate the historical significance of the various churches and other attractions that Tiradentes has to offer. Certainly my favourite city in Minas and one not to miss. See more..
4.5 Museu de Sant'Ana (1.414 reviews)
- A museum and the devotion to Saint Anna in colonial Brazil ...
Monday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Speciality Museums

At the historic colonial building of the former public jail of Tiradentes, dating of 1730, the awesome "Museu de Sant'Anna" was inaugurated in 2014. The old jail was totally and beautifully restored and now houses 291 sculptures and images (from miniatures to great dimensions ones) of Virgin Mary's mother, the beloved and much praised Saint Anna, patroness of homes and families. The museum exhibits this unique collection of images, dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries, devoted entirely to Jesus Christ's grandmother. The sculptures and images were collected, along over 40 years, by Ms. Angela Gutierrez, who donated them to the museum. This is indeed a hidden-gem and unmissable by anyone visiting Tiradentes. Enjoy the museum, imagine how a public jail looked like in the 18th century, stop at the cozy café and visit the creative museum shop. If you miss it, you will regret forever. Enjoy! See more..