Ouro Preto travel guide: UNESCO town, 96 km from BH

Ouro Preto is a colonial gold-mining town 96 km (60 mi) from Belo Horizonte, and UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage site in 1980. It was the capital of Minas Gerais from 1720 to 1897. Its steep streets hold some of the finest Baroque churches in the Americas. Pássaro Verde runs the bus from Belo Horizonte, with fares from R$ 65.48 (about US$13, checked Oct 2026).

Why go to Ouro Preto

Ouro Preto is the best-preserved colonial town in Minas Gerais and the easiest to reach from Belo Horizonte. Gold made it one of the richest towns in the Americas in the 1700s. That wealth paid for gilded churches, stone fountains, bridges and grand town houses.

When the state capital moved to Belo Horizonte in 1897, the town lost its economic weight. That stagnation saved it. Builders did not replace the colonial streets, so the town plan and buildings survive much as they were.

The town also matters for Brazilian history. It was the center of the Inconfidência Mineira, a 1789 independence plot against Portuguese rule. Today it is also a university town, home to a well-known mining school, and students give it a lively side, especially at Carnival.

Getting there

Pássaro Verde runs about 15 departures a day between 06:00 and 23:59. Fares and trip times depend on the departure. Buy online at passaroverde.com.br or call (31) 3073-7575. The phone line is open Monday to Friday 9:00 to 22:00 and Saturday and Sunday 9:00 to 19:00, except holidays.

Buses also reach Ouro Preto from nearby towns. Pássaro Verde runs from Itabirito, Turin Transportes from Ouro Branco, (31) 3741-6720, and Transcotta from Mariana, (31) 3551-2385 or (31) 3557-1810.

From Confins airport, the simplest method is to travel into Belo Horizonte first, then take the Pássaro Verde bus from the rodoviária. Ask at the airport information desk whether a direct service is running on your date.

Check before you go: Confirm where the bus stops in Ouro Preto and the last departure back to Belo Horizonte when you buy your ticket. Buy the return in advance on Sundays and holidays.

For other bus companies and booking, read long-distance buses in Brazil. If you drive, renting a car lists toll roads in Minas Gerais. Parking in the old center is tight, so ask your pousada where to leave the car.

When to go

April to September is the dry season and the best time for walking. Days are clear and mild, but nights get cold, especially in June and July. Ouro Preto sits high in the hills, so pack a warm jacket.

October to March brings summer rain, often as heavy afternoon storms. The stone streets turn slippery when wet. Mornings are usually the best time for sightseeing in this season.

Holy Week is the town’s biggest religious event. Processions pass over streets covered in carpets made of colored sawdust and flowers. Carnival brings large student crowds. Both weeks fill every room in town. See best time to visit Brazil for the Southeast.

Check before you go: Festival dates change each year. Confirm 2027 dates with the Secretaria Municipal de Cultura e Turismo de Ouro Preto and book early for holiday weeks.

Where to stay

Stay at least one night. A day trip from Belo Horizonte is possible, but you spend about five hours on the bus. Staying lets you see the streets after day visitors leave and the churches lit at night.

Most visitors stay in pousadas in colonial houses in the historic center. Rooms near Praça Tiradentes put you close to the museums and restaurants. Almost every street is steep. If you have heavy luggage or limited mobility, ask your host about the walk from the bus stop and whether there are stairs. A taxi from the bus stop is cheap and saves a hard climb.

Mariana, a smaller colonial town nearby, is a calmer and often cheaper alternative base.

What to do

Walk the town. Start at Praça Tiradentes, the main square, and work your way downhill. You pass squares, public buildings, fountains, stone bridges and churches along the original winding road. Wear shoes with grip. The polished stones are slippery even when dry.

See Aleijadinho’s work. Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho, was a Baroque sculptor and architect, widely called colonial Brazil’s greatest artist. He designed the Church of São Francisco de Assis, with its carved soapstone facade. Its painted ceiling is by Manuel da Costa Ataíde. His work also appears in Tiradentes, which the Tiradentes page covers.

Visit the main churches. Nossa Senhora do Pilar is known for its gold-covered interior. The Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Conceição holds Aleijadinho’s tomb and is part of the Museu Aleijadinho. Most churches charge a small entry fee and some close over lunch.

Follow the history. The Museu da Inconfidência, on Praça Tiradentes, tells the story of the 1789 independence plot. Casa dos Contos, the old treasury and tax house, shows how the gold economy worked.

Visit the museums. Holiday-weekend hours give a guide to what to expect. On the 2 and 3 May 2026 long weekend, the Museu da Inconfidência opened 10:00 to 20:00 on Saturday and 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday. The Museu Aleijadinho ran 8:30 to 16:45 with a lunch break from 11:45 to 13:30. Other stops include the Museu de Arte Sacra, the Museu do Oratório and Casa de Gonzaga.

Get outdoors. Itacolomi State Park, with its rock peak above the town, opened 8:00 to 17:00 on that weekend. Andorinhas Natural Park opened 8:00 to 18:00, weather permitting. Both offer trails and views over the hills.

Go underground. Old gold mines in and around town run guided visits. Mina da Passagem, on the road to Mariana, is the best-known. Ask the tourism office or your pousada which mines are open and whether you need to book.

Shop for soapstone. Craft stalls near the Church of São Francisco de Assis sell carvings in pedra-sabão, the soft stone used across colonial Minas.

Eat local. Try tutu de feijão, feijão tropeiro and pão de queijo, and finish with doce de leite and a cafezinho. See comida mineira for the Minas food guide.

Ouro Preto on the Estrada Real

Ouro Preto is a key point on the Estrada Real, the royal road network. The Caminho Velho runs from Ouro Preto to Paraty, and the Caminho dos Diamantes runs from Ouro Preto to Diamantina. The Portuguese Crown made these routes official in the mid-18th century to carry gold and diamonds to the ports of Rio de Janeiro.

The town was founded around the turn of the 18th century, during the gold rush. The UNESCO-listed property covers 167.8 ha inside a 2,036.9 ha buffer zone.

Costs

The bus fare is a starting price, and it can change by departure. Lodging costs rise on weekends, at Carnival and in Holy Week. Use money in Brazil for cards and cash, and carry small notes for church fees and small shops.

Practical tips

• Plan two full days to see the main churches, a museum and a mine without rushing.
• Pace yourself on the hills. Take a taxi uphill at the end of the day.
• Dress modestly in churches, and check signs about photography at each door.
• Many churches and museums close one day a week, often Monday. Ask your pousada the night before.
• Add a half day for Mariana, which has its own colonial churches and squares.

Skip it if

• You cannot manage steep, uneven stone streets. The town is built on slopes, and most sights need a climb.
• You prefer a smaller, flatter colonial town. See the Tiradentes page.
• You only have a few hours in Belo Horizonte. The round trip by bus takes about five hours.
• You dislike crowds. Avoid Carnival and Holy Week, when the town is packed.