12 Best Things to Do in Belo Horizonte: Pampulha, Liberdade, Cheese & Inhotim

From twentieth-century architectural icons and interactive mineral museums to raw-milk cheese counters and hillside viewpoints, Belo Horizonte rewards travellers who mix urban culture with long lunches and highland day trips. Here are the twelve essential experiences in the Minas Gerais capital.

1. Modernist Icons and Grand Plazas

1. Tour the UNESCO-Listed Pampulha Modern Ensemble: Walk or cycle along the shore of Lagoa da Pampulha to visit Oscar Niemeyer's 1943 Igreja de São Francisco de Assis (adorned with Cândido Portinari's tile murals and Via Sacra panels), the island-set Casa do Baile, and the Museu de Arte da Pampulha.
2. Explore the Circuito Liberdade Museums: Walk around Praça da Liberdade to visit Palácio da Liberdade, CCBB BH, Memorial Vale, MM Gerdau, and Edifício Niemeyer.
3. Visit Mineirão Stadium and the Brazilian Football Museum: Step inside the 1965 concrete bowl of Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto (Mineirão) in Pampulha to tour the pitchside tunnel, locker rooms, and football history exhibits.
4. Stroll Parque Municipal and the Sunday Feira Hippie: Stroll the 1897 Parque Municipal and browse the Sunday morning Feira Hippie on Avenida Afonso Pena.

2. Gastronomy, Markets, and Boteco Culture

5. Taste Artisanal Minas Cheeses at Mercado Central (1929): Navigate the 400 stalls of Mercado Central de Belo Horizonte to sample UNESCO-recognised Queijo da Canastra and Queijo do Serro, sweet doce de leite from Viçosa, and a counter plate of pan-seared fígado com jiló.
6. Spend an Evening Upstairs at Mercado Novo: Climb to the second and third floors of the 1960s brutalist Mercado Novo, where independent microbreweries, cachaça bars, and chef-run kitchen counters share corridors with legacy letterpress printers.
7. Follow the Clube da Esquina Trail in Santa Tereza & Savassi: Dine at a classic sidewalk bar in Savassi or bohemian Santa Tereza, birthplace of Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges's 1970s musical movement.
8. Watch Sunset from Praça do Papa and Parque das Mangabeiras: Head up the southern mountain ridge to Parque das Mangabeiras (landscaped by Roberto Burle Marx) and stay for dusk over the city lights from Praça do Papa.

3. essential Full-Day Excursions

4. Historic Railway Heritage at Praça da Estação

Admire the 1922 Central Station on Praça Rui Barbosa.

9. Dedicate a Full Day to Instituto Inhotim: Travel 60 kilometres southwest to Brumadinho to walk through Inhotim's 140 hectares of botanical gardens and monumental art pavilions by Adriana Varejão, Cildo Meireles, Tunga, and Doug Aitken.
10. Walk the Baroque Hills of UNESCO-Listed Ouro Preto: Ride two hours southeast along the Estrada Real to Ouro Preto to see Aleijadinho's soapstone carvings at São Francisco de Assis and the gold-covered nave of Nossa Senhora do Pilar.
11. Dine Along Rua Marília de Dirceu in Lourdes: Experience contemporary cozinha mineira in the tree-lined streets around the Neo-Gothic Basílica Nossa Senhora de Lourdes.
12. Explore Praça da Estação and Museu de Artes e Ofícios: Visit the historic railway plaza anchoring lower Centro.