Ouro Preto, MG: the complete destination guide
Ouro Preto is the town of steep lanes where Minas baroque stands whole and still in use. This guide gathers what the town holds, how the year divides there, how you get in, where it is worth staying and how many days the place asks for.
What Ouro Preto is
Ouro Preto sits in Minas Gerais, in the south-east of Brazil, and it is the town of steep lanes where Minas baroque stands whole and still in use. That sentence settles more than it seems: it says what the town has of its own and, by consequence, what there is no point looking for there.
What brings most visitors is concentrated in Praça Tiradentes, Igreja de São Francisco de Assis and Mina da Passagem. They are different things from one another, and that is why the town holds more than a day without repeating itself.
What the town holds
| Sight | What it is |
|---|---|
| Praça Tiradentes | The centre of town, between the two main museums |
| Igreja de São Francisco de Assis | The ensemble designed by Aleijadinho, with painting by Mestre Ataíde |
| Mina da Passagem | A gold mine open to visitors, travelled by wagon |
| Mariana | The neighbouring town, linked by a short road and by a heritage railway |
| Museu da Inconfidência | The collection about the movement that started here |
When to go
The year splits in two. From April to September, dry weather, clear skies and firm lanes; this is when the town walks best. From November to March, afternoon rain and fog; the stones turn slippery.
There is no bad season in Ouro Preto in any absolute sense: there is the season that matches what you want to do there. Whoever comes for Praça Tiradentes and accepts crowds picks one half of the year; whoever comes for quiet picks the other.
Getting there
By air, the airport in Belo Horizonte, about two hours away. By road, access is along the the BR-356 from Belo Horizonte. The centre is listed heritage and car circulation is restricted.
Where to stay
| Base | Who it suits |
|---|---|
| the historic centre | Anyone who accepts the slopes in exchange for walking out of the door |
| the lower neighbourhoods | Anyone who wants parking and less climbing |
| Mariana | Anyone who wants a cheaper, flatter base |
How many days
3 days is the number that covers Ouro Preto without rushing, counting the arrival day as half a day. With less than that something on the list above falls away — and it is worth choosing what to cut before travelling, not once you are there.
What it combines with
- Tiradentes e São João del-Rei — the other baroque cluster, to the south
- Inhotim — the open-air museum two and a half hours away
Common questions
Is Ouro Preto worth the trip?
It is worth it for whoever wants what the town has: the town of steep lanes where Minas baroque stands whole and still in use. Whoever expects something else usually leaves disappointed, and that is not the destination’s fault.
Can it be done in two days?
It can, by cutting. Two days fit Praça Tiradentes and Igreja de São Francisco de Assis. The rest waits for another time.