Ouro Preto from Belo Horizonte: baroque churches, gold mines and tours
The easiest Ouro Preto day trip leaves from Belo Horizonte, about 100 km away: the Ouro Preto and Mariana history tour with entry tickets costs €166 (10 hours, hotel pickup), while the Discover Ouro Preto cultural walk costs €80 (4 hours, 5.0/5). Back in Belo Horizonte, add the modernist Pampulha tour (€18, 5.0/5) and a Minas cooking class (€56, 5.0/5). The catalogue lists 22 activities in Minas Gerais, from €18, with a median of €56.
Prices, ratings and review counts updated on November 9, 2026 from the GetYourGuide catalogue. Tours Brasil is a GetYourGuide affiliate: booking through our links costs you the same and we earn a small commission.
Ouro Preto, once called Vila Rica, was the heart of Brazil’s 18th-century gold rush and the capital of Minas Gerais until 1897. In 1980 it became Brazil’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steep cobbled lanes, gilded baroque churches and the sculptures of Aleijadinho make it the most striking colonial town in the country. Here are the Minas Gerais activities in our catalogue and how to plan the trip from Belo Horizonte.
The 8 best things to do in Ouro Preto and Belo Horizonte
- Ouro Preto and Mariana history tour with tickets — €166, 10 hours, pickup in Belo Horizonte, entry tickets included; no reviews yet. Both gold towns in one day without driving.
- Discover Ouro Preto cultural walk — €80, 4 hours, 5.0/5 from 1 review. Best if you stay overnight in town.
- Belo Horizonte cooking class: 7 recipes and drinks — €56, 3.5 hours, 5.0/5 from 5 reviews, the most reviewed activity in Minas.
- Modernist Pampulha — €18, 2.5 hours, 5.0/5 from 3 reviews. Oscar Niemeyer’s lakeside complex, also a UNESCO site.
- Downtown food walk — €53, 5.5 hours, 5.0/5 from 1 review. Downtown flavours on foot with a local guide.
- Guided downtown walk — €26, 2.5 hours. The story of Brazil’s first planned republican capital.
- Two-market tour — €45, 6 hours. Two city markets with an expert local guide.
- Maquiné cave and Cordisburgo — €166, 10 hours with pickup. A famous cave and the hometown of writer Guimarães Rosa.
Quick comparison: price, rating and pickup
| Activity | From | Rating | Reviews | Duration | Spanish guide | Pickup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouro Preto and Mariana from BH | €166 | — | — | 10 h | No | Yes |
| Discover Ouro Preto | €80 | 5/5 | 1 | 4 h | No | No |
| Minas cooking class | €56 | 5/5 | 5 | 3,5 h | No | No |
| Modernist Pampulha | €18 | 5/5 | 3 | 2,5 h | Yes | No |
| Downtown food tour | €53 | 5/5 | 1 | 5,5 h | No | No |
| BH downtown walk | €26 | — | — | 2,5 h | Yes | No |
| Two-market tour | €45 | — | — | 6 h | No | No |
| Maquiné cave and Cordisburgo | €166 | — | — | 10 h | No | Yes |
New
Minas Gerais & Brasília3 h
Excursión por las ciudades históricas de Minas Gerais
Pickup
from · group€2,034
Minas Gerais & Brasília4 h
Descubra Ouro Preto: recorrido cultural
5.0 (1) from€80
New
Minas Gerais & Brasília10 h
Belo Horizonte: tour histórico por Ouro Preto y Mariana + entradas incluidas
Pickup
from€166
What to see in Ouro Preto
- Praça Tiradentes: the main square, with the former Governors’ Palace and the Inconfidência Museum, devoted to the 1789 independence plot.
- São Francisco de Assis church: a baroque masterpiece designed and carved by Aleijadinho.
- Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar: one of the most gold-laden church interiors in Brazil.
- Gold mines: old galleries can be visited around town; the Mina da Passagem lies between Ouro Preto and Mariana.
- Mariana: about 12 km away, the first town and capital of Minas, quieter and very photogenic.
How to choose
One day only: book the Ouro Preto and Mariana tour (€166); transport and tickets are sorted. Two days: take the bus, sleep in Ouro Preto and join the Discover Ouro Preto walk (€80); the town is magical once the day-trippers leave. Food lovers: pair the cooking class (€56), the food walk (€53) and the market tour (€45).
3-day Belo Horizonte and Ouro Preto itinerary
Day 1: downtown walk (€26) and the Pampulha tour (€18), then dinner in Savassi. Activities: €44.
Day 2: the Ouro Preto and Mariana tour with tickets (€166, 10 hours). Activities: €166.
Day 3: the Mercado Central in the morning and the cooking class (€56) in the afternoon. Activities: €56.
That is about €266 per person. Sleep in Ouro Preto and use the €80 walk instead of the day tour, and it drops to about €180 plus the bus fare.
How much does it cost?
- Belo Horizonte walking tours: €18–45.
- Food experiences: €53–56.
- Ouro Preto: €80 for the in-town walk, €166 for the full day from Belo Horizonte with Mariana and tickets.
- Nature day trips: €66 (Peruaçu caves) to €166 (Maquiné cave).
- Mountains and wildlife: €290 (Itatiaia National Park, 8 hours) to €1,508 (5-day Serra da Canastra safari).
The median activity in Minas Gerais costs €56, one of the lowest in Brazil, so this is a great region for travellers on a budget who still want guided experiences.
Plan your trip
Getting there: fly into Confins International Airport, about 40 km from Belo Horizonte. Ouro Preto is around 100 km away on a mountain road, roughly two hours by bus from the city terminal, by car or on a tour with pickup. Getting around: Ouro Preto is a walking town, but the hills are brutal; local buses and taxis link it with Mariana.
When to go: April to September is the dry season, with sunny days and cold nights, since Ouro Preto sits above 1,000 metres. December to March brings frequent rain. Holy Week, with sawdust carpets laid in the streets, is a highlight. Where to stay: a colonial guesthouse near Praça Tiradentes, quieter Mariana, or Savassi and Lourdes in Belo Horizonte.
Practical tips
- Wear shoes with good grip: cobblestones get slippery in the rain.
- Many churches close one day a week and ban photos inside; ask at the door.
- Pack a jacket even in summer, as mountain nights are cool.
- 7 of the 22 Minas activities list a Spanish-speaking guide; check each page for English options.
- Book the day tour early: places are limited and it includes hotel pickup.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Ouro Preto?
One day from Belo Horizonte covers the highlights. Two days with a night in town let you add Mariana and a gold mine.
How do I get from Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto?
By bus from the Belo Horizonte terminal (about two hours), by rental car or on the €166 tour with pickup, which includes Mariana and tickets.
What is the top-rated activity in Minas Gerais?
The Belo Horizonte cooking class, 5.0/5 from 5 reviews. The Pampulha tour also scores 5.0/5 from 3 reviews.
What are the must-sees in Ouro Preto?
Praça Tiradentes, São Francisco de Assis church with works by Aleijadinho, the Pilar church and one of the old gold mines.
When is the best time to visit Ouro Preto?
April to September, when it rains less. June and July nights are cold because of the altitude.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
Since 10 April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa to visit Brazil. UK and EU passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Always check the official Brazilian consulate website before travelling.
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