Arriving in Ouro Preto from Belo Horizonte feels like you’ve just crossed the Atlantic Ocean into a historic European countryside.
Ouro Preto contrasts sharply with much of the rest of the country, which is famous for its beaches, rainforests, and metropolises like São Paulo.
Hundreds of years ago, Ouro Preto was at the center of Brazil’s gold rush and the leader behind the nation’s first independence movement.
Along with a handful of other towns in Minas Gerais, such as Diamantina, Tiradentes, and Mariana, today Ouro Preto is renowned for its colonial Baroque architecture, which has been preserved since the 17th century.
Slipping away from Belo Horizonte, whether for just a day or two to roam the cobblestone streets, gaze into gold-covered churches, and imagine how Ouro Preto was once one of the richest and most important cities in Brazil, is well worth your time.
For my Ouro Preto Travel Guide, which covers more of the town’s history, how to arrive, where to stay, what to eat, and my personal visit, read – How to Visit Ouro Preto: A Picturesque Town in Brazil.
The rest of this blog post will help you decide the right amount of time for your visit to Ouro Preto and provide a corresponding itinerary for you to follow.
How much time in Ouro Preto
In my blog, How to Visit Ouro Preto: A Picturesque Town in Brazil, I detail my 3-day/2-night stay in Ouro Preto.
Unless you’re a student of colonial Baroque architecture, I don’t recommend following my lead and dedicating 3 days of your time in Ouro Preto.
Brazil is a big country after all.
If you can rent a car for your trip to Ouro Preto, you will have more flexibility and should consider extending your visit to one or two nights to see the town’s surroundings.
Though the distance from Belo Horizonte makes a one-day visit feel brief, it still offers a memorable glimpse of Brazil’s colonial past
Below, I present all the options, so you can decide which length of stay and itinerary best meet your travel desires and limitations! Some activities require a car or advance planning.
Lastly, this Ouro Preto itinerary is designed as the next step after exploring Belo Horizonte. If you haven’t read my Belo Horizonte guide yet, start here.
Spending a few days in Rio de Janeiro before Paraty? Definitely read my blog post – Rio de Janeiro: How to Plan the Ideal 5 Day Itinerary – before you go!
One Day Itinerary in Ouro Preto
Itinerary starts and ends in Belo Horizonte
Highlights
- Tiradentes Plaza
- Museu da Inconfidência
- Feira de Artesanato de Ouro Preto
- Coffee from Minas Gerais
- Tour of Historic Churches
- Craft beer at Bar da Cervejaria Ouropretana
Travel to Ouro Preto from Belo Horizonte
With only one day to spend exploring Ouro Preto, you will need to get an early start from Belo Horizonte.
Buses depart from Belo Horizonte’s main bus terminal (Rodoviária de Belo Horizonte) starting a 6 am and run almost every hour. The bus ride is 2 and a half to 3 hours long and drops travellers off within a 12-minute walk of Ouro Preto’s historic town center.
When you purchase your bus ticket to Ouro Preto, go ahead and also buy your return trip, just so there isn’t any chance of you getting stuck hours away from Belo Horizonte. You’ll be able to reserve your seat when you buy online.
Arrival in Ouro Preto
Hopefully, you can arrive before 10 am.
Make your way from the bus station (or day parking lot if you drove) to the center of Ouro Preto – Tiradentes Plaza (Praça Tiradentes).
Praça Tiradentes
This plaza is named after Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, who went by the nickname Tiradentes because he practiced dentistry. Tiradentes = Pull Teeth.
More importantly, Tiradentes was the leader of the Inconfidência Mineira in Ouro Preto. This was Brazil’s 18th-century independence movement that sought separation from Portuguese rule.
Tiradentes’ independence movement was not successful, and in the end, he was executed, and his head was put on display in what is today the plaza named after him.
While his head is no longer there, a statue dedicated to Tiradentes is found in the plaza. In Brazil, April 21st is Dia de Tiradentes or Tiradentes Day, and is a widely recognized national holiday.
Museu da Inconfidência
Behind the statue is the Museu da Inconfidência. This museum showcases artifacts, art, and history from Brazil’s gold rush era and the Inconfidência Mineira independence movement.
Before it was a history museum, the building served as the town hall and jail. The museum just reopened its doors in August 2025 after a six-month renovation.
Entry is free and it is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.
The majority of the museum is in Portuguese with limited English translations. However, a free English audio guide is available on Spotify to accompany your visit to the museum.
Image Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Museus
Feira de Artesanato de Ouro Preto
From the Museu da Inconfidência, walk two minutes to the Feira de Artesanato de Ouro Preto. This is a small outdoor market selling handmade crafts and souvenirs from Ouro Preto.
Personally, I find the fair to be mostly low-quality goods. The Mime Artist, somewhat harassing tourists at the entrance, didn’t help.
There are several artisan shops and handmade craft stores scattered throughout town that I enjoyed browsing more. But definitely still check out the Feira de Artesanato de Ouro Preto because you never know what you might find!
I always feel the need to plug the Mercado Novo in Belo Horizonte. If you will be in Belo Horizonte during this trip, definitely dedicate time to browsing the Mercado Novo for authentic souvenirs and goods from Minas Gerais.
Café or lunch break
Following the museum and fair, find a café to take a moment to relax, figure out what you want to see next, and of course, try some coffee from Minas Gerais.
While Ouro Preto is small, there is no shortage of quaint cafés serving coffee grown and roasted in Minas Gerais.
Rena Café, Solar da Ópera Café, or Café Esquina da Realeza are traditional cafés in Ouro Preto where you can order a café coado with coffee from Minas Gerais and pão de queijo filled with ham (presunto), guava jelly (goiabada), or cheese from Minas Gerais (queijo minas).
For something a little trendier, check out O Único Lugar do Mundo or Madá Café. Both cafés are further from the town center, but still only a 10-minute walk from the bus station.
Want more Brazilian History? Cities like Salvador, Olinda, and Belém are must visits for history buffs. Check out my blogs on each of these cities in Brazil.
Olinda and Recife: What to Know About these Colorful Cities
Depending on the day of the week, many restaurants and cafés in Ouro Preto may not open until after 11 am.
If it is later in the day and you need a more substantial meal, I highly recommend the rooftop spot with lovely views – Café das Flores. Other yummy lunch restaurants include O Passo Pizza Jazz, Bené da Flauta Restaurante, and Seu José.
Not far from Seu José is the Horto Trail or Trilha do Horto in Portuguese. This short, forested trail snakes through the heart of Ouro Preto, through a quiet park and past a waterfall. The trail is a nice way to walk off your Mineira lunch.
Ouro Preto’s Historic Churches
With a couple of hours to hopefully spare before your return bus to Belo Horizonte, it is time to explore some of Brazil’s oldest and most ornate churches.
There are more than 20 colonial-era churches and chapels in Ouro Preto. Some are better preserved than others, and most still hold weekly services.
Of the twenty, these are the five churches I recommend visiting while in Ouro Preto. You can read about these five churches and more in English here.
1. Igreja de São Francisco de Assis (near Tiradentes Plaza)
2. Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (5 minutes walking from previous church)
3. Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pilar (9 minutes walking from previous church)
Image Source: Paróquia de Nossa Senhora do Pilar
4. Igreja de São José (10 minutes walking from previous church)
5. Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos (6 minutes walking from previous church)
Craft Beer in Ouro Preto
After visiting Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos, walk 5 minutes to a place I always recommend in Ouro Preto – Bar da Cervejaria Ouropretana.
Bar da Cervejaria Ouropretana is Ouro Preto’s best brewery, and they make one of my favorite beers in all of Brazil – Ginger IPA. It is seriously so delicious.
Reflect on your day trip to Ouro Preto over a pint of beer and a couple of petiscos or bar snacks.
Before making your way to the Ouro Preto Bus Station, if you have time, stop at Igreja de São Francisco de Paula for one last view of the town.
If you’re lucky, maybe the sun will just be setting over Ouro Preto’s clay tile roofs and rolling hills.
Day 2 Itinerary in Ouro Preto
Highlights
- Visit the Town of Mariana
- Tour of an old gold mine
- Top Scenic Overlooks in Ouro Preto
If you plan to spend a second day in Ouro Preto, I suggest having a rental car.
A car will allow you to visit Ouro Preto’s neighboring town, Mariana, tour an old gold mine, and go to some of the best viewpoints in Ouro Preto that are otherwise pretty steep walks.
Alternatively, you could risk relying on Uber or taxis to do these activities.
Begin your second day in Ouro Preto with café da manha at your pousada.
Need help finding a pousada in Ouro Preto? Check out pousada recommendations in my Ouro Preto travel guide.
Following breakfast, it is time to hit the road!
Mariana, Minas Gerais
Mariana is 30 minutes by car east of Ouro Preto. The town features similar architecture to Ouro Preto, including rows of low, white colonial buildings with colorful trim and baroque churches.
If the tourist-filled streets of Ouro Preto are too much for you, Mariana is a nice, quiet escape.
When you arrive, look for parking near the photogenic street, Rua Direita.
Belo Horizonte brings Minas Gerais’ spirit alive — from botecos & Comida di Buteco to Inhotim’s world-class art and markets full of cheese and cachaça. Read more: Guide to Belo Horizonte: Authentic Brazilian Cuisine and Culture.
Mariana’s Plazas and Churches
The primary sightseeing areas are centered on 3 of the town’s plazas: Minas Gerais Plaza, Gomes Freire Plaza, and Sé Plaza.
The Catedral Basílica da Sé de Mariana is found in the latter plaza and is one of Minas Gerais’ oldest cathedrals, dating back to the 18th century. Gomes Freira Plaza is my favorite plaza in this itinerary and is a nice place to enjoy a coffee and a pastry from the nearby padaria or bakery – Chantilly Confeitaria e Lanchonete.
Before the pandemic, a popular tourist train called Trem da Vale used to run between Ouro Preto and Mariana. Sadly, the attraction hasn’t been in operation since, and the only way to travel between the two historic cities is by car or public bus.
Once you’ve seen everything there is to see in Mariana, drive to the “largest gold mine” open to the public.
Tour of a Gold Mine: Mina da Passagem
Located halfway between Ouro Preto and Mariana is the tourist attraction – Mina da Passegem.
Mina da Passagem markets itself as the largest gold mine open to public visits. The mine dates back to 1719 and yielded around 35 tons of gold during its operation.
During the tour, visitors travel via trolley along 315 meters of the mine and descend 120 meters underground.
I haven’t personally done this tour, but it has good reviews on Google and TripAdvisor. The tour is primarily conducted in Portuguese, but if you have an interest in visiting a gold mine definitely worth the stop.
There is another gold mine tour in Ouro Preto proper called the Great Central Gold Mine Tour.
Ouro Preto’s Picture-Perfect Views
Before heading back to Ouro Preto’s Historic Center, make time for two nearby viewpoints worth visiting.
The first is Mirante das Lajes. Next to this lookout is Palácio D’Ouro, a museum that highlights local architecture, mining, colonialism, and slavery in Ouro Preto and Minas Gerais.
The second is Morro São Sebastião.
Additional walkable sites to check out on your 2nd day in Ouro Preto include:
- Museu Boulieu: A museum that opened in 2022, dedicated to showcasing Baroque Art. Artifacts include: sculptures, paintings, religious furniture, decorative objects, ceramics, and textiles.
- Great Central Gold Mine tour: A guided tour of an old gold mine. This tour meets near Tiradentes Plaza, so it is a convenient option for travelers without a car. It also advertises English-speaking guides.
- Private walking tour: Experience Ouro Preto through the eyes of a local.
Day 3 Itinerary in Ouro Preto
Highlights
- Itacolomi State Park and a hike to the Pico do Itacolomi (Park closed until 2026)
For those with a third day in Ouro Preto, a hike up Pico do Itacolomi makes for a memorable adventure.
Part of the Espinhaço Mountains, Pico do Itacolomi soars 5,800 feet above Ouro Preto.
The rocky peak is striking and memorable. During colonial times, the first explorers and miners in the region referred to it as the “bandit lighthouse” or Farol do Bandeirantes.
The top of the peak can be seen from Ouro Preto.
The “peak” of Pico do Itacolomi in the distance
Hiking Pico do Itacolomi
Itacolomi State Park (Parque Estadual do Itacolomi) is open Tuesday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Upon entering the park, visitors must check in with the visitor center and pay a small fee.
To hike to Pico do Itacolomi, you must check in with the visitor center before 11:00 a.m. After checking in with the visitor center, the trailhead is another 3 miles ahead. The dirt road is accessible by car, bike, or foot.
There is a parking lot, a second visitor center, bathrooms, and a small exhibit area near the official trailhead.
The hike is approximately 7.5 miles out and back and takes an average of 4 hours to complete. The trail is considered medium to hard difficulty.
Park Status in 2025: At the end of 2023, heavy rains caused serious destruction in Itacolomi State Park. Since then, the park and trail to Pico do Itacolomi have been closed. The city of Ouro Preto reports that restoration work is ongoing, and the park is expected to reopen at the end of 2025.
Ouro Preto Itinerary Final Thoughts
- Avoid visiting on a Monday. Many restaurants and sites are typically closed. Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays will be the most crowded days.
- Bring sneakers or comfortable walking shoes. The town is very hilly, and most of the streets are cobblestone. Give yourself time to walk between sites in town.
- Ouro Preto doesn’t have a big nightlife scene, and things quiet down significantly at night.
- Just about everywhere in Brazil accepts credit cards these days. Still smart to have some cash on hand for parking and street vendors.
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