Planning Your Time

A week is sufficient to see some of Minas Gerais's highlights, but not enough to cover all the territory the region covers. Not to be missed is Ouro Preto, the gem of the area. Its numerous churches, museums, and cobblestone hills deserve at least two days of exploring. Nearby Belo Horizonte (or BH) is a great place for a long weekend, with its bustling cultural scene, rich museums, and, most important, vibrant nightlife. If you have extra time, choose between the colonial towns of Diamantina or Tiradentes. Just remember that the distances are longer than they appear between towns in Minas Gerais.