Minas Gold Towns & Inhotim Loop
A loop from Belo Horizonte covering Inhotim, Ouro Preto, and Tiradentes.
The standard route for first-time visitors to Minas Gerais: start with Pampulha's modern architecture and Inhotim, stay three nights in Ouro Preto with a side trip to Mariana, pass by the Prophets of Congonhas, and spend two nights in Tiradentes to ride the steam train. Scheduled to arrive on a Saturday to avoid closing days for Inhotim and museums, and to catch the Friday train. Perfect for lovers of architecture, history, and Minas cuisine.
Dry from Apr to Sep; accommodation in historic towns is tight during Holy Week and holidays.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival and Pampulha Architectural Complex
Belo Horizonte（Pampulha Lake & Modern Ensemble、Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Pampulha)、Casa do Baile）
Pick up your car at the airport on Saturday, drive about 40 minutes via Pampulha, tour around the lake, and head to Savassi.
Stay: Savassi
Day 2 · Inhotim Open-Air Art Museum
Drive about 57 km (1 hour 20 minutes) to Brumadinho on Sunday, and return on the same day.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; open until 5:30 PM on weekends; tickets are limited, so buy in advance.
Stay: Savassi
Day 3 · Drive over the Mountains to Ouro Preto
Belo Horizonte（Serra do Rola-Moça State Park） → Ouro Preto（Praça Tiradentes、Soapstone Craft Fair (Largo de Coimbra)、Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel）
Drive about 100 km via Serra do Rola-Moça and Itabirito, taking about 1 hour 40 minutes.
The old town has narrow, steep streets; choose accommodation with parking.
Stay: Historic Centre
Day 4 · Ouro Preto Churches and Museums
Ouro Preto（Church of Saint Francis of Assisi、Museu da Inconfidência、Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Antônio Dias、Church of Santa Efigênia、Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar）
Explore the old town on foot all day; the streets are steep and cobbled, so take a taxi between slopes if you get tired.
Wear non-slip shoes; opening hours for churches vary, so double-check upon arrival.
Stay: Historic Centre
Day 5 · Gold Mine and Mariana
Ouro Preto（Mina da Passagem、Praça Minas Gerais, Mariana、Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Mariana）
Drive to the Passagem Gold Mine in the morning, then continue to Mariana (about 13 km apart), and return in the evening.
Stay: Historic Centre
Day 6 · Via Congonhas to Tiradentes
Ouro Preto（Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, Congonhas） → Tiradentes & São João del-Rei（Rua Direita、Largo das Forras）
Drive from Ouro Preto to Congonhas (about 1.5 hours), then continue to Tiradentes (about 2 hours).
Stay: Tiradentes Historic Centre
Day 7 · São João del Rei and Steam Train
Tiradentes & São João del-Rei（Igreja de São Francisco de Assis (São João del-Rei)、Ponte da Cadeia & Ponte do Rosário、Museu Ferroviário (Complexo Ferroviário de São João del-Rei)、Maria Fumaça (Tiradentes–São João del-Rei)、Matriz de Santo Antônio）
Take a taxi for about 20 minutes to São João del Rei on Friday morning, and take the 2:00 PM steam train back to Tiradentes.
The train runs Friday to Sunday; a new operator takes over from 2026, so be sure to check the latest schedule.
Stay: Tiradentes Historic Centre
Day 8 · Bichinho Crafts and Return to City
Tiradentes & São João del-Rei（Bichinho (Vitoriano Veloso)） → Belo Horizonte（Mercado Central）
Drive about 20 minutes to Bichinho, then drive about 190 km (3 hours 20 minutes) back to Belo Horizonte.
It is best to book an evening flight; the drive from the city center to Confins Airport takes about 1 hour.