Planning a Trip

When to Go

Avoid visiting Ouro Prêto and Mariana on Monday, as the majority of churches, museums, and attractions are closed. The best days to visit Mariana are Friday or Sunday so you can take in the organ concert at the Catedral da Sé. To take advantage of lower room rates, visit Tuesday through Friday. Everything is open but not as busy as on the weekends.

Getting There

Ouro Prêto is 410km (254 miles) from Rio de Janeiro and 635km (393 miles) from São Paulo.

Drivers from Rio de Janeiro take the BR-040 highway as far as Conselheiro Lafaiete, then follow the Estrada Real to Ouro Prêto. From São Paulo follow the BR-381 to Lavras and then take the BR-265 to Barbacena. In Barbacena take the BR-040 in the direction of Belo Horizonte.

For those who have little time or maybe a leg left on their air pass, there is the option of flying to Belo Horizonte's Pampulha or Confins airport (Pampulha is about 40km [25 miles] closer to Ouro Prêto than Confins airport). Gol, Tam, and Varig all fly from Rio, São Paulo, and other cities to Belo Horizonte. Gol's Internet specials cost around R$190 (US$95/£51) for a one-way flight from Rio or São Paulo. From the airport it's possible to negotiate with a taxi to take you straight to Ouro Prêto for a set fee (expect to pay around R$100/US$50/£27, depending on your bargaining skills) or you can take the bus.

Regular buses connect from Rio (7 hr.), São Paulo (11 hr.), and Belo Horizonte (2 hr.) to Ouro Prêto. Bus company Util runs a nightly 11:30pm bus from Rio to Ouro Prêto, arriving first thing in the morning (tel. 021/2518-1133 in Rio, or 031/3551-3166 in Ouro Prêto); tickets costs R$65 (US$33/£18) for a regular seat and R$125 (US$63/£34) for a comfortable almost bedlike seat (leito). Cristo Rei has three daily departures between São Paulo Bresser Station (tel. 011/3692-4073) and Ouro Prêto (tel. 031/3551-1777). Passaro Verde runs at least 20 buses a day between Belo Horizonte and Ouro Prêto (tel. 031/3551-1081). Tickets range from R$16 to R$70 (US$8-US$35/£4-£19). The Ouro Prêto bus station is a R$10 (US$5/£3) taxi ride from the historic core. Tip: Many of the taxi drivers will also agree to a full- or half-day sightseeing rate. This is an ideal option for visiting Mariana or getting out into the countryside.

Tourist Information

Ouro Prêto Tourist Information is at Rua Claudio Manuel 61 (tel. 031/3559-3544); hours are daily from 8am to 6pm.

For tour guides, contact the Ouro Prêto Tour Guide Association at tel. 031/3551-2655. A 4-hour English-language tour of Ouro Prêto (with up to 10 people) costs R$100 (US$50/£27).

Fast Facts

Bank -- Banco do Brasil, Rua São José 189 (tel. 031/3551-2237), has a 24-hour ATM. This branch will also exchange U.S. dollars. Almost next door, the HSBC, Rua São José 201 (tel. 031/3551-2048), also has ATMs.

Internet Access -- Cyber House, Rua Conde Bobadela 109 (tel. 031/3552-2808), is open daily from 10am to 8pm.