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    • Belo Horizonte

    Belo Horizonte travel guide

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    Overview

    Known to locals as Beagá, Belo Horizonte (Beautiful Horizon) was named for its view of the region's mountains. Today, this huge city is better known for its imposing skyscrapers than any natural beauty. Still, it remains popular, filled as it is with plenty of charm, character and warm and friendly locals.

    Capital of Minas Gerais state in south-eastern Brazil, Belo Horizonte also boasts picturesque and leafy neighbourhoods with wide avenues, parks and lakes that provide respite from the urban sprawl. Mangabeiras Park, one of the city's biggest and most beautiful green spaces, affords wonderful views of the city.

    Beagá is also home to a number of interesting architectural marvels, many of which can be found in Pampulha, the stately neighbourhood surrounding the man-made lake of the same name. It houses a complex of buildings designed by the legendary Oscar Niemeyer.

    Along with its bustling markets and booming restaurant scene, Belo Horizonte offers a wonderful calendar of events and festivals. Comida di Buteco festival is a particular favourite, which sees hundreds of neighbourhood bars compete to see who makes the best bar food.

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    Belo Horizonte has a tropical savannah climate. Although it's generally warm year-round, the city does experience four distinct seasons. The average temperatures in peak summer, December to February, hover between 65°F (18°C) and 82°F (28°C), though temperatures regularly rise above 86°F (30°C). It is rainy in the hottest months, between November and March. In winter, between June and August, average temperatures range between 55°F (13°C) and 79°F (26°C).

    Tancredo Neves/Confins International Airport
    Location: The airport is located 24 miles (38km) north of downtown Belo Horizonte.
    Time: GMT -3 (GMT -2 between October and February)
    Getting to the city: The airport is quite far from the city and it takes about 50 minutes to drive to the city centre. The airport is served by regular buses, executive buses, and taxis. The airport is not directly accessed by the Belo Horizonte subway, but buses can take passengers to the metro station.
    Car Rental: Car hire companies at the airport include Avis, Hertz and Movida.
    Airport Taxis: Taxis from a number of different companies are available at the airport, including Cooperfins, Coopertramo, Cootramo, and Mines Taxi. Taxi counters are available in Hall of Terminal 1 and 3.
    Facilities: Facilities at the airport include banks, ATMs, medical facilities, a pharmacy, baby-changing facilities, baggage storage, shops (including duty-free), and several restaurants and bars.
    Parking Short- and long-term parking is available within walking distance of the terminal.
    Website: www.bh-airport.com.br

    The streets of Belo Horizonte are arranged in a grid pattern, which makes it easier to navigate despite the urban sprawl. The city is a major transport hub for buses, with the bus terminal at the northern end of Afonso Pena Avenue servicing most major cities in Brazil.

    Belo Horizonte itself has a good bus network, though it can be confusing for tourists. The buses are colour-coded: yellow buses circulate within the same city region; blue buses head in and out of the city centre; red buses travel between the city centre and more distant neighbourhoods; orange buses go from one region to another without stopping in the city centre; and green buses travel between BHBUS stations.

    Belo Horizonte also has a metro train, though the network is limited and rather useless for travellers. Against that, the city has one of the best taxi fleets in the country. Taxis are white, ever-present and relatively inexpensive.

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    No direct flights from Heathrow to this Destination