Best Time to Visit Belo Horizonte

May to August: dry and easy

This is the stretch we'd pick. Days are sunny and mild, and the air feels dry. July is the driest month, with rain on about one day. Nights get cool, around 13°C, so you'll want a jacket for dinner in Savassi, the café and restaurant district.

It suits almost any trip. You can walk around Praça da Liberdade and its museums without a downpour. You can hike Serra do Curral, the ridge above the city, with clear views. Day trips to Ouro Preto or Inhotim, the huge outdoor art park in Brumadinho, are at their best too.

Belo Horizonte isn't a beach or international tourist magnet, so crowds stay modest. July school holidays bring more Brazilian families to Inhotim and the historic towns. Weekends there get busy.

September and April: the shoulder picks

April is the wet season fading out. Rain drops to 10 days, and the city feels fresh and green. It's a good choice if you want fewer people and don't mind a shower.

September is the hottest month on the chart, at 31°C, tied with October for highest daytime temperature. But September is still dry and sunny. October is where things turn, with rain on 15 days and heavy afternoon storms.

November to March: hot and wet

Be honest with yourself here. December is the wettest month, with rain on 23 days, and January is nearly as bad. Skies are grey, the air is sticky, and storms can flood streets. Sun is limited to three or four hours a day.

It isn't hopeless. Rain often comes in bursts, so mornings can be fine. This is the time for indoor stops like the Mercado Central, where you can try pão de queijo (cheese bread) and local cachaça. Prices and crowds are low outside the Christmas and New Year break.

Events through the year

Carnival lands in February or March, and Belo Horizonte's street blocos (neighbourhood parties) have grown a lot in recent years. Expect heat, rain and crowds. Holy Week in March or April is a big deal in Ouro Preto, with processions on carpets of coloured sawdust. In winter, the Festival de Inverno brings music and arts to Minas towns. Confirm current dates before you plan around any of these.