Belo Horizonte is a planned city built on several hills and ringed by mountains, with a central grid of perpendicular and diagonal streets laid out in the 1890s. Its central area is defined by Avenida do Contorno, the long avenue that circles the core, and the city mixes contemporary and classical buildings, wide avenues, lakes and parks.
For a visitor, the practical question is where to base yourself relative to that central ring and the sights around it. This guide covers the areas the sources identify for sleeping, what each is like, who each suits, and how the accommodation levels are distributed across the city.
Best areas to stay in Belo Horizonte
1. Savassi
Savassi is the city's trendy neighbourhood and its cultural, commercial and financial hub. Major high-rise hotels are concentrated here, along with the area around Av. Afonso Pena, so this is where you find the widest choice of full-service accommodation.
It suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants to be in the middle of things, with restaurants, commerce and services on the doorstep. Santo Antônio, described as the most exclusive area of the capital, sits within about a ten-minute walk of Savassi, so the two are easily combined.
2. Central area around the train station
The central area, inside Avenida do Contorno, is where mid-range and budget accommodations are clustered around the train station. It is also within walking distance of Mercado Central, Parque Municipal and the Minascentro Exhibition Centre.
This suits budget travellers and those who want to walk to central sights and reach the rest of the city easily. Note that the original city plan reserved the area inside Avenida do Contorno for government workers, and the neighbourhood of Funcionários takes its name from them; the centre remains the most connected part of the city.
3. Santa Efigênia
Santa Efigênia is a central-adjacent neighbourhood named in the sources as a location for budget accommodation. It is served by the subway, with the Santa Tereza station nearby, and by bus routes from the rodoviária.
It suits budget travellers who want a quieter base than the commercial core while staying connected to it. Because it sits close to the centre, you can reach central sights without depending on a car.
4. Pampulha
Pampulha is the neighbourhood designed in the 1940s by Oscar Niemeyer, with wide avenues, a large lake and parks, and it is home to the Pampulha Complex of modern Brazilian architecture. It is quite distant from downtown, but much closer to Pampulha's lake.
It suits travellers whose priority is the Pampulha sights and the lake rather than the city centre. If you base here, plan on using transport for central sights, since the centre is not within walking distance.
5. Santo Antônio
Santo Antônio is described as the most exclusive area of the capital and lies about ten minutes on foot from Savassi. It is a residential-feeling base on the edge of the city's commercial hub.
It suits visitors who want to be near Savassi's restaurants and services without staying in the busiest part of it. From here you can walk to Savassi and reach the centre by taxi, bus or subway.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: hostels and simple hotels, with mid-range and budget accommodations clustered around the train station, and further budget options in Santa Efigênia and Santo Antônio.
- Mid-range: hotels in the central area and in Savassi, typically chosen for location at the cultural, commercial and financial hub of the city.
- Splurge: major high-rise hotels, generally on Av. Afonso Pena or in the Savassi neighbourhood.
Best area for a first visit
Savassi is the best base for a first visit. It is the city's cultural, commercial and financial hub, and it holds the largest concentration of major high-rise hotels, on Av. Afonso Pena and in the neighbourhood itself. Staying here puts you within walking distance of Santo Antônio and within easy reach of the central sights inside Avenida do Contorno.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the major hotels in Belo Horizonte?
Major high-rise hotels are generally on Av. Afonso Pena or in the Savassi neighbourhood.
Where do budget and mid-range options cluster?
Mid-range and budget accommodations are clustered around the train station.
Which area is best if I want to be near the Pampulha sights?
Pampulha, which is quite distant from downtown but much closer to Pampulha's lake and its architectural complex.
Do I need to worry about hills when choosing an area?
The city is built on several hills and is completely surrounded by mountains, so expect hilly terrain in and around the centre; the central grid inside Avenida do Contorno is the most walkable part.
Compare live prices for the areas above with the booking tools on this page before you decide.