Getting Around Uberaba
Uberaba is a regional centre in the state of Minas Gerais, set in the Brazilian Highlands at an elevation of around 823 metres on the Uberaba River. It is a sizeable city and an important hub for culture, commerce and entertainment in its part of the state, so visitors will find the usual range of urban transport options. What follows is a practical overview of how to move around and how to reach the city from its airport.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Uberaba has no metro or tram network for visitors to use. The city does have a rail heritage — its first railway station opened in the late 19th century when the Mogiana Railway reached the area — but today the railway is a freight operation. It is managed by VLI Multimodal S.A., which runs the rail network linking the local intermodal terminal to the southeastern corridor of Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica, a route that ultimately leads to the Port of Santos. In other words, the trains you may see are carrying cargo, not passengers, so plan your movements around road-based transport instead.
Buses and Public Transport
Public transport in Uberaba is road-based, with buses serving as the main form of collective transport for residents and visitors alike. As a regional centre and one of the larger cities in Minas Gerais, the city supports an urban bus network that connects its central areas with the surrounding districts and neighbourhoods.
- Buses are the primary means of public transport within the city.
- Fares are typically paid on board; as is common in Brazilian cities, it is worth carrying small change or checking locally whether a rechargeable transit card is accepted, since payment arrangements can change.
- For longer journeys within the municipality, note that Uberaba includes the rural district of Peirópolis, home to its paleontological site and dinosaur museum — a trip that is best planned in advance rather than attempted on a whim.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are a convenient option in a city of Uberaba's size, particularly for trips that are awkward by bus or for arriving at a specific address without navigating an unfamiliar network. They are also the most practical choice for reaching outlying destinations such as Peirópolis, where bus service may be limited. As with any Brazilian city, agree on the fare or confirm the app price before setting off, and keep in mind that demand can spike around major events — Uberaba hosts Expozebu, one of the largest cattle fairs in the world, which draws large numbers of visitors.
Walking
Walking is a reasonable way to explore Uberaba's central commercial and cultural districts, where shops, markets, institutions and entertainment venues are clustered. The city sits at a high elevation in the Brazilian Highlands, and its tropical climate brings warm conditions for much of the year, with the heaviest rainfall in December and the driest conditions in July. Practical advice for visitors on foot:
- Do your sightseeing on foot in the cooler parts of the day and carry water.
- Plan around the wet season, when afternoon downpours are more likely.
- For anything beyond the central area — and certainly for rural districts like Peirópolis — use a bus, taxi or ride-hailing service rather than walking.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Air access to Uberaba is provided by Mário de Almeida Franco Airport. For the onward trip into the city, the realistic options are taxis and ride-hailing services, which will take you directly to your accommodation, or a pre-arranged transfer. Because Uberaba's public transport is bus-based and oriented around the city's own neighbourhoods, arriving passengers should not count on a convenient bus connection from the airport; arranging a taxi or app-based ride in advance, or picking one up on arrival, is the simplest approach.
Arriving by Road
Many visitors reach Uberaba overland, and the city is well connected by highway. Road access is provided by BR-050, which links Uberaba to the federal capital, Brasília, and to São Paulo, and by BR-262, which connects the city to the state capital, Belo Horizonte. Long-distance buses running these corridors are a common way to arrive, after which you can switch to local buses, taxis or ride-hailing to reach your destination within the city.