27 Best Hotels in Minas Gerais, Brazil

A favorite of well-off Brazilian honeymooners, the palatial Ouro Minas has rooms with large beds and well-appointed bathrooms. The largest of the three presidential suites occupies more than 300 square meters (3,229 square feet). Hydromassage bathtubs, CD players, a pool with waterfalls, a menu of 10 different kinds of pillows, and a multilingual staff are among the many amenities not found in most other Belo Horizonte lodgings. Despite its location, farther away fom the center, this hotel is closer to the attractions around Pampulha.

Although it's just across from Caxambu's Parque das Águas, this luxury resort has its own rehabilitation pool and sauna as well as numerous sports amenities. Rooms are well equipped and have marble baths. Ask for a room facing the beautiful internal garden—the ones here are quieter.

In a beautiful 19th-century building, this hotel feels like a bed-and-breakfast, with elegant yet comfortable decor, quiet floors, and well-appointed guest rooms. An intimate atmosphere and the world-class Senhora do Rosário restaurant are among the draws. When you're not exploring the town, have a swim in the luxurious hilltop pool or stop by the atrium for afternoon tea. The hotel even has a section of the mine, discovered during renovations, that originally was on this site. Ask for a room on the first floor; rooms by the garden can be noisy and lack privacy.

On a main city avenue, close to Savassi and not far from central Belo Horizonte, the Mercure is popular with executives, artists, and athletes. The hotel was recently renovated and now has modern, comfortable rooms. The restaurant's menu includes French, Italian, and international dishes. There's also a small café and souvenir shop with items made in Minas Gerais.

In an old school that was partially destroyed in a 1968 fire, this hotel and restaurant has rooms that are simply furnished and divided between two floors. The best options are the second-floor rooms—which have views of the park and the mountain—and the three standard apartments. Three houses are also available for rental by large groups. Meals, which are served in the convent by priests, have tight schedules: breakfast is from 7 to 9:30, lunch from noon to 2, and dinner from 6:30 to 7:30.

This intimate hotel in a 1747 merchant's mansion has period furnishings, gorgeous veranda and dining room (where an exceptional mineiran breakfast is served), and one-hour city tours given in a 1930s minibus. It sits next to the Igreja de São Francisco de Assis and opposite the soapstone market. Mondego is part of a Brazil boutique hotel network, so expect the same modern conveniences you'd get at a high-class hotel.

In every respect—from the stunning antiques to the comfortable beds to the elegant place settings—this inn is a faithful example of regional style. The gardens are beautiful and the pool area is stunning. The hotel serves an afternoon tea with a selection of cakes and breads baked on-site. With sufficient notice, the English owner and his Brazilian wife can arrange historical, botanical, and ecological tours on foot or horseback. This hotel is located right next to the bus station and it is just a stone's throw from all the action, but far enough to provide a good rest and relaxation.

The area's best hotel has dozens of activities for adults and children; right next to a river, it sits amid some of the country's most beautiful nature. The rooms have king-size beds and views of the forest.

The lobby of this centrally located hotel, one of the city's oldest, is often crowded with conventioneers. Rooms are clean and in fine working order, but are inexpensively furnished and outdated style-wise. Ask for one of the refurbished rooms on the higher floors. There is a small rooftop pool and bar with great views of the city.

This gracious fazenda is more like a private estate than a rural farm. Its carefully decorated rooms have bucolic views; at night the only sounds you hear are those of various animals roaming the countryside. Buffets of at least three regional dishes as well as salads and dessert are served on an all-inclusive basis.

Near a nature preserve and perfect for those who love a walk in the woods, this lodging has clean, modern rooms. The luxury chalets have two floors and granite details. Each can accommodate as many as five people, with a double bed upstairs, single beds downstairs, and two bathrooms. The restaurant serves regional fare.

The large guest rooms at this working farm have breathtaking views and are flooded with natural light. The fazenda serves a typical country breakfast, afternoon tea, and an evening meal. The large guest rooms have breathtaking views and are flooded with natural light. The spacious dining room is crisscrossed with wooden ceiling beams and has a wraparound veranda. In the wintertime, sit in front of the fireplace near the reception with a hot drink and a good book. This is such a relaxing place that you'll hardly notice the lack of facilities.

Designed by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer and Ouro Preto's premier modernist structure, the Grande is, as its name suggests, one of the city's largest hotels by overall size. It is a curving two-story building on concrete pillars; the hotel is immense by local standards, though room sizes are comparable to those at other lodgings. All the suites have views of the historic center; the other rooms look out on the garden. If you've ever wanted to stay in a piece of art, this is your chance, but don't expect attentive service or modern facilities such as strong Wi-Fi.

Across from the Parque das Águas, this luxury hotel has its own pools, fountains, and mineral waters, as well as games rooms and tennis courts. The rooms are large and airy; ask for a room with a park view.

Close to the main square, this is a typical mid-range inn with basic rooms. Room 1 has a loft and can sleep up to five people. The breakfast is massive here and staff are very attentive. If you are looking for a practical base at a reasonable price with few luxuries, this is the place.

The many activities at this hotel include boating on the lake, horsback riding, swimming in the thermal and regular pools, and playing tennis. If you're interested, the employees can even teach you how to milk a cow. The chalets fronting the lake can house up to five people. The hotel also has rooms for two or four people.

Oscar Niemeyer designed the sleek structure that houses this historic-district inn as a present to former Brazilian president Juscelino Kubitschek. The rooms are huge and have interesting furniture that does justice to Niemeyer's interior design.

Its central location, elegance, and warmth place this hotel above others in its price range. It's an old but well-maintained hotel with polished hardwood floors, local artworks, and large bathrooms with bathtubs. The Wi-Fi is free and reliable. The rooftop bar, next to the pool, is the perfect spot for an afternoon drink. Rooms at the front of the hotel have balconies overlooking the avenue and rooms on higher floors are quieter.

A neat and comfortable budget option, the Ibis has spacious rooms with white oak furniture and large beds. It has all the modern amenities and its staff is well trained and professional. The hotel, which hosts numerous conventions, is in the backyard of an old mansion that has been well maintained, and is close to the Praça da Liberdade and the city's best museums.

With dark wooden floors, antique furnishings, and stone walls dating back two centuries, this friendly hotel has the feeling of a rustic 19th-century lodge. Some rooms have original paintings by the famous Minas Gerais artist Chanina, and all are decorated with beautiful replicas of 18th-century furniture. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is just across the street.

Across from beautiful and exotic Parque Municipal, the Othon Palace has comfortable rooms with incredible city and park views. Despite the slightly dated decor, rooms are large and relaxing. The rooftop pool and bar are among the best in town, and the on-site Restaurante Varandão is very good.

Near the main churches and museums and the prime shopping area, this pousada occupies an elegant house. The breakfast is lavish and delicious, as is the afternoon tea. The most tranquil rooms are in the back, but their views aren't as good. One of the suites has a hydromassage bathtub.

The wonderful Pousada Minas Gerais occupies a new building that replicates Ouro Preto's colonial exteriors. All rooms are enormous, with sweeping views of the countryside, beautiful king-size beds, flat-screen TVs, and marble bathrooms. This is the perfect choice for vacationers seeking amenities like fluffy robes and potent hair dryers, but business travelers will find their needs met, too. Three luxury suites have whirlpool bathtubs.

This pousada's hilltop location at the edge of town is both a blessing and a curse: its location away from noise of the center is great for people seeking a relaxing and quiet stay, but it's not a comfortable location for nocturnal explorations of the city. The rooms are large and comfortable, with large windows and ample fresh air. It's a popular place with families and other groups. For more privacy and peace, opt for a simple but cozy chalet instead of a room in the main building.

Locally made furniture and artworks decorate this pousada inside an adapted colonial house in Tiradentes's historic center. The owner runs a small puppet theater adjacent to the breakfast room. The attentive staff makes guests feel at home and serve a hearty breakfast featuring several regional cakes and cheeses.

The many return guests to Pouso Alforria appreciate its peaceful location and fabulous view of the São José Mountains. The light-filled lobby—with its stone floors, high ceilings, and Brazilian artwork (some of it from Bahia)—leads to a charming breakfast space and courtyard. Rooms have considerable natural light and are individually decorated; mattresses are firm. English and French are spoken, and the service is faultless.

The hospitality at this family-run bed-and-breakfast will make you feel as if you're visiting a friend's house. The English- and German-speaking owner, who also lives in the house, serves a delicious breakfast each morning, and guests are given a key to the house so that they can come and go as they please. The five-bedroom inn is decorated in traditional mineira fashion. Its location, a stone's throw from St. Francis of Assisi Church, couldn't be better.