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Which is better: Belo Horizonte or Caldas Novas?

Short answer

Belo Horizonte is in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), while Caldas Novas is in the state of Goiás (GO): different regions of Brazil. Belo Horizonte: capital of Minas Gerais, a mountain city with a boteco (neighborhood bar) on every corner and Niemeyer's architecture on the shores of Lagoa da Pampulha; Caldas Novas: the largest hot springs in the world. For this month's weather, Belo Horizonte has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Belo HorizonteOuro Preto & Mariana Day Trip★ 8.9 · 197 reviews · from US$ 71 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Belo Horizonte Caldas Novas
Best time to visit May → Aug May → Aug
Weather this month 29° · 8 days of rain 33° · 11 days of rain
By car R$ 360 · from São Paulo R$ 113 · from Goiânia
Ideal stay 3–4 days 3–4 days
Best for Food, Family, Romantic, Adventure Family, Relax, Romantic
Choose Belo Horizonte if

you want a trip for food lovers and families: capital of Minas Gerais, a mountain city with a boteco (neighborhood bar) on every corner and Niemeyer's architecture on the shores of Lagoa da Pampulha. The gateway to the historic interior of Minas.

See guide
Choose Caldas Novas if

you want a trip for families and relaxation: naturally hot pools, water parks and the perfect contrast of a dry Cerrado winter.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Belo Horizonte or Caldas Novas

The average nightly rate is around R$ 391 in Belo Horizonte and R$ 298 in Caldas Novas; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Belo Horizonte on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Ouro Minas Hotel Belo Horizonte, Dolce by Wyndham in Belo Horizonte 8.8 ★★★★★ · 128 reviews Ouro Minas Hotel Belo Horizonte, Dolce by Wyndham See on Booking → Nobile Inn Pampulha in Belo Horizonte 8.6 ★★★ · 106 reviews Nobile Inn Pampulha See on Booking →
See all hotels in Belo Horizonte

Compare hotels and places to stay in Caldas Novas on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Best Western Suites Le Jardin Caldas Novas in Caldas Novas 9 · 26 reviews Best Western Suites Le Jardin Caldas Novas See on Booking → Acqua Bella Thermas Hotel in Caldas Novas 8.7 ★★★ · 39 reviews Acqua Bella Thermas Hotel See on Booking →
See all hotels in Caldas Novas

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Belo Horizonte or Caldas Novas: which is better?
Belo Horizonte is in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), while Caldas Novas is in the state of Goiás (GO): different regions of Brazil. Belo Horizonte: capital of Minas Gerais, a mountain city with a boteco (neighborhood bar) on every corner and Niemeyer's architecture on the shores of Lagoa da Pampulha; Caldas Novas: the largest hot springs in the world. For this month's weather, Belo Horizonte has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Belo Horizonte and Caldas Novas?
The best time to visit Belo Horizonte is from May to August; for Caldas Novas, it is from May to August, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from São Paulo, Belo Horizonte is 586 km (364 mi) and costs about R$ 360 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from Goiânia, Caldas Novas is 170 km (106 mi) and costs about R$ 113 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Belo Horizonte or Caldas Novas?
Averaged over the year, Belo Horizonte has 8 rainy days a month and Caldas Novas has 9. Belo Horizonte is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Belo Horizonte is December and in Caldas Novas, December. For temperature, Caldas Novas is the warmer one (average high of 31° versus 27°).
How many days should you spend in Belo Horizonte and in Caldas Novas?
To see the main sights without rushing, Belo Horizonte calls for 3–4 days and Caldas Novas, 3–4 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Belo Horizonte or Caldas Novas with kids?
Both work with kids: Belo Horizonte (capital of Minas; boteco and food; Niemeyer architecture) and Caldas Novas (hot springs, hot pools, and water parks). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Belo Horizonte has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Belo Horizonte: Praça da Liberdade, Mercado Central, Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Pampulha). In Caldas Novas: Hot Park, diRoma Acqua Park, Lagoa Termas Parque. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.