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Which is better: Belo Horizonte or Ubatuba?

Short answer

Belo Horizonte is in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), while Ubatuba is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): 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; Ubatuba: more than a hundred beaches between the Serra do Mar and the ocean. For this month's weather, Belo Horizonte has the edge. Driving from São Paulo, Ubatuba costs less.

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 →
Most reviewed activity in UbatubaUbatuba Northern Islands Boat Tour★ 10 · 1 review · from US$ 99 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Belo Horizonte Ubatuba
Best time to visit May → Aug May → Aug
Weather this month 29° · 8 days of rain 26° · 15 days of rain
By car R$ 360 · from São Paulo R$ 145 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 3–4 days 4–5 days
Best for Food, Family, Romantic, Adventure Adventure, Relax, Family
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 Ubatuba if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: surf, Atlantic Forest and coves you reach by trail.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Belo Horizonte or Ubatuba

The average nightly rate is around R$ 391 in Belo Horizonte and R$ 417 in Ubatuba; 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 Ubatuba on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Kaliman Pousada in Ubatuba 9 ★★★★ · 16 reviews Kaliman Pousada See on Booking → Catalina Hotel in Ubatuba 9.6 ★★★★ · 1 review Catalina Hotel See on Booking →
See all hotels in Ubatuba

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

Frequently asked questions

Belo Horizonte or Ubatuba: which is better?
Belo Horizonte is in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), while Ubatuba is on the North Coast of São Paulo (SP): 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; Ubatuba: more than a hundred beaches between the Serra do Mar and the ocean. For this month's weather, Belo Horizonte has the edge. Driving from São Paulo, Ubatuba costs less.
What is the best time to visit Belo Horizonte and Ubatuba?
The best time to visit Belo Horizonte is from May to August; for Ubatuba, 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 São Paulo, Ubatuba is 225 km (140 mi) and costs about R$ 145 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 Ubatuba?
Averaged over the year, Belo Horizonte has 8 rainy days a month and Ubatuba has 13. 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 Ubatuba, January. For temperature, both have the same average high, 27°.
How many days should you spend in Belo Horizonte and in Ubatuba?
To see the main sights without rushing, Belo Horizonte calls for 3–4 days and Ubatuba, 4–5 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 Ubatuba with kids?
Both work with kids: Belo Horizonte (capital of Minas; boteco and food; Niemeyer architecture) and Ubatuba (more than a hundred beaches, surf, and Atlantic Forest). 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 Ubatuba: Praia de Itamambuca, Praia do Félix, Praia Vermelha do Norte. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.