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Which is better: Campos do Jordão or Ouro Preto?

Short answer

Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while Ouro Preto is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; Ouro Preto: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital. For this month's weather, Ouro Preto has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Campos do JordãoCampos do Jordão Sightseeing Tour★ 9.1 · 72 reviews · from US$ 20 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in Ouro PretoJardineira Tour★ 8.6 · 145 reviews · from US$ 19 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Campos do Jordão Ouro Preto
Best time to visit Jun → Sep May → Aug
Weather this month 21° · 12 days of rain 29° · 8 days of rain
By car R$ 94 + tolls · from São Paulo R$ 63 · from Belo Horizonte
Ideal stay 3–4 days 2–3 days
Best for Romantic, Food, Family, Relax Romantic, Food, Family
Choose Campos do Jordão if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: the "Brazilian Switzerland" of cold weather, pine nuts and the Winter Festival.

See guide
Choose Ouro Preto if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Campos do Jordão or Ouro Preto

The average nightly rate is around R$ 197 in Campos do Jordão and R$ 527 in Ouro Preto; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

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

Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.5 ★★★ · 85 reviews Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking → Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.6 ★★★★ · 35 reviews Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking →
See all hotels in Campos do Jordão

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

Pousada Sinhá Olímpia in Ouro Preto 9.5 ★★★★ · 71 reviews Pousada Sinhá Olímpia See on Booking → Hotel Solar de Maria in Ouro Preto 9 ★★★★ · 14 reviews Hotel Solar de Maria See on Booking →
See all hotels in Ouro Preto

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

Frequently asked questions

Campos do Jordão or Ouro Preto: which is better?
Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while Ouro Preto is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG): different regions of Brazil. Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira; Ouro Preto: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital. For this month's weather, Ouro Preto has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Campos do Jordão and Ouro Preto?
The best time to visit Campos do Jordão is from June to September; for Ouro Preto, 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, Campos do Jordão is 170 km (106 mi) and costs about R$ 94 each way (fuel only, tolls not included); leaving from Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto is 100 km (62 mi) and costs about R$ 63 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, Campos do Jordão or Ouro Preto?
Averaged over the year, Campos do Jordão has 11 rainy days a month and Ouro Preto has 8. Ouro Preto is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Campos do Jordão is January and in Ouro Preto, December. For temperature, Ouro Preto is the warmer one (average high of 27° versus 21°).
How many days should you spend in Campos do Jordão and in Ouro Preto?
To see the main sights without rushing, Campos do Jordão calls for 3–4 days and Ouro Preto, 2–3 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.
Campos do Jordão or Ouro Preto with kids?
Both work with kids: Campos do Jordão (Brazil's highest town, mountain cold, and Winter Festival) and Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais Baroque, UNESCO heritage, and historic city). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Ouro Preto has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Campos do Jordão: Campos do Jordão State Park (Horto Florestal), Morro do Elefante, Pico do Itapeva. In Ouro Preto: Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Tiradentes Square, Inconfidência Museum. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.