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Which is better: Campos do Jordão or São João del-Rei?

Short answer

Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while São João del-Rei 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; São João del-Rei: Aleijadinho's Baroque, a century-old steam train and the hometown of Tancredo Neves, in a historic city that still goes about its everyday life, with a real university and real shops. For this month's weather, São João del-Rei 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 →
Campos do Jordão São João del-Rei
Best time to visit Jun → Sep May → Sep
Weather this month 21° · 12 days of rain 27° · 9 days of rain
By car R$ 94 + tolls · from São Paulo R$ 280 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 3–4 days 1–2 days
Best for Romantic, Food, Family, Relax Family, Romantic, Food
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 São João del-Rei if

you want a trip for families and couples: Aleijadinho's Baroque, a century-old steam train and the hometown of Tancredo Neves, in a historic city that still goes about its everyday life, with a real university and real shops.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Campos do Jordão or São João del-Rei

The average nightly rate is around R$ 197 in Campos do Jordão and R$ 511 in São João del-Rei; 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 →
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Compare hotels and places to stay in São João del-Rei on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

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

Frequently asked questions

Campos do Jordão or São João del-Rei: which is better?
Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP), while São João del-Rei 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; São João del-Rei: Aleijadinho's Baroque, a century-old steam train and the hometown of Tancredo Neves, in a historic city that still goes about its everyday life, with a real university and real shops. For this month's weather, São João del-Rei has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Campos do Jordão and São João del-Rei?
The best time to visit Campos do Jordão is from June to September; for São João del-Rei, it is from May to September, 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 São Paulo, São João del-Rei is 471 km (293 mi) and costs about R$ 280 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 São João del-Rei?
Averaged over the year, Campos do Jordão has 11 rainy days a month and São João del-Rei has 9. São João del-Rei 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 São João del-Rei, December. For temperature, São João del-Rei is the warmer one (average high of 26° versus 21°).
How many days should you spend in Campos do Jordão and in São João del-Rei?
To see the main sights without rushing, Campos do Jordão calls for 3–4 days and São João del-Rei, 1–2 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 São João del-Rei with kids?
Both work with kids: Campos do Jordão (Brazil's highest town, mountain cold, and Winter Festival) and São João del-Rei (Minas Baroque, living historic city, and steam train). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: São João del-Rei 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 São João del-Rei: Church of São Francisco de Assis, Cathedral Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, Steam train to Tiradentes. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.