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Which is better: Mariana or São João del-Rei?

Short answer

Mariana and São João del-Rei are in the same region (Historic Cities of Minas Gerais). Mariana: the first capital of Minas; 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. The weather is similar in both this month.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Mariana São João del-Rei
Best time to visit May → Aug May → Sep
Weather this month 29° · 8 days of rain 27° · 9 days of rain
By car R$ 70 · from Belo Horizonte R$ 280 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 2–3 days 1–2 days
Best for Romantic, Family, Food Family, Romantic, Food
Choose Mariana if

you want a trip for couples and families: gilded Baroque carving, cobbled hills and the German organ of 1701 that still plays in the Sé Cathedral.

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: Mariana or São João del-Rei

What usually tips the balance for your wallet is the rate on your travel dates. Check current prices for each city before deciding.

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

See all hotels in Mariana

Compare hotels and places to stay in São João del-Rei on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

See all hotels in São João del-Rei

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

Frequently asked questions

Mariana or São João del-Rei: which is better?
Mariana and São João del-Rei are in the same region (Historic Cities of Minas Gerais). Mariana: the first capital of Minas; 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. The weather is similar in both this month.
What is the best time to visit Mariana and São João del-Rei?
The best time to visit Mariana is from May to August; 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 Belo Horizonte, Mariana is 112 km (70 mi) and costs about R$ 70 each way (fuel plus tolls); 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, Mariana or São João del-Rei?
Averaged over the year, Mariana has 8 rainy days a month and São João del-Rei has 9. Mariana is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Mariana is December and in São João del-Rei, December. For temperature, Mariana is the warmer one (average high of 27° versus 26°).
How many days should you spend in Mariana and in São João del-Rei?
To see the main sights without rushing, Mariana calls for 2–3 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.
Mariana or São João del-Rei with kids?
Both work with kids: Mariana (Minas Baroque, first capital of Minas, and historic center) 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: Mariana has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Mariana: Praça Minas Gerais, Sé Cathedral Basilica, Church of São Francisco de Assis. 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.