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Which is better: Ouro Preto or Petrópolis?

Short answer

Ouro Preto is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG), while Petrópolis is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Ouro Preto: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital; Petrópolis: the Imperial City in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro state. The weather is similar in both this month.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Ouro PretoJardineira Tour★ 8.6 · 145 reviews · from US$ 19 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Ouro Preto Petrópolis
Best time to visit May → Aug Apr → Oct
Weather this month 29° · 8 days of rain 25° · 9 days of rain
By car R$ 63 · from Belo Horizonte R$ 359 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 2–3 days 2–3 days
Best for Romantic, Food, Family Romantic, Food, Family, Relax
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
Choose Petrópolis if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: palaces, mountain weather and craft beer an hour from Rio.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Ouro Preto or Petrópolis

The average nightly rate is around R$ 527 in Ouro Preto and R$ 303 in Petrópolis; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

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

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

Hotel Vila Bavaria Petropolis in Petrópolis 8.6 ★★★ · 102 reviews Hotel Vila Bavaria Petropolis See on Booking → Hotel Solar do Imperio in Petrópolis 9.3 ★★★ · 10 reviews Hotel Solar do Imperio See on Booking →
See all hotels in Petrópolis

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

Frequently asked questions

Ouro Preto or Petrópolis: which is better?
Ouro Preto is in the Historic Cities of Minas Gerais (MG), while Petrópolis is in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings (RJ): different regions of Brazil. Ouro Preto: stone-paved slopes, gilded Baroque churches and the work of Aleijadinho in the former gold capital; Petrópolis: the Imperial City in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro state. The weather is similar in both this month.
What is the best time to visit Ouro Preto and Petrópolis?
The best time to visit Ouro Preto is from May to August; for Petrópolis, it is from April to October, 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, Ouro Preto is 100 km (62 mi) and costs about R$ 63 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from São Paulo, Petrópolis is 450 km (280 mi) and costs about R$ 359 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, Ouro Preto or Petrópolis?
Averaged over the year, Ouro Preto has 8 rainy days a month and Petrópolis has 10. 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 Ouro Preto is December and in Petrópolis, January. For temperature, Ouro Preto is the warmer one (average high of 27° versus 25°).
How many days should you spend in Ouro Preto and in Petrópolis?
To see the main sights without rushing, Ouro Preto calls for 2–3 days and Petrópolis, 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.
Ouro Preto or Petrópolis with kids?
Both work with kids: Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais Baroque, UNESCO heritage, and historic city) and Petrópolis (imperial legacy, mountain climate, and craft beer). 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 Ouro Preto: Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Tiradentes Square, Inconfidência Museum. In Petrópolis: Imperial Museum, Crystal Palace, Santos Dumont House. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.