city and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Juiz de Fora is a city in Southern Minas Gerais, close to the state border with Rio de Janeiro. According to the 2006 estimate the population was 509,125 inhabitants. The area of the municipality is 1,437 km².

The location is strategic for economic growth, between the three most important centers of southeast Brazil: Rio de Janeiro (189 km), Belo Horizonte (260 km) and São Paulo (486 km). Major highways connect Juiz de Fora with these three metropolitan areas, the most important being the BR 040, which connects Brasília with Rio de Janeiro, passing through Belo Horizonte.

Often referred to only as "JF", this traditional city is located in the deep Paraibuna river valley, a major tributary of the Paraíba do Sul, in the Paraíba do Sul basin, between the Órgãos and Mantiqueira ranges.

Juiz de Fora is a gay friendly city, homophobia is punished by law since 2000.

Get in edit

By bus edit

Juiz de Fora is on the way between Belo Horizonte (4.5 hours) and Rio de Janeiro (3 hours). São Paulo is approximately 8 hours away. The city is also a regional bus hub and has frequent links to nearby cities.

From Belo Horizonte Buser offers the ride for R$60 (Dec 2021), Atual goes for R$104 (Dec 2021).

From Petrópolis Única Facil lets you join the trip for R$42 (Dec 2021).

Buses arrive at the main bus station (rodoviária) at Av. Brasil, 9501. (32) 3215-7696. The bus terminal is connected to the downtown area by taxis and frequent regular buses that drop passengers near the very central corner of Av. Getulio Vargas and Av. Rio Branco.

By plane edit

  • 1 Juiz de Fora (JDF IATA), Av. Guadalajara s/nº (6 km from the city center), +55 32 3233-1089, fax: +55 32 3690-8330. has 2 daily flights from São Paulo (Guarulhos) by the Trip carrier, and daily flights from Belo Horizonte (Pampulha), Rio de Janeiro (Santos Dumont) and São João Del Rey by TRIP , with connections to other cities. Many budget-conscious travellers, however, take a cheaper flight to Rio or Belo Horizonte then shift to buses to finish the trip.    

Get around edit

The city center is compact and can be crossed on foot. For longer distances, the bus system is quite effective, with frequent and clean buses. Most lines converge to the central Rio Branco Avenue. Tickets cost R$ 3,10.

Taxis are also widely available and not expensive for larger city standards.

  • Albatroz Rádio Táxi - Phone: +55 32 3215-4400 / 3215-5418
  • Tele Táxi - Phone: +55 32 3215-4410 / 3217-7102

See edit

  • Museu Mariano Procópio, R. Mariano Procópio, 1100 - Mariano Procópio, +55 32 3690-2200. Tu-F 09:00-16:00, Sa Su 10:30-16:00. The museum counts itself as one of the principal exhibitions of the imperial period of Brazil.
  • Museu de Arte Murilo Mendes, R. Benjamin Constant, 790 - Santa Helena. Tu-Sa 08:00-18:00, Su 13:00-18:00. It houses the library and visual arts collection of Modernist poet Murilo Mendes.
  • Morro do Imperador

Events edit

  • Festival Internacional de Música Colonial Brasileira e Música Antiga [1] [dead link]- International Festival of Colonial Brazilian Music and Antique Music (July)
  • Miss Brasil Gay [2] - The biggest event in the city. Self-explanatory (August).
  • Rainbow Fest [dead link] - Several events (parties, debates and a parade) targeting the LGBT community. In the same week of Miss Brasil Gay (August).
  • Goa Trance [dead link] - Rave in outskirts of city (November)
  • Celebra Open Air [dead link] - Electronic music festival with some foreign attractions (March)
  • Primeiro Plano - Independent movie festival (November)

Buy edit

Eat edit

Budget edit

Mid-range edit

Splurge edit

  • Edo Sushi, Rua São Sebastião, 1, +55 32 3213-6194. 401 - Santa Helena.
  • La Caprese, Rua Moraes e Castro, 438, +55 32 3217-6507. Alto dos Passos.
  • Mont Blanc, Rua Tavares Bastos, 49, +55 32 3215-8606. Alto dos Passos.
  • Néctar Gourmet, Rua Engenheiro Gentil Forn, 1, +55 32 3214-4723. 700 - Jardins Imperiais.
  • Osteria da Silvano, Rua Dom Viçoso, 177, +55 32 3215-4239. Alto dos Passos.
  • Wood House, +55 32 3236-1067. Av. Dr. Paulo Japiassu Coelho, 260 - Cascatinha.
  • Shizen, Av. Valdir Pedro Monachesi, 601, +55 32 3232-1198. Aeroporto.
  • Giramondo Pizzeria - Rua Tenente Paulo Maria Delage 386 - Borboleta - "32" 3218-1450

Drink edit

Sleep edit

Budget edit

Mid-range edit

Splurge edit

Stay safe edit

Juiz de Fora is considered a safe city for Brazilian standards. Just take the common sense precautions and you will be fine.

  • Police : 190
  • Emergency (paramedics/firefighters) : 193

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This city travel guide to Juiz de Fora is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.