Juiz de Fora

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

By bus

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

-21.793056-43.3855561 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

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

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. (updated Jun 2023)
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. (updated Jun 2023)
Morro do Imperador

Events

Festival Internacional de Música Colonial Brasileira e Música Antiga ^{[dead link]}- International Festival of Colonial Brazilian Music and Antique Music (July)
Miss Brasil Gay - 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

Independência Shopping, Av. Independência, 3. 600 - Cascatinha
Mister Shopping, Rua Mister Moore, 70. Centro
Alameda Mall, Rua Moraes e Castro, 300. Alto dos Passos

Eat

Budget

Budi, Rua São Mateus, 103, ☏ +55 32 3216-6628. São Mateus, (vegetarian)
^{[dead link]} Cachaçaria Pinga Nu Ninho, Rua Roberto Stiegert, 31, ☏ +55 32 3231-3000. São Pedro.
Cantina e Pizzaria Gordeixo´s, Rua São Mateus, 38, ☏ +55 32 3215-8182. São Mateus,
Estação Geraes, Rua Santo Antônio, 650. Centro (at Rua Floriano Peixoto).
Kibe Mauad, Av. Sete de Setembro, 412, ☏ +55 32 3215-7996. Costa Carvalho, (quibe)
Kidelícia Churraskilo, Rua Santa Rita, 361, ☏ +55 32 3215-7298. Centro,
Mary Milk, Av. Independência, 2, ☏ +55 32 3232-4699. 267 - São Mateus,
^{[dead link]} Mazzolino, Av. Independência, 2, ☏ +55 32 3214-8550. 323 - São Mateus,
Mohamed´s, Av. Independência, 2, ☏ +55 32 3084-4573. 665 - São Mateus.
Pastelaria Mexicana - Installed on a truck between Independência and Rio Branco Av. Classic street food.
Sapore di Calabria, Av. Rio Branco, 2, ☏ +55 32 3218-8244. 585 - Centro (Casa d´Italia). Pasta.
Vida e Saúde, Av. Rio Branco, 2, ☏ +55 32 3212-9922. 143 - Centro. Vegetarian restaurant.

Mid-range

Mamma Roma, Rua Braz Bernardino, 90, ☏ +55 32 3215-0990. Centro.
^{[formerly dead link]} Berttu´s, Rua Santo Antônio, 572, ☏ +55 32 3215-5026. Centro.
^{[formerly dead link]} Bertu´s Aeroporto, Rua Acácio Alves Alvim, 2, ☏ +55 32 3233-1209. 510 - Aeroporto.
^{[dead link]} Bacco, Av. Independência, 1, ☏ +55 32 3249-1850. 850 - São Mateus.
Babbo Giabba Pizzeria, Rua Padre Café, 384, ☏ +55 32 3217-9020. São Mateus.
Churrascaria Chimarron, Av. Rio Branco, 700, ☏ +55 32 3217-3353. Loja 07 - Manoel Honório.
Churrascaria Estrela Grill, Ladeira Alexandre Leonel, 180 - Cascatinha. Phone: +55 32 3217-1146 / 3232-9060
Churrascaria Potência do Sul, Av. Deusdedith Salgado, 4, ☏ +55 32 3241-4800. 060 - Salvaterra.
Churraspizza, Av. Governador Valadares, 473, ☏ +55 32 3214-1991. Manoel Honório.
Churrasqueira Alto dos Passos, Rua Dom Viçoso, 111, ☏ +55 32 3214-1598. Alto dos Passos.
Churrasqueira São Mateus, Rua Padre Café, 73, ☏ +55 32 3232-2113, +55 32 3218-0707. São Mateus.
Faisão Dourado, Rua Halfeld, 316, ☏ +55 32 3215-9058. Centro.
Brasão, Av. Rio Branco, 2, ☏ +55 32 3215-8263. 262 - Centro.
Restaurante Vaporetto, ☏ +55 32 3215-9650. Rua Barão de Cataguases,102 - Santa Helena.

Splurge

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

Café Muzik, R. Espírito Santo, 1081, ☏ +55 32 3213-9796.
Bar da Fábrica, ☏ +55 32 3215-0910. Praça Antônio Carlos, s/nº (Centro Cultural Bernardo Mascarenhas) - Centro -
Cenário Bar, Rua Demétrio Francisco, 145, ☏ +55 32 8834-2627. Boa Vista.
Cultural Bar, Av. Deusdedith Salgado, 4, ☏ +55 32 3214-1289. 800 - Salvaterra.
Empório Artesanal, Av. Guadalajara, 6, ☏ +55 32 3233-1452. Aeroporto.
Estação Gourmet, Rua José Lourenço, 380, ☏ +55 32 3236-4269. São Pedro.
Lord´s Club, Av. Independência, 809, ☏ +55 32 3231-1651. Centro.
Mercearia Bar, Rua Dom Viçoso, 98, ☏ +55 32 3212-6777. Alto dos Passos.
Mezcla, Rua Benjamin Constant, 720, ☏ +55 32 3083-2351. Centro.
People Bar, Av. Independência, 1, ☏ +55 32 3231-1853. 940 - São Mateus. GLS bar with a small dance floor and occasional live music.
Pró-copão, Rua Mariano Procópio, 1, ☏ +55 32 3217-9050. 115 - Mariano Procópio.
^{[dead link]} Parlatorium Music Lounge, Av. Rio Branco, 2, ☏ +55 32 3213-5513. 189 - Centro.
Privilège, Rua Engenheiro Gentil Forn, 1, ☏ +55 32 3231-7575. 000 - Vale do Ipê.
W 100 Street, ☏ +55 32 3233-2135. Rua W, 100 - Aeroporto.

Sleep

Budget

Charme Hotel, Rua Halfeld, 320, ☏ +55 32 3217-7625. Centro.
^{[dead link]} Colina Verde Hotel, Av. Deusdedith Salgado, 5, ☏ +55 32 3231-3700. 201 - Salvaterra.
Grande Hotel Renascença, ☏ +55 32 3215-2836. Praça Dr. João Penido, 22 (Praça da Estação) - Centro.
Hotel Majestic, Rua Halfeld, 284, ☏ +55 32 3215-5050. Centro.
Hotel dos Viajantes, Av. Independência, 2, ☏ +55 32 3231-6008. 877 - São Mateus.
Hotel Astória, Rua Batista de Oliveira, 284, ☏ +55 32 3215-2449. Centro.
Hotel São Luiz, Rua Halfeld, 360, ☏ +55 32 3215-1155. Centro.
Hotel Renascer, Rua Halfeld, 213, ☏ +55 32 3215-9748. Centro.
Hotel Imperador, Av. dos Andradas, 25, ☏ +55 32 3215-1731. Centro.
Hilton Hotel, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 483, ☏ +55 32 3215-8112. Centro.
Minas Hotel, ☏ +55 32 3215-2787. Av. Francisco Bernardino 85 - Centro.
^{[dead link]} Ômega Apart Hotel, Rua São Sebastião, 375, ☏ +55 32 3217-4034. Centro.
Pepita Hotel, Av. Brasil, 9, ☏ +55 32 3215-5319, +55 32 3218-7234. 367 - São Dimas (próximo ao Terminal Rodoviário).
^{[dead link]} Pousada Aconchego de Minas, fax: +55 32 3233-1305. R. Doutor Décio Guanabarino, nº01 - Aeroporto.
SESC Pousada de Juiz de Fora, ☏ +55 32 3233-1144, fax: +55 32 3233-1005. Rua do Contorno, s/nº - Nova California (acesso pelo Km 794 da Rodovia BR 040).
Solar Flat, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 353, ☏ +55 32 2101-1100. Centro.

Mid-range

^{[formerly dead link]} Cesar Palace Hotel, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 335, ☏ +55 32 3215-6599, fax: +55 32 3216-2177. Centro.
Imperial Hotel, Rua Batista de Oliveira, 605, ☏ +55 32 3215-7400. Centro.
^{[formerly dead link]} Joalpa Hotel, Rua Afonso Pinto da Motta, 29, ☏ +55 32 3215-6055, fax: +55 32 3215-2694. Centro.
Minas Flat Service, Rua Braz Bernardino, 105, ☏ +55 32 3216-2555. Centro.
Real Hotel, Av. Rio Branco, 1, ☏ +55 32 3212-6042. 411 - Centro.
Serrano Residencial Hotel, Rua Santa Rita, 399, ☏ +55 32 3216-2800. Centro.
Serrano Apart Hotel, Rua Batista de Oliveira, 809, ☏ +55 32 3213-9001. Centro.

Splurge

^{[formerly dead link]} Cesar Park Hotel, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 181, ☏ +55 32 3215-4898, fax: +55 32 3215-4461. Centro.
^{[dead link]} Constantino Hotel, Rua Santo Antônio, 765, ☏ +55 32 3229-9800. Centro.
Maxim Plaza Hotel, Av. dos Andradas, 366, ☏ +55 32 3215-5542. Centro.
Ritz Plaza Hotel, Av. Rio Branco, 2000, ☏ +55 32 3249-7300. Centro.
^{[dead link]} Victory Business Hotel, Av. Independência, 1850, ☏ +55 32 3249-1850. São Mateus.

Stay safe

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

Go next

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.