Things to Do in Ouro Preto

Former royal treasury and mint, now a free museum with exhibits on colonial finance and slavery. The building itself is impressive — period furniture, a courtyard, and a small tunnel that once linked to the jail.

🕐 Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-1pm

💡 Head upstairs to see the restored vault and the tiny chapel. It's clean, quiet, and free, so a good refuge from rain. You can be in and out in 20 minutes.

The main square, cobbled and ringed by colonial buildings. The centrepiece is a statue of Tiradentes, the rebellion leader. Benches, shade, and views of the surrounding hills. It's a good spot to rest between churches.

🕐 24/7, open air

💡 Come early morning (before 8am) when the square is empty and the light is good for photos. Vendors sell cheap snacks like pastéis de feira for R$5 nearby.

Housed in the old municipal building and jail, this museum covers the failed 1789 revolt against Portuguese rule. Entry fee is about R$8. Sunday entry is free.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10am-6pm (last entry 5pm)

💡 Go on a Sunday to save the entry fee. The courtyard and colonial prison cells are the best bits — you can skip the upstairs paintings if time is short.

Masterpiece by Aleijadinho and Mestre Ataíde, with carved soapstone facade and vibrant ceiling paintings. Entry is cheap (around R$10), and you can see the exterior and churchyard for free.

🕐 Tue-Sun 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm

💡 Visit late afternoon — the sunlight hits the stonework and you avoid tour groups. Skip the guided audio tour; the plaques tell you enough.

A former gold mine you can walk through. Entry costs around R$15. You crawl into narrow tunnels and see old machinery. The guides tell the story of Chico Rei, a slave who bought his freedom with gold from this mine.

🕐 Daily 9am-5pm

💡 Wear trainers and old clothes — you will get muddy. It's steep and tight, so skip it if you're claustrophobic or have mobility issues. The free tour in the courtyard (outside the mine) is also worth a listen.