Iconic square/park in Santa Theresa, Belo Horizonte's bohemian neighborhood. There are regular…read morecultural events. Otherwise it's a fairly simple and straightforward space.

Set in an upscale neighborhood, the Praça do Papa is an iconic square in Belo. From the top you…read morehave great views of the city, there are occasional events, and it's fairly easy to access from downtown. However, I am no fan of this place because it's not a great option to spread out and relax. The grass is knobby and dry and on the weekends you'll get overrun by ambulantes (street sellers). If you come this way, nearby Mangabeiras Municipal Park and Serra de Curral are better places to enjoy a few hours.

Wonderful city park a few km southeast of downtown. Entrance is free and it is easily accessible by…read morebus or car (parking costs a symbolic R3.50). The park has something for everyone and hosts occasional events. Set against a backdrop of the Serra das Mangabeiras mountains and perched above the town, the views are outstanding. Near the entrance, there are some manicured grassy fields + water features; great for families. A bit further afield there are sport courts and a skatepark. The rest is mostly natural terrain with pedestrian access (there are occasional busses too) for some mildly strenuous hikes (~5km for the largest loop). There is a huge number of picnic spots scattered through the park (some easily accessible and some less so), so you might as well bring something to nibble on or to imbibe. There's a restaurant / cafeteria too.

This could well be our favorite park in Belo Horizonte. It is not as well known as some of the…read moreothers and there are relatively few facilities, but this makes it only more attractive to us. The hike to Mirante 3 (viewpoint/overlook) is an excellent workout and you'll be rewarded by great views. And, importantly, you're in nature. The park itself sits at the base of the mountain range that overlooks the city. Directly after entering the park (free access) there is a small field with lush grass and an area with some workout equipment. This space is excellent to have a picknick; we also often see people do yoga there as well. The hike to the main view platform takes maybe 30 minutes. There are two ways to get there; one is to take the gravel road all the way; the other option is to turn off left onto a steep track that gets you there quicker. We typically go up the steep track and come down the gravel road to make it into a loop. Before you get to the turnoff to Mirante3, there is another side track that goes to a different viewing point. This one is not as impressive, but if you have limited time or fitness it is a decent alternative. Also good to know, there is filtered water at the entrance and at the top by Mirante3. In the past, it was possible to continue past Mirante 3 to hike to the top of the mountain range. It would have given an even better view of the city and also of the (now inactive) open pit iron ore mine on the other side of the mountain, but sadly this part of the track has been closed. They say it may open again in the future, but who knows...