A university city in southeastern Brazil with active student life, colonial architecture, and green spaces. Several higher education institutions make it an academic center.
Uberlândia, the second-largest city in Minas Gerais state, sits at the intersection of major highways connecting São Paulo and Brasília. Walk through the Municipal Market to taste fresh Minas cheese and locally roasted coffee, spot toucans and macaws at Sabiá Park's zoo, or explore the twisted-trunk trees of the Brazilian cerrado at Victoria Siquierolli Park. In the evening, join locals at one of the 50+ restaurants along Rondon Pacheco Avenue for traditional pão de queijo or international cuisine.
Getting to Uberlândia
Drive 580 kilometers from São Paulo on highway BR-050, or fly into Uberlândia Airport, 4 miles northeast of downtown. Five federal highways (BR-050, BR-365, BR-455, BR-452, and BR-497) connect the city to major Brazilian destinations.
Weather and When to Visit
Plan your visit between May and September to enjoy clear skies and mild temperatures. Temperatures stay above 18°C (64°F) year-round. Start your park visits in the morning and save evening hours for dining out.
Exploring Sabiá Park
Walk, jog, or cycle along the 5,100-meter track that winds through this green space with seven connected lakes. The zoo houses 150 animals including capybaras, jaguars, and monkeys. Stop by the aquarium to see 36 tanks of freshwater and marine fish. Watch for toucans, macaws, and other native birds along the lakeside paths.
Municipal Market Experience
Step into the 1923 modernist building to find local vendors selling artisanal Minas cheese, small-batch coffee, and regional crafts. Since 1977, this former wholesale center has become a gathering spot where you can taste traditional sweets, buy fresh produce, and chat with local merchants.
Food Scene on Rondon Pacheco Avenue
Walk down Rondon Pacheco Avenue after sunset to find more than 50 restaurants packed with diners. Try traditional cachaça at neighborhood bars, grab a wood-fired pizza, or stop for coffee and dessert. Many restaurants serve regional specialties like pão de queijo (cheese bread) and feijão tropeiro (bean and meat stew).
Victoria Siquierolli Park and Native Plants
Walk through paths lined with thick-barked trees and native cerrado plants. The biodiversity museum explains the unique characteristics of Brazil's savanna ecosystem. Children can play at the playground while you learn about local plant species from educational displays.
Cultural Sites
Visit the Municipal Museum in the restored former City Hall on Clarimundo Carneiro Square to learn about the city's development through photographs and artifacts. The Federal University of Uberlândia, with its 20,000+ students, hosts art exhibitions, concerts, and theater performances throughout the year.
