Juiz de Fora is a city in the southeast of the Brazilian state of 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$42 (Dec 2021).
Buses arrive at the main bus station (rodoviária) at Av. Brasil, 9501. (32) 3215-7696. The bus terminal is connected to the downtown area by taxis and frequent regular buses that drop passengers near the very central corner of Av. Getulio Vargas and Av. Rio Branco.
By plane
- Juiz de Fora (IATA: JDF), Av. Guadalajara s/nº (6 km from the city center), -21.793056°, -43.385556°, +55 32 3233-1089. has 2 daily flights to/from São Paulo (Guarulhos) by the Trip carrier, and daily flights to/from Belo Horizonte (Pampulha), Rio de Janeiro (Santos Dumont) and São João Del Rey by TRIP , with connections to other cities. Many budget-conscious travellers, however, take a cheaper flight to Rio or Belo Horizonte then shift to buses to finish the trip.
Get around
The city center is compact and can be crossed on foot. For longer distances, the bus system is quite effective, with frequent and clean buses. Most lines converge to the central Rio Branco Avenue. Tickets cost R$ 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. The museum counts itself as one of the principal exhibitions of the imperial period of Brazil.
- {{see
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- Morro do Imperador
Events
- Festival Internacional de Música Colonial Brasileira e Música Antiga (dead link: December 2020)- 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: December 2020) - Several events (parties, debates and a parade) targeting the LGBT community. In the same week of Miss Brasil Gay (August).
- Goa Trance (dead link: December 2020) - Rave in outskirts of city (November)
- Celebra Open Air (dead link: December 2020) - Electronic music festival with some foreign attractions (March)
- Primeiro Plano - Independent movie festival (November)
Buy
Eat
Budget
- Budi, Rua São Mateus, 103, +55 32 3216-6628. São Mateus, (vegetarian)
- {{eat
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- 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,
- {{eat
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- 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.
- Berttu´s, Rua Santo Antônio, 572, +55 32 3215-5026. Centro.
- {{eat
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- {{eat
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- 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.
- {{drink
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- 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.
- {{sleep
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- 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.
- {{sleep
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- Pepita Hotel, Av. Brasil, 9, +55 32 3215-5319, +55 32 3218-7234. 367 - São Dimas (próximo ao Terminal Rodoviário).
- {{sleep
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- SESC Pousada de Juiz de Fora, +55 32 3233-1144. 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
- Cesar Palace Hotel, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 335, +55 32 3215-6599. Centro.
- Imperial Hotel, Rua Batista de Oliveira, 605, +55 32 3215-7400. Centro.
- Joalpa Hotel, Rua Afonso Pinto da Motta, 29, +55 32 3215-6055. 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
- {{sleep
| name=Cesar Park Hotel | alt= | url=http://www.cesarparkhotel.com.br (dead link: June 2020) | email=
| address=Av. Getúlio Vargas, 181 | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+55 32 3215-4898 | tollfree= | fax=+55 32 3215-4461
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- {{sleep
| name=Constantino Hotel | alt= | url=http://www.constantinohotel.com.br (dead link: December 2020) | email=
| address=Rua Santo Antônio, 765 | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+55 32 3229-9800 | tollfree= | fax=
| price= | checkin= | checkout=
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- Maxim Plaza Hotel, Av. dos Andradas, 366, +55 32 3215-5542. Centro.
- Ritz Plaza Hotel, Av. Rio Branco, 2000, +55 32 3249-7300. Centro.
- {{sleep
| name=Victory Business Hotel | alt= | url=http://www.victorybusinesshotel.com.br (dead link: December 2020) | email=
| address=Av. Independência, 1850 | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+55 32 3249-1850 | tollfree= | fax=
| price= | checkin= | checkout=
| content=São Mateus.
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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
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