Juiz de Fora

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.

Buses leave from 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 (JDF  ^IATA) 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.

The airport is located 6 km from the city center, at Av. Guadalajara s/nº. Phone [phone] (Fax:[phone])

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: [phone]
• Tele Táxi - Phone: [phone]

See

• Museu Mariano Procópio. The museum counts itself as one of the principal exhibitions of the imperial period of Brazil. 
• MAM. Juiz de Fora Museum of Modern Art. 
• Morro do Imperador

Events

• Festival Internacional de Música Colonial Brasileira e Música Antiga - International Festival of Colonial Brazilian Music and Antique Music (July)
• Miss Brasil Gay - The biggest event in the city. Self-explanatory (August).
• Rainbow Fest - Several events (parties, debates and a parade) targeting the GLBT community. In the same week of Miss Brasil Gay (August).
• Goa Trance - Rave in outskirts of city (November)
• Celebra Open Air - 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, ☎ [phone]. São Mateus, (vegetarian) 
• Cachaçaria Pinga Nu Ninho, Rua Roberto Stiegert, 31, ☎ [phone]. São Pedro. 
• Cantina e Pizzaria Gordeixo´s, Rua São Mateus, 38, ☎ [phone]. São Mateus, 
• Estação Geraes, Rua Santo Antônio, 650. Centro (at Rua Floriano Peixoto). 
• Kibe Mauad, Av. Sete de Setembro, 412, ☎ [phone]. Costa Carvalho, (quibe) 
• Kidelícia Churraskilo, Rua Santa Rita, 361, ☎ [phone]. Centro, 
• Mary Milk, Av. Independência, 2, ☎ [phone]. 267 - São Mateus, 
• Mazzolino, Av. Independência, 2, ☎ [phone]. 323 - São Mateus, 
• Mohamed´s, Av. Independência, 2, ☎ [phone]. 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, ☎ [phone]. 585 - Centro (Casa d´Italia). Pasta. 
• Vida e Saúde, Av. Rio Branco, 2, ☎ [phone]. 143 - Centro. Vegetarian restaurant. 

Mid-range

• Mamma Roma, Rua Braz Bernardino, 90, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Berttu´s, Rua Santo Antônio, 572, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Bertu´s Aeroporto, Rua Acácio Alves Alvim, 2, ☎ [phone]. 510 - Aeroporto. 
• Bacco, Av. Independência, 1, ☎ [phone]. 850 - São Mateus. 
• Babbo Giabba Pizzeria, Rua Padre Café, 384, ☎ [phone]. São Mateus. 
• Churrascaria Chimarron, Av. Rio Branco, 700, ☎ [phone]. Loja 07 - Manoel Honório. 
• Churrascaria Estrela Grill, Ladeira Alexandre Leonel, 180 - Cascatinha. Phone: [phone]
• Churrascaria Potência do Sul, Av. Deusdedith Salgado, 4, ☎ [phone]. 060 - Salvaterra. 
• Churraspizza, Av. Governador Valadares, 473, ☎ [phone]. Manoel Honório. 
• Churrasqueira Alto dos Passos, Rua Dom Viçoso, 111, ☎ [phone]. Alto dos Passos. 
• Churrasqueira São Mateus, Rua Padre Café, 73, ☎ [phone], [phone]. São Mateus. 
• Faisão Dourado, Rua Halfeld, 316, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Brasão, Av. Rio Branco, 2, ☎ [phone]. 262 - Centro. 
• Restaurante Vaporetto, ☎ [phone]. Rua Barão de Cataguases,102 - Santa Helena. 

Splurge

• Edo Sushi, Rua São Sebastião, 1, ☎ [phone]. 401 - Santa Helena. 
• La Caprese, Rua Moraes e Castro, 438, ☎ [phone]. Alto dos Passos. 
• Mont Blanc, Rua Tavares Bastos, 49, ☎ [phone]. Alto dos Passos. 
• Néctar Gourmet, Rua Engenheiro Gentil Forn, 1, ☎ [phone]. 700 - Jardins Imperiais. 
• Osteria da Silvano, Rua Dom Viçoso, 177, ☎ [phone]. Alto dos Passos. 
• Wood House, ☎ [phone]. Av. Dr. Paulo Japiassu Coelho, 260 - Cascatinha. 
• Shizen, Av. Valdir Pedro Monachesi, 601, ☎ [phone]. Aeroporto. 
• Giramondo Pizzeria - Rua Tenente Paulo Maria Delage 386 - Borboleta - "32" 3218-1450

Drink

• Café Muzik, R. Espírito Santo, 1081, ☎ [phone]. 
• Bar da Fábrica, ☎ [phone]. Praça Antônio Carlos, s/nº (Centro Cultural Bernardo Mascarenhas) - Centro - 
• Cenário Bar, Rua Demétrio Francisco, 145, ☎ [phone]. Boa Vista. 
• Cultural Bar, Av. Deusdedith Salgado, 4, ☎ [phone]. 800 - Salvaterra. 
• Empório Artesanal, Av. Guadalajara, 6, ☎ [phone]. Aeroporto. 
• Estação Gourmet, Rua José Lourenço, 380, ☎ [phone]. São Pedro. 
• Lord´s Club, Av. Independência, 809, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Mercearia Bar, Rua Dom Viçoso, 98, ☎ [phone]. Alto dos Passos. 
• Mezcla, Rua Benjamin Constant, 720, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• People Bar, Av. Independência, 1, ☎ [phone]. 940 - São Mateus. GLS bar with a small dance floor and occasional live music. 
• Pró-copão, Rua Mariano Procópio, 1, ☎ [phone]. 115 - Mariano Procópio. 
• Parlatorium Music Lounge, Av. Rio Branco, 2, ☎ [phone]. 189 - Centro. 
• Privilège, Rua Engenheiro Gentil Forn, 1, ☎ [phone]. 000 - Vale do Ipê. 
• W 100 Street, ☎ [phone]. Rua W, 100 - Aeroporto. 

Sleep

Budget

• Charme Hotel, Rua Halfeld, 320, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Colina Verde Hotel, Av. Deusdedith Salgado, 5, ☎ [phone]. 201 - Salvaterra. 
• Grande Hotel Renascença, ☎ [phone]. Praça Dr. João Penido, 22 (Praça da Estação) - Centro. 
• Hotel Majestic, Rua Halfeld, 284, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Hotel dos Viajantes, Av. Independência, 2, ☎ [phone]. 877 - São Mateus. 
• Hotel Astória, Rua Batista de Oliveira, 284, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Hotel São Luiz, Rua Halfeld, 360, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Hotel Renascer, Rua Halfeld, 213, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Hotel Imperador, Av. dos Andradas, 25, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Hilton Hotel, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 483, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Minas Hotel, ☎ [phone]. Av. Francisco Bernardino 85 - Centro. 
• Ômega Apart Hotel, Rua São Sebastião, 375, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Pepita Hotel, Av. Brasil, 9, ☎ [phone], [phone]. 367 - São Dimas (próximo ao Terminal Rodoviário). 
• Pousada Aconchego de Minas, fax: [phone]. R. Doutor Décio Guanabarino, nº01 - Aeroporto. 
• SESC Pousada de Juiz de Fora, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Rua do Contorno, s/nº - Nova California (acesso pelo Km 794 da Rodovia BR 040). 
• Solar Flat, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 353, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 

Mid-range

• Cesar Palace Hotel, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 335, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Centro. 
• Imperial Hotel, Rua Batista de Oliveira, 605, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Joalpa Hotel, Rua Afonso Pinto da Motta, 29, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Centro. 
• Minas Flat Service, Rua Braz Bernardino, 105, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Real Hotel, Av. Rio Branco, 1, ☎ [phone]. 411 - Centro. 
• Serrano Residencial Hotel, Rua Santa Rita, 399, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Serrano Apart Hotel, Rua Batista de Oliveira, 809, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 

Splurge

• Cesar Park Hotel, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 181, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Centro. 
• Constantino Hotel, Rua Santo Antônio, 765, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Maxim Plaza Hotel, Av. dos Andradas, 366, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Ritz Plaza Hotel, Av. Rio Branco, 2000, ☎ [phone]. Centro. 
• Victory Business Hotel, Av. Independência, 1850, ☎ [phone]. 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

• Ibitipoca
• Tiradentes
• Petrópolis
• Rio de Janeiro
• Ouro Preto