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 Sao Paulo (486 km). Major highways connect Juiz de Fora with these three metropolitan areas, the most important being the BR 040, which connects Brasilia 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 Paraiba do Sul, in the Paraiba do Sul basin, between the Orgaos 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 (2 hours). Sao 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 (''rodoviaria'') 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}}) has 4 daily flights to/from Sao Paulo (Congonhas) by the [http://www.voepantanal.com.br Pantanal] carrier, and daily flights to/from Belo Horizonte (Pampulha), Rio de Janeiro (Santos Dumont) and Sao Joao Del Rey by [http://www.voetrip.com.br 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 (32) 3233-1089 (''Fax:(32) 3690-8330'')

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$ 1,55.

'''Taxis''' are also widely available and not expensive for larger city standards.

  • '''Albatroz Radio Taxi''' - Phone: ''32'' 3215-4400 / 3215-5418
  • '''Tele Taxi''' - Phone: ''32'' 3215-4410 / 3217-7102
  • See

  • '''Museu Mariano Procopio'''[http://www.mapro.pjf.mg.gov.br/home.php] - The museum counts itself as one of the principal exhibitions of the imperial period of Brazil.
  • '''MAM'''[http://www.mam.ufjf.br/] - Juiz de Fora Museum of Modern Art.
  • '''Morro do Imperador'''
  • Events

  • ''' Festival Internacional de Musica Colonial Brasileira e Musica Antiga[http://www.promusica.org.br/]'''- International Festival of Colonial Brazilian Music and Antique Music (July)
  • '''Miss Brasil Gay[http://www.acessa.com.br/zonapink]''' - The biggest event in the city. Self-explanatory (August).
  • '''Rainbow Fest''' [http://www.mgm.org.br] - Several events (parties, debates and a parade) targeting the GLBT community. In the same week of Miss Brasil Gay (August).
  • '''Goa Trance''' [http://www.goatrance.com.br] - Rave in outskirts of city (November)
  • '''Celebra Open Air''' [http://www.celebra.art.br] - Electronic music festival with some foreign attractions (March)
  • '''Primeiro Plano''' - Independent movie festival (November)
  • Buy

  • '''Independencia Shopping''' [http://www.independenciashopping.com.br], Av. Independencia, 3.600 - Cascatinha
  • '''Mister Shopping''' [http://www.mistershopping.com.br], Rua Mister Moore, 70 - Centro
  • '''Alameda Mall''' [http://www.alamedajf.com.br], Rua Moraes e Castro, 300 - Alto dos Passos
  • Eat

    Budget

  • '''McDonald`s''' - Avenida Barao do Rio Branco, 4000 - Bom Pastor
  • '''Burger King''' - Av Independencia 3600 - Independencia Shopping
  • '''Subway''' - Rua Moraes e Castro , 300 - Altos Passos
  • '''Pastelaria Mexicana''' - Installed on a truck between Independencia and Rio Branco Av (city classic "street food")
  • '''Mary Milk''', Av. Independencia, 2.267 - Sao Mateus. Tel ''32'' 3232-4699 [http://www.marymilk.com.br]
  • '''Mazzolino''', Av. Independencia, 2.323 - Sao Mateus. Tel. ''32'' 3214-8550 [http://www.mazzolino.com.br]
  • '''Mohamed_Ls''', Av. Independencia, 2.665 - Sao Mateus. Tel. ''32'' 3084-4573
  • '''Vida e Saude''', Av. Rio Branco, 2.143 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3212-9922 (''vegetarian'')
  • '''Budi''', Rua Sao Mateus, 103 - Sao Mateus. Tel. ''32'' 3216-6628 (''vegetarian'')
  • Mid-Range

  • '''Mamma Roma''', Rua Braz Bernardino, 90 - Centro. Phone: ''32'' 3215-0990
  • '''Berttu_Ls''', Rua Santo Antonio, 572 - Centro. Phone: ''32'' 3215-5026, [http://www.berttus.com.br ].
  • '''Bertu_Ls Aeroporto''', Rua Acacio Alves Alvim, 2.510 - Aeroporto. Phone: ''32'' 3233-1209, [http://www.berttus.com.br ].
  • '''Bacco''', Av. Independencia, 1.850 - Sao Mateus. Phone: ''32'' 3249-1850, [http://www.victorybusinesshotel.com.br ].
  • '''Babbo Giabba Pizzeria''', Rua Padre Cafe, 384 - Sao Mateus. Phone: ''32'' 3217-9020
  • '''Churrascaria Chimarron''', Av. Rio Branco, 700 - loja 07 - Manoel Honorio. Phone: ''32'' 3217-3353, [http://www.chimarron.com.br].
  • '''Churrascaria Estrela Grill''', Ladeira Alexandre Leonel, 180 - Cascatinha. Phone: ''32'' 3217-1146 / 3232-9060
  • '''Churrascaria Potencia do Sul''', Av. Deusdedith Salgado, 4.060 - Salvaterra. Phone: ''32'' 3241-4800 [http://www.potenciadosuljf.com.br ].
  • '''Churraspizza''', Av. Governador Valadares, 473 - Manoel Honorio. Phone: ''32'' 3214-1991
  • '''Churrasqueira Alto dos Passos''', Rua Dom Vicoso, 111 - Alto dos Passos. Phone: ''32'' 3214-1598
  • '''Churrasqueira Sao Mateus''', Rua Padre Cafe, 73 - Sao Mateus. Phone: ''32'' 3232-2113 / 3218-0707
  • '''Faisao Dourado''', Rua Halfeld, 316 - Centro. Phone: ''32'' 3215-9058
  • '''Brasao''', Av. Rio Branco, 2.262 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-8263
  • '''Restaurante Vaporetto''', Rua Barao de Cataguases,102 - Santa Helena. Phone: ''32'' 3215-9650, [http://www.restaurantevaporetto.com.br].
  • Splurge

  • '''Edo Sushi''', Rua Sao Sebastiao, 1.401 - Santa Helena. Tel. ''32'' 3213-6194
  • '''La Caprese''', Rua Moraes e Castro, 438 - Alto dos Passos. Tel. ''32'' 3217-6507
  • '''Mont Blanc''', Rua Tavares Bastos, 49 - Alto dos Passos. Tel. ''32'' 3215-8606
  • '''Nectar Gourmet''', Rua Engenheiro Gentil Forn, 1.700 - Jardins Imperiais. Tel. ''32'' 3214-4723
  • '''Osteria da Silvano''', Rua Dom Vicoso, 177 - Alto dos Passos. Tel. ''32'' 3215-4239
  • '''Wood House''' - Av. Dr. Paulo Japiassu Coelho, 260 - Cascatinha. Tel. ''32'' 3236-1067
  • '''Shizen''' - Av. Valdir Pedro Monachesi, 601 - Aeroporto. Phone: ''32'' 3232-1198
  • '''Giramondo Pizzeria''' - Rua Tenente Paulo Maria Delage 386 - Borboleta - "32" 3218-1450
  • Drink

  • '''Cafe Muzik''' - Rua Espirito Santo, 1.081 (''take any bus to rua Halfeld and walk three blocks down the Rio Branco avenue''). (32) 3213-9796. With table service and a dance floor, Wednesdays are ''Samba'' night, Fridays cater to the predominantly gay ''house music'' crowd and Sundays are for rockers[http://www.muzik.com.br/]
  • '''Bar da Fabrica''', Praca Antonio Carlos, s/no (Centro Cultural Bernardo Mascarenhas) - Centro - Phone: ''32'' 3215-0910
  • '''Cafe Acustico''', Av. dos Andradas, 197 - 2o floor - Centro. Phone: ''32'' 3215-7518, [http://www.cafeacustico.com.br/]
  • '''Cenario Bar''', Rua Demetrio Francisco, 145 - Boa Vista. Phone: ''32'' 8834-2627
  • '''Cultural Bar''', Av. Deusdedith Salgado, 4.800 - Salvaterra. Phone: ''32'' 3214-1289
  • '''Emporio Artesanal''', Av. Guadalajara, 6 - Aeroporto. Phone: ''32'' 3233-1452
  • '''Estacao Gourmet''', Rua Jose Lourenco, 380 - Sao Pedro. Phone: ''32'' 3236-4269
  • '''Lord_Ls Club''', Av. Independencia, 809 - Centro. Phone: ''32'' 3231-1651
  • '''Mercearia Bar''', Rua Dom Vicoso, 98 - Alto dos Passos. Phone: ''32'' 3212-6777
  • '''Mezcla''', Rua Benjamin Constant, 720 - Centro. Phone: ''32'' 3083-2351
  • '''People Bar''', Av. Independencia, 1.940 - Sao Mateus. Phone: ''32'' 3231-1853. GLS bar with a small dance floor and ocassional live music.
  • '''Pro-copao''', Rua Mariano Procopio, 1.115 - Mariano Procopio. Phone: ''32'' 3217-9050
  • '''Parlatorium Music Lounge''', Av. Rio Branco, 2.189 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3213-5513 [http://www.parlatorium.net]
  • '''Privilege''', Rua Engenheiro Gentil Forn, 1.000 - Vale do Ipe. Tel. ''32'' 3231-7575[http://www.privilegenet.com.br/]
  • '''W 100 Street''', Rua W, 100 - Aeroporto. Tel. ''32'' 3233-2135
  • Sleep

    Budget

  • '''Charme Hotel''', Rua Halfeld, 320 - Centro. Tel.''32'' 3217-7625.
  • '''Colina Verde Hotel''', Av. Deusdedith Salgado, 5.201 - Salvaterra. Tel. ''32'' 3231-3700, [http://www.colinaverdehotel.com.br].
  • '''Grande Hotel Renascenca''', Praca Dr. Joao Penido, 22 (Praca da Estacao) - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-2836.
  • '''Hotel Majestic''', Rua Halfeld, 284 - Centro - Tel. ''32'' 3215-5050.
  • '''Hotel dos Viajantes''', Av. Independencia, 2.877 - Sao Mateus. Tel. ''32'' 3231-6008.
  • '''Hotel Astoria''', Rua Batista de Oliveira, 284 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-2449.
  • '''Hotel Sao Luiz''', Rua Halfeld, 360 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-1155.
  • '''Hotel Renascer''', Rua Halfeld, 213 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-9748.
  • '''Hotel Imperador''', Av. dos Andradas, 25 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-1731.
  • '''Hilton Hotel''', Av. Getulio Vargas, 483 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-8112.
  • '''Minas Hotel''', Av. Francisco Bernardino 85 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-2787.
  • '''Omega Apart Hotel''', Rua Sao Sebastiao, 375 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3217-4034, [http://www.omegahotel.com.br].
  • '''Pepita Hotel''', Av. Brasil, 9.367 - Sao Dimas (proximo ao Terminal Rodoviario). Tel. (32)3215-5319 / 3218-7234.
  • '''Pousada Aconchego de Minas''', R. Doutor Decio Guanabarino, no01 - Aeroporto. Tel/Fax: ''32'' 3233-1305, [http://www.padem.hpg.com.br].
  • '''SESC Pousada de Juiz de Fora''', Rua do Contorno, s/no - Nova California (acesso pelo Km 794 da Rodovia BR 040). Tel. ''32'' 3233-1144 Fax ''32'' 3233-1005, [http://www.sescmg.com.br].
  • '''Solar Flat''', Av. Getulio Vargas, 353 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 2101-1100, [http://www.solarflathotel.com.br].
  • Mid-Range

  • '''Cesar Palace Hotel''', Av. Getulio Vargas, 335 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-6599 Fax. (32)3216-2177, [http://www.cesarpalacehotel.com.br].
  • '''Imperial Hotel''', Rua Batista de Oliveira, 605 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-7400, [http://www.imperialhoteljf.com.br].
  • '''Joalpa Hotel''', Rua Afonso Pinto da Motta, 29 - Centro - Tel. ''32'' 3215-6055 Fax: (32)3215-2694, [http://www.joalpa.com.br].
  • '''Minas Flat Service''', Rua Braz Bernardino, 105 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3216-2555.
  • '''Real Hotel''', Av. Rio Branco, 1.411 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3212-6042
  • '''Serrano Residencial Hotel''', Rua Santa Rita, 399 - Centro - Tel. ''32'' 3216-2800, [http://www.serranohotel.com.br].
  • '''Serrano Apart Hotel''', Rua Batista de Oliveira, 809 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3213-9001, [http://www.serranohotel.com.br].
  • Splurge

  • '''Cesar Park Hotel''', Av. Getulio Vargas, 181 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3215-4898 Fax ''32'' 3215-4461, [http://www.cesarparkhotel.com.br].
  • '''Constantino Hotel''', Rua Santo Antonio, 765 - Centro. Tel. ''32'' 3229-9800, [http://www.constantinohotel.com.br].
  • '''Maxim Plaza Hotel''', Av. dos Andradas, 366 - Centro - Tel. ''32'' 3215-5542, [http://www.maxplazahotel.com.br ].
  • '''Ritz Plaza Hotel''', Av. Rio Branco, 2000 - Centro - Tel. ''32'' 3249-7300, [http://www.ritzplazahotel.com.br]. Considerado por muitos anos o mais elegante da cidade, tem localizacao bem central.
  • '''Victory Business Hotel''', Av. Independencia, 1850 - Sao Mateus. Tel. ''32'' 3249-1850, [http://www.victorybusinesshotel.com.br].
  • 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
  • Get out

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