# Things to see in São João del-Rei (Brazil): 5 places and when to go

> São João del-Rei is a town in Brazil with around 79,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 5 places in and around it, mainly Temples (2), Nature (2), Wildlife (2). The best known are Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei and Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Penha de França. The best time to come is December to February and June to September; also possible: March to May and October to November. In December there are 13 h 17 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 43. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/sao-joao-del-rei/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** Brazil · -21.13, -44.25
- **Population:** About 79,000
- **Places:** 5 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/espiritual/) (2) · [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/naturaleza/) (2) · [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/fauna/) (2) · [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/historia/) (1) · [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/museos/) (1)
- **Best time:** December to February and June to September.
- **Also possible:** March to May and October to November.
- **Nearest airport:** GIG Rio De Janeiro, 214 km as the crow flies

## What to see in São João del-Rei

The places in and around São João del-Rei, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/cathedral-basilica-of-our-lady-of-the-pillar/): Church in São João del Rei, Brazil · 1.4 km
- [Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Penha de França](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/igreja-matriz-de-nossa-senhora-da-penha-de-franca/): Church building in Brazil · 23 km
- [Área de Proteção Ambiental Serra São José](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/area-de-protecao-ambiental-sao-jose/): Protected area · 11 km
- [Museu Casa Padre Toledo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/museu-casa-padre-toledo/): Museum in Brazil · 7.9 km
- [Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/refugio-estadual-de-vida-silvestre-libelulas-da-serra-de-sao/): Wildlife refuge in Minas Gerais, Brazil · 11 km

## When to go to São João del-Rei

The best time to visit São João del-Rei is **December to February and June to September**; also possible: March to May and October to November. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 13 h 09 |
| February | Best time | 12 h 42 |
| March | Possible | 12 h 09 |
| April | Possible | 11 h 31 |
| May | Possible | 11 h |
| June | Best time | 10 h 43 |
| July | Best time | 10 h 50 |
| August | Best time | 11 h 16 |
| September | Best time | 11 h 53 |
| October | Possible | 12 h 30 |
| November | Possible | 13 h 02 |
| December | Best time | 13 h 17 |

In December there are 13 h 17 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 43. In January, 5 of the 5 places are at their best.

When to go to Brazil in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to São João del-Rei

The nearest main airport is Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG, Rio De Janeiro), 214 km as the crow flies. How to get around Brazil (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-21.13%2C-44.25)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-21.13%2C-44.25)

## Other towns nearby

- [Ouro Preto](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/ouro-preto/): 13 places · 114 km
- [Belo Horizonte](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/belo-horizonte/): 13 places · 140 km
- [Petrópolis](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/petropolis/): 11 places · 188 km
- [Teresópolis](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/teresopolis/): 11 places · 195 km
- [Nova Iguaçu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/nova-iguacu/): 14 places · 196 km
- [Nova Friburgo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/nova-friburgo/): 5 places · 217 km

And all of Brazil, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in São João del-Rei?

The best known: [Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/cathedral-basilica-of-our-lady-of-the-pillar/), [Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Penha de França](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/igreja-matriz-de-nossa-senhora-da-penha-de-franca/). In all, 5 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit São João del-Rei?

December to February and June to September; also possible: March to May and October to November. In December there are 13 h 17 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 43.

### How do you get to São João del-Rei?

The nearest main airport is Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG), 214 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-21.13%2C-44.25) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with São João del-Rei as the destination and these 5 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).