Tancredo Neves International Airport

Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF), commonly called Confins, serves Belo Horizonte, Brazil's third-largest city and the capital of Minas Gerais state. Located 40 km north of the city center in Confins municipality, it's the main international gateway to Brazil's historic interior.

The airport has a single terminal that underwent major expansion and privatization. CNF handles international flights and most domestic traffic for Belo Horizonte.

Note: Belo Horizonte has a second airport, Pampulha (PLU), closer to the city for some regional flights.

Key airlines: GOL, LATAM, Azul, American, Copa, TAP Portugal, and various domestic carriers.

CNF is far north of Belo Horizonte:

• To Belo Horizonte center: 40 km, 40-60 minutes
• To Savassi (trendy district): 42 km, 45-65 minutes
• To Pampulha: 30 km, 35-50 minutes
• To Ouro Preto: 130 km, 2 hours

Traffic varies; Belo Horizonte can be congested.

Uber and 99 operate at CNF.

• To city center: BRL 100-150 (~$20-30 USD)
• To Savassi: BRL 110-160
• To Pampulha: BRL 70-100

Taxis from the stand:

• Fixed rates, often higher than apps
• Prepaid vouchers available

Conexão Aeroporto (Airport Bus)

BH Airport bus service connects to central Belo Horizonte:

• Route: CNF → Rodoviária (bus station) → Savassi
• Journey time: 60-90 minutes
• Frequency: Every 30-60 minutes
• Cost: BRL 30-40 (~$6-8)
• Hours: 05:00-23:00

The bus is comfortable and economical.

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Covered	BRL 70/day	Terminal adjacent
Uncovered	BRL 50/day	Shuttle available

CNF has decent dining:

Terminal:

• Mineiro restaurants: Regional cuisine
• Fast food: Habib's, McDonald's, Spoleto
• Coffee shops: Starbucks, local cafés

Try: Pão de queijo (cheese bread)—Minas Gerais is the birthplace.

Network: BH Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Good
• Registration via phone or email

SIM cards from:

• Vivo, Claro, TIM counters in arrivals
• Prices: BRL 30-50 for prepaid with data

ATMs throughout the terminal:

• Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Itaú

Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL). Approximately 5 BRL = 1 USD.

Airside:

• Duty-free (limited)
• Mineiro products (cachaça, doces de leite)
• Brazilian handicrafts

Best buys: Cachaça (Brazilian rum), doce de leite, local crafts.

Plaza Premium Lounge

• Access: Priority Pass, business class, or walk-in
• Amenities: Food, drinks, WiFi

GOL Premium Lounge

• Access: GOL Smiles Diamond, business class

LATAM VIP Lounge

• Access: LATAM Business, LATAM Pass premium tiers

Hotels near CNF are limited. Most visitors stay in Belo Horizonte city (40-60 minutes away).

Belo Horizonte is Brazil's underrated gem—gateway to colonial towns, excellent cuisine, and mineiro (Minas Gerais) culture:

Top attractions in BH (with travel time from airport):

• Praça da Liberdade: 50 min—grand square with museums, cultural circuit
• Pampulha Architectural Complex: 40 min—Oscar Niemeyer buildings, UNESCO site
• Mercado Central: 45 min—massive market with food, cachaça, crafts
• Mirante das Mangabeiras: 55 min—panoramic city views

Day trips from Belo Horizonte:

• Ouro Preto: 2 hours—UNESCO colonial gold mining town, baroque churches
• Tiradentes: 3 hours—charming colonial village, excellent restaurants
• Inhotim: 1.5 hours—world-class contemporary art in botanical gardens
• Diamantina: 4 hours—UNESCO diamond mining town, birthplace of JK

Mineiro cuisine (Minas Gerais is Brazil's food state):

• Pão de queijo: Cheese bread, crispy outside, soft inside—the original
• Feijão tropeiro: Beans with manioc flour, eggs, sausage, collard greens
• Frango com quiabo: Chicken with okra stew
• Tutu à mineira: Bean paste with pork
• Doce de leite: Caramelized milk, Minas specialty
• Cachaça: Brazilian sugarcane spirit—Minas produces the best

Local tips:

• Boteco culture: Belo Horizonte has the most bars per capita in Brazil
• Sunday: Avenida Afonso Pena closes for walking/cycling
• Pampulha: Niemeyer's early works, including Church of São Francisco
• Mercado Central: Go hungry—endless food stalls
• Ouro Preto: Absolutely essential day trip—one of Brazil's most beautiful towns
• Inhotim: Plan a full day—massive grounds require time
• Weather: Mild year-round (altitude 850m); rainy season is October-March
• BH is notably safer than Rio or São Paulo
• The city name means "Beautiful Horizon"—the mountain views justify it
• University town: Large student population gives it vibrant energy