Tancredo Neves International Airport to Belo Horizonte — What You Need to Know

Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF), commonly called Confins Airport, sits 40 km north of Belo Horizonte city center. The drive takes 40–60 minutes depending on traffic. Your options are the Conexao Aeroporto bus, official metered taxis, the ride-hailing apps 99 and Uber, and pre-booked transfers. Be aware that none of them publishes a fare we could verify: BH Airport's own site lists the bus counter and its hours but no price, and the bus operator's fare pages are not reachable. Get the number from the counter, the app or your booking before you commit — figures quoted for this route on travel sites vary wildly and go stale fast. The bus is excellent if your timing and destination align.

CNF has a single modern terminal that was extensively renovated for the 2014 World Cup. After immigration (for international arrivals) and baggage claim, you enter a spacious arrivals hall.

ATMs from Bradesco, Banco do Brasil, and Itau are in the arrivals area — all accept international cards. Currency exchange (casa de cambio) is available but rates are poor. Use ATMs instead.

SIM cards from Vivo, Claro, and TIM are available at small shops in the terminal; prepaid bundles change regularly, so compare what each is offering on the day. You will need a CPF number (Brazilian tax ID) — some shops help tourists work around this, others do not. Having mobile data is important for ride-hailing apps.

The terminal has restaurants, cafes, and a pharmacy. Free Wi-Fi is available and actually works reasonably well.

We do not print fares in that table, and the reason is worth stating plainly: nobody who sets them publishes them anywhere we can check. BH Airport's own site gives the Conexao Aeroporto counter's location and hours but no price. The operator's fare pages do not load. The Minas Gerais state transport authority published figures in an article that has since been taken down, and the numbers circulating on travel sites disagree with each other by a factor of well over two. Rather than pick one and dress it up as fact, ask at the counter.

The Conexao Aeroporto is a comfortable executive bus with AC, Wi-Fi, and USB charging, plus a cheaper conventional line to the Rodoviaria. It runs to key points including Savassi, Praca Sete, the Rodoviaria, Avenida Alvares Cabral and Pampulha Airport. Its information and ticket counter is on the ground floor of the external hall, near the information desk and the car rental agencies, and the airport lists it as open daily from 05:00 to 00:50.

99 (formerly 99Pop) is the dominant ride-hailing app in Brazil, more popular than Uber in many cities. Both work at CNF. The pickup area is clearly marked outside arrivals. Prices fluctuate with demand but are generally the cheapest door-to-door option.

Official taxis use meters and are available at the rank outside arrivals. They are reliable but more expensive than ride-hailing.

There is no published tariff for any road option at CNF, so this guide no longer carries a per-destination price table. What is true and useful:

• The taxi is metered. Distance and time both drive the fare, so the 40 km run costs more in rush hour than at midday. The meter, not a fixed price, decides.
• 99 and Uber quote in the app before you confirm, and the quote moves with demand.
• Transfers fix the price when you book, which is the main thing you are buying over 40 km.
• The bus counter posts its fares in the arrivals hall. That board is the authoritative source for the Conexao Aeroporto price.
• Distance is the honest guide to relative cost. Pampulha is closer to the airport than Savassi or Centro; Contagem is further; Inhotim, Ouro Preto and Tiradentes are excursions of one to three hours and are priced as such. Book those in advance.

Traffic in Belo Horizonte can be heavy during rush hours (7–9 AM and 5–8 PM), particularly on the MG-010 highway connecting the airport to the city. This can add 20–30 minutes and increase ride-hailing costs due to time-based pricing.

CNF has limited international traffic, so most late arrivals are domestic. Still, some flights from Lisbon, Panama City, and Buenos Aires land after 10 PM.

The Conexao Aeroporto bus runs until approximately 11 PM, with the last departure varying by day. After that, your options are taxis and ride-hailing apps.

99 and Uber work at night but with fewer drivers. Wait times of 15–25 minutes are common after midnight. Surge pricing applies. Official taxis are available 24 hours.

A pre-booked transfer is the most reliable late-night option. Your driver tracks your flight and waits regardless of the hour.

The terminal is modern and family-friendly. Luggage trolleys are available (some paid, some free). The walk from arrivals to transport is short and covered.

The Conexao Aeroporto bus has luggage compartments but limited space for oversized items like strollers and car seats. For families with significant luggage, a transfer or taxi is more practical.

Child seats are not standard in Brazilian taxis. Pre-booked transfers can arrange them on request. By Brazilian law, children under 7.5 must use appropriate child restraints — enforcement is inconsistent, but the law exists.

Pre-booked transfer: The driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name board. Contact details are typically sent via WhatsApp before your flight.

Official taxi: Walk outside arrivals and follow signs to the taxi rank ("Taxi"). A dispatcher assigns vehicles.

99 / Uber: Follow signs to the ride-hailing pickup area ("Area de Embarque Aplicativos"), which is outside arrivals in a designated lane. Request your ride from there.

Conexao Aeroporto bus: The bus stop is outside the arrivals level, clearly signed. Buy tickets at the counter inside the terminal or pay on the bus.

Choose the Conexao Aeroporto bus if: you arrive during daytime, travel light, and your destination is near one of the bus stops (Savassi, Centro, Rodoviaria). It is comfortable and cheap.

Choose a pre-booked transfer if: you arrive late at night, travel with family, have heavy luggage, or are headed to destinations like Ouro Preto or Inhotim.

Choose 99 or Uber if: you have a working Brazilian SIM or Wi-Fi, arrive during reasonable hours, and want the cheapest door-to-door option.

Choose the official taxi if: you prefer not to use apps and want a straightforward, metered ride.

CNF is far from the city — 40 km is no joke. Whichever option you pick, plan for at least an hour of travel. The Conexao Aeroporto bus makes this distance painless and affordable for most travelers.