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. A pre-booked transfer costs BRL 180–280 (EUR 30–47), a taxi runs BRL 160–250 (EUR 27–42), and the Conexao Aeroporto executive bus costs just BRL 37 (EUR 6.20) with comfortable service to several stops in the city. 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. A prepaid SIM with data costs around BRL 40–60 (EUR 6.70–10). 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.

| Option | Price | Time to BH Center | Notes | |--------|-------|-------------------|-------| | Pre-booked transfer | BRL 180–280 / EUR 30–47 | 40–60 min | Fixed price, meet-and-greet | | Taxi (official) | BRL 160–250 / EUR 27–42 | 40–60 min | Metered, from taxi rank | | 99 / Uber | BRL 120–200 / EUR 20–33 | 40–60 min | App-based, pickup at designated area | | Conexao Aeroporto bus | BRL 37 / EUR 6.20 | 50–70 min | Executive bus, several city stops | | Conventional bus | BRL 12 / EUR 2 | 75–90 min | Basic, to Rodoviaria (bus terminal) |

The Conexao Aeroporto is a comfortable executive bus with AC, Wi-Fi, and USB charging. It runs to key points including Savassi, Praca Sete, and the Rodoviaria. Departures are roughly every 30–60 minutes from early morning until late evening.

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.

The Brazilian real (BRL) fluctuates. As of early 2026, 1 EUR is roughly 6 BRL.

| Destination | Transfer Price (BRL) | Transfer Price (EUR) | |-------------|---------------------|---------------------| | Savassi / Centro | 180–250 | 30–42 | | Pampulha | 150–200 | 25–33 | | Contagem | 200–280 | 33–47 | | Ouro Preto | 450–600 | 75–100 | | Tiradentes | 600–800 | 100–133 | | Inhotim (Brumadinho) | 350–480 | 58–80 |

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.

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 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.