Juiz de Fora's position in the Serra da Mantiqueira foothills and its midpoint location between Rio de Janeiro and the historic towns of central Minas Gerais make it a reasonable base for day trips in several directions.
Tiradentes and São João del-Rei — The two best-preserved colonial towns in Minas Gerais lie about 200 kilometres west, a journey of three to four hours by road. Tiradentes is the smaller and more picturesque: a Baroque church-studded village that has been carefully maintained and is now something of an arts and food destination. São João del-Rei is larger and still a functioning city, with the famous Maria Fumaça steam railway connecting the two towns on weekends.
Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca — About 90 kilometres southeast of Juiz de Fora in the Serra do Ibitipoca range, this state park has excellent hiking trails through cerrado and Atlantic Forest, waterfalls, and unusual quartzite rock formations. The park village of Conceição do Ibitipoca has basic accommodation. The drive takes around two hours on winding mountain roads.
Barbacena — Roughly 80 kilometres west on the BR-040, this city in the hills is known for its rose cultivation and for being the coldest city in Minas Gerais. A straightforward half-day trip if you want to see the highlands without going as far as the colonial towns.
Petrópolis — About 100 kilometres south across the state border into Rio de Janeiro state, Petrópolis was the imperial summer capital and retains a strong German immigrant character alongside the Museu Imperial (Brazil's most visited history museum), set in the former imperial palace. The drive through the Serra Fluminense is scenic.