The Best Travel Guide to São Paulo

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São Paulo

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Overview

São Paulo The guide was updated: 2023-04-13

“Rio is a beauty. But São Paulo, São Paulo is a city,” said Marlene Dietrich about Brazil's most cosmopolitan city. São Paulo is Brazil’s cultural as well as financial powerhouse, complete with a vibrant music scene, top-designer shopping, and delicious gastronomy, not to mention world-class museums and art galleries. All this is combined with the vibrant local life of Paulistanos, who will surely be easy to make friends with.

Facts

Population:	12.2 million (2022)
Currency:	Real, R$1 = 100 centavos
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Police: 190 Emergency: 192 Fire Brigade: 193 Tourist Police (Rua São Bento 380): +55 11 3107 5642
Newspapers:	Jornal do Brasil Folha de São Paulo Estado de São Paulo O Globo
Opening hours:	Shops are normally open Mon–Sat 9am–6pm. Banks are open from Mon–Fri 10am–4pm, but usually, stop changing money at 2pm. The larger shopping centres are open Mon–Sat from 10am–10pm and from 2pm–8pm on Sundays and holidays.
Tourist information:	Tourist Information Centre Av. Paulista, 1853, São Paulo Daily 9am–6pm +55 11 3288 8968

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Section in São Paulo

Most of São Paulo's main attractions are located in the city centre, the area bounded by the Tietê river on the north, the Pinheiros river to the west, Avenida dos Bandeirantes on the south and Avenida Salim Farah Maluf to the east. As the country's largest mega-metropolis, São Paulo has something for everyone–the culture vulture, the jazz fan, the clubber, the football fanatic, and the gourmand. To take in the scale of São Paulo's history visit Pátio do Colégio to see its beginnings. Then visit the legendary Brazilian architect and designer of Brasília, Oscar Niemeyer's space-age OCA museum. For a breathtaking glimpse of where São Paulo is going, you cannot beat the view from the top of the Italia Building on Avenida Ipiranga at the corner of Avenida São Luís.

Parque do Ibirapuera

Parque do Ibirapuera

São Paulo's very own Central Park boasts over 2 million square meters of green space. The best way to explore it is to hire a bike. On Sunday mornings, there are free music concerts in the Praça da Paz. Here, you’ll also find a few interesting museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art, the exhibition hall OCA, and the Afro Brasil Museum.

Memorial da America Latina

Memorial da America Latina

The Latin America Memorial is a cultural centre designed by Oscar Niemeyer dedicated to Latin American folk art especially sculptures and paintings. Visit its website to see what’s on while you’re in town as it often hosts festivals, expositions, and food fairs.

Museu Afro Brasil

Museu Afro Brasil

A museum dedicated to telling the story of Brazil's African-descended population, the largest outside Africa. Here you will find a vibrant and intelligent celebration of the culture and achievements of the African diaspora complete with plenty of art and some stunning photography exhibitions.

MAB FAAP — Museu de Arte Brasileira

MAB FAAP — Museu de Arte Brasileira

A magnificent building in the trendy Higienópolis neighbourhood is the venue for major international exhibits held in the impressive Grand Hall and its wings. You will also find some of the big names of Brazilian art here including Portinari and Di Cavalcanti.

Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo (MAM)

Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo (MAM)

The Museum of Modern Art located in Ibirapuera Park might be small, but it is one of São Paulo's best museums to see modern work by emerging and established artists. Here you will find everything from paintings and sculptures to video installations. Outside is a serene sculpture garden that is perfect for relaxing post-visit.

Pinacoteca

Pinacoteca

One of the best-curated art exhibitions in the city as well as one of the most important art museums in Brazil, Pinacoteca does an excellent job of displaying some of the best Brazilian artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. The centrepiece of the impressive collection of sculptures includes a statue by Raphael Galvez called "O Brasileiro".

Football Museum

Football Museum

The Soccer Museum showcases a diverse range of topics related to the beloved sport of soccer, including its practice, history, and interesting facts both in Brazil and worldwide. Visitors can experience interactive exhibitions, vintage soccer displays, and relive World Cup victories. At the same time, you have the chance to see one of the world's largest soccer stadiums, the Pacaembu Stadium. On most weekends, there will be live music in the café of the museum.

São Paulo Cathedral

São Paulo Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral of São Paulo or simply Catedral da Sé is an imposing neo-gothic church located in Praça da Sé. It is 46 meters wide, 111 meters long, and has a dome 65 meters high. It was one of the first churches built in São Paulo–its first construction started in 1591–and today it is considered one of the largest neo-gothic temples in the world. It contains a crypt with the remains of Cacique Tibiriçá, the first Indian converted and baptized by the Jesuits José de Anchieta and Leonardo Nunes. It is also worth noting its grandiose organ–the largest in Latin America.

Casa das Rosas

Casa das Rosas

Built in 1935 by famous local architect Ramos de Azevedo for one of his daughters, Casa das Rosas, or ”House of Roses” is a French-style mansion with gardens inspired by the Palace of Versailles. The building was home to the same family until 1986 when it was made a municipal landmark. Since 2004, it has been a museum dedicated to poetry, literature, culture and the preservation of the bibliographic collection of the poet Haroldo de Campos.

Edifício Copan

Edifício Copan

Designed by the modernist Oscar Niemeyer, the Copan Building is a 118.44-metre tall, 38-story residential building in downtown São Paulo. It has 1,160 apartments as well as 70 commercial establishments. With its serpentine facade and sunshades, it is one of the most unusual architectural monuments and an icon of the Brazilian metropolis.

Mosteiro de São Bento

Mosteiro de São Bento

Founded by a monk named Mauro Teixeira in 1598, the incredible São Bento Monastery (St Benedict's Monastery) houses an enormous organ with about 6,000 pipes and an image of the Kasperovo Virgin covered with 6,000 pearls. Visit on a Sunday for the 10 am mass, complete with Gregorian chants from the monks.

OCA

OCA

Located inside Ibirapuera Park, OCA is a space-age exhibition hall, designed by Oscar Niemeyer in the shape of an indigenous hut, which hosts interesting events and cultural exhibitions.

Pátio do Colégio / Museu Padre Anchieta

Pátio do Colégio / Museu Padre Anchieta

São Paulo was founded by Jesuits José de Anchieta and Manoel da Nóbrega on this site in 1554. The church dates from 300 years later but was built in the same style as the original Jesuit chapel. There are regular exhibits devoted to colonial history and sacred artefacts.

Zoológico de São Paulo

Zoológico de São Paulo

Set in an area of 824,000 m², the São Paulo Zoo is the largest zoo in Brazil and is also considered one of the ten best in the world due to the diversity of animals it houses. It is home to more than 3,000 animals, many of which face extinction, such as the golden lion tamarin and the giant anteaters. The zoo also has a library, daycare, shops, snack bars, and restaurants.

Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium

Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium

The local team São Paulo Futebol Clube can draw on their 17 million supporters. Their team's home stadium, nicknamed Estádio do Morumbi, might not be an architectural marvel, but it more than makes up in atmosphere during home games with crowds of up to 66,000.

Pedra Grande Trail

Pedra Grande Trail

Nestled in Cantareira State Park, regarded as one of the world's largest urban forests, the Pedra Grande Trail beckons birdwatchers, hikers, and runners alike. With a year-round open, paved path and clear signage, the trail leads to the stunning viewpoint of Pedra Grande, soaring 1,010 meters above sea level. At its summit, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of the city below. Come and explore the Pedra Grande Trail for a chance to immerse yourself in nature and admire the breathtaking views.

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