Sao Paulo

Travel Guide
Italia Building which includes skyline and a city

Sao Paulo Travel Guide Video

Experience the diversity of this megacity’s cultural offerings, visit religious buildings or practice Portuguese with locals in nightclubs or shady parks.

Brazil’s largest city is often overlooked as merely a business center, but a recent cultural resurgence means São Paulo now attracts visitors for its many museums and galleries, and its nightlife. The concentrated city has one of the most dramatic skylines in the world. Discover many historic sites beneath the towering skyscrapers.

You’ll find plenty of things to explore beyond the city center: São Paulo’s parks and gardens become popular meeting places on the weekends. While a little Portuguese will get you a long way, English and Spanish are spoken at most major attractions.

Go to the large Ibirapuera Park to see a popular green area. The tree-lined banks of its lakes are perfect for relaxing and the many cultural institutions within its grounds are great spots to spend the afternoon. Visit the Ibirapuera Auditorium for an open-air concert. See the night sky unfold before your eyes at the Planetário Professor Aristóteles Orsini. Stop by the Museum of Modern Art to see works by Pablo Picasso and numerous Brazilian artists.

Cultural offerings continue downtown, where you’ll find the Bank of Brazil Cultural Center and the Portuguese Language Museum. Catch the metro, the easiest way to travel, to reach São Paulo’s busy Paulista Avenue. Visit museums, shopping malls and a popular entertainment plaza where you can try the local cuisine. Sample a pastel, a savory pastry stuffed with meat or vegetables, as you wander the streets.

Learn the history of São Paulo by visiting some of the city’s oldest attractions. The iconic São Bento Monastery holds a Mass on Sundays complete with Gregorian chanting, while the nearby São Paulo Cathedral is one of the city’s most photographed structures.

Look after your belongings while visiting the major attractions. As in most major cities, try to avoid areas with little or no activity as they could be potentially risky.

Arrive in São Paulo at Guarulhos International Airport before hopping into a cab to reach the exciting city center.

Travel guide produced with the assistance of the São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau, SPTuris and Flavia Liz Personal Guide - Sao Paulo specialist

Where to stay in Sao Paulo

Paulista Avenue showing a city and modern architecture

Jardins

4.5/5(8 area reviews)

Museums, shopping and cafes highlight some of the noteworthy features of Jardins. Make a stop by Paulista Avenue or Ibirapuera Park while you're exploring the neighbourhood.

Jardins
City Hall showing a city and street scenes

Itaim Bibi

4/5(2 area reviews)

Take time in Itaim Bibi to visit attractions like Parque do Povo and JK Iguatemi Shopping Mall. You might also appreciate the abundant dining options, and you can hop on the metro at Campo Belo Station to see more of the city.

Itaim Bibi
Ibirapuera Park showing outdoor art and night scenes as well as an individual male

Moema

Moema is well liked for its restaurants and live music. If you're hoping to get in some sightseeing, Ibirapuera Park and Shopping Ibirapuera are top spots, and you can jump on the metro at Eucaliptos Subway Station or Moema Station to get around.

Moema
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Pinheiros

4.5/5(2 area reviews)

Pinheiros is a destination travellers like for its bars, and you might hop aboard the metro at Faria Lima Station or Pinheiros Metro Station to explore sights like Batman's Alley.

Pinheiros
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Vila Olimpia

5/5(1 area review)

Unique features of Vila Olimpia include the shopping and bars. Make a stop by Shopping Vila Olimpia or JK Iguatemi Shopping Mall while you're exploring the area.

Vila Olimpia
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Vila Mariana

4.5/5(2 area reviews)

Vila Mariana is well liked for its museums and live music. If you're hoping to get in some sightseeing, Paulista Avenue and Shopping Metro Santa Cruz are top spots, and you can jump on the metro at Vila Mariana Station or Ana Rosa Station to get around.

Vila Mariana
Apê Pátio Paulista
Apê Pátio Paulista
3 out of 5
Av. Paulista, 07, São Paulo, SP
The price is HK$179 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
HK$179
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this 3-star apartment in São Paulo. Enjoy free WiFi, valet parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Paulista Avenue and Ibirapuera Park ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (159 reviews)
Amazing location.
"Great location with a fair price. The negative point was just the Wi-Fi didn't work very well in my room and the reception is pretty busy."

Reviewed on 18 Mar 2024

Apê Pátio Paulista
Hotel Panamby Guarulhos
Hotel Panamby Guarulhos
3.5 out of 5
Rod Pres Dutra Km 223,8, Guarulhos, SP
The price is HK$501 per night from 13 Apr to 14 Apr
HK$501
per night
13 Apr - 14 Apr
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Guarulhos. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Good"

Reviewed on 24 Mar 2024

Hotel Panamby Guarulhos
Wyndham Ibirapuera Convention Plaza Hotel
Wyndham Ibirapuera Convention Plaza Hotel
3.5 out of 5
Av. Ibirapuera 2927, Moema, São Paulo, SP
The price is HK$502 per night from 29 Mar to 30 Mar
HK$502
per night
29 Mar - 30 Mar
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in São Paulo. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. Popular ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,010 reviews)
"Cost benefit still good option, due to the location and easy to access"

Reviewed on 26 Mar 2024

Wyndham Ibirapuera Convention Plaza Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Apê Pátio Paulista
Apê Pátio Paulista
3 out of 5
Av. Paulista, 07, São Paulo, SP
Stay at this 3-star apartment in São Paulo. Enjoy free WiFi, valet parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Paulista Avenue and Ibirapuera Park ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (159 reviews)
Amazing location.
"Great location with a fair price. The negative point was just the Wi-Fi didn't work very well in my room and the reception is pretty busy."

Reviewed on 18 Mar 2024

Apê Pátio Paulista
Apê Paulista Bela Cintra
Apê Paulista Bela Cintra
3 out of 5
R. Bela Cintra, 934, São Paulo, SP
Stay at this 3-star apartment in São Paulo. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (459 reviews)
"Adorei os Staffs todos muito simpáticos . Tive uma experiência bem legal . Localização é ótima . Pelo preço o tamanho do apartamento é okay para uma pessoa ou um casal . Obrigada Staff Apê ."

Reviewed on 31 Oct 2023

Apê Paulista Bela Cintra
Transamerica Prime International Plaza
Transamerica Prime International Plaza
4 out of 5
Alameda Santos, 981, Jardim Paulista, São Paulo, SP
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in São Paulo. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,681 reviews)
"Really great location"

Reviewed on 11 Feb 2024

Transamerica Prime International Plaza
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Sao Paulo

4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
7
" "5 - Excellent 31.818181818181817%
4 - Good
9
" "4 - Good 40.90909090909091%
3 - Okay
6
" "3 - Okay 27.272727272727273%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
4 Feb 2020

Wonderful shopping malls downtown very Western

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
19 Nov 2019

Went for F1 didn't see a lot but looks very much a busy city hundreds of tower blocks

4/5 - Good

Roger
3 Oct 2019

I was only overnighting in Sao Paulo so no time to explore or enjoy so Hotel Oyo Paulista met my requirements perfectly.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
23 Sep 2019

Quite spread out but lots to do, see and eat!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
13 Sep 2019

I love São Paulo and have visited many times. It has plenty of challenges if the visitor, and you really need some Portuguese to get the most out of it. But One of the world’s great cities no question

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
21 Aug 2019

Great ramen at lamen kazu - in liberdade district