São Paulo
We’ve compiled the best of the best in São Paulo - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP)
Bela Vista/BixigaA striking low-rise building elevated on two massive concrete pillars holds one of the city's premier fine-arts collections. The highlights include works by Van Gogh,...
A striking low-rise building elevated on two massive concrete pillars holds one of the city's premier fine-arts collections. The highlights include works by Van Gogh, Renoir, Delacroix, Cézanne, Monet, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Degas. The baroque sculptor Aleijadinho, the expressionist painter Lasar Segall, and the expressionist/surrealist painter Cândido Portinari are three of the many Brazilian artists represented. The huge open area beneath the museum is often used for cultural events and protests, and is the site of a charming Sunday antiques fair.
View Tours and ActivitiesAv. Paulista 1578, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01310–200, Brazil11-3149--5959Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$35; free Tues., Tues.–Wed. and Fri.–Sun. 10–6, Thurs. 10–8, Closed Mon. -
2. Auditório do Ibirapuera
Parque IbirapueraThe final building in Oscar Niemeyer's design for the park, the Auditório opened in 2005. It has since become one of São Paulo's trademark sights,...
The final building in Oscar Niemeyer's design for the park, the Auditório opened in 2005. It has since become one of São Paulo's trademark sights, with what looks like a giant red lightning bolt striking a massive white daredevil ramp. Seating up to 800, the concert hall regularly welcomes leading Brazilian and international musical acts. Its back wall can be retracted to reveal the stage to thousands more on the lawn outside.
Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral s/n, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04094–000, Brazil11-3629–1075 -
3. Casa das Rosas
Bela Vista/BixigaPeek into the Paulista's past at one of the avenue's few remaining early-20th-century buildings, the House of the Roses. A 1935 French-style mansion with gardens...
Peek into the Paulista's past at one of the avenue's few remaining early-20th-century buildings, the House of the Roses. A 1935 French-style mansion with gardens inspired by those at Versailles, it seems out of place next to the surrounding skyscrapers. The famous paulistano architect Ramos de Azevedo designed the home for one of his daughters, and the same family occupied it until 1986, when it was made an official municipal landmark. The site, now a cultural center, hosts classes and literary events. Coffee drinks and pastries are served at the café on the terrace.
Av. Paulista 37, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01311–902, Brazil011-3288–9447Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Tues.–Sat. 10–10, Sun. 10–6, Closed Mon. -
4. Catavento Cultural
CentroTraveling families will find education and entertainment for their children at this interactive science museum in the former city hall building. For architecture fans, the...
Traveling families will find education and entertainment for their children at this interactive science museum in the former city hall building. For architecture fans, the early-20th-century structure, with its interior courtyard, alone justifies a visit. Stepping into human-size soap bubbles or touching actual meteorites, meanwhile, are the big attractions for kids. The museum's exhibits are organized along four thematic lines: the universe, life, ingenuity, and society.
Av. Mercúrio s/n, Brotas, São Paulo, 03003–060, Brazil11-3315–0051Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$10, Tues.–Sun. 9–5, last admission 4, Closed Mon. -
5. Catedral da Sé
CentroThe imposing, 14-tower neo-Gothic Catedral da Sé occupies the official center of São Paulo—the 0 Km point, as it's called here. Tours of the church...
The imposing, 14-tower neo-Gothic Catedral da Sé occupies the official center of São Paulo—the 0 Km point, as it's called here. Tours of the church wind through the crypt, which contains the remains of Tibiriçá, a native Brazilian who helped the Portuguese back in 1554.
Praça da Sé s/n, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01001-001, Brazil11-3106–2709Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tour R$5 -
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6. Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil
CentroThe greenhouse-size skylight of this cultural center's 1901 neoclassical home makes the modern and contemporary art exhibits here seem almost to sprout organically; past ones...
The greenhouse-size skylight of this cultural center's 1901 neoclassical home makes the modern and contemporary art exhibits here seem almost to sprout organically; past ones include "The Magic World of Escher." Plays and small film festivals, the latter celebrating filmmakers from Quentin Tarantino to Louis Malle, further broaden the venue's appeal. The center's facilities include a theater, an auditorium, a movie theater, a video room, and three floors of exhibition rooms.
Rua Álvares Penteado 112, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01012–000, Brazil11-3113–3651Sight Details
Rate Includes: Wed.–Mon. 9–9, Closed Tues. -
7. Convento e Santuário São Francisco
CentroOne of the city's best-preserved Portuguese colonial buildings, this baroque structure—two churches, one run by Catholic clergy and the other by lay brothers—was built between...
One of the city's best-preserved Portuguese colonial buildings, this baroque structure—two churches, one run by Catholic clergy and the other by lay brothers—was built between 1647 and 1790. The image inside of Saint Francis was rescued from a fire in 1870.
Largo São Francisco 133, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01005–010, Brazil11-3291–2400Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Mon.–Sun. 7-7 -
8. Edifício Copan
CentroThe architect of this serpentine apartment and office block, Oscar Niemeyer, went on to design much of Brasília, the nation's capital. The building has the...
The architect of this serpentine apartment and office block, Oscar Niemeyer, went on to design much of Brasília, the nation's capital. The building has the clean, white, undulating curves characteristic of Niemeyer's work. The Copan was constructed in 1950, and its 1,160 apartments house about 5,000 people.
Av. Ipiranga 200, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01046-010, Brazil11-3257–6169Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends -
9. Edifício Itália
CentroOne way to catch the astounding view from atop the Itália Building is to drop in for lunch or dinner at the Terraço Itália restaurant,...
One way to catch the astounding view from atop the Itália Building is to drop in for lunch or dinner at the Terraço Itália restaurant, starting on the 41st floor. The main dining room features central columns, candlelit tables, and a terrace. The restaurant is expensive, making a drink at the piano bar, with its upholstered seating and wood lining, a more affordable strategy. Thriftier still is a visit to the outside terrace, which is free weekdays 3–4 pm.
Av. Ipiranga 344, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01046–010, Brazil11-2189–2929-restaurant -
10. Feira do Bixiga
BixigaStrolling through this flea market is a favorite Sunday activity for paulistanos. Crafts, antiques, and furniture are among the wares. Walk up the São José...
Strolling through this flea market is a favorite Sunday activity for paulistanos. Crafts, antiques, and furniture are among the wares. Walk up the São José staircase to see Rua dos Ingleses, a typical and well-preserved fin-de-siècle Bixiga street.
São Paulo, São Paulo, 01325–020, BrazilSight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Sun. 8–5:30 -
11. Fundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano
MorumbiA beautiful, quiet, private wooded estate is the setting for the Maria Luisa and Oscar Americano Foundation. Paintings, furniture, sacred art, silver, porcelain, engravings, tapestries,...
A beautiful, quiet, private wooded estate is the setting for the Maria Luisa and Oscar Americano Foundation. Paintings, furniture, sacred art, silver, porcelain, engravings, tapestries, sculptures, and personal possessions of the Brazilian royal family are among the 1,500 objects from the Portuguese colonial and imperial periods on display here, and there are some modern pieces as well. Having afternoon high tea here is an event, albeit an expensive one, and Sunday concerts take place in the auditorium.
Av. Morumbi 4077, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05650-000, Brazil11-3742–0077Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$10, free Sat., Tues.–Sun. 10–5:30, Closed Mon. -
12. Instituto Butantan
ButantãIn 1888 a Brazilian scientist, with the aid of the state government, turned a farmhouse into a center for the production of snake serum. Today...
In 1888 a Brazilian scientist, with the aid of the state government, turned a farmhouse into a center for the production of snake serum. Today the Instituto Butantan has more than 70,000 snakes, spiders, scorpions, and lizards in its five museums. It still extracts venom and processes it into serum that's made available to victims of poisonous bites throughout Latin America.
Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05503–900, Brazil11-2627--9300Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$6, Tues.–Sun. 9–4:30, Closed Mon. -
13. Instituto Tomie Ohtake
PinheirosThe futuristic green, pink, and purple exterior of this contemporary art museum designed by Ruy Ohtake makes it one of the city's most recognizable buildings....
The futuristic green, pink, and purple exterior of this contemporary art museum designed by Ruy Ohtake makes it one of the city's most recognizable buildings. The institute, named for Ohtake's mother, a renowned painter who emigrated from Japan to Brazil, mounts interesting photography and design-related exhibitions. It also houses the independently operated Brazilian restaurant Santinho, which has a popular Sunday brunch.
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima 201, São Paulo, São Paulo, 05426–010, Brazil11-2245–1900Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Tues.–Sun. 11–8, Closed Mon. -
14. Itaú Cultural
ParaísoMaintained by Itaú, one of Brazil's largest private banks, this cultural institute has art shows as well as lectures, workshops, and films. It also maintains...
Maintained by Itaú, one of Brazil's largest private banks, this cultural institute has art shows as well as lectures, workshops, and films. It also maintains an archive with a photographic history of São Paulo, a library that specializes in works on Brazilian art and culture, and a permanent exhibition tracing the formation of Brazil.
Av. Paulista 149, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01311–000, Brazil11-2168–1777Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Tues.–Fri. 9–8, weekends 11–8, Closed Mon. -
15. Jardim Botânico
Parque do EstadoA great spot for a midday picnic, the Botanical Gardens contain about 3,000 plants belonging to more than 340 native species. Orchids, aquatic plants, and...
A great spot for a midday picnic, the Botanical Gardens contain about 3,000 plants belonging to more than 340 native species. Orchids, aquatic plants, and Atlantic rain-forest species thrive in the gardens' greenhouses. The hundred-plus bird species that have been observed at Jardim Botânico make it a favorite stopover for São Paulo birders.
Av. Miguel Stéfano 3031, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04301–902, Brazil11-5067--6000Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$10, Tues.–Sun. 9–5, Closed Mon. -
16. Memorial da América Latina
Barra FundaThe memorial's massive concrete hand sculpture, its fingers reaching toward the São Paulo sky, is one of the city's signature images. Part of a 20-acre...
The memorial's massive concrete hand sculpture, its fingers reaching toward the São Paulo sky, is one of the city's signature images. Part of a 20-acre park filled with Oscar Niemeyer–designed structures, the Memorial da América Latina was inaugurated in 1989 in homage to regional unity and its greatest champions, among them Simón Bolívar and José Martí. Aside from the monument, the grounds' highlights include works by Cândido Portinari and an auditorium dedicated to musical and theatrical performances.
Av. Auro Soares de Moura Andrade 664, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01156–001, Brazil11-3823--4758Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Tues.–Sun. 9–6, Closed Mon. -
17. Mosteiro de São Bento
CentroThe German architect Richard Berndl designed this Norman–Byzantine church that was completed in 1922. Ecclesiastical imagery abounds, and soaring archways extend skyward. The church's enormous...
The German architect Richard Berndl designed this Norman–Byzantine church that was completed in 1922. Ecclesiastical imagery abounds, and soaring archways extend skyward. The church's enormous organ has some 6,000 pipes, and its Russian image of the Kasperovo Virgin is covered with 6,000 pearls from the Black Sea. On the last Sunday of each month, paulistanos compete for space at the church's popular brunch, which also includes a tour and varying performances, from dance to choir; call early to reserve your seat. The don't-miss religious event at Mosterio de São Bento is Sunday Mass at 10 am, when the sound of monks' Gregorian chants echoes through the chamber.
São Paulo, São Paulo, 01029–010, Brazil11-3328–8799Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
18. Museu Afro Brasil
Parque IbirapueraAmong Parque Ibirapuera's various attractions, natural and architectural, this museum might easily pass unnoticed. But in terms of its content—a thorough if sometimes patchily organized...
Among Parque Ibirapuera's various attractions, natural and architectural, this museum might easily pass unnoticed. But in terms of its content—a thorough if sometimes patchily organized survey of Brazil's profoundly important but underreported black history—it's highly recommended. English tours are available only to download as audio, so bring your headphones.
Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04094–050, Brazil11-3320–8900Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$6, free Sat., Tues.–Sun. 10–5, Closed Mon. -
19. Museu de Arte Contemporânea (MAC)
Parque IbirapueraThe Museum of Contemporary Art expanded its Ibirapuera presence in 2012 by renovating and moving into the eight-floor former Department of Transportation building. Now shorn...
The Museum of Contemporary Art expanded its Ibirapuera presence in 2012 by renovating and moving into the eight-floor former Department of Transportation building. Now shorn of its bureaucratic coldness, the space ranks among Parque Ibirapuera's architectural highlights (even though it is just over the road, rather than inside the park). The museum houses the MAC's entire 10,000-piece collection, including works by Picasso, Modigliani, and Chagall.
Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral 1301, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04094–050, Brazil11-2648--0254Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Tues–Sun. 11–9, Closed Mon. -
20. Museu de Arte Moderna
Parque IbirapueraMore than 4,500 paintings, installations, sculptures, and other works from modern and contemporary artists such as Alfredo Volpi and Lygia Clark are part of the...
More than 4,500 paintings, installations, sculptures, and other works from modern and contemporary artists such as Alfredo Volpi and Lygia Clark are part of the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection. Temporary exhibits often feature works by new local artists. The giant wall of glass, designed by Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi, serves as a window beckoning you to glimpse inside; an exterior mural painted in 2010 by Os Gêmeos, São Paulo twin brothers famous for their graffiti art, shows a little of MAM's inner appeal to the outside world.
Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral s/n, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04094–000, Brazil11-5085–1300Sight Details
Rate Includes: R$7, free Sat., Tues.–Sun. 10–6, Closed Mon.
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