3 Best Sights in Side Trips from São Paulo, Brazil

Edson Arantes do Nascimento's, better known as Pelé's, self-assessment—"I was born for soccer, just as Beethoven was born for music."—may seem a tad self-important, but to many soccer fans, who regard him as one of the world's greatest footballers, it is not far from the truth. Housed in a 19th-century mansion and opened during the 2014 World Cup, Museu Pelé honors Santos's most famous son through displays of his personal items and trophies, plus photos, videos, and documents concerning the footballer.

Museu Casa do Anhanguera provides a sharp picture of the bandeirantes era. In a 1600 house (the second-oldest in the state) where Bartolomeu Bueno—nicknamed Anhanguera, or "old devil," by indigenous people—was born, the museum displays objects and furniture from the past four centuries.

The grand neoclassical Palácio da Bolsa Oficial de Café, where the Coffee Museum is located, was home to the coffee exchange up to 1957. Rosewood chairs are set out for traders in the trading hall, whose walls are hung with panels painted by Brazilian Benedito Calixto. Upstairs are exhibits related to the world of coffee. Visitors can also sample the drink at the museum's cafeteria. The last major renovation of the Museu do Café in Santos was completed in 2017. The restoration and modernization aimed to preserve the historic building and enhance the visitor experience, including upgrades to the facilities and exhibits.