Sao Paulo Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Bank of Brazil Cultural Center which includes street scenes and heritage architecture as well as a large group of people
Italia Building featuring a city and skyline
Sao Paulo featuring modern architecture
Sao Paulo featuring street performance as well as a large group of people
Sao Paulo featuring central business district, a city and a high-rise building
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 Rua Augusta 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, Shopping Ibirapuera and São Paulo Museum of Modern Art are top spots, and you can jump on the metro at Eucaliptos Subway Station or Moema Station to get around.

Moema
Default Image

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
Default Image

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
Default Image

Bras

Well liked for its museums and monuments, Bras is worth a visit. Check out the variety of things to see and do like Mega Polo Moda and Feirinha da Madrugada, and jump on the metro at Bras Metro Station to get around the city.

Bras
Apê Av Paulista Haddock Lobo
Apê Av Paulista Haddock Lobo
3 out of 5
Av. Paulista, 2240, Consolação, São Paulo, SP
The price is ₹3,230 per night from 8 Jul to 9 Jul
₹3,230
₹3,723 total
8 Jul - 9 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star apartment in São Paulo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Paulista Avenue and Ibirapuera ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (977 reviews)
"Everything was clean and organized"

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Apê Av Paulista Haddock Lobo
Sleep Inn Guarulhos
Sleep Inn Guarulhos
3 out of 5
Avenida Natalia Zarif, 2655, Guarulhos, Sao Paulo
The price is ₹6,507 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
₹6,507
₹6,767 total
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Guarulhos. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a free airport shuttle and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,043 reviews)
Quick easy and closer to airport
"Amazing place, quick and easy to stay and fly out"

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

Sleep Inn Guarulhos
TRYP by Wyndham Sao Paulo Paulista Paraiso
TRYP by Wyndham Sao Paulo Paulista Paraiso
3.5 out of 5
Afonso de Freitas 148, Paraiso, São Paulo
The price is ₹6,477 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
₹6,477
₹6,801 total
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in São Paulo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,308 reviews)
value for the price
"Good hotel off a very popular street so that was nice. Breakfast buffet has a lot of breads but they do offer omelets made (you have to fill out an order form). No water at the breakfast buffet so that was interesting but good orange juice. Overall good value for the price"

Reviewed on 3 Jul 2025

TRYP by Wyndham Sao Paulo Paulista Paraiso
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 Av Paulista Haddock Lobo
Apê Av Paulista Haddock Lobo
3 out of 5
Av. Paulista, 2240, Consolação, São Paulo, SP
Stay at this 3-star apartment in São Paulo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Paulista Avenue and Ibirapuera ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (977 reviews)
"Everything was clean and organized"

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Apê Av Paulista Haddock Lobo
Paulista Suites by Charlie
Paulista Suites by Charlie
3.5 out of 5
Rua Vergueiro 1661, São Paulo, SP
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in São Paulo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the comfy ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (770 reviews)
"It was very nice"

Reviewed on 10 Nov 2023

Paulista Suites by Charlie
Apê Pátio Paulista
Apê Pátio Paulista
3 out of 5
Av. Paulista, 07, Bela Vista, São Paulo, SP
Stay at this 3-star apartment in São Paulo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, valet parking (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the clean rooms in their ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (905 reviews)
"It was nice but the place got noisy. Convenient with public transportation and affordable"

Reviewed on 5 Jun 2025

Apê Pátio Paulista
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

Reviews of Sao Paulo

4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
7
5 - Excellent 32%
4 - Good
9
4 - Good 41%
3 - Okay
6
3 - Okay 27%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Wonderful shopping malls downtown very Western

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

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

4/5 - Good

Roger

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

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

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great ramen at lamen kazu - in liberdade district

Cities near Sao Paulo