Sao Paulo

Travel Guide
Italia Building showing 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 featuring a city and modern architecture

Jardins

4.5/5(195 area reviews)

Museums, shopping, and cafes are just a few things travelers enjoy about Jardins. Check out Paulista Avenue or Ibirapuera Park while you're exploring the area.

Jardins
City Hall which includes a city and street scenes

Itaim Bibi

4.5/5(40 area reviews)

Visitors often come to Itaim Bibi for its abundant dining options, but many stay to explore sights like Parque do Povo and JK Iguatemi Shopping Mall. Getting around the area on the metro is easy if you catch a ride at Campo Belo Station.

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

Moema

4.5/5(3 area reviews)

Get to know Moema and its many features like its restaurants and live music. You might want to explore sights like Ibirapuera Park and Shopping Ibirapuera, and you can jump on the metro at Eucaliptos Subway Station or Moema Station to get around the city.

Moema
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Pinheiros

4.5/5(17 area reviews)

You might enjoy the bars while in Pinheiros. Batman's Alley is a notable sight, and you can get around town at Faria Lima Station or Pinheiros Metro Station to see more of the city.

Pinheiros
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Vila Olimpia

4.5/5(33 area reviews)

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(10 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 NT$734 per night from Mar 31 to Apr 1
NT$734
per night
Mar 31 - Apr 1
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 2024/3/18

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 NT$2,044 per night from Apr 22 to Apr 23
NT$2,044
per night
Apr 22 - Apr 23
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 2024/3/24

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 NT$2,055 per night from Mar 30 to Mar 31
NT$2,055
per night
Mar 30 - Mar 31
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 2024/3/26

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 2024/3/18

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! (460 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 2023/10/31

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 2024/2/11

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

Reviews of Sao Paulo

4.1
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
151
" "5 - Excellent 35.36299765807963%
4 - Good
197
" "4 - Good 46.13583138173302%
3 - Okay
72
" "3 - Okay 16.861826697892273%
2 - Disappointing
5
" "2 - Disappointing 1.17096018735363%
1 - Terrible
2
" "1 - Terrible 0.468384074941452%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Mar 17, 2020

Don't expect high service standards or smooth traffic and you will enjoy things when you get good service or are lucky enough to have a traffic jam-free journey.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 27, 2020

Amazing

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Feb 23, 2020

Visiting the Centro and the Museum of Arts (MASP) was very delightful. A very large city and quite overwhelming.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 10, 2020

Like a Brazilian nyc. Tons of sights, culture and food options.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 6, 2020

I always stay here when I am in SaoPaulo... perfectly located with a front desk staff that always remembers my name.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler
Feb 2, 2020

I left São Paulo city 18 years ago. Came back for the first time this year. It’s VERY unsafe. You should not use any cell phones in public, you can be assaulted or robbed. Crime is outrageous.

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