Sao Paulo

Travel Guide

Bank of Brazil Cultural Center showing heritage architecture and street scenes as well as a large group of people
Italia Building showing skyline and a city
Sao Paulo showing modern architecture
Sao Paulo showing street performance as well as a large group of people
Sao Paulo showing city views, a high rise building 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)

An upper-class region in São Paulo, Jardins boasts numerous museums, including the São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound and the Brazilian Museum of Sculpture. Surrounded by Rebouças Avenue, River Pinheiros Marginal Avenue, Brigadeiro Luís Antônio Avenue, and Paulista Avenue.

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 Shopping Ibirapuera and São Paulo Museum of Modern Art, 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 Mariana

4.5/5(10 area reviews)

Dynamic and wealthy, this area boasts iconic São Paulo symbols like Ibirapuera Park, the Obelisk, and Monumento às Bandeiras. Explore the nearby Federal University of São Paulo and its medicine school.

Vila Mariana
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Bras

1.5/5(2 area reviews)

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 Shopping 25 Bras Mall, 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 ¥6,118 per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
¥6,118
¥7,812 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star apartment in São Paulo. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Paulista Avenue and Ibirapuera ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (990 reviews)
"Everything was clean and organized"

Reviewed on Jun 28, 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 ¥11,353 per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
¥11,353
¥11,807 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
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 center. Our guests praise ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,053 reviews)
"I like"

Reviewed on Jul 14, 2025

Sleep Inn Guarulhos
Hampton by Hilton Guarulhos Airport

Hampton by Hilton Guarulhos Airport

3 out of 5
Rua Pedro De Toledo, 1000, Guarulhos
The price is ¥10,665 per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
¥10,665
¥11,091 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Guarulhos. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,043 reviews)
"Extensive complimentary breakfast, free shuttle service to airport, good value for the price."

Reviewed on Jul 12, 2025

Hampton by Hilton Guarulhos Airport
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 WiFi, parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Paulista Avenue and Ibirapuera ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (990 reviews)
"Everything was clean and organized"

Reviewed on Jun 28, 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 WiFi, a fitness center, and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the comfy ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (779 reviews)
"It was very nice"

Reviewed on Nov 10, 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 WiFi, valet parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (917 reviews)
"It was nice but the place got noisy. Convenient with public transportation and affordable"

Reviewed on Jun 5, 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

Things to do

Reviews of Sao Paulo

4.1
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
151
5 - Excellent 35%
4 - Good
197
4 - Good 46%
3 - Okay
72
3 - Okay 17%
2 - Disappointing
5
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
2
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

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

Amazing

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

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

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

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

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

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

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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