Campinas

Travel Guide

Campinas which includes street scenes and heritage elements as well as a small group of people
Castle Tower featuring a city and night scenes
Planetarium
Museum of Image and Sound which includes street scenes and heritage elements as well as a small group of people
Municipal Market which includes interior views, food and markets

This ambitious city is blessed with a multifaceted past, a dynamic cultural present and a number of lovely outdoor spaces.

A bustling metropolis of about 1 million inhabitants, Campinas has changed significantly since its 18th-century founding as a rural enclave. Visit this industry, technology and education hub with a vigorous cultural scene. After surviving a dreadful yellow fever outbreak in the 1800s, Campinas took as its icon the mythical phoenix, an appropriate emblem for a city on the rise.

Stroll around the Centro district to see monuments to the deeper heritage of Campinas. Admire the Gothic façade and intricate decorations of the Basilica of Our Lady of Carmel, the city’s oldest place of worship. A few blocks south is the 19th-century Metropolitan Cathedral of Campinas, one of the world’s largest structures built using the “taipa de pilão” clay-and-rock technique.

In the Culture Station see Campinas’ modern adaptation of its industrial history. This historic railway complex, once the city’s central station, now hosts major concerts on covered train platforms and many other cultural activities throughout its varied spaces. Check listings in advance to see what’s on.

For a panoramic view of Campinas and surroundings, visit the Castle Tower north of the city. This fetching art deco structure is a functioning water reservoir and offers the highest vantage point in town. Climb the stairs to its observation deck and look out across the sprawl of Campinas, identifying landmarks with the handy information plaques provided.

To escape urban bustle, retreat to one of the many fine natural spaces in Campinas. Stroll the shaded paths of the Jequitibás Forest, a wooded urban park with native trees, a zoo, an aquarium, playgrounds and a children’s theater. Visit the Parque Portugal to enjoy recreational activities and scenic views of the lagoon.

Campinas lies in the state of São Paulo, just 56 miles (90 kilometers) north of the city. Fly into Viracopos Airport in Campinas or take the 2-hour transfer bus from São Paulo Airport. Campinas is served by urban buses, connecting most major sights in the city. Regular safety precautions apply, especially at night.

Where to stay in Campinas

Campinas featuring a city and landscape views

Cambuí

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

Cambuí is noteworthy for its restaurants, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Museu do Negro and Avenida José de Sousa Campos.

Cambuí
Culture Station showing signage and interior views

Campinas Center

If you're spending some time in Campinas Center, Municipal Market and Metropolitan Cathedral of Campinas are top sights worth seeing.

Campinas Center
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Barão Geraldo

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Barão Geraldo and surrounding area, you can visit Unicamp Observatory and Parque Dom Pedro Shopping Mall.

Barão Geraldo
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Sousas

While Sousas might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Iguatemi Shopping Mall and Anhumas Station.

Sousas
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Joaquim Egídio

If you're spending some time in Joaquim Egídio, Iguatemi Shopping Mall and Jequitibas Forest are top sights worth seeing.

Joaquim Egídio
Culture Station showing signage and interior views

Conceicao

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Conceicao, Jequitibas Forest and Metropolitan Cathedral of Campinas are top sights worth seeing.

Conceicao

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Campinas

4.3
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
10
5 - Excellent 38%
4 - Good
14
4 - Good 54%
3 - Okay
2
3 - Okay 8%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
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1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Explored Campinas for a day and found many things to do. Campinas is a clean city. We enjoyed it much more than Sao Paulo.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Campinas has some great nightlife and restaurants, both local and adopted. It's largely safe at night, and there are fun things to do.

4/5 - Good

Ignacio

Nice place if you know the city and places to go.

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