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 featuring modern architecture
Sao Paulo which includes street performance as well as a large group of people
Sao Paulo featuring a high-rise building, a city and central business district

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 centre, 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 centre: 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 Centre 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 savoury 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 centre.

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
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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
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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
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Vila Olimpia

5/5(1 area review)

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
Apê Av Paulista Haddock Lobo
Apê Av Paulista Haddock Lobo
3 out of 5
Av. Paulista, 2240, Consolação, São Paulo, SP
Fully refundable
The price is S$66 per night from 28 Jul to 29 Jul
S$66
28 Jul - 29 Jul
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! (980 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 S$100 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
S$100
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 center. 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
Hampton by Hilton Guarulhos Airport
Hampton by Hilton Guarulhos Airport
3 out of 5
Rua Pedro De Toledo, 1000, Guarulhos
The price is S$102 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
S$102
20 Jul - 21 Jul
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! (2,032 reviews)
"We checked in around 2am but the bar and out door still very busy. We needed a good sleep before catching another flight so kind of anoying. other than that the shuttle service and staffs are pretty helpful"

Reviewed on 4 Jul, 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! (980 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 WiFi, a fitness center, 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 WiFi, valet parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
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

Things to do

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