Things to do in São Paulo
The attractions in São Paulo are scattered around town, but it never takes long to hail a taxi. Previously rundown Luz has been reinvented as a cultural hub, with the Pinacoteca do Estado at the centre. There's more art at the São Paulo Art Museum on the edge of Bela Vista, while the centre is home to many of the city's historical sights, such as the São Bento Monastery.
Museums and Galleries
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1. Pinacoteca do Estado - Museums and Galleries
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The Pinacoteca do Estado is located at the heart of the city's cultural renovation zone in the Luz neighbourhood. The attractively lit art gallery has a collection of 19th- and 20th-century Brazilian art on display and a terrace café.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Combined ticket for Pinacoteca & Estação Pinacoteca: R$6; free on Sat
Opening hours
Tue-Sun 10am-6pm
Address
2, Praça da Luz, São Paulo
Telephone
+55 (0) 11 3324 1000
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2. Museu Afro Brazil - Museums & Galleries
Show moreDedicated to showing the cultural achievements of Africans in Brazil, both those brought as slaves and their descendants, this museum is thankfully neither boring nor earnest nor prone to guilt-inducing lectures. Instead, what's on offer is a celebration of the art and accomplishments of the African diaspora. Displays show short biographies of writers or painters or politicians who were black, including lots of their artwork and artifacts. Displays are gorgeous, particularly the art and photography, and the museum has wonderful natural light. Even the website is good. Allow an hour.
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3. São Paulo Art Museum - Museums and Galleries
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Located in a landmark Modernist building perched on concrete stilts, the São Paulo Art Museum in Bela Vista has 19th-century Brazilian paintings and European masters from the last five centuries. Every Sunday there's an antiques fair next door.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R$15; concessions R$7; children & Tue free
Opening hours
Tue-Sun 11am-6pm (Thu until 8pm)
Address
1578, Avenida Paulista, São Paulo 01310-200
Telephone
+55 (0) 11 3251 5644
Attractions
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4. Metropolitan Cathedral - Attractions
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São Paulo's Metropolitan Cathedral is a major landmark in a quiet square of the city centre. The city's largest cathedral, it has a capacity for 8000 people. Highlights include its stained-glass windows and tropical-influenced details such as carved coffee beans.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
Mon-Fri 8am-7pm; Sat 8am-5pm; Sun 8am-1pm & 3pm-6pm
Address
Praça da Sé, São Paulo 01238-908
Telephone
+55 (0) 11 3107 6832
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5. São Paulo Zoo - Attractions
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Located in the suburb of Congonhas, São Paulo Zoo is one of the world's largest, with over 3000 animals, including many native to Brazil. In the same park, there are botanical gardens and pretty Atlantic rainforest trails.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R$14; children R$4
Opening hours
Tue-Sun 9am-5pm
Address
4241, Avenida Miguel Stéfano, Água Funda, São Paulo 04301-905
Telephone
+55 (0) 11 5073 0811
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6. Ibirapuera Park - Attractions
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Ibirapuera Park in Vila Mariana is São Paulo's principal city park with boating lakes and jogging trails. There are also art museums and a planetarium here, designed by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening hours
Daily 5am-12am
Address
Avenida Pedro Alvares Cabral, Vila Mariana, São Paulo
Telephone
+55 (0) 11 5574 5177
Special things to do
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7. São Bento Monastery - Special things to do
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Located in the centre, next to the financial district, São Bento Monastery is attached to a church originally dating back to the 16th century. A Benedictine monastery, the monks sing a Gregorian chant here at daybreak.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening hours
Church: Mon-Wed & Fri 6am-6.30pm; Thu 6am-8am & 2pm-6.30pm; Sat & Sun 6am-12pm & 4pm-6.30pm; Gregorian chant: Mon-Fri 7am; Sat 6am; Sun 10am
Address
Largo de São Bento, São Paulo 01029-010
Telephone
+55 (0) 11 3328 8799
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8. Playcenter - Special things to do
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The star attraction of the large Playcenter amusement park in Barra Funda is the terrifying Boomerang rollercoaster, which speeds along at 75km an hour. Other attractions include the popular Viking Boat and the Castle of Horrors.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R$39.90 (unlimited rides on most attractions)
Opening hours
Sat-Sun 11am-7pm
Address
20, Rua José Gomes Falcão, São Paulo Barra Funda
Telephone
+55 (0) 11 2244 7529
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9. Altino Arantes Building - Special things to do
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The Altino Arantes building, at the heart of São Paulo's central financial district, is a skyscraper owned by the bank Banespa and modelled on New York's Empire State Building. Take the elevator to the top for a view across the city.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free but take photo ID
Opening hours
Mon-Fri 10am-5pm
Address
24, Rua João Bricola, São Paulo
Telephone
+55 (0) 11 3249 7180
Transport
São Bento metro
