About Sao Paulo
São Paulo is the capital and largest city of the state of São Paulo. The largest city in Brazil, it is also the most populous city in the Americas. The city exerts international influence in commerce, finance, culture, gastronomy, arts, fashion, technology, entertainment and media, having been listed by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network as a "City of Film" and the title of "World Capital of Gastronomy", and by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) as an alpha global city. It is the largest urban area by population outside Asia and the most populous Portuguese-speaking city in the world. The city is named after Paul the Apostle and people from the capital city are known as paulistanos.
Places to visit in Sao Paulo
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Paulista Avenue
Neighborhood · 2 mi from centreThe city's signature boulevard, lined with office towers, cultural centers, bookstores, and cafes. On Sundays it is closed to cars and fills with street performers, cyclists, and families, which is the best time to stroll.
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São Paulo Museum of Art
Museum · 2 mi from centreKnown as MASP, this museum holds one of Latin America's top collections of European and Brazilian art inside a red concrete building raised on pillars. Admission is free on Tuesdays, so expect crowds then.
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Ibirapuera Park
Park · 3 mi from centreThe city's main green space, with lakes, jogging paths, and several museums and pavilions designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Rent a bike at the entrance to cover the large grounds more easily on a weekend.
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Municipal Market
MarketA grand 1930s market hall with stained-glass windows, packed with stalls selling fruit, cheese, cured meats, and spices. Try the famously oversized mortadella sandwich from one of the upstairs eateries, and arrive hungry.
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Pinacoteca
MuseumThe state art museum, set in a restored brick building beside Luz Park, with a strong collection of Brazilian painting from colonial times onward. Pair it with a walk through the park and the nearby Luz station.
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São Paulo Cathedral
ReligiousA large neo-Gothic cathedral with green domes standing over Praça da Sé, the symbolic center of the city. Visit during daylight and keep a close eye on your belongings, as the square can be rough.
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Vila Madalena
Neighborhood · 4 mi from centreA hilly bohemian district full of bars, galleries, and street art, including the colorful murals of the Batman Alley. It comes alive in the evenings, making it a good place for dinner and live music.
Things to do in Sao Paulo by type
19 tours, tickets and experiences across 4 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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City tours 10 experiences Arquitecture of Sao Paulo - Private Tour -
Travel Services 3 experiences Plaza Premium Lounge at T2 Domestic Departure - Ticket -
Day Trips & Excursions 3 experiences Campos do Jordão Tour: Brazilian Switzerland from Sao Paulo -
Art & culture 2 experiences Art Galleries in Sao Paulo
- 3-6 hours 4
- Over 6 hours 2
- 1-3 hours 2
- Flexible 1
- Couples 1
- Senior 1
- Youth 1
- Families 1
- Private 12
Top experiences in Sao Paulo
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 19 available.
Arquitecture of Sao Paulo - Private Tour
From $341 per adult
City tour express
From $290 per adult
Fullday to Santos and Guaruja beaches from Sao Paulo
From $579 per adult
Private Soccer Tour in Sao Paulo
From $455 per adult
Art Galleries in Sao Paulo
From $341 per adult
Street Art in Sao Paulo - Half-Day Tour
From $341 per adult
Stopover Sao Paulo: City Tour from Guarulhos Airport
From $486 per adult
Stopover in Sao Paulo: City Tour from Cruise Terminal Santos Port - Private
From $889 per adult
Embu Das Artes Tour - Private from Sao Paulo
From $393 per adult
Eco Tour in Sao Paulo
From $434 per adult
Campos do Jordão Tour: Brazilian Switzerland from Sao Paulo
From $693 per adult
Discover São Paulo - Full-Day Tour
From $569 per adult
Where to stay in Sao Paulo
Popular hotels in Sao Paulo, out of 478 properties you can book.
Tivoli Sao Paulo Mofarrej
From $331 per night
B&B HOTEL SP Luz Centro
From $50 per night
Hotel Dan Inn Planalto by Nacional Inn
From $54 per night
GoldMen Select Paulista – Capcana
From $132 per night
Hotel Nacional Inn Sao Paulo
From $43 per night
Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi
From $285 per night
Nacional Inn Jaragua Sao Paulo
From $137 per night
Hotel Nacional Inn Piracicaba
From $36 per night
Golden Tower Pinheiros by Fenix Hoteis
From $92 per night
Hotel Euro Suite Sao Paulo by Nacional Inn
From $44 per night
Wyndham Garden Sao Paulo Convention Nortel
From $118 per night
Rede Andrade Piratininga
From $32 per night
Best time to visit Sao Paulo
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Sao Paulo is May and July to September, when average daytime highs are around 71–82°F and rain falls on about 5 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Sao Paulo weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 76° 57° 6%
- Thu 22 Oct 76° 61° 63%
- Fri 23 Oct 80° 63° 84%
- Sat 24 Oct 77° 68° 82%
- Sun 25 Oct 76° 67° 90%
- Mon 26 Oct 82° 56° 54%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Brazilian real (BRL)1 US dollar ≈ R$5.05
- Language
- Portuguese
- Calling code
- +55
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- America/Sao_PauloUTC−3
- Capital
- Brasília
Upcoming public holidays in Brazil
- All Souls' DayDia de Finados
- Republic Proclamation DayProclamação da República
- Black Awareness DayDia da Consciência Negra
- Christmas DayNatal
- New Year's DayConfraternização Universal
- Good FridaySexta-feira Santa
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Sao Paulo
These are the airports closest to central Sao Paulo. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- CGH Congonhas-São Paulo Airport5 mi (9 km) from the city centre
- GRU São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport13 mi (21 km) from the city centre
- VCP Viracopos International Airport49 mi (79 km) from the city centre
Getting around Sao Paulo
Transport in São Paulo can be anything from joyful to complicated. Usually, the fastest and less stressful way to get around is by bicycle and public transportation, while the experience with cars can be hellish. Peak hours are normally roughly 06:00-09:00 and 16:00-19:00, but since city roads are constantly at maximum capacity, any little incident can cause major queues and delays.
Bilhete Único
The Bilhete Único is a transport smartcard that is used for paying fares on buses, subways, and trains. In essence, a single billing of the card grants a person up to four trips in São Paulo's public transportation system with free transfers between the subway system and buses within 3 hours. Since September of 2021, only personalized Bilhete Único cards are accepted in the entire transport system.
By metrô and train
The rail network, composed of metrô (subway) and surface trains, is the method of transportation a tourist is likely to use the most while visiting São Paulo. The metrô is modern, safe, clean and efficient; the quality of surface trains varies, but those in more tourist areas area as good as the metrô. An up-to-date map of the rail network can be found in this link.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}[dead link].
Fare and hours of operation
If you don't have a Bilhete Único smart card (see above), trains use a simple flat-price ticketing scheme - you can get only one-trip tickets, which cost R$5.30, and allow you to go as far as you wish. Free train transfers appear as white links on the map; paid transfers as black links; grey links are free transfers during off-peak hours only.
Sao Paulo travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Sao Paulo?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Sao Paulo is May and July to September, when average daytime highs are around 71–82°F and rain falls on about 5 days a month.
What is the weather like in Sao Paulo?
February is usually the warmest month in Sao Paulo, with average highs of 84°F (29°C). July is the coolest, with average lows of 53°F (12°C). The wettest month is typically January, with about 253 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Sao Paulo?
Congonhas-São Paulo Airport (CGH) is the closest airport, about 5 miles (9 km) from the centre of Sao Paulo. Other nearby airports include São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU, 13 mi) and Viracopos International Airport (VCP, 49 mi).
What currency is used in Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo uses the Brazilian real (BRL). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ R$5.05.
What time zone is Sao Paulo in?
Sao Paulo uses the America/Sao_Paulo time zone (currently UTC−3). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Sao Paulo?
Transport in São Paulo can be anything from joyful to complicated. Usually, the fastest and less stressful way to get around is by bicycle and public transportation, while the experience with cars can be hellish.
What are the best places to visit in Sao Paulo?
Top sights in Sao Paulo include Paulista Avenue, São Paulo Museum of Art, Ibirapuera Park and Municipal Market. The city's signature boulevard, lined with office towers, cultural centers, bookstores, and cafes. On Sundays it is closed to cars and fills with street performers, cyclists, and families, which is the best time to stroll.
What are the top things to do in Sao Paulo?
Popular experiences you can book in Sao Paulo include Arquitecture of Sao Paulo - Private Tour, City tour express and Fullday to Santos and Guaruja beaches from Sao Paulo. Destina Holidays offers 19 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Sao Paulo?
The most popular types of experiences in Sao Paulo are city tours (10), travel services (3), day trips & excursions (3) and art & culture (2). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Sao Paulo?
Popular areas for hotels in Sao Paulo include Sao Paulo - City and Piracicaba. Well-reviewed options include Tivoli Sao Paulo Mofarrej and B&B HOTEL SP Luz Centro.
How many hotels can I book in Sao Paulo?
Destina Holidays currently lists 478 properties in and around Sao Paulo, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
