São Paulo itinerary: 1 to 3 days
Plans for one to three days in São Paulo, day by day: Ibirapuera Park, Avenida Paulista, the São Paulo Museum of Art, the Cathedral and the Municipal Market first, then the Pinacoteca, the Theatro Municipal and Edifício Itália, and the Zoo, the Luz area and more museums as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
São Paulo in 1 day
Day 1
Ibirapuera Park
The city's main park, with lakes, trails, a Niemeyer-designed auditorium, several museums and the Bienal pavilion.
Avenida Paulista
Main avenue of the financial centre, lined with skyscrapers, cultural centres, MASP and cafes, and closed to cars on Sundays.
São Paulo Museum of Art
MASP, the Lina Bo Bardi building raised on red pillars on Paulista Avenue, with a European and Brazilian art collection.
São Paulo Cathedral
Neo-Gothic cathedral with a large dome and twin spires on Praça da Sé, one of the largest in Brazil.
Mercado Municipal de São Paulo
Large covered market of the 1930s with stained-glass windows, fruit and cheese stalls and the well-known mortadella sandwich.
Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo
The state art museum in a brick building near Luz Station, with Brazilian art from the 19th century to the present.
São Paulo in 2 days
Day 1
São Paulo Cathedral
Neo-Gothic cathedral with a large dome and twin spires on Praça da Sé, one of the largest in Brazil.
Mercado Municipal de São Paulo
Large covered market of the 1930s with stained-glass windows, fruit and cheese stalls and the well-known mortadella sandwich.
Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo
The state art museum in a brick building near Luz Station, with Brazilian art from the 19th century to the present.
Theatro Municipal
Opera house of 1911 in Praça Ramos de Azevedo, a lavishly decorated theatre that stages opera, concerts and ballet.
Edifício Itália
Tall 1965 skyscraper in the centre with a restaurant and bar on the top floor and views across the city.
Avenida Paulista
Main avenue of the financial centre, lined with skyscrapers, cultural centres, MASP and cafes, and closed to cars on Sundays.
Day 2
Museu Paulista
The Ipiranga Museum, a grand 19th-century palace on the site of Brazil's independence declaration, with historical paintings and objects.
Pátio do Colégio
Reconstruction of the Jesuit college where São Paulo was founded in 1554, with a church and a museum.
Museum of the Portuguese Language
Interactive museum inside Luz Station about the history and use of the Portuguese language.
São Paulo Museum of Art
MASP, the Lina Bo Bardi building raised on red pillars on Paulista Avenue, with a European and Brazilian art collection.
Ibirapuera Park
The city's main park, with lakes, trails, a Niemeyer-designed auditorium, several museums and the Bienal pavilion.
São Paulo in 3 days
Day 1
São Paulo Zoo
Large zoo in the south of the city with animals from Brazil and the world, set in the Atlantic Forest.
Avenida Paulista
Main avenue of the financial centre, lined with skyscrapers, cultural centres, MASP and cafes, and closed to cars on Sundays.
São Paulo Cathedral
Neo-Gothic cathedral with a large dome and twin spires on Praça da Sé, one of the largest in Brazil.
Mercado Municipal de São Paulo
Large covered market of the 1930s with stained-glass windows, fruit and cheese stalls and the well-known mortadella sandwich.
Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo
The state art museum in a brick building near Luz Station, with Brazilian art from the 19th century to the present.
Theatro Municipal
Opera house of 1911 in Praça Ramos de Azevedo, a lavishly decorated theatre that stages opera, concerts and ballet.
Day 2
Museu Paulista
The Ipiranga Museum, a grand 19th-century palace on the site of Brazil's independence declaration, with historical paintings and objects.
São Paulo Museum of Art
MASP, the Lina Bo Bardi building raised on red pillars on Paulista Avenue, with a European and Brazilian art collection.
Pátio do Colégio
Reconstruction of the Jesuit college where São Paulo was founded in 1554, with a church and a museum.
Altino Arantes Building
Skyscraper of 1947 modelled on the Empire State Building, with an observation deck over the centre of the city.
Jardim da Luz
The city's oldest public park, of 1825, with sculptures, ponds and paths next to Luz Station.
Edifício Itália
Tall 1965 skyscraper in the centre with a restaurant and bar on the top floor and views across the city.
Day 3
Museum of the Portuguese Language
Interactive museum inside Luz Station about the history and use of the Portuguese language.
Latin America Memorial
Cultural complex designed by Oscar Niemeyer in Barra Funda, with a large open plaza, an auditorium and a library.
São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound
Museum of photography, film, design and music on Europa Avenue, with changing exhibitions and public events.
Ema Gordon Klabin Cultural Foundation
House museum in the Jardins with the collection of Ema Klabin, covering antiquities, European paintings and Brazilian art.
Ibirapuera Park
The city's main park, with lakes, trails, a Niemeyer-designed auditorium, several museums and the Bienal pavilion.
São Paulo Museum of Modern Art
Modern art museum in Ibirapuera Park with Brazilian and international works and a sculpture garden.
Watch: São Paulo
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to São Paulo
Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) have the most pleasant weather. Summer from December to March is warm and wet, with heavy afternoon rain and traffic. Winter is mild and dry but can feel cool and grey; museums are open all year. The Brazilian Grand Prix is usually held at Interlagos in November, and Carnival parades fill February or March.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in São Paulo on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in São Paulo on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in São Paulo on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in São Paulo with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Brazil from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in São Paulo with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for São Paulo
- São Paulo is huge and traffic is heavy; the metro and train lines are the quickest way between neighbourhoods, and the centre is best seen on foot.
- Most museums close on Mondays, and the Pinacoteca closes on Tuesdays; check opening days before fixing a plan.
- In the historic centre keep valuables out of sight and take care after dark; stay on busy streets.
- Ibirapuera Park has several museums and a lake and is busiest on weekends; allow half a day.
- The rooftop viewpoint of Edifício Itália has limited visiting hours, so check ahead.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Altino Arantes Building: Dornicke, Public domain
- Avenida Paulista: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Edifício Itália: Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ema Gordon Klabin Cultural Foundation: Governo do Estado de São Paulo, CC BY 2.0
- Ibirapuera Park: Wilfredor, CC0
- Jardim da Luz: Picture taken by pt:Usuário:Gabrielt4e /Foto tirada por pt:Usuário:Gabrielt4e, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Latin America Memorial: Ana Paula Hirama, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Mercado Municipal de São Paulo: Webysther, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museu Paulista: Pedro Américo, Public domain
- Museum of the Portuguese Language: Thipotato, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo: Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pátio do Colégio: Wilfredor, CC0
- São Paulo Cathedral: Wilfredor, CC0
- São Paulo Museum of Art: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
- São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound: Dornicke, CC BY-SA 3.0
- São Paulo Museum of Modern Art: Dornicke (2008), Public domain
- São Paulo Zoo: Governo do Estado de São Paulo, CC BY 2.0
- Theatro Municipal: Wilfredor, CC0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
