All citiesSão Paulo Things to do and walking itinerary
Brazil São Paulo travel guide
30 things to do in São Paulo, where to stay, airport transfers, 6 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in São Paulo
- São Paulo Museum of Art — art museum in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Ibirapuera Park — park in São Paulo (visit ≈ 45 min)
- São Paulo Cathedral — cathedral in São Paulo city, Brazil (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Municipal Theater of São Paulo — theatre in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Pinacoteca de São Paulo — art museum in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Museum of the Portuguese Language — museum in Brazil (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Catedral Metropolitana Ortodoxa — church in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Obelisk of São Paulo — monument in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 15 min)
- São Paulo Museum of Modern Art — art museum (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Ipiranga Museum — history museum of São Paulo state, Brazil (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Monument to the Bandeiras — sculpture in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Mesquita Brasil — mosque in Brazil (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Monument to the Independence of Brazil — sculpture in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Praça da Sé — square in Sao Paulo (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Mosteiro de São Bento — monastery in São Paulo (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Museum of Contemporary Art, University of São Paulo — art museum in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Carmo — church in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Pátio do Colégio — Historic building in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Centro Histórico de São Paulo — historic sector in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Latin America Memorial — cultural complex in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Museum Afro Brasil — museum in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Praça da República — square in São Paulo (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Basilica of the Most Blessed Sacrament, São Paulo — church building in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo — public natural history museum in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 120 min)
- São Paulo Museum of Sacred Art — museum in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 120 min)
- St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, São Paulo — church in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Igreja Nossa Senhora da Consolação — church in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Immigration Museum of the State of São Paulo — museum (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Jardim da Luz — park in São Paulo (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Praça Roosevelt — square in São Paulo, Brazil (visit ≈ 15 min)
2-day São Paulo walking itinerary
Starting point: Jardins. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.0 km · 12,130 steps · 1 h 59 min on the way): Monument to the Bandeiras → Ibirapuera Park → São Paulo Museum of Modern Art → Museum of Contemporary Art, University of São Paulo → Obelisk of São Paulo → Catedral Metropolitana Ortodoxa
- Day 2 (≈ 7.2 km · 9,660 steps · 1 h 36 min on the way): Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Carmo → São Paulo Museum of Art
Where to stay in São Paulo
- Jardins: Tree-lined streets, luxury shops and good restaurants.
- Avenida Paulista: Museums, metro lines and an avenue closed to cars on Sundays.
- Pinheiros: A lively area of bars, restaurants and design shops.
- Vila Madalena: Street art, botecos and nightlife.
- Itaim Bibi: A business district with modern hotels and smart restaurants.
Getting from the airport to São Paulo
- Guarulhos (GRU): Airport Bus Service ≈ 1 h–1 h 30 min depending on traffic.
- Congonhas (CGH): Inside the city; taxi or Uber ≈ 20–30 min.
Getting around
The metro and suburban trains are fast but traffic is heavy; Uber is handy in the evening. Avenida Paulista closes to cars on Sundays.
Classic places to eat
- Mercado Municipal: A stained-glass market since 1933; the giant mortadella sandwich.
- Bar Brahma: Live samba and draught beer on a famous corner since 1948.
- Famiglia Mancini: Generous Italian food in Bixiga since 1980.
- Jardim de Napoli: The giant polpettone meatball since 1949.
- Bar Veloso: Some of the city’s best coxinhas and caipirinhas.
- A Casa do Porco: A famous nose-to-tail pork restaurant with long queues.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- D.O.M. — 2 MICHELIN stars, Brazilian, contemporary
- Evvai — 2 MICHELIN stars, Italian-Brazilian
- Maní — 1 MICHELIN star, Brazilian, contemporary
- Kinoshita — 1 MICHELIN star, Japanese
- Jun Sakamoto — 1 MICHELIN star, Sushi
- Kan Suke — 1 MICHELIN star, Sushi
Romantic views
- Ibirapuera Park (Afternoon): The city’s green heart, with a lake and Niemeyer buildings.
- Beco do Batman (Afternoon): An alley covered wall to wall in graffiti.
- Praça Pôr do Sol (Sunset): A grassy hill literally named “Sunset Square”.
Football stadiums in São Paulo
- Estádio do Morumbi: Home of São Paulo FC
- Allianz Parque: Home of Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Good to know before visiting São Paulo
- Fine: Racism is a serious crime in Brazil.
- Fine: Drug offences carry severe penalties.
- Warning: Keep phones and valuables out of sight in the street; never leave belongings unattended on the beach.
- Warning: Visit favelas only with licensed local guides.
- Warning: Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue are common; use repellent.
- Cards are widely accepted; locals use Pix for payments.
- Emergency: police 190, ambulance 192, fire 193
- Plugs: N/C, 127/220V
- Tap water: Drink filtered or bottled water rather than tap.
- Tipping: A 10% service charge is usually added.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Brazil, Wikivoyage — Brazil, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
São Paulo travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in São Paulo?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 3 days for the top 11 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in São Paulo?
- Highlights: São Paulo Museum of Art, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Cathedral, Municipal Theater of São Paulo and Pinacoteca de São Paulo. The map has 30 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in São Paulo?
- Jardins: Tree-lined streets, luxury shops and good restaurants. Other options: Avenida Paulista, Pinheiros, Vila Madalena and Itaim Bibi.
- How do you get from the airport to São Paulo city centre?
- Guarulhos (GRU): Airport Bus Service ≈ 1 h–1 h 30 min depending on traffic. · Congonhas (CGH): Inside the city; taxi or Uber ≈ 20–30 min.
- How do you get around São Paulo?
- The metro and suburban trains are fast but traffic is heavy; Uber is handy in the evening. Avenida Paulista closes to cars on Sundays.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in São Paulo?
- According to the last known data there are 6 starred restaurants: D.O.M. (2 stars), Evvai (2 stars), Maní (1 star), Kinoshita (1 star), Jun Sakamoto (1 star) and 1 more. Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in São Paulo?
- Emergency: police 190, ambulance 192, fire 193.
- Do you tip in São Paulo?
- A 10% service charge is usually added.
Nearby cities
Rio de Janeiro · Brasília · Asunción · Montevideo · Buenos Aires · Sucre · La Paz · Santiago
Brazil travel guide: all cities · All cities