Top 10 Best Things to do in Sao Paulo

By Wilfredor – Wikimedia

Top 10 Best Things to do in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is the largest Brazilian city and is packed with tons of attractions. There are several cultural sites, green spaces, street art, and city vistas.

You will multiple museums to explore if you are an art lover. This will give you a glimpse of Brazil’s art scene.

One of the best ways to experience Sao Paulo is through taking leisurely walks through the city. There are several attractions along the way to admire, walk into the food market, relax at Ibirapuera park among many other things.

Something not to miss about this city is its football culture. Experience this at the museum of football that tells its rich history in the sport.

Sao Paulo is a massive city, therefore you may not et to explore it all during your visit. To help you out get the best during your trip, here are the top 10 things to do in this cultural melting pot.

1. Go to Museu de Arte

The São Paulo Museum of Art, also known as MASP officially opened its door to the public in 1968. It has the most comprehensive collection representing the western art of Latin America.

Inside the museum are works from impressionists and modern art masters like Renoir, Van Gogh, Matisse, Manet, Debret, Picasso, Miró. There are also more than 73 bronze sculptors from Degas.

It is one of the museums in the continent to exhibit works from mid-20^th century artists together with contemporary artists.

Brazilian contemporary artists featured in here include Portinari and Di Cavalcanti.

The modern building was designed by Lina Bo Bardi, a Brazilian-Italian architect. On Sunday’s, you will find antique markets under the museum’s suspended structure.

2. Walk along Avenida Paulista

By Luiz coelho – Wikimedia

Avenida Paulista is one of the main financial and cultural centres of the capital.

This street attracts thousands of visitors and tourists every day because of its interesting architecture and its representation of the city. Skyscrapers define the skyline of this street.

There are several shops, boutiques, movie theatres, museum, bookstores, cafés and restaurants.

Walking down the avenue gives one a glimpse of the sights and sound that makes up Sao Paulo. The street is closed to car traffic, this means more space and more activities on the street.

You will find vendors selling their wares, live music and people just enjoying their Sunday. For some time with nature, head over to parquet Trianon which has shaded walking paths.

3. Shop at Mercado Municipal

This is one huge indoor market that is packed with hundreds of food stalls and local restaurants and bars. It is in a storeyed warehouse, downtown Sao Paolo.

It is here that you will find fresh produce, local treats and unique handcrafted items.

The market has several brightly coloured stalls selling vegetables, exotic fruits, cheeses, seafood, spices, baked goods, and drinks.

While at the market, try out the famous sandwich made of a baguette filled with a brick-sized wedge of mortadella.

It was the city’s first grocery market that was opened in 1933. There are more than 1,500 salespeople and more than 300 stalls.

The stained-glass windows of the market depict food production in Brazil.

4. Marvel at São Paulo Cathedral

By Wilfredor – Wikimedia

One building that you cannot miss while in Sao Paulo is this neo-Gothic cathedral.

It features enormous spires and the cathedral is known by different names like Catedral da Sé, Catedral Metropolitana and Catedral da Sé de São Paulo.

You will find this magnificent church in the centre of the city near Praca de Se, the main square of the city.

The church is massive and has a seating capacity of 8,000 people. There are carvings on the building that represent Brazil’s agricultural products like coffee beans, animals and other plants.

This cathedral holds Mass daily; you can also take a tour of the tombs within the church.

5. Museu do Futebol

One sport that Brazil is well-known for is football. This sport is so famous that it has a museum dedicated to it here in Sao Paulo.

The museum displays photos, videos and other images that tell the history of the game in Brazil.

You can also play some football at the body game room where you hit a penalty kick abs get to know the speed of your strike.

The museum was opened in 2008 to celebrate the history of football in the country. There are several rooms dedicated to different aspects of the game.

6. Beco do Batman

By Diego Bravo – Wikimedia

The Beco do Batman was the first drawing on Vila Madalena before graffiti became popular in Sao Paulo. This art is found in one of the coolest and artsy streets in the city.

For the best experience, visit the alley on foot because there is always a lot of car traffic; and so, it may not be easy to stop and take a photo.

The alley has a collection of cool graffiti done by both local and international streets artists. New art keeps popping here so every trip to the alley will always be different.

7. Parque do Ibirapuera

This is one of the largest urban space in the city and is very popular with Paulistenos. It is a picturesque park that hosts several activities and cultural shows.

You will find the locals jogging, walking, skating, families hanging out and several other cultural activities. There are sculptures, picnic spaces, trees and paved walk paths.

Inside the park is an art gallery, the museum of Afro-Brazil and a music auditorium. It is a great space to escape to from the busy city.

There is also a cycling lane and lake surrounded by beautiful vegetation.

8. Visit the Art Gallery of the State of São Paulo

The autumn – Bacchus and Ariadne, 1856/63 By Eugène Delacroix – Wikimedia

This museum is one of the oldest in São Paulo. It was opened in 1905 to exhibit the works of Brazilian artists.

There are over 10,000 works showcased in this museum. They include drawings, paintings and sculptures. The sculptures are from the 1800s.

You will find the museum in the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios building which was restored to accommodate the museum.

The museum has a second location at Pina Estacao which is also home to the memorial of the Sao Paulo resistance. There is also a library filled with historic documents detailing Brazil’s political struggle and art history.

9. Praça Pôr do Sol

While in Sao Paulo, head over to Praca Por do Sol for a relaxed evening. This is a square that gives the perfect viewpoint to watch the sunset.

From this vantage point, you will get a panoramic view of the city with its towering skyscrapers. This location provides an intimate atmosphere for friends, families, couples and several street performers.

Before settling down to watch the sunset, you could then stroll through the square, enjoy a picnic, join the artists and listen to a live performance.

There is a common ritual that happens here, so feel free to clap as the sun sets into the horizon.

10. Wander through Liberdade Japantown

By Ricardo Migliani – Wikimedia

Finally, on our list, is touring Japan town. Sao Paulo has the second largest population of Japanese right after Japan. There are about 1 million Japanese people in Sao Paulo alone.

To experience the Japanese culture in Sao Paulo, head over to Liberdade district. You will find shops, bars, cafés, and restaurants exuding Japanese vibes. Manga fans meet here too.

There is also an entire museum devoted to Japanese immigration.