BR
São Paulo
South America’s largest city, a huge business hub with world-class museums, food and nightlife
South America’s largest city, a huge business hub with world-class museums, food and nightlife
The city’s best-known avenue, lined with towers, cultural centres and the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), whose building by Lina Bo Bardi is raised on red pillars. On Sundays the avenue is closed to cars.
Photo: Marilane Borges, modified by Heitor C. Jorge, CC BY 2.0
São Paulo’s main park, opened in 1954, with a lake and buildings by Oscar Niemeyer that house museums, including the Afro Brasil Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.
Photo: Mike Peel, CC BY-SA 4.0
One of Brazil’s leading art museums, focused on Brazilian art, in a brick building next to the Luz station and garden.
Photo: Oleg Yunakov, CC BY-SA 4.0
The 1930s covered market in the city centre, with stained-glass windows, fruit stalls and the famous oversized mortadella sandwich.
Go hungry and try the fruit, but ask prices before tasting.
Photo: Wilfredor, CC0
São Paulo is one of the best food cities in South America: try pizza (the city takes it seriously), Japanese food in Liberdade, coxinha, the virado à paulista and Arab-Brazilian esfiha.
Pinheiros and Vila Madalena are good for bars and casual dining; Jardins has many upscale restaurants.
Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is about an hour from the centre by taxi or ride-hailing, or by train via the airport line. Congonhas (CGH) handles domestic flights. The metro is clean and efficient.
Citizens of the EU and the UK do not need a visa for a tourist stay. Since April 2025 citizens of the US, Canada and Australia need an e-visa, applied for online in advance. Stays are limited to 90 days per visit and 180 days in 12 months. Check current rules before you travel.
São Paulo is a business city with prices to match, but there is a wide range of choice. Brazil uses the real (R$). Cards and contactless payment are accepted almost everywhere, and Pix (instant bank transfer) is very common.
Hotels can be cheaper at weekends, when business travel drops.
Art, parks and food.
See the Mercado Municipal, the cathedral and the Pinacoteca, then visit Liberdade for dinner.
Visit MASP and walk Avenida Paulista, then spend the afternoon in Ibirapuera Park.
Explore Beco do Batman’s street art and the bars and cafés of Vila Madalena and Pinheiros.
Phone snatching is the most common crime in big Brazilian cities. Keep your phone out of sight on the street and at the beach.
The metro is the fastest way around; traffic can be very heavy.
Many museums close on Mondays and some have free days; check before you go.
Summer afternoons often bring heavy downpours.
Quick answers for planning time in São Paulo.
EU and UK citizens do not for a tourist stay. Since April 2025 US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa, applied for online before travel.
Yes, for food, museums and nightlife, though it is a big, busy city rather than a beach destination.
By taxi, ride-hailing or bus, or by train on the airport line, changing to the metro.
The São Paulo Museum of Art on Avenida Paulista, with a major collection of Western and Brazilian art.
On Sundays, when it becomes a pedestrian space with street performers.
Offline maps are useful; Google Maps and Waze work well in cities.
Free
Portuguese is the language of Brazil; English is limited outside hotels and tours.
Free
Almost everyone in Brazil, from hotels to tour guides and restaurants, uses WhatsApp.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Brazil travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.