Welcome to São Paulo

São Paulo is home to 20 million fiercely proud Paulistanos (as residents are known), all of whom will happily rant and rave to you how they'd never live elsewhere. Spend time with them and the reasons will soon unfold. Maybe they will introduce you to the city’s innumerable art-house cinemas and experimental theaters. If they’re gourmands, they’ll focus on the smart bistros and gourmet restaurants that make the city a world-renowned foodie haven. If they’re scenesters, follow them on a raucous tour of underground bars and the 24/7 clubbing scene. Whatever pleasures you might covet, Sampa (the city's affectionate nickname) probably has them in spades.

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Of course, it's also enormous, intimidating and, at first glance at least, no great beauty (to say nothing of the smog, the traffic, the crumbling sidewalks and the gaping divide between poor and rich).

A beautiful mess, if you will? And Brazil's city of dreams.

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Top experiences in São Paulo

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São Paulo activities

$165 Private & Custom Tours

Sao Paulo Private City Tour with Customizable Itinerary

3-hour tour:The 3-hour option is the ideal way to get a taste for the vast city of São Paulo in a short amount of time. After your guide picks you up by private vehicle at your hotel, head downtown for a brief historical walking tour. See where the city was founded in 1554 at the Pátio do Colégio, a historical Jesuit mission church and school, and stop at Catedral da Sé, a neo-Gothic building from the 20th century that holds up to 8,000 people. Return to your vehicle to continue your sightseeing tour, passing by the Monastery of Sao Bento, a historical site belonging to the Benedictines, who have sung Gregorian chants at mass here since the 16th century. See the 30-story Martinelli building—São Paulo’s first skyscraper—and Banespa Tower, which looks similar to New York’s Empire State building. Pass the churches of St Francis, built during the 18th century, and the Municipal Theatre of São Paulo, the city’s oldest theater and a venue for renowned concerts and operas. Hear from your guide about the São Paulo Law School, the city’s first established university, and admire the Tea Bridge, the 42-story Italian Tower, and City Hall, an imposing building made entirely of travertine marble. Keep an eye out for Brazil’s largest residential building—the Copan, designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer. In addition to these city landmarks, you’ll drive through several interesting areas such as Liberdade, the Japanese district of São Paulo, where Japanese immigrants settled at the beginning of the 20th century; Paulista Avenue, a financial district created at the end of the 19th century, then home to wealthy coffee farmers; and Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo´s main park, which features a peaceful garden landscape designed by Roberto Burle Marx.5-hour tour: If you’ve got an extra two hours, upgrade your tour to include a few additional stops, including markets and neighborhoods. This option includes everything mentioned in the 3-hour tour, plus the followingSee the municipal market, a vibrant building inaugurated in São Paulo in 1932. You'll be introduced Brazil's culinary variety and enjoy the chance to sample dishes, if you like. Perhaps try the famous pastel de bacalhau (fried pastry with salt-cod filling) or a sandwich with more than 14 ounces (400 grams) of mortadela (food and drinks at your own expense). You'll also check out the Vila Madalena neighborhood and Sunset Square, a bohemian area full of artist studios and home to the best murals in town. At Sunset Square, enjoy a view of the city.
$78 Tours & Sightseeing

Sao Paulo City Tour with Pacaembu, Downtown and Luz Park

Pacaembu Area: We started the tour at the Pacaembu Football Stadium with a stop and visit inside; Charles Miller Square with a viewing to important neighborhoods.Paulista Area: Panoramic Tour by the Paulista Avenue (financial center) and viewing to the MASP, Trianon Park, Important Buildings and stop to visit the House of RosesIbirapuera Area: Tour with stop to take photos at the Ibirapuera's Park and some monuments: Obelisk, Bandeiras Monument and Palace July 9th.São Paulo Downtown: Panoramic Tour by the Liberdade Neighborhood (Japanese Town) and stop at the Sé Square to visit the Cathedral and the Pátio do Colégio, place where the city was founded. The tour continues crossing the old center, passing by the Church and Monastery of St. Benedict, Municipal Theater, Anhangabaú Valley, Republic Square, Duque de Caxias Monument, São Paulo Concert Hall, as well as other important historic buildings. The tour ends with a stop and visit at the Luz Station and viewing the Luz Park and the Pinacoteca.
$20.90 Transfers & Ground Transport

Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport to São Paulo Hotels

This easy and efficient one-way private transfer picks you up at Guarulhos International Airport. Once you land, you will be welcomed by your experienced driver and driven directly to your São Paulo hotel. When making a booking, you just need to advise your flight details and your São Paulo accommodation details. Your transfer will be confirmed at the time of booking and you will be provided with a travel voucher to present to the driver. Don't forget to book your airport departure transfer for your return trip!Price is per person, based on 8 adults per car/vehicle.
$195 Cultural & Theme Tours

Sao Paulo Private Street Art Tour with Choque Cultural

Famous for its murals painted in public spaces, São Paulo contains one of the world’s most prominent displays of street art. Although these murals are called grafite (graffiti), the colorful graphics are generally acknowledged as an important and valid art form reflecting the urban street culture of Brazil.Upon pickup from your hotel by private vehicle, meet your knowledgeable guide and embark on your urban exploration of São Paulo’s fascinating graffiti art. Discover a new generation of Brazilian artists such as OsGemeos, Nunca and Nove, and learn about how their upbringing in this urban culture influenced their work.Visit downtown São Paulo, as well as the neighborhood of Vila Madalena, a bohemian bairro located in the Pinheiros district. As you walk along back streets and alleyways through these eclectic areas, view the vibrant displays spray-painted on walls and learn about their artistic origins, such as Brazilian folk art and pixo reto (São Paulo's original graffiti style).Before drop-off at your hotel, your guide will take you to visit one of São Paulo’s street art galleries – Choque Cultural in Vila Madalena, or A7MA, which aims to promote awareness of urban art. Spend approximately 20 minutes viewing the exhibitions displayed there and learn about more esteemed street artists such as Daniel Melim, Paulo Ito and Alex Hornest.
$20.90 Transfers & Ground Transport

Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Guarulhos International Airport

When you're ready to depart for Guarulhos International Airport, this convenient private transfer will take you there directly from your São Paulo hotel – without any hassle!Your transfer will be confirmed within 24 hours of booking and you will be provided with a travel voucher to present to the driver.Note: price is per person, based on 8 adults per car/vehicle.
$365 Day Trips & Excursions

Private Tour: Coffee and Beaches Day Trip from São Paulo

When your guide picks you up at your hotel, drive by private vehicle to the city of Santos located approximately 1-hour from São Paulo. Pass impressive landscapes and interesting structures, with commentary from your guide along the way.Arriving at Santos, drive along the shore with views of the world’s largest beachfront garden as well as the Port of Santos harbor, once the most important in Brazil due to its thriving coffee exportation. Then, head to Old Town to see its main attraction, the coffee stock exchange and the Coffee Museum.Although the Official Coffee Exchange opened in 1914, it wasn’t until 1922 that the unfinished Coffee Palace (Palácio do Café) was inaugurated. Follow your guide on a tour of the building, restored in 1998, and admire the 120-foot (37-meter) clock tower and the gorgeous stained glass panel found on the trading room ceiling.Inside the museum, learn about Brazil’s coffee industry through permanent and temporary exhibits, including coffee sacks, scales and tasting tables on display. If you’d like, enjoy a coffee drink at the museum's Café (own expense); perhaps try an Afogatto – espresso, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce served with a cinnamon stick! Outside, stroll along the decorative pavement of the boulevard with its coffee bean pattern.Next, take an approximate 10-minute ferryboat to reach the city of Guarujá. Located on Santo Amaro Island, the city boasts dozens of beaches along 14 miles (23 km) of sandy shoreline and is a favorite getaway for São Paulo city dwellers. Visit several wonderful beaches including Asturias, Pitangueiras and Enseada.Depending on your preference, you may spend a bit more time at any one, including Tombo Beach, distinguished for its great waves and restaurant options. This charming beach, bordered by four Atlantic Forest-covered mountains, is a good spot to sunbathe or watch the local surfers expertly navigate the waves.When you’re hungry for lunch, your guide will recommend a selection of local eateries. You’ll have your choice of casual options such as Bar do Dinho, with great portions of seafood, as well as more sophisticated venues like Rufino’s, considered the best seafood restaurant in Guarujá.When you’ve had your share of fun in the sun, your guide will return you by private transport to your hotel in São Paulo.
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