Culture, History and more
Passeio turístico
The City Theater is a historic landmark very near the apt and worth a visit. Maybe you can see an opera or a ballet. Not sure if they'll open this 2020. It's very near Light Shopping Mall which is also a listed heritage building worth a visit.
424 locals recommend
Municipal Theatre of São Paulo
s/n Praça Ramos de AzevedoThe City Theater is a historic landmark very near the apt and worth a visit. Maybe you can see an opera or a ballet. Not sure if they'll open this 2020. It's very near Light Shopping Mall which is also a listed heritage building worth a visit.
Probably one of the biggest "collections" of graffiti and street art in the world. The neighborhoods (Vila Madalena and Pinheiros) around are full of bars, restaurants and nice stores.
406 locals recommend
Batman Alley
82-154 R. Medeiros de AlbuquerqueProbably one of the biggest "collections" of graffiti and street art in the world. The neighborhoods (Vila Madalena and Pinheiros) around are full of bars, restaurants and nice stores.
Bookshop located on the 2nd floor of a traditional gallery (Galeria Metropole), specializing in politics, international relations, sociology, human rights, political economy, etc. They used to host amazing master classes, it's definitely worth a visit.
8 locals recommend
Tapera Taperá
187 Av. São LuísBookshop located on the 2nd floor of a traditional gallery (Galeria Metropole), specializing in politics, international relations, sociology, human rights, political economy, etc. They used to host amazing master classes, it's definitely worth a visit.
Not sure it's opened now, but it's a nice building at Praça Dom José Gaspar.
95 locals recommend
Mario de Andrade Library
94 R. da ConsolaçãoNot sure it's opened now, but it's a nice building at Praça Dom José Gaspar.
Iconic building by Oscar Niemeyer. Visits are allowed Mon-Fri at 10:30am and 3:30pm. You need to get there 15 min in advance to join the group.
177 locals recommend
Copan Building
200 Av. IpirangaIconic building by Oscar Niemeyer. Visits are allowed Mon-Fri at 10:30am and 3:30pm. You need to get there 15 min in advance to join the group.
It's the city's ground zero and there's a beautiful gothic cathedral with the same name.
Go during the day and be mindful while walking around there.
103 locals recommend
Sé Square
Praça da SéIt's the city's ground zero and there's a beautiful gothic cathedral with the same name.
Go during the day and be mindful while walking around there.
This building belonged to the Bank of the State of Sao Paulo and was inspired by the Empire State in NYC. The last floors are now a cultural space with very interesting temporary exhibitions, check the program.
There are a few observatories at the rooftop with an amazing view of the city.
129 locals recommend
Santander Lighthouse
24 R. João BrícolaThis building belonged to the Bank of the State of Sao Paulo and was inspired by the Empire State in NYC. The last floors are now a cultural space with very interesting temporary exhibitions, check the program.
There are a few observatories at the rooftop with an amazing view of the city.
A Galeria Metrópole é um ícone da boemia intelectual da cidade nos anos 70 - Chico Buarque, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Rita Lee circulavam por aqui. Foi redescoberta recentemente e tem vários bares e restaurantes legais, como o Jardim da Babilônia, Feijão do Norte, Mandíbula, Prosa e Vinho e a Tapera Taperá, livraria e bar que promove discussões e cursos incríveis sobre política, economia, gênero, direitos humanos, cultura, veja a programação no FB deles.
19 locals recommend
Galeria Metropole
187 Av. São LuísA Galeria Metrópole é um ícone da boemia intelectual da cidade nos anos 70 - Chico Buarque, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Rita Lee circulavam por aqui. Foi redescoberta recentemente e tem vários bares e restaurantes legais, como o Jardim da Babilônia, Feijão do Norte, Mandíbula, Prosa e Vinho e a Tapera Taperá, livraria e bar que promove discussões e cursos incríveis sobre política, economia, gênero, direitos humanos, cultura, veja a programação no FB deles.
Museums
Nice historic building that used to be home for the Bank of Brazil (Banco do Brasil) that turned it into a cultural house with great exhibitions. It's in the city's historic downtown in a pedestrian only zone. Near the Stock Exchange, Farol Santander, bar/rest Salve Jorge.
234 locals recommend
Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil
112 R. Álvares PenteadoNice historic building that used to be home for the Bank of Brazil (Banco do Brasil) that turned it into a cultural house with great exhibitions. It's in the city's historic downtown in a pedestrian only zone. Near the Stock Exchange, Farol Santander, bar/rest Salve Jorge.
Amazing building and very good Brazilian and Latin American art. Check out if it is opened before going.
Insta: @pinacotecasp
842 locals recommend
Pinacoteca do Estado de Sao Paulo
2 Praça da LuzAmazing building and very good Brazilian and Latin American art. Check out if it is opened before going.
Insta: @pinacotecasp
Great art collection, including Rafael, Ingres, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Renoir, Monet and Picasso; and Brazilian artists like Anita Malfatti, Di Cavalcanti, Candido Portinari and Victor Meirelles.
1600 locals recommend
Museum of Art of São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand
1578 Av. PaulistaGreat art collection, including Rafael, Ingres, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Renoir, Monet and Picasso; and Brazilian artists like Anita Malfatti, Di Cavalcanti, Candido Portinari and Victor Meirelles.
Contemporary Art Museum in a building by architect Oscar Niemeyer. There's a bar at the rooftop with an amazing view. Right next Parque do Ibirapuera
110 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art
1301 Av. Pedro Álvares CabralContemporary Art Museum in a building by architect Oscar Niemeyer. There's a bar at the rooftop with an amazing view. Right next Parque do Ibirapuera
A must go for photography lovers. There's a great typical Brazilian restaurant inside called Balaio, definitely worth a visit if you can get a seat.
138 locals recommend
Instituto Moreira Salles - IMS Paulista
2424 Av. PaulistaA must go for photography lovers. There's a great typical Brazilian restaurant inside called Balaio, definitely worth a visit if you can get a seat.
If you're around Paulista Ave and is a fan of Japanese art, you should check it out. There's an amazing/huge graffiti of Oscar Niemeyer by artist Kobra right next to it.
191 locals recommend
Japan House
52 Av. PaulistaIf you're around Paulista Ave and is a fan of Japanese art, you should check it out. There's an amazing/huge graffiti of Oscar Niemeyer by artist Kobra right next to it.
Beautiful and well conserved art from Africa or African descendants who came to Brazil during the 300+ years of slavery. It’s inside the Ibiraquera Park in a Oscar Niemeyer’s building, as most of the park. Highly recommended.
74 locals recommend
Afro Brazil Museum
Avenida Pedro Álvares CabralBeautiful and well conserved art from Africa or African descendants who came to Brazil during the 300+ years of slavery. It’s inside the Ibiraquera Park in a Oscar Niemeyer’s building, as most of the park. Highly recommended.
Parks/Green
The biggest park in the city. Don't forget to drink coconut water there and visit the Contemporary Art Museum next to it or the African Culture Museum inside the park.
1175 locals recommend
Ibirapuera Park
Avenida Pedro Álvares CabralThe biggest park in the city. Don't forget to drink coconut water there and visit the Contemporary Art Museum next to it or the African Culture Museum inside the park.
Buenos Aires Park
1500 Av. AngélicaGood for a walk
Not so green, but a nice place to people watch (esp skaters) and look at the street art around it.
192 locals recommend
Franklin Roosevelt Square
Praça Franklin RooseveltNot so green, but a nice place to people watch (esp skaters) and look at the street art around it.
There's a street market on Sundays. It's a beautiful square where the State Education Secretary is located in a heritage listed building by architect Ramos de Azevedo (same of Teatro Municipal, Shopping Light, Pinacoteca). Be careful on the weekends, always check around before using your mobile.
47 locals recommend
Praca da Republica
Praça da RepúblicaThere's a street market on Sundays. It's a beautiful square where the State Education Secretary is located in a heritage listed building by architect Ramos de Azevedo (same of Teatro Municipal, Shopping Light, Pinacoteca). Be careful on the weekends, always check around before using your mobile.
Right at Paulista Ave it's an oasis for literally chilling out as the native rain forest there is pretty intense. Don't miss the amazing statue of the Faun by Italian-Brazilian sculptor Victor Brecheret.
321 locals recommend
Trianom Park
949 Rua Peixoto GomideRight at Paulista Ave it's an oasis for literally chilling out as the native rain forest there is pretty intense. Don't miss the amazing statue of the Faun by Italian-Brazilian sculptor Victor Brecheret.
In front of Ibirapuera Park - amazingly huge sculpture by Victor Brecheret.
13 locals recommend
Monument to the Bandeiras
Praça Armando de Sales OliveiraIn front of Ibirapuera Park - amazingly huge sculpture by Victor Brecheret.
In front of the Ibirapuera Park, it's a mausoleum to homage those who died at the so called "1932 Constitutionalist Revolution", which fought for a Constitution under the authoritarian government of president Getúlio Vargas.
11 locals recommend
Obelisk of São Paulo
Complexo Viário Ayrton SennaIn front of the Ibirapuera Park, it's a mausoleum to homage those who died at the so called "1932 Constitutionalist Revolution", which fought for a Constitution under the authoritarian government of president Getúlio Vargas.
Bairros
Japanese neighborhood walking distance from the apt. You find lots of Japanese food stores (cheap mushrooms), restaurants and typical lampposts.
67 locals recommend
Liberdade
Japanese neighborhood walking distance from the apt. You find lots of Japanese food stores (cheap mushrooms), restaurants and typical lampposts.
Traveler advice
Book before you go
During the COVID-19 pandemic, check if places are opened
As you know, authorities keep changing the opening hours and even availability of all public spaces, so please check if they are opened and the opening hours before going to any museums, bars, restaurants, etc on their official social media.
Customs and culture
Always look around before using your smartphone
Be careful while taking pictures or texting with your smartphone anywhere in this town. Unfortunately, this is a very common type of burglary (and theft). The most common is someone on a bike takes your phone while you're talking, typing or taking pics.