3 days in São Paulo

Day by day

1. Day 1: Avenida Paulista and MASP – São Paulo Museum of Art

   Avenida Paulista, MASP – São Paulo Museum of Art and Japan House São Paulo, then Theatro Municipal in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Avenida Paulista

      São Paulo's signature avenue mixes bank towers, cultural centres, bookshops and the Parque Trianon, a fragment of Atlantic forest opposite MASP.

   2. Late morning

      MASP – São Paulo Museum of Art

      Check the museum's site for its free-entry day, and look at the backs of the easels, where each work's label is placed.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pastel de feira

      Stalls at the end of the city's weekly street markets (feiras livres) and at the Mercadão.

   4. Afternoon

      Japan House São Paulo

      Behind a façade of interlocking hinoki-wood strips designed by Kengo Kuma, Japan House shows free exhibitions on Japanese design, craft and technology, with a shop and a restaurant.

   5. Evening

      Theatro Municipal

      Tickets for many concerts are inexpensive; check the season programme rather than only taking the tour.

2. Day 2: Ibirapuera Park and Mercado Municipal (Mercadão)

   Ibirapuera Park, Mercado Municipal (Mercadão) and Catedral da Sé, then Terraço Itália in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ibirapuera Park

      Rent a bike at one of the park's rental points on a weekday morning, then visit the Museu Afro Brasil when the sun gets hot.

   2. Late morning

      Mercado Municipal (Mercadão)

      The 1933 municipal market, with large stained-glass windows showing farm and market scenes, sells tropical fruit, spices, cheeses and cured meats.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mortadella sandwich

      Restaurants and bars on the mezzanine and ground floor of the Mercado Municipal.

   4. Afternoon

      Catedral da Sé

      Visit the cathedral as part of a morning walk through the Centro, with the Pátio do Colégio, where the city was founded in 1554, five minutes away.

   5. Evening

      Terraço Itália

      Arrive just before sunset for a drink and watch the skyline lights come on.

3. Day 3: Pinacoteca de São Paulo and Museu da Língua Portuguesa

   Pinacoteca de São Paulo, Museu da Língua Portuguesa and Beco do Batman, then Vila Madalena in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Pinacoteca de São Paulo

      The state art museum occupies a 1900 brick building remodelled by Paulo Mendes da Rocha with glass roofs and walkways over its inner courtyards.

   2. Late morning

      Museu da Língua Portuguesa

      Many exhibits work best if you have some Portuguese or Spanish, but the station building and the projection room appeal to everyone.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Coxinha

      Padarias (bakeries) and lanchonetes on almost every corner.

   4. Afternoon

      Beco do Batman

      A sloping alley in Vila Madalena where every wall, step and garage door is covered in murals and graffiti that change regularly.

   5. Evening

      Vila Madalena

      Pavement bars, samba and live music around Rua Aspicuelta and Rua Mourato Coelho.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Farol Santander (Centro): Go on a clear afternoon and look north-west for the Copan's curving façade and the Edifício Itália.
• Swap in Museu do Ipiranga (Ipiranga): Walk down through the gardens to the Independence Monument, which holds the crypt of Emperor Pedro I.
• Swap in SESC Pompeia (Pompeia): Visit at a weekend afternoon when families fill the reading area and the riverside-style deck known as the 'beach'.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Avenida Paulista and Bela Vista keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Jardins ($$$$) suits luxury, shopping, couples and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–21 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.7 hours in June to 13.6 hours in December.

More or fewer days

• One day in São Paulo
• 2 days in São Paulo
• 5 days in São Paulo

Questions travellers ask