6 best day trips from São Paulo

Day trips compared

The day trips

75 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus

1.Santos

Brazil's largest port has a long beach backed by the world's longest beachfront garden, a historic centre with the Bolsa do Café coffee-exchange museum and a vintage tram, and the Pelé Museum. The road down the Serra do Mar escarpment is dramatic.

Getting there

Frequent buses from Jabaquara bus terminal

Best for

Families, Beach, Culture

30 km · About 1 hour by bus or car

2.Embu das Artes

A colonial-era town of whitewashed churches and cobbled streets known for its weekend arts, crafts and furniture fair, which fills the centre with stalls and street food.

Getting there

Intermunicipal bus or ride-hailing

Best for

Shopping, Families, Culture

50 km · About 1.5–2 hours by train and bus

3.Paranapiacaba

A British-built railway village from the 1860s perched at the top of the Serra do Mar, with wooden houses, a clock tower modelled on Big Ben and trails into the Atlantic forest. It is often wrapped in mist, which suits its English-village look.

Getting there

CPTM Line 10 to Rio Grande da Serra, then local bus

Best for

Quiet stays, Culture, Couples

180 km · About 3 hours by road

4.Campos do Jordão

A mountain resort at about 1,600 metres in the Serra da Mantiqueira, with Swiss-style chalets, fondue restaurants and pine forests. It is busiest in July, when a winter classical music festival takes place.

Getting there

Bus from Tietê terminal or car

Best for

Couples, Families, Quiet stays

130 km · About 2 hours by road

5.Holambra

A town founded by Dutch immigrants that produces much of Brazil's cut flowers, with a windmill, Dutch-style buildings and flower fields. The Expoflora flower show is usually held from late August to September.

Getting there

Car or tour; buses via Campinas

Best for

Families, Couples

210 km · About 3.5–4 hours by road and ferry

6.Ilhabela

A mountainous, forested island off the north coast of São Paulo state with waterfalls and beaches; it is better as an overnight stay than a single day. Bring insect repellent for the small biting flies known as borrachudos.

Getting there

Car or bus to São Sebastião, then a short car ferry

Best for

Beach, Couples, Quiet stays

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• An extensive bus network with dedicated corridors covers the whole city; it is useful for Ibirapuera and areas off the Metrô, but routes are complex for first-time visitors.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask