Season guide · São Paulo · Brazil
São Paulo in summer
December–March: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Hot and humid with almost daily afternoon thunderstorms, occasional flooding, Carnival and quieter business districts in January. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 62 rainy days across December–March.
Key facts
- Months
- December–March
- Temperatures
- 18°C (64°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 62
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C (82°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 18 | 13.4 h | 3/5 |
| February | 29°C (84°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 15 | 12.9 h | 4/5 |
| March | 28°C (82°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| December | 28°C (82°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 15 | 13.6 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 62 of the year's roughly 122 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Carnival — street blocos and samba-school parades at the Anhembi Sambódromo (February or early March)
- December: São Silvestre road race (31 December)
- December: New Year's Eve concert and fireworks on Avenida Paulista (31 December)
Good choices for summer
Museum · Avenida Paulista and Bela Vista
MASP – São Paulo Museum of Art
Lina Bo Bardi's red-framed concrete building, raised on four pillars above a public plaza, holds the most important collection of European art in the Southern Hemisphere, with works by Raphael, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Renoir alongside Brazilian art.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Gallery · Luz
Pinacoteca de São Paulo
Combine it with the Museu da Língua Portuguesa opposite, and use the Luz Metrô exit facing the garden.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Luz
Museu da Língua Portuguesa
Inside the British-built Estação da Luz railway station, this interactive museum explores the Portuguese language through sound, video and games.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Centro
Farol Santander
Go on a clear afternoon and look north-west for the Copan's curving façade and the Edifício Itália.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Ipiranga
Museu do Ipiranga
The palatial Museu Paulista stands where Brazil's independence was declared in 1822, at the top of formal gardens modelled on Versailles.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Outdoors
Day trips in summer
- Santos (About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus) — 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.
- Embu das Artes (About 1 hour by bus or car) — 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit São Paulo?
It is a trade-off: Hot and humid with almost daily afternoon thunderstorms, occasional flooding, Carnival and quieter business districts in January. The best months overall are April–May and August–October.
+What is the weather like in São Paulo in summer?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 62 rainy days over the season.