Sao Paulo Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best São Paulo tours and things to do in Brazil’s vibrant megacity: stroll iconic Avenida Paulista, snap the colourful murals of Beco do Batman, feast on street food at the Mercado Municipal, escape to the beaches of Santos, and dance the night away to samba. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect São Paulo trip.
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Explore Sao Paulo by interest
Whatever brings you to Sao Paulo — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Sao Paulo
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Avenida Paulista
Iconic avenue.
Beco do Batman
Street art alley.
Mercado Municipal
Grand food market.
Santos
Historic beach city.
MASP & Centre
Art & history.
Football Stadiums
Brazil’s passion.
Paraisópolis
Community tours.
Vila Madalena
Bars & samba.
São Paulo in 3 days
- 1Day 1: city & Paulista
- 2Day 2: food & street art
- 3Day 3: Santos beach
- 4Nightlife
São Paulo food & culture
- 1Mercado Municipal
- 2Liberdade
- 3Beco do Batman
- 4Vila Madalena
~1 hr awaySantos
Beach & port.
City awayBeco do Batman
Street art alley.
City awayMercado Municipal
Food market.
City awayAvenida Paulista
Iconic avenue.
City awayFootball Stadiums
Brazil’s passion.
City awayParaisópolis
Community tour.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Sao Paulo visitor asks before booking.
Autumn (Mar–May)
Mild, drier weather — one of the best times to visit.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Cooler and drier, with crisp days — pack a light jacket.
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Warming up and pleasant, with blooming jacaranda trees.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Hot and rainy, lively with festivals and long days.
Carnival
February or March brings São Paulo’s vibrant Carnival.
Best overall
April to September offers the most comfortable weather.
One day
Paulista, street art and the market.
Three days
Add food, football and Santos beach.
Five days
Add nightlife, museums and day trips.
For foodies
The market and neighbourhoods.
For art
Street art and museums.
With kids
Ibirapuera and the beach.
Metro
The clean, efficient metro is the best way to cross the sprawling city.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours with pickup are easiest for street art, food and day trips.
Ride-hailing
Apps and taxis are handy for door-to-door trips across the city.
Getting there
Guarulhos International serves São Paulo, with Congonhas for domestic flights.
Where to stay
Paulista, Jardins and Vila Madalena are central, walkable bases.
Stay aware
Keep valuables discreet and follow local advice, as in any big city.
Brazilian real
São Paulo uses the Brazilian real; cards are widely accepted.
Book ahead
Food and street-art tours fill up — reserve in advance.
Use the metro
The metro beats traffic — grab a rechargeable card.
Eat everywhere
Don’t miss the market, Liberdade and neighbourhood bars.
City smarts
Keep valuables discreet and follow local guidance.
Sunday Paulista
Visit on Sunday when Avenida Paulista closes to cars.
Food tours
Small-group food tours of the market sell out — book ahead.
Street art tours
Beco do Batman walking tours fill up — reserve early.
Santos day trips
Beach day trips book out on weekends — reserve ahead.
Football matches
Match tickets and stadium tours sell out — book early.
Samba nights
Popular nightlife tours fill up — reserve ahead.
Carnival dates
Carnival is busiest — reserve everything well ahead.
City tour
Around $25–50 for a São Paulo city sightseeing tour.
Food tour
About $40–80 for a Mercado Municipal food tour.
Street art tour
Roughly $25–50 for a Beco do Batman walking tour.
Santos day trip
Around $55–100 for a Santos beach day trip.
Nightlife tour
About $40–80 for a São Paulo samba and bar tour.
How to save
Use the metro, join group tours and eat at markets.
Sao Paulo through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild, drier.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great time.
- Best for
- Cool, crisp.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Bring a jacket.
- Best for
- Jacarandas.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pleasant.
- Best for
- Festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot, rainy.