Things to do in  Sao Paulo

Reigning supreme over the center of Sao Paulo, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Sé Cathedral) is one of the largest neo-Gothic structures in the world. The 12,000-pipe organ is among the biggest in South America and the church houses a vast number of religious artworks.

Designed by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, Ibirapuera Park is Sao Paulo’s answer to New York’s Central Park. As the largest park in the city center, Ibirapuera encompasses 13 playing courts, jogging and cycle paths, a lake, several modernist buildings, and two of Sao Paulo’s most significant art galleries.

Situated grandly atop downtown São Paulo’s Vale do Anhangabaú like a concrete wedding cake, the century-old Theatro Municipal still shines as an example of the city’s place at the vanguard of art in Latin America. Opened in 1911, the ornate showplace—styled in the tradition of the great European opera houses—has welcomed Maria Callas, Isadora Duncan, Duke Ellington, and Mikhail Baryshnikov to its stage.

As one of the most expensive strips of real estate in Latin America, Avenida Paulista is Sao Paulo’s most famous thoroughfare. What started out as a residential street lined with neoclassical mansions is today a modern hub of business, culture, and entertainment.

Home to the world’s largest Japanese population outside of Japan, the district of Liberdade was settled in the early to mid-twentieth century by Japanese immigrants brought to Brazil to work in the coffee plantations around Sao Paulo. Today, it attracts foodies and Paulistano manga and anime enthusiasts, who can be seen dressed up in cosplay.

As the birthplace of Sao Paulo, Pateo do Collegio Church is a sacred site that holds profound significance, dating back to 1554. With its modest facade, the Jesuit church invites visitors to explore its extraordinary interior, which presents centuries-old iconography, indigenous artwork, and information on the city’s history.

One of São Paulo’s most important religious buildings, the Monastery of São Bento (Mosteiro de São Bento) was established in 1598. Currently housed in a dramatic Gothic-style building that was consecrated in 1922, the working monastery has nearly 50 resident monks, and hosts regular masses and other public events—and even a popular bakery.

Hailed as one of the most important collections of European art in the Southern Hemisphere, the privately-owned Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP boasts more than 11,000 works that encompass paintings, photographs, objects, and sculptures. Stars of the collection include paintings by Picasso, Van Gogh, and Gaugin, and sculptures by Degas.

São Paulo's most exclusive destination, the Jardins District, is really a combination of the neighborhoods Jardim Paulista, Jardim América, Jardim Europa, Jardim Paulistano, as well as parts of Cerqueira César that extend southwest of Avenida Paulista — the city's main avenue of skyscraper offices. Aptly for a district where the name translates to “gardens,” Jardins is famous for its green space, with many of its huge stucco villas and modern glass mansions surrounded by lawns and pools. Jardins is home to hundreds of ritzy bars and restaurants, including D.O.M — named the world’s 7th best restaurant by Michelin. Rua Augusta, in particular, is lined with luxury hotels and restaurants, and where Augusta meets Rua Oscar Freire you'll find the flagship stores of designers including Dior, Cavalli, and Marc Jacobs. In Jardins, you’ll also find a number of important São Paulo's museums including the São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound, the Ema Gordon Klabin Cultural Foundation, the Museum of the Brazilian House, and the Brazilian Museum of Sculpture.

São Paulo’s first skyscraper—and the first building of its stature in South America—the Martinelli Building (Edifício Martinelli) stands 345 feet (105 meters) tall. While the building was originally designed to have 12 floors, the construction process, which stretched from 1924 to 1928, saw more than a dozen more floors added, plus a mansion on top.

A storied soccer stadium and performance venue in São Paulo, the Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho (Pacaembu Stadium) is celebrated for its art deco design and its role in the sport’s history. Having hosted landmark games, including the 1950 World Cup, the stadium today hosts a soccer museum and fitness club.

Founded in 1905, the Art Gallery of the State of Sao Paulo (Pinacoteca do Estado) is one of Brazil’s most important art museums. Dedicated to 19th and 20th century Brazilian art, the Pinacoteca collection features more than 8,000 pieces, including works by Almeida Júnior, Pedro Alexandrino, and Oscar Pereira da Silva.

A symbol of São Paulo’s race to modernity, this skyscraper, formerly known as Edifício Altino Arantes (as well as the Banespa Tower or Banespão), remains one of the most notable landmarks on the city’s evolving skyline, and recently underwent a renovation and rebranding—now known as the Farol Santander. It was originally built as the headquarters of the State Bank of São Paulo and named for one of the bank’s first presidents.

One of São Paulo’s most storied hotels, the Hotel Unique certainly lives up to its name. Designed by architect Ruy Ohtake as a ship-like building (though some compare it to a watermelon), the hotel’s striking appearance continues indoors. Its rooftop pool and restaurant, Skye, are popular among both guests and visitors.

The second-tallest building in São Paulo—and one of the city’s most celebrated architectural landmarks—the Italian Building (Edifício Itália) soars 541 feet (165 meters) above street level. Striking when viewed from the outside, the 1965 skyscraper also hosts a rooftop observation deck as well as the sky-high Terraço Itália restaurant and bar.