Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Sao Paulo?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Sao Paulo?
Many travelers spend two to three days in Sao Paulo during their visit. After all, the vibrant city has plenty to explore such as the famous sights and museums, the big city activities, and the nightlife scene.
São Paulo is the largest city in South America. It's also the economic and financial capital of Brazil and a cultural and international megacity. There's a range of architecture styles around town and many unique neighborhoods. It's not the most popular destination in Brazil, but it does offer a unique experience with a glimpse at real life in a large and diverse setting.
Do you have one or two days to visit Sao Paulo? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Sao Paulo?
As a large city, Sao Paulo offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the vibrant city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to three days to fully enjoy the city. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo is known for it's world-class museums and famous landmarks, so make sure you spend at least a day exploring at one or more of the most appealing. While many visitors overlook Sao Paulo for other destinations in Brazil, those that do visit will be rewarded with a large number of museums and sights. It's the largest city in South America, and there's plenty to do. Highlights include Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte Contemporânea, and the cathedral
A few tour suggestions include:
- Skip-the-line Museum of Football São Paulo Tour with Tickets ($119)
- Private São Paulo Museum of Art Walking Tour ($143)
- 2 Hours Private São Paulo Museum of Modern Art Tour ($240)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. As the economic hub for Brazil, you'll find tons of bars, clubs, and venues throughout the city. The best neighborhood for a party is Vila Madalena, which is filled with restaurants and bars. For live music and food trucks, check out Rua Augusta. There are also many different neighborhoods in this megacity, and many have a lively energy and plenty to do at night. Every night you should be able to find something different to do.
A few tour suggestions include:
- São Paulo Bustling Nightlife & Hottest Touristic Points – 5-hour Private Tour ($168)
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena ($150)
- São Paulo Nightlife: Pub Crawl in the City that Never Sleeps! ($49)
Sao Paulo is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. It's a megacity that has a wide range of neighborhoods. The city center is generally very walkable, but because of its size, you'll want to have an itinerary planned out for each day.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Sao Paulo?
Since it's a large city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Sao Paulo. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great museums and landmarks and fun big city activities, visitors can enjoy the shopping, food, and local culture by staying for a weekend.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
How to spend 2 days in Sao Paulo
With a weekend (two to three days) in Sao Paulo, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Given that Sao Paulo is a large and popular city, give yourself a full day to uncover the diverse neighborhoods, captivating attractions, and engaging activities scattered throughout the area. Be sure to include visits to some of the city's premier landmarks and quintessential neighborhoods, too. It's more than twice as big as New York City and it has a diverse population and a very rich cultural scene. There are unique neighborhoods to explore as well as many fascinating activities.
A few tour suggestions include:
- 6 Hour Ayrton Senna Tour – The Greatest Formula 1 Drivers of all Time ($179)
- São Paulo 6-Hour Private City Tour ($150)
- São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group) ($79)
You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. The city offers a huge mix of fine dining restaurants, street food vendors, family-friendly restaurants, and large local markets. The cuisine has many influences such as the Portuguese, West Africa, and even the Middle East. Popular dishes include the street food coxinha, feijoada (black bean and beef stew), and cachooro-quente (local hot dogs).
A few tour suggestions include:
- Wine Tour in São Roque by car - tour with local guides ($149)
- São Paulo 5 Hour Private Tour With Fruit Tasting ($160)
Public transit in Sao Paulo is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. It's a huge city, so you'll likely make use of the metro during your trip. There are six lines to the metro system and they provide convenient access to many of the city's top attractions. The city also has many bus routes as well.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Sao Paulo, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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