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São Paulo itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · BrazilOctober–May

Days
7
Stops
34
Per day
≈ 436 BRL
First stop
08:30

By TripWalkers · Updated:

Short answer

The TripWalkers São Paulo itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 34 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:

  1. Day 1 Paulista and MASP
  2. Day 2 Centre and Mercado Municipal
  3. Day 3 Ibirapuera and Jardins

Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Day 6 is a day trip out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 436 BRL a day (excluding accommodation and flights).

Day 1 · 10:00–17:00

Paulista and MASP

  1. Culture

    MASP

    Lina Bo Bardi's museum suspended in mid-air, with Van Gogh and Portinari on glass easels. Free on Tuesdays, and Paulista is car-free on Sundays.

    ≈ 75 BRL per person

  2. Landmark

    Avenida Paulista

    The city's financial boulevard. On Sundays it is pedestrianised, with street musicians and Japan House.

    Free
  3. 45 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Food

    Bráz Pizzaria Paulista

    São Paulo pizza (the world's second pizza city): thin crust, muçarela de búfala.

    ≈ 80 BRL per person

  5. Nature

    Parque Trianon

    A remnant of Atlantic forest on Paulista, with plenty of shade.

    Free

  6. Landmark

    Sesc Avenida Paulista Terrace

    A free rooftop terrace with a city panorama, inside a cultural centre.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Mocotó Vila MedeirosA legend of northeastern Brazilian cooking. It's far out but worth it (Uber).
  • Instituto Moreira SallesA photography museum with a terrace on Paulista. Free entry.

Day 2 · 09:00–15:30

Centre and Mercado Municipal

  1. Food

    Mercado Municipal de São Paulo

    A 1933 market with stained-glass windows. Try the mortadella sandwich (Hocca Bar, 300 g) and pastel de bacalhau (salt cod pastry), and sample exotic fruit (vendors are insistent).

    ≈ 40 BRL per person
  2. 1 h · travel, break, free time

  3. Landmark

    Catedral da Sé & Marco Zero

    A neo-Gothic cathedral and the city's point zero. Nearby is Pátio do Colégio (founded 1554).

    Free

  4. Landmark

    Edifício Martinelli / Farol Santander

    A 1929 skyscraper. Farol Santander has a viewing deck on the 26th floor and a skate ramp.

    ≈ 40 BRL per person

  5. Culture

    Theatro Municipal

    An imitation of the Paris Opera. Tours run Wednesday to Friday, on Ramos de Azevedo square.

    Free

  6. Landmark

    Edifício Copan

    Niemeyer's wavy building with 1,160 apartments. See it from outside (the terrace may be closed), and visit Bar da Dona Onça.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Bar da Dona OnçaBrazilian classics at the foot of Copan. Feijoada (black bean and pork stew) on Saturdays.
  • Pinacoteca do EstadoA brick museum by Ramos de Azevedo with Brazilian art. Free on Saturdays, next to Luz station.

Day 3 · 08:30–17:00

Ibirapuera and Jardins

  1. Nature

    Ibirapuera Park

    The city's Central Park, with Niemeyer pavilions. Cycle, visit the lake and the Oca.

    Free

  2. Culture

    Museu Afro Brasil

    Afro-Brazilian culture inside the park: slavery and art.

    ≈ 15 BRL per person
  3. 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Food

    Figueira Rubaiyat

    Steak under a giant fig tree, in the upmarket Jardins district.

    ≈ 150 BRL per person

  5. Shopping

    Rua Oscar Freire

    Brazil's most luxurious street, with the Havaianas flagship store and Melissa.

    Free

  6. Culture

    Museu da Imagem e do Som

    A sound and image museum with pop exhibitions.

    ≈ 20 BRL per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • A Casa do PorcoAmong the world's 50 best. A pork tasting menu in the centre; book months ahead.
  • Casa de VidroThe architect's glass house in Morumbi. Reservation required.

Day 4 · 10:00–21:30

Vila Madalena and Pinheiros

  1. Landmark

    Beco do Batman

    Batman Alley graffiti in Vila Madalena. It changes every week.

    Free
  2. 1 h · travel, break, free time

  3. Food

    Coffee Lab

    A Brazilian coffee laboratory run by Isabela Raposeiras.

    ≈ 25 BRL per person

  4. Food

    Mercado de Pinheiros

    A neighbourhood market. Try Comedoria Gonzales, Peruvian cuisine by Rodrigo Oliveira.

    ≈ 50 BRL per person

  5. Culture

    Instituto Tomie Ohtake

    Ruy Ohtake's purple and red building in Pinheiros, with free exhibitions.

    Free
  6. 3 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Food

    Bar São Cristóvão

    A football-obsessed bar on Aspicuelta street, with a street party on Fridays and Saturdays.

    ≈ 60 BRL per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Feira da Praça Benedito CalixtoA Saturday antiques and crafts market with chorinho music.
  • Bar VelosoThe city's best coxinha (chicken croquette) and caipirinha. Expect a queue.

Day 5 · 09:30–21:00

Liberdade and Bixiga

  1. Landmark

    Liberdade

    The largest Japanese community outside Japan, with red torii gates and lanterns. On Sundays there is a market at Praça da Liberdade.

    Free
  2. 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Food

    Aska Lamen

    A small Japanese ramen shop. Expect a queue, and bring cash.

    ≈ 45 BRL per person
  4. 45 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Culture

    Museu da Imigração

    A former immigrant hostel (like Ellis Island), covering Italian, Japanese and Turkish-Syrian migration.

    ≈ 20 BRL per person
  6. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Landmark

    Bixiga

    Cantinas on Rua 13 de Maio, the Vai-Vai samba school, and the Nossa Senhora Achiropita festival in August.

    Free
  8. 2 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  9. Food

    Cantina Famiglia Mancini

    A cantina on Rua Avanhandava since 1980. Giant portions of pasta and a queue.

    ≈ 90 BRL per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Templo BusshinjiA Zen temple, as an alternative to a museum.
  • SujinhoA late-night steakhouse serving churrasco, open 24 hours.

Day 6 · 10:00–18:00Day trip

Embu das Artes

  1. Shopping

    Embu das Artes

    A colonial artists' town 27 km away. The weekend crafts market is the draw (shops only on weekdays). It's 1 hour by bus.

    Free

  2. Culture

    Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosário

    A 1690 Jesuit church with a sacred art museum.

    ≈ 5 BRL per person

  3. Food

    Restaurante Os Girassóis

    A restaurant in a colonial house serving feijoada and Minas Gerais cooking.

    ≈ 70 BRL per person

  4. Shopping

    Embu Antique and Rustic Furniture Shops

    Wooden furniture and ceramics. Shipping is available.

    Free
  5. 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Nature

    Parque Villa-Lobos

    A park in western São Paulo on the way back, for sunset and cycling.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Parque Estadual da CantareiraAtlantic forest north of the city, with views from Pedra Grande. Nature instead of Embu.
  • Casa do SinoA cantina serving pizza and pasta.

Day 7 · 09:00–14:00

Higienópolis: a gentle farewell

  1. Nature

    Parque Buenos Aires

    A French-style garden for a neighbourhood morning.

    Free

  2. Food

    Padaria Santa Teresa

    A padaria (Brazilian bakery) breakfast: pão na chapa (grilled buttered bread) and pingado (milky coffee). A farewell treat.

    ≈ 35 BRL per person

  3. Culture

    Museu do Futebol

    A football museum inside Pacaembu stadium, with Pelé and Garrincha. Interactive.

    ≈ 20 BRL per person
  4. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Landmark

    Guarulhos International Airport

    Uber takes 45-90 minutes in traffic. Farewell.

    ≈ 90 BRL per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Rua AugustaConsolação's alternative street, for coffee.
  • Museu do IpirangaThe Independence Museum, restored in 2022. Gardens, as an alternative to football.

Good to know: 6 things that make a São Paulo trip easier

  1. The metro is safe and clean (Bilhete Único). Uber and 99 are cheap. Traffic is terrible between 17:00 and 20:00. Guarulhos is 45-90 minutes away; Congonhas is in the city.
  2. December to March is summer: 30°C with afternoon downpours (flooding). Carnival is at Anhembi in February. May to October is ideal.
  3. SAFETY: In the centre (Sé, Luz, 25 de Março), keep your wallet in front by day; it is empty at night. Don't take your phone out on the street. Paulista, Jardins and Vila Madalena are relaxed.
  4. Pizza 80-100 BRL, pay-by-weight restaurant 50, mortadella sandwich 40, padaria breakfast 30. A 10% tip is included. Pix and cards are accepted everywhere.
  5. MASP is free on Tuesdays and Pinacoteca on Saturdays. Paulista is pedestrianised on Sundays. Book A Casa do Porco months ahead. Visit Embu at the weekend.
  6. Coxinha, pão de queijo (cheese bread), pastel, mortadella, feijoada (Wednesday and Saturday), caipirinha. Japanese food in Liberdade.

Spending: ≈ 3,050 BRL per person for 7 days

  • Food1,700 BRL
  • Entry and tours450 BRL
  • Local transport600 BRL
  • Other300 BRL

Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.

On world lists: 1 place in this city

Cocktails · No. 24Tan Tan

We did the planning. You just pick the dates.

TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in São Paulo?

This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 6; skip it on a short stay.

How much does a day in São Paulo cost?

In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 436 BRL per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.

What time should you start the day in São Paulo?

The first stop is at 08:30. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.

Which season is this itinerary for?

This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.