São Paulo Things To Do

Things To Do

São Paulo may be Brazil’s business capital, but there is no lack of attractions for leisure visitors or briefcase warriors with extra time on their hands. A cultural census by city officials turned up 280 movie theaters, 120 theaters, 88 museums, and dozens of cultural centers.

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Butantã Institute
This pioneering research center boasts an extraordinary collection of venomous vipers, spiders, and scorpions from around the world. There’s also an open-air snake pit where you can watch the animals in action.
Ave. Vital Brasil, 1500; São Paulo; 011-55-11-3726-7222; www.butantan.gov.br
Tags: family | museum | wildlife
Afro Brasil Museum
Located in Ibirapuera Park, the Afro Brasil Museum is dedicated to a reappraisal of the history, memory, culture, and identity of black Brazilians.
Ave. Pedro Alvares Cabral; Manoel da Nóbrega Pavilion, Gate 10; São Paulo; 011-55-11-5579-6099; www.museuafrobrasil.com.br
Tags: family | culture | museum | history
Museum of Modern Art (MAM)
The MAM offers an excellent collection of paintings and sculpture by Brazilian artists dating to the early 20th century. The museum's restaurant overlooks a sculpture garden.
Ave. Pedro Alvares Cabral, Gate 3; São Paulo; 011-55-11- 5085-1300; www.mam.org.br
Tags: family | culture | art
Museum of Sacred Art
Built in 1774, this colonial building houses religious icons and relics dating from the 17th century.
Ave. Tiradentes, 676; São Paulo; 011-55-11-3326-1373; artesacra.sarasa.com.br
Tags: family | culture | history | religious
Zoological Museum
This museum presents examples of Brazil’s rich biodiversity. Attractions include old paintings of fauna, ants preserved in amber, and a whale cranium.
Ave. Nazaré, 481; São Paulo; 011-55-11-6165-8100; www.usp.br/mz
Tags: family | museum | nature
Downtown Walking Tour
The Centro, one of the few parts of town conducive to walking, offers the best concentration of older buildings and interesting architecture. Climb the Terraço Itália building for panoramic city views.
Ave. Ipiranga, 344; São Paulo; 011-55-11-2189-2929; www.terracoitalia.com.br
Tags: family | architecture | views | history
Cross-country Running
An association called Corpore, the Portuguese acronym for Paulista United Runners, organizes cross-country races about once a month.
Jardim Paulista; Rua Bento de Andrade, 436; São Paulo; 011-55-11-3884-4188; www.corpore.org.br
Tags: international travel | outdoors | sports
Urban Night Bicycle Rides
An association of cyclists, Sampa Bikers, runs weekly 15.5-mile night biking trips in the city as well as trips outside of town.
Vila Olimpia; Rua Baluarte, 672; São Paulo; 011-55-11-3045-2722; www.sampabikers.com.br
Tags: international travel | outdoors | sports
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