A visit to the dynamic city of Sao Paulo was a good way to kick off our South American tour. This is how we did it.
A Quick One-Day Tour.
We stayed by the airport at the Sao Paulo Marriott Hotel which was a comfortable oasis with a pool. I found that a good way to get to the city center is by express metro which runs once an hour. We found the fare to be quite reasonable and the journey to be very fast. Please visit Booking.com as I do to address your hotel and other travel needs. Save, save, and save.
We elected to take a personalized city tour through Viator. Gabriel was our tour guide and conveyed to us the best of the city. Sao Paulo is an overwhelming urban area with 22 million population in its metro area and is the economic heart of Brazil. We did not have much time and thought that this was the best way to spend it. Please click on the below banner for other tour options.
Paulista: a must see
We started in the center of the city at the Sao Paulo Cathedral (1954 ), (Se Cathedral). From there we went to Avenida Paulista where you will encounter many financial, retail, and cultural attractions. I made sure that I checked out the Sao Paulo Museum of Art (1968) which contains an internationally recognized collection of European art. The Museum Building is recognized as one of the landmarks of the city with its main structure supported by two beams over a plaza. The Collection is estimated to contain over 8,000 pieces of art covering many different genres. Please check out the website https://masp.org.br/en
Sao Paulo Museum of Art, Main Gallery
Liberdade: a must see
A short distance away is the colorful district of Liberdade which is a unique place that is the historic home to the large Japanese Brazilian community. I wanted to visit Liberdade with its many shops and wonderful restaurants. I made sure to visit during the weekend when it feels like a huge festival. You can see many parades and colorful markets with many vendors.
Batman Alley: a must see
Make sure that you visit Batman Alley which is a very creative place this is the home of graffiti and street art in Sao Paulo. As you might expect, it is home to many colorful shops and cafes with their youthful energy.
Batman Alley, Counter Cultural Art District in Sao Paulo
