Cars honking, indistinct chatter, loud music, clapping, dancing and singing. Located in the southeast region of Brazil, São Paulo is the biggest city in Latin America with about 11.5 million citizens. Paulistanos enjoy shopping in elegant malls, eating various cuisines, watching soccer matches, visiting museums and indulging in night-life. It is all business during the work day, but the moment the sun sets, São Paulo awakens.
All activities can be reached by its extensive underground metro system that covers roughly 65 miles and has 91 stations.
Exploring São Paulo in 4 days
Day 1- Liberdade “Japantown”
Take the blue line one station south to Japão-Liberdade and arrive at Liberdade, a Japanese neighborhood in São Paulo. Unbeknownst to many, São Paulo and Brazil have the largest population of Japanese descendants outside of Japan with 1.9 million Japanese-Brazilians.
While walking around Rua Galvão Bueno, the main street, you can find accessories and food vendors as well as Japanese shops and delicious sushi restaurants. Liberdade has close to 20,000 visitors daily, so remember to stick with your group and take plenty of photos.
Day 2- Aquarium and Bar
For those interested in a unique marine life adventure, take the blue and green lines from Sé to arrive at the “Aquário de São Paulo,” or the São Paulo Aquarium.
This is a great place for families and kids. The first part of the aquarium has marine animals from all over the world. Various sharks swim throughout their glass tank while tuxedo-like penguins waddle side-to-side. An Amazon River Manatee slowly swims amongst the dinosaur-looking fish. After exiting the aquarium area, one enters the zoo. Dozens of bats sleep upside down across from the bouncing kangaroos. Most importantly, there are two fluffy polar bears that hibernate throughout the day.
After some time at the aquarium, parents in need of a child-free evening are in luck. São Paulo boasts an incredible nightlife scene, offering everything from cozy corner bars to exclusive nightclubs. In most bars, there is live music and makeshift dance floors, adding to the electric ambiance of the city.
The Brazilian barbeque is the star of the show including the signature “picanha” sirloin cap or the tender and fatty “cupim” beef rump.
Day 3- Soccer Museum
Brazil is the only country in the world to participate in every World Cup, and they won five of them. As in many other regions, soccer is more than just a game in Brazil. It brings communities together and gives everybody something to be passionate about.
From Sé, one can take the blue and green lines to the Clínicas station, walk up a hill and then arrive at São Paulo’s most famous stadium, Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho, or Estádio do Pacaembu as it is commonly nicknamed due to its location in the Pacaembu district.
Located here is the renowned Museu do Futebol, or “Soccer Museum.” Brazilian soccer artifacts and vintage jerseys are on display alongside screens playing highlights of amazing goals.
Soccer is deep-rooted in São Paulo’s history. Individuals with low income used to play in dirt fields, or “várzeas,” where teams formed in each of the city’s 32 neighborhoods. People leisurely played amateur soccer to win the city championship.
The museum includes extensive information on famous male players, such as Pelé the three-time Brazilian World Cup winner and Golden Boot winner, and it provides an opportunity to learn more about women’s soccer and the different aspects of the game.
Day 4- Mall
Brightly lit stores and appetizing restaurants make São Paulo malls one of the city’s biggest attractions. With 193 malls to choose from, there are endless options. The malls have a variety of stores including everything from grocery stores to a LEGO Jurassic Park exhibit.
The malls in São Paulo are like the city itself, it’s never-ending, making one never want to leave.
With just four days in São Paulo, one can experience a unique world of culture, cuisine and history while enjoying the many different attractions the city has to offer. The vibrant atmosphere is rejuvenating making even a short visit to São Paulo an unforgettable trip.
Very nicely written article! Thanks for the itenary, this makes me want to visit Sao Paulo. What I liked about your article is the calm with which it describes a hectic city.