Our Top 10 Sights in São Paulo

São Paulo is the largest city in South America and, as one of the largest metropolises on our planet, it is also a frequent part of a Brazil trip.
Although for some it is the perfect place to live and for others, it is exclusively for work, both are equally true.
São Paulo certainly attracts countless people, not only because of the jobs available. A large number of tourists also come to the megacity. Because it has much more to offer than an endless sea of tall buildings and wide streets. From culture to modernity, São Paulo has attractions of all kinds and is probably one of the most multifaceted cities on the continent, not least because of this.

For this reason, we decided to take a closer look at places that are worth your visit. Here are our top 10 places to visit in São Paulo.

This district, centrally located in São Paulo, is home to many Japanese immigrants, or rather their descendants. Thus, they form the world's largest Japanese community outside their home country. The Japanese population of São Paulo is estimated at up to 400,000 people, many of whom live in the Liberdade district. This gives it a very special and unique cultural character. In addition to the many typical restaurants and Japanese stores, Japanese architecture is particularly eye-catching. Numerous signs with Japanese characters and traditional Japanese lanterns decorate the roadsides. The entrance to the district is formed by a "Torii", the Japanese symbol for a temple entrance. Furthermore, those interested have the opportunity to visit the "Museu Histórico da Imigração Japonesa no Brasil", which shows the history of Japanese immigration. The "Templo Busshinji" or the Sunday market on Praça da Liberdade are other highlights for visitors.

Avenida Paulista is one of the most important and largest streets in South America. It stretches for about three kilometers southwest of the city center. The avenue, which is mostly bordered by tall buildings on both sides, is home to numerous hotspots of culture and entertainment. For example, in addition to banks, consulates, and company headquarters, there are also a large number of hotels, museums, restaurants, and shopping opportunities.
For those interested in culture, two museums are particularly noteworthy. One is the ornate villa "Casa das Rosas", which houses a literature and poetry museum, and the other is the "Museu de Arte de São Paulo", which is the most important art museum in South America. The latter includes an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures from the 14th century to the present.

For those who long for a little peace and nature and would like to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a moment, the "Parque Estadual da Cantareira" offers the opportunity. This biosphere reserve is located on the northern outskirts of São Paulo and is part of the so-called "Green Belt" that surrounds the city. The park protects part of the Mata Atlântica, the Atlantic Rainforest, which stretches thousands of kilometers along the east coast and into inland Brazil. In Cantareira Park you will discover lush flora and fauna, small waterfalls, and great views of the city.

The "Estádio do Pacaembu" is one of the many soccer stadiums in São Paulo. The metropolis is home to three of the most important soccer clubs in the country, FC São Paulo, Corinthians, and FC Palmeiras. The stadium served as the home ground of the latter two clubs until 2014. Anyone with an enthusiasm for soccer will be thrilled by a trip to the stadium. Inside the "Estádio do Pacaembu", an interesting and modernly designed soccer museum awaits you.
The "Arena Corinthians" is one of the most modern stadiums in Brazil and was the venue for the opening match of the 2014 World Cup.

Located near Avenida Paulista, Rua Augusta is also a well-known street in São Paulo. It hosts a great cultural offer and can be called a trendy neighborhood. Rua Augusta is home to many bars, some clubs, as well as theaters, and cabarets. The street is very popular, especially among young people, and is particularly inviting to visit after sunset.

If you are looking for an experience of the more extravagant kind, as well as great views and panoramas, this excursion could become a very special highlight of your visit to São Paulo. The metropolis not only has the most skyscrapers beyond the hundred-meter mark on the South American continent but very often it also has significant traffic congestion. These circumstances have led to the city now having the highest density of helicopters, next to New York. Thus, many business people use helicopters as cabs to get from the airport to a meeting and back again. Interested private individuals also have the opportunity to take a sightseeing flight over São Paulo.

For those who are looking for another option to have a look at São Paulo from a height, the "Edifício do Banespa" is recommended. The building is a skyscraper of the state bank, more than 160 meters high, which extends over 35 floors and is based on the shape of the famous Empire State Building in New York. In addition to the great construction in Art Deco style, the building has a museum and an observation deck open to the public. From this platform, you can see many interesting places and buildings in the city. In good conditions, you can see up to 40 kilometers away. The skyscraper is located on Rua João Brícola, not far from the stock exchange, right in the center and financial district of São Paulo. Other buildings worth seeing with a view in relative proximity are the "Edifício Martinelli" and the "Edifício Itália".

The "Theatro Municipal de São Paulo" is a very famous opera and theater house in baroque style, also located in the center of the city on Praça Ramos de Azevedo. It was designed by two Italian architects and found inspiration from the famous Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The opera house was completed in 1911 and reopened in time for its 100th anniversary in 2011 after a three-year renovation. Some of the most famous artists in world history performed there in the 20th century. The theater has its orchestra as well as ballet house and is one of São Paulo's most famous landmarks due to its grandiose architecture and historical significance.

What Central Park is for New Yorkers, the "Parque do Ibirapuera" is for Paulistas.
The second-largest park in São Paulo, with 14 million visitors in 2017, was the most visited in Latin America. Another fact that illustrates the importance of the park: it is one of the most photographed places in the world.
Ibirapuera Park has an area of almost two square kilometers and counts about 300,000 visitors per week, most of them on weekends. Not only those looking for a place to relax in the metropolis will find what they are looking for in the park. Open-air concerts and events are also held there regularly. It is not only because of its beautiful and varied vegetation that it enjoys great popularity. Besides, there is an artificial lake and numerous opportunities for sports, a planetarium, a Japanese pavilion, and a huge waterspout fountain. Ibirapuera Park is a real tourist attraction!

Over 100 meters long, the cathedral is located on Praça da Sé in downtown São Paulo. The cathedral was built in neo-Gothic style and is one of the largest cathedrals of its kind in the world. The special feature here is that despite the neo-Gothic architectural style, the dome was built in the Renaissance style, which in turn is reminiscent of the dome of the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. The structure also has two 92-meter-high towers and boasts a proud capacity of 8,000 people. The organ, built by Italian organ builders, is one of the largest in Latin America.

In conclusion, there are other places worth seeing in São Paulo that could have been mentioned here. The ones mentioned should serve as a small selection and make clear that the metropolis is very versatile and worth seeing. Maybe São Paulo will become a travel component of your next Brazil vacation ...

Sources: www.tripadvisor.com.br, www.wikipedia.org