Free sightseeing in São Paulo? Yes, the capital is full of life, with leisure and cultural options scattered everywhere. There are certainly many more than 60 places to visit without spending (almost) anything here.
Our list includes some of the coolest places in the city that you can’t miss.
Serra do Mar State Park
Did you know that you can see the sea for free in São Paulo and without leaving the capital? The Serra do Mar State Park is the largest in the state of São Paulo and covers more than 332,000 hectares, 25 municipalities and is divided into ten nuclei. In the capital of São Paulo, at the end of the Curucutu Viewpoint trail, inside the park, you can see the sea and the city of Mongaguá.
📍 Rua da Bela Vista, 7090 – Embura do Alto
Ibirapuera Park
Another excellent free option in São Paulo is the famous “beach” of São Paulo residents. Ibirapuera is the city’s most important urban park. Its three artificial lakes are interconnected and cover 1.6 million square meters. It also has a number of leisure and sports options for the whole family.
📍 Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/n (gates 2, 3 and 10);
📍 Avenida IV Centenário – gates 6 and 7A;
📍 Avenida República do Líbano – gate 7
São Paulo Cultural Center
It is considered one of the city’s main cultural venues, located close to Vergueiro station. There, you can enjoy a space with a garden, library and other activities.
🎟 Tickets available here
📍 Rua Vergueiro, 1000 – Paraíso
Avanhandava Street
A little piece of Italy in the middle of the capital, this street became one of the city’s most charming after businessman Walter Mancini started the Famiglia Mancini complex. If you’re wandering around the center, it’s worth making sure you catch the lights in the little alleyway.
📍 Rua Avanhandava – Bela Vista
Arts Square
A music and dance space for the requalification of downtown São Paulo. Close to several of the capital’s tourist attractions, it hosts exhibitions, as well as offering an area for leisure activities in the region.
🎟 Tickets available here
📍 Avenida São João, 281 – Historic Center of São Paulo
Youth Park
For those looking for a free walk in São Paulo, “PJ” might be perfect! Those who visit Parque da Juventude, in the north of São Paulo, may even forget that it was once home to one of the largest prison complexes in the country, Carandiru. Built on the site of the former São Paulo House of Detention, popularly known as Carandiru, the park was inaugurated in 2003.
📍 Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul, 2630 – Carandiru
The city’s oldest cemeteries
The Consolação and Araçá cemeteries hold the tombs of great names in Brazilian history and exuberant sculptures. Anyone who thinks that cemeteries are just a resting place for the departed is mistaken. São Paulo’s oldest necropolises preserve an important part of our history.
📍 Rua da Consolação, 1660 – Consolação
📍 Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 666 – Cerqueira César
Villa Lobos Park
Parque Estadual Villa-Lobos is a public park located in Alto de Pinheiros, on the banks of the Pinheiros River. It covers an area of 732,000 m² and has a bike path, courts, soccer fields, a playground and a forest with Atlantic Forest species.
📍 Avenida Prof. Fonseca Rodrigues, 2001 – Alto de Pinheiros
Caixa Cultural
On the list of free things to do in São Paulo is Caixa Cultural. The building is an important example of art deco architecture in the city and is listed as a municipal heritage site. It also houses various exhibition spaces, a reading room, a workshop room and an auditorium, as well as maintaining a permanent program of cultural events.
🎟F ree admission
📍 Praça da Sé, 111 – Historic Center of São Paulo
Sunset Square
One of São Paulo’s best-known places to watch the sunset, its incredible view of this moment in the day is why it has earned its affectionate nickname.
📍 Praça Coronel Custódio Fernandes Pinheiro, 334 – Alto de Pinheiros
Batman’s Alley
“Hidden” among the streets of Vila Madalena is Beco do Batman. The alley got its name from a graffiti of the DC superhero that used to be there. Since then, it has become a tourist attraction because of the graffiti on its walls.
📍 Rua Medeiros de Albuquerque – Vila Madalena
Cinemateca Brasileira
If you’re looking for free tours in São Paulo, you can’t miss a movie session at the Cinemateca. Located in Vila Clementino, in the South Zone of São Paulo, the history of the Cinemateca begins in 1946, in the old municipal slaughterhouse of São Paulo. Its mission has remained the same since the beginning: to preserve and disseminate Brazilian audiovisual production.
📍 Largo Senador Raul Cardoso, 207 – Vila Clementino
Tietê Ecological Park
Located on the east side of São Paulo, the Tietê Ecological Park was inaugurated on March 17, 1982. It occupies an area of 14 million m² on the banks of the Tietê River, between the districts of São Miguel Paulista and the municipality of Guarulhos.
📍 Rua Guirá Acangatara, 70 – Engenheiro Goulart
Consolação Literary Passage
Under Rua da Consolação is the underground connection between the sidewalks of the Belas Artes cinema and the Riviera Bar. It’s one of those places you pass several times and in the rush of everyday life, you might not realize what it’s all about.
📍 Rua da Consolação and Avenida Paulista – Consolação
Underground Aquarium in Parque da Luz
Another excellent free option in São Paulo is in Praça da Luz. Inaugurated over 100 years ago, the park’s Underground Aquarium is housed in a kind of cave under Diana’s Lake. Anyone passing through Parque da Luz hardly ever notices the secret hidden there.
📍 Praça da Luz, s/n – Bom Retiro
USP Zoology Museum
The Zoology Museum began in the 1890s when various collections formed the Paulista Museum. Today, it holds one of the largest zoological collections in Latin America.
🎟F ree admission , no tickets required
📍 Avenida Nazaré, 481 – Ipiranga
São Paulo’s monuments
Walking around and discovering these objects transforms the visitor into a part of history. But not everyone knows who the people and moments honored in the statues and monuments scattered around the capital are. We tell the stories of some of them here.
Liberty Fair
If you’re looking for a stroll through another country (and for free) in São Paulo, the Liberty Market could be perfect! And what you can’t miss when you visit the Liberdade neighborhood , of course, is the street fair that takes place in Praça da Liberdade on weekends. There you can find decorations, oriental objects and the best street food.
📍 Praça da Liberdade – Liberdade
Paulista open
Avenida Paulista is not only the financial center of São Paulo, but also one of its main tourist attractions. On Sundays and public holidays, it is closed to cars and becomes almost a park in the middle of the buildings, with the population occupying its space. We’ve already told you which places you can visit for free here.
📍 Paulista Avenue
Tomie Ohtake Institute
Architecturally and conceptually designed to hold national and international exhibitions of fine arts, architecture and design. Its name is a tribute to the artist after whom it is named.
🎟F ree admission , no tickets required
📍 Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 201 – Pinheiros
Altino Arantes Building – Santander Lighthouse
The Altino Arantes building, better known as Banespão (or since 2018, as Farol Santander), is one of São Paulo’s most famous symbols.
🎟 Tickets for Farol Santander at this link
📍 Rua João Brícola, 24 – Historic Center
Copan Terrace
📍 Avenida Ipiranga, 318 – República
Independence Park
The most important point for the history of the neighborhood is undoubtedly Independence Park. With an area of 161,300 square meters, it is home to the Ipiranga Museum, the Independence Monument and the Casa do Grito. After all, it was there that Pedro I proclaimed the country’s independence from Portugal. Find out about other places to visit in the Ipiranga neighborhood.
📍 Av. Nazaré, s/n – Ipiranga
Pinacoteca de São Paulo
Although the Independence Museum is São Paulo’s first public museum, inaugurated in 1895, it is considered a history museum. It is responsible for portraying Brazil’s journey from monarchy to democracy. The Pinacoteca, on the other hand , is the oldest art museum in the capital because its collection brings together Brazilian visual arts productions that are essential to Brazilian art.
🎟 Tickets at the Pinacoteca entrance or via this link
📍 Praça da Luz, 2 – Luz
Sesc’s many units
Entry to the Sesc buildings is free and visitors can enjoy exhibitions, shows, courses, a library and other activities. At the Avenida Paulista unit, you can also go to the top floor of the Sesc observation deck.
Botanical Garden
The São Paulo Botanical Garden, with 360,000 square meters for visitors, offers a spectacular tour for São Paulo residents. Various landscapes provide the opportunity to observe and contemplate nature in the middle of the city. There, visitors have the chance to enjoy the space and get to know plant species from São Paulo, the country and the world.
🎟 Tickets via this link
📍 Avenida Miguel Stéfano, 3687 – Água Funda
Roosevelt Square
Located between Consolação and Augusta streets, the square is a stronghold of São Paulo skateboarders. The smooth floor, handrails and benches are perfect for maneuvers.
📍 Roosevelt Square, s/n – República
Jaraguá Peak
Located between the west and north of the capital, Pico do Jaraguá is 1,135 meters high. The park that houses the mountain covers 491.98 hectares and has been an environmental preservation area for this biome since 1961. It’s worth a trip there not only for the view from the lookout, but also to get to know the local fauna and flora up close.
📍 Rua Antônio Cardoso Nogueira 539 – Vila Chica Luiza
Minhocão
The Elevado Presidente João Goulart, popularly known as Minhocão, is an elevated expressway in the city of São Paulo, Brazil , which connects the Praça Roosevelt area, in the city center, to Largo Padre Péricles, in Barra Funda. It is currently open to cars from Monday to Friday, from 7am to 8pm, and remains closed to vehicles on other days and at other times, including national holidays, when it is only open to pedestrians and cyclists.
📍 Elevado Presidente João Goulart
Municipal Market
At the Mercadão de SP, as it is affectionately known by its regulars, you can find everything from fresh vegetables and fruit to meat, poultry, fish and seafood, pasta, sweets, spices and top-quality imported products.
📍 Rua da Cantareira, 306 – Centro
One of the city’s many flea markets
Throughout the city, there are fairs selling antiques, handicrafts, flowers and cuisine from other countries. Discover some of the city’s most different fairs and markets here.
Pedra Grande
One of the most popular hiking trails in SP is Pedra Grande, which offers a panoramic view of the city. Access to the viewpoint is from the Pedra Grande Nucleus. The entrance to this section of the Cantareira park. The walk can be done on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 8am to 5pm, and the trail is only allowed until 3pm.
📍 Rua do Horto, 1799 – Horto Florestal
Immigration Museum
The Immigration Museum preserves the history of the people who arrived in Brazil through the Hospedaria de Imigrantes do Brás.
🎟 Tickets available via this link
📍 Rua Visconde de Parnaíba, 1316 – Brás
Vila Maria Zélia
The city’s most charming workers’ village, inaugurated in 1917, was built to house the employees of a large weaving company of the time.
📍 362 Rua dos Prazeres – Belenzinho
Catavento Cultural
The museum was created with the intention of being an interactive space that presents science in an exciting way for children, young people and adults.
🎟 Tickets available at this link
📍 Ulisses Guimarães Civic Square, s/n – Dom Pedro II Park
Butantan Institute Science Park
The park is in a green area of 725,000 square meters, in the West Zone of the capital. As part of the Butantan Institute, the cultural complex promotes the dissemination of scientific memory and the defense of public health.
🎟 Free tickets available at the box office or via this link
📍 Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500 – Butantã
Ceagesp
The Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo (Ceagesp) is the third largest wholesale center in the world. Whether it’s to buy fresh produce at a great price, or to visit the flower market, which takes place in the early hours of the morning, there are always reasons to visit. It also hosts the city’s best-known soup festival every year.
📍 Avenida Doutor Gastão Vidigal, 1946 – Vila Leopoldina
Soccer Museum
The museum is located at the back of the stands of the Paulo Machado de Carvalho Municipal Stadium – Pacaembu. As its name suggests, the space focuses on the practice, history and curiosities of Brazilian and world soccer.
📍 Charler Miller Square, s/n – Pacaembu
Please note: since June 2024, the Museum has been closed for renovations. Keep an eye on social media for more information about the reopening.
Pateo do Collegio
It was at the Pateo do Collegio, an emblematic site located in the center of São Paulo, that the city was officially founded. The Jesuits settled there to catechize the indigenous people of the region.
📍 Pateo do Collegio Square, 2 – Historic Center of São Paulo
São Bento Monastery
If you want to go back to 1598, visit the São Bento Monastery. It refers to the Benedictines who arrived in the city that year. In 1634, the Abbey was created and the chapel was dedicated to Saint Benedict. It was here that Pope Benedict XVI stayed during his visit to the country.
📍 Largo de São Bento, s/n – Historic Center of São Paulo
Solar da Marquesa de Santos
Anyone who visits the Solar da Marquesa, in the center of São Paulo, takes a trip back to 1834, when the Marquesa de Santos, mistress of Emperor Dom Pedro I, bought the mansion. The house can be visited free of charge.
📍 Rua Roberto Símonsen, 136 – Historic Center of São Paulo
Largo São Francisco Law School
The Faculty of Law, the oldest institution of its kind in Brazil, owes its origins to an imperial decree signed in 1827. Before that, anyone wishing to study law had to move to Coimbra in Portugal.
📍 Largo São Francisco, 95 – Center
Banco do Brasil Cultural Center
The building, built in 1901, was bought in 1923 by Banco do Brasil. Today, it houses one of the capital’s most important cultural centers.
🎟 Free tickets available at this link
📍 Rua Álvares Penteado, 112 – Historic Center of São Paulo
Theatro Municipal de São Paulo
Located in the city center, in Praça Ramos de Azevedo, it was inaugurated in 1911 to meet the wishes of the São Paulo elite of the time.
🎟 Tickets available at this link
📍 Ramos de Azevedo Square, s/n – República
Post Office Palace
The building is one of the city’s most important landmarks. Ramos de Azevedo’s project is located in the Anhangabaú Valley. For years, it was the headquarters of the post office and today it houses São Paulo’s largest branch.
📍 Avenida São João, s/n – Vale do Anhangabaú
Cathedral and Praça da Sé
When São Paulo celebrated its 4th centenary in 1954, it also celebrated the inauguration of the Cathedral and Praça da Sé. In front of the Cathedral is Marco Zero, a marble monument in the shape of a hexagon with a map of the roads from São Paulo to other states.
📍 Praça da Sé, s/n – Sé
House of Roses
The mansion is one of the few remaining on the avenue as a reminder of the coffee baron era. The official name Espaço Haroldo de Campos de Poesia e Literatura (Haroldo de Campos Poetry and Literature Space) was replaced by a tribute to its garden, which was once filled with roses. Known as the house of poetry, it has literary exhibitions, courses and workshops.
🎟 Free admission, no tickets required
📍 Avenida Paulista, 37
Itaú Cultural
The space promotes cultural events such as audiovisual exhibitions, dance and theater performances, concerts, seminars and courses, all free of charge. In addition, two floors of the building are occupied by the permanent exhibition of the Brasiliana and Numismatic collections. There are 1,364 works, including paintings, books, maps and other materials that tell the story of more than 500 years of Brazil.
🎟 Free tickets available at this link
📍 Avenida Paulista, 149
Japan House
Japan House was designed by architect Kengo Kuma and opened in 2017. The purpose of the space is to bring the culture of today’s Japan to São Paulo. There is art, technology and courses in the exhibition spaces on the building’s three floors. For those looking for a free cultural outing in São Paulo, Japan House could be perfect!
🎟 Book for free via this link
📍 Avenida Paulista, 452
Fiesp Cultural Center
The Fiesp Cultural Center is known for its triangular façade, where LED projections are displayed. A veritable open-air digital gallery. Inside, there are exhibitions – often immersive and technological – plays and concerts.
🎟 Tickets available at this link
📍 Avenida Paulista, 1313
Trianon Park
If someone asks for the location of Tenente Siqueira Campos Park, it’s likely that hardly anyone will know it. But just change the location to Trianon Park and everyone will point out the green area that contrasts with the gray of the buildings on Avenida Paulista. The space was created in 1892 and, as well as being one of the oldest parks in the city, has trees left over from the Atlantic Forest. Today, it is an excellent option for a free walk in São Paulo.
📍 Avenida Paulista, height 1500
Masp
Although it’s not free every day, the Assis Chateaubriand Art Museum of São Paulo couldn’t be left off the list. The place is a work of art in itself. The project by architect Lina Bo Bardi has become one of the city’s most important postcards, and its open space is a meeting point for fairs, events and even demonstrations. In addition, its art collection is considered one of the most important in the Southern Hemisphere.
🎟 Tickets available at this link. Note: free admission on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 8pm.
📍 Avenida Paulista, 1578
Moreira Salles Institute
Next to Sesc, this is the second most recent building on the avenue. The Moreira Salles Paulista Institute opened in 2017 and soon became one of the must-sees for anyone visiting the area. There are seven floors and 1,200 meters dedicated to culture, in a space with free exhibitions, a movie theater, a library, a collection that is a reference in photography, classrooms and more. It’s worth a visit and a stop at the open space on the first floor and the terrace. If you’re looking for free tours in São Paulo and want to see a beautiful viewpoint, be sure to visit the IMS.
📍 Avenida Paulista, 2424
Augusta Park
On the list of free things to do in São Paulo is Augusta Park. Fully accessible, the area has walking paths , an inclusive playground, a dog run, exercise equipment and a gym for senior citizens. Entrance is free at 200 Rua Augusta and the nearest subway station is Higienópolis-Mackenzie, on Line 4-Yellow.
📍 Rua Augusta, 200 – Consolação
Rock Gallery
Galeria do Rock is an icon of São Paulo and an important part of the lives of young people in São Paulo who live or have lived through a rock phase. The building, which opened on Rua Vinte e Quatro de Maio in 1963, was a shopping center like many others. Its intention at the beginning was not to become a space focused solely on music.
📍 Avenida São João, 439 – República
Carmo Park
With more than 1.5 million square meters, Parque do Carmo is a frequent destination for residents of the east zone. Located in the Itaquera neighborhood, it is the second largest urban park in São Paulo, second only to the Cantareira State Park. For those looking for a free walk in São Paulo, this park could be perfect!
📍 Avenida Afonso de Sampaio e Sousa, 951 – Itaquera
Horto Florestal
Founded in September 1896, the Alberto Löfgren State Park is another place that every São Paulo resident should visit. Also known as Horto Florestal, the area is larger than Ibirapuera, with 1.8 million square meters. It also has unique biodiversity, a museum, trails and areas for leisure and sports. So, if you’re looking for free tours in São Paulo, visit the Horto.
📍 Rua do Horto, 931 – Horto Florestal
Vila Itororó
In the heart of the city, between the Liberdade and Bela Vista neighborhoods, Vila Itororó was built. The architectural complex was designed by Francisco de Castro in 1922, with more than ten buildings constructed throughout the 20th century for residential and leisure purposes. In 2022, the Vila Itororó Cultural Center reopened its doors to the public with a 100% free program.
📍 Rua Maestro Cardim, 60 – Bela Vista
