55 things to do in São Paulo at least once in your life

A true connoisseur of São Paulo knows that there are programs – whether clichéd or not – that are almost obligatory. Thinking about the infinite number of things you can do in the city, we’ve put together a list of 50 things to do in São Paulo at least once in your life.

We’re betting that if there were a card for the root of São Paulo, it would only be given to those who had already checked off this list. So check out our selection and enjoy a marathon tour of the city!

1. Make an appointment at MASP
2. Sitting on the Gazeta steps
3. Cross Paulista Avenue from one end to the other, passing by all the cultural centers
4. Attend a Candlelight concert in one of the most beautiful places in the city
5. Chatting on the steps of Mirante 9 de Julho
6. Have a pingado with bread on the griddle at the bakery
7. Try the coxinha from Frangó and Veloso
8. Eating pastel from the street market
9. Eat a mortadella sandwich at the Municipal Market
10. Order a ham snack from Estadão
11. Watching the sunset at Praça do Pôr do Sol
12. Going to the city’s ground zero at Praça da Sé
13. Taking the crowded subway at Brás station
14. Spend an afternoon at Ibira
15. Going to the terrace of Edifício Itália just to see São Paulo from above
16. Climb to the 26th floor of the Santander Lighthouse, the eternal Banespão
17. Visit the Copan terrace
18. See the city from Pico do Jaraguá
19. Contemplate the stone jungle from the top of Pedra Grande
20. Follow the Carnival parades
21. Take part in São Paulo’s Gay Parade
22. Spending the night during Virada Cultural trying to keep up with everything
23. Spend the weekend touring the museums and cultural centers of downtown São Paulo
24. Watching a soccer match between Corinthians and Palmeiras
25. Shopping in Rua 25 de Março
26. Tour the most famous graffiti in the city
27. Visit the ruins of the old Carandiru complex, now known as Parque da Juventude (Youth Park)
28. Have a real photo session at Beco do Batman
29. Eat the best guioza in town at the Sunday market in Liberdade
30. Cross Ipiranga with São João
31. Buy a band T-shirt at Galeria do Rock
32. See a Broadway musical at Teatro Renault
33. Eat the best pizza in the world, without leaving home
34. Visit at least one Sesc unit
35. Go to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Parque do Carmo
36. Spend a Sunday at the Minhocão
37. Wait in line for hours at an MIS exhibition
38. Going to the Ceagesp Soup Festival
39. Eat a lot at the Center of Northeastern Traditions
40. Visit the Football Museum
41. Eat brunch inside the Sé Cathedral and see all its spaces
42. Attend candlelit concerts in São Paulo’s most beautiful locations
43. Watch a classic movie at the Cinemateca Brasileira for free
44. Take the Curucutu Viewpoint trail in the Serra do Mar State Park and see the sea without leaving the capital
45. Pick up antique items at the Benedito Calixto Square Fair
46. Attend the Sunday concerts at Sala São Paulo without spending anything
47. Tasting boteco food in the city’s bars!
48. Watch the sky and explore our galaxy in one of São Paulo’s planetariums
49. Cross the Consolação Literary Walkway
50. Visit the city’s underground spaces (there are many!)
51. Eating a PF of virado à paulista on a Monday
52. Try the Bauru from Ponto Chic
53. Witness some bizarre or at least peculiar scenes on public transport (especially on the subway)
54. Getting to know the waterfalls we have in (or very close to) the city
55. Climbing the Serra do Mar to see the ocean on the horizon, without leaving the capital