If you’re spending the holiday in the capital, you may be wondering: what’s open on Easter in São Paulo? This Friday, the 3rd, we commemorate the Passion of Christ, a date that marks the sacrifice and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
To help you plan your time off and avoid any surprises, we’ve put together this guide to services, leisure activities, and transportation to help you spend Good Friday and Easter Sunday in the capital.
What is open and closed on Good Friday in São Paulo?
Services
As is customary on national holidays, most non-essential government offices will be closed. Essential services , however, will remain available, providing assistance to the public as needed:
- Closed: banks; INSS offices; lottery outlets; Procon; post offices; health clinics (closed for appointments);
- Open: emergency and urgentcare services at hospitals, emergency rooms, and UPAs; Metropolitan Civil Guard; Military Police; Civil Defense.
It’s worth noting that, although bank branches will be closed, ATMs will continue to operate normally. Pix will also remain available during the Easter holiday, offering an option for those who need to make financial transactions during this period.
Public transportation
This Good Friday, the new Line 17-Ouro, which connects Morumbi Station to Congonhas Airport, will operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The São Paulo Metro has not yet released detailed operating schedules for the other lines, but they are expected to follow Sunday’s schedule, with longer intervals between trains.
As for buses in the state capital, operations will be similar to those on Saturdays, with a reduced fleet. There will be approximately 6,800 vehicles circulating in the city, instead of the 13,000 that usually run on weekdays. As a result, wait times at bus stops are expected to increase.
Malls and Retail
Since there is no single rule governing business operations on holidays, each establishment has the autonomy to decide whether to open. Therefore, it’s worth checking the social media or official websites of your preferred store before leaving home.
As for shopping malls in São Paulo, most will operate on special schedules: generally from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. for stores and from noon to 10 p.m. for food courts. However, some stores may close, and leisure areas may have reduced hours. Once again, it is recommended to check the official social media accounts of each location.
What is open on Easter Sunday in São Paulo?
It feels like a holiday, it looks like a holiday… but it isn’t! Contrary to what many people think, Easter Sunday, the day that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is not considered a national holiday in Brazil.
On April 5, non-essential businesses and services in São Paulo will operate as they do on a typical Sunday. In other words, most establishments will be closed or operating on reduced hours.
Certain parks and shopping malls in the capital offer special programming for families, with children’s activities, egg hunts, and more. You can check out the complete list in our guide on what to do during the Easter holiday.
In addition, several restaurants in the city are preparing special lunches in honor of the occasion. If you haven’t decided yet where to gather with your family on Easter Sunday, just check out our best tips here!
