# Things to do in São Paulo: tours, museums and must-see neighbourhoods

> Things to do in São Paulo: 7-hour city tour for €67 (4.9/5, 725 reviews), walking tours from €22, football matches and Santos day trips. Real prices.

Updated: 2026-11-09 · https://toursbrasil.com/things-to-do-in-sao-paulo/ · Tours Brasil

Looking for the best **things to do in São Paulo**? The most booked is the [7-hour shared city highlights tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=7%20horas#todas) (€67, 4.9/5 from 725 reviews), followed by [downtown walking tours](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=a%20pie#todas) (from €22), a [historic bike tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=bici#todas) (€76, 4.9/5) and a [football match with a local guide](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=partido#todas) (from €90). The catalogue lists 65 activities in São Paulo, with a median price of about €94 per person.

São Paulo has no beach and no single postcard view. Its appeal lies in neighbourhoods, museums, food and nightlife, and Brazil's biggest city rewards a plan. Here are the top-rated experiences, what they cost and how to fit them in. All figures come from the Tours Brasil catalogue of [things to do in São Paulo](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/).

Prices, ratings and review counts updated on November 9, 2026 from the GetYourGuide catalogue. Tours Brasil is a GetYourGuide affiliate: booking through our links costs you the same and we earn a small commission.

## The 10 best things to do in São Paulo

- **7-hour shared highlights tour** — €67, 4.9/5 from 725 reviews, the most reviewed activity in the city. Historic centre, Avenida Paulista and key neighbourhoods in one day.
- **São Paulo walking tour** — €62, 4.8/5 from 386 reviews. Downtown explained building by building.
- **Guided city highlights tour** — €62, 4.6/5 from 383 reviews, a good choice if you prefer a vehicle.
- **Historic downtown bike tour** — €76, 4.9/5 from 232 reviews. Cover far more ground than on foot.
- **Private downtown walking tour with food stops** — €36, 5.0/5 from 165 reviews. A perfect score at a small price.
- **2-hour downtown walking tour** — €22, 4.9/5 from 110 reviews. The cheapest way to get your bearings.
- **Private city tour** — €255 per group, 4 hours, 4.8/5 from 300 reviews. Great value for families or friends.
- **Santos, São Vicente and Guarujá day trip** — €101, 12 hours, 4.6/5 from 223 reviews. The most popular escape to the coast.
- **Football with a local guide** — Corinthians with pre-match warm-up from €90, Palmeiras from €99, or a match with a local fan for €120. All rated 4.9/5 or higher.
- **Bar crawl with open bar and club entry** — €32, 4.7/5 from 133 reviews.

Also worth a look: the [rainforest walk to Jaraguá Peak](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=jaragua#todas) (€62, 5.0/5), the [Ayrton Senna tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=senna#todas) (€197, 5.0/5), a [food tour with 12+ tastings](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=gastronomico#todas) (€83, 5.0/5) and a [helicopter tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=helicoptero#todas) (€229, 4.8/5).

## Quick comparison: price, rating and reviews

| Activity | From | Rating | Reviews | Duration | Spanish guide | Pickup | 
| 7-hour city tour | €67 | 4.9/5 | 725 | — | No | No | 
| São Paulo walking tour | €62 | 4.8/5 | 386 | — | No | No | 
| Historic bike tour | €76 | 4.9/5 | 232 | — | No | No | 
| Private walk with food stops | €36 | 5/5 | 165 | — | No | No | 
| Downtown walk (2 h) | €22 | 4.9/5 | 110 | 2 h | No | No | 
| Santos, São Vicente and Guarujá | €101 | 4.6/5 | 223 | 12 h | Yes | No | 
| Corinthians with warm-up | €90 | 4.9/5 | 51 | 6 h | Yes | No | 
| Bar crawl with open bar | €32 | 4.7/5 | 133 | 4 h | Yes | No | Catalogue data as of November 9, 2026

## How to plan your days

### One day

Book the [7-hour tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=7%20horas#todas) for a complete overview. If you would rather walk, take a [downtown walking tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=a%20pie#todas) in the morning (Sé Cathedral, Municipal Theatre, Mercado Municipal) and head to Avenida Paulista and the MASP museum in the afternoon.

### Three or four days

Add a day of neighbourhoods on your own (Liberdade, Vila Madalena and Batman Alley, Ibirapuera Park), a [football match](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=partido#todas) and a day trip: [Santos and Guarujá](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=santos#todas), the mountain town of [Campos do Jordão](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=campos%20do%20jordao#todas) (from €101) or the [Aparecida basilica](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=aparecida#todas) (€94, 4.9/5).

### On a layover at Guarulhos

A [private layover tour from GRU airport](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=escala#todas) (€401 per group, 4.9/5) picks you up and returns you in time. A simple [private airport transfer](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=traslado#todas) starts at €15.

### For food and nightlife

São Paulo is Brazil's food capital. Try a [cooking class with 9 recipes](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=cocina#todas) (€72, 4.7/5), a [8-bar food crawl](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=ruta%20gastronomica#todas) (€64) or the [Afro nightlife tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=afrotour#todas) (€54, 5.0/5).

## 3-day São Paulo itinerary

**Day 1:** a [2-hour downtown walking tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=a%20pie#todas) (€22), then Avenida Paulista and the MASP on your own, and a [bar crawl with open bar](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=bares#todas) at night (€32). Activities: €54.

**Day 2:** the [historic bike tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=bici#todas) (€76), a free afternoon in Ibirapuera Park or Vila Madalena and, if there is a game on, [Palmeiras with a local guide](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=palmeiras#todas) (€99). Activities: €175.

**Day 3:** the [Santos, São Vicente and Guarujá day trip](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=santos#todas) (€101, 12 hours). Activities: €101.

That is about €330 per person in activities over three days, or about €191 if you skip football and swap the bike tour for the [private walk with food stops](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=paradas#todas) (€36).

## How much do activities in São Paulo cost?

- **Downtown walking tours**: from a tip-based free tour up to €62; most cost €22–36.
- **Group city tours** (vehicle or bike): €62–76.
- **Football with guide and ticket**: €90–120.
- **Nightlife and food**: €32–83.
- **Day trips** (Santos, Campos do Jordão, Aparecida): €94–101 in a group; €225–313 private or with pickup.
- **Private and premium**: 4-hour private tour from €124, helicopter €229.

The median price is around €94, higher than elsewhere in Brazil because private tours are common here. On a budget, walking tours and football experiences offer the best value.

## Plan your trip

**Getting there:** most international flights land at Guarulhos (GRU), about 25 km from downtown; Congonhas, inside the city, handles domestic flights. Commuter trains, taxis and [private transfers](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=traslado#todas) from €15 link GRU with the city. **Getting around:** the metro is the fastest way across town by day; traffic is heavy at rush hour, so use taxis or apps at night.

**When to go:** December to March is hot with afternoon storms; June to August is drier, with mild days and cool nights. **Where to stay:** Avenida Paulista and Jardins for a central, metro-connected base; Vila Madalena and Pinheiros for bars and street art.

## Practical tips

- On Sundays Avenida Paulista closes to traffic and fills with street music and stalls.
- Use the metro by day and taxis or ride-hailing apps at night.
- Carry little in the historic centre and keep your phone out of sight on the street.
- Book football tickets early when the big clubs are playing.
- Heading on? See our guides to [the best tours in Rio de Janeiro](https://toursbrasil.com/best-tours-in-rio-de-janeiro/) and [things to do in Foz do Iguaçu](https://toursbrasil.com/things-to-do-in-foz-do-iguacu/).

## FAQ

### How many days do you need in São Paulo?

Two days cover downtown, Paulista and a couple of neighbourhoods. Three or four let you add football, museums and a day trip.

### What is the most popular tour?

The 7-hour shared highlights tour, with 725 reviews and a 4.9/5 rating.

### Are there free tours in São Paulo?

Yes, there is a [tip-based free walking tour of the historic centre](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=gratuito#todas) rated 5.0/5. The cheapest paid tour is the 2-hour walk at €22.

### Is a football match worth it?

Yes. The most booked football experiences (Corinthians, Palmeiras and the match with a local fan) are rated 4.9/5 or higher and include a local guide to and from the stadium.

### Which neighbourhoods should I see?

Start with downtown (Sé and the Municipal Theatre), then Avenida Paulista, Liberdade for Japanese-Brazilian food, Vila Madalena for street art and bars, and Ibirapuera Park for a green break. Most group tours cover the first two; the rest are easy by metro.

### Is São Paulo safe for tourists?

Like any huge city, it needs common sense. Stay alert downtown, especially after dark, and use taxis or apps at night. Joining a guided walking tour on your first day is the easiest way to learn the layout.

### Do I need a visa for Brazil?

Since 10 April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa to visit Brazil. UK and EU passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Always check the official Brazilian consulate website before travelling.

## Related searches

- [things to do in São Paulo](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/)
- [São Paulo city tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=7%20horas#todas)
- [free walking tour São Paulo](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=gratuito#todas)
- [São Paulo bike tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=bici#todas)
- [Corinthians match](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=corinthians#todas)
- [Palmeiras match](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=palmeiras#todas)
- [Santos and Guarujá](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=santos#todas)
- [Campos do Jordão day trip](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=campos%20do%20jordao#todas)
- [Ayrton Senna tour](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/sao-paulo/?q=senna#todas)
- [things to do in Brazil](https://toursbrasil.com/en/activities/)

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