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Activities in Sao Paulo

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The city of Sao Paulo offers a host of activities for those visiting its quarters. Whether visitors want to check out some of the more historical sights, or just experience the culture itself, there is plenty to do. Below is a list of activities visitors can participate in when traveling to Sao Paulo.

• Ibirapuera Park: This enormous, urban park in Sao Paulo is the equivalent to what Central Park is to New York City. Those who draw near the park from the Northwest will observe the notable Bandeiras monument, a memorial to Brazil’s pioneers. The park is very scenic as it winds through ponds, lawns, and gardens. Onlookers can observe various plant species and colorful birds. This is a great place to go running in the city, and a wonderful option to spend a relaxing afternoon.
• Avenida Paulista and Bixiga: This region developed into the financial center as the coffee barons’ mansions that lined Avenida Paulista brought an influx of money. This is a great place to explore today, though the mansions are replaced with major banks. The area greatly supports the arts so that many exhibitions in the Paulista neighborhood are often free to the public.
• Aquatic and Natural History Museum: The Aquatic and Natural History Museum is found in the Bosque dos Jequitibas region. The museum boasts wonderful displays of flora and fauna, and covers everything from marine life to mammals.
• Pavilhao da Bienal: From October-November in every even-numbered year, the Pavilhao da Bienal hosts the Biennial art exposition. The pavilion is an Oscar Niemeyer-designed building, boasting wide-open spaces and floors joined together by circular slopes. The first event occurred in 1951 and attracted artists from 21 countries. Today the Pavilhao da Bienal brings in over 250 artists from more than 60 different countries. The pavilion is also home to a division of the Museu de Arte Contemporanea.
• Bovespa: Here in the financial institution of Sao Paulo, visitors can ascend up into the mezzanine to observe the hectic busyness of the eventful Sao Paulo Stock Exchange. Computer terminals in the observation gallery show the most up-to-date stock quotes.
• Casa das Rosas: This French-style mansion, known as the House of the Roses, appears out of place in this bustling city of skyscrapers. The renowned paulistano architect, Ramos de Azevedo, constructed Casa das Rosas in 1935. He built it in honor of one of his daughters. In 1986, the mansion was made an official municipal landmark. The building was later opened as a cultural center, and remains one of Paulista’s few enduring early-20th-century buildings.
• Jardim Botanico: The Botanical Gardens feature nearly 3,000 plants belonging to over 340 native species. The greenhouse on location contains an orchid house, an assortment of aquatic plants, and Atlantic rain-forest species.
• Praca Liberdade: This is a great place to go to experience the culture of Sao Paulo. On Sunday mornings and afternoons, Liberdade hosts an extensive Asian food and crafts fair where the Brazilian ethnic mix is visible to all. Common sights include Afro-Brazilians dressed in colorful kimonos eating grilled shrimp on a stick. There are also Japanese restaurants and shops in the vicinity that visitors may enjoy exploring.

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