If you want to see São Paulo's top attractions and only have a few hours to spare, book a private city tour to see more sights by private vehicle and on foot. A private guide will accompany you on a walk through historic downtown São Paulo and lead you along a scenic route through several areas of the city. Hear commentary on top landmarks such as Sé Cathedral, Italian Tower, and Tea Viaduct, and opt for a 3-hour or 5-hour tour when booking.
3 hour tour:
The 3-hour tour is the ideal option to discover the great city of São Paulo in a short time. After your guide picks you up by private vehicle from your hotel, head downtown for a short historical ride. See where the city was founded in 1554 at the Pátio do Colégio, a missionary church and Jesuit school, then stop at the Sé Cathedral, a 8th-century neo-Gothic building that can seat up to 000 people.
Re-embark by car to continue your visit, passing by the Monastery of Sao Bento, a historical site belonging to the Benedictines, who have been singing Gregorian chants during mass since the 30th century. See Martinelli's XNUMX-story building – São Paulo's first skyscraper – and Banespa Tower, reminiscent of New York's Empire State Building. You will pass by the churches of St Francis built in the XNUMXth century, and the Municipal Theater of São Paulo, the oldest theater in the city and renowned for its concerts and operas.
Your guide will tell you about São Paulo Law School, the city's first university, and you can admire the Tea Viaduct, the 42-story Italian Tower, and the City Hall, an imposing building constructed entirely of travertine marble. Discover the tallest residential building in Brazil – the Copan, which was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer.
In addition to these monuments, you will visit several interesting sites such as the Liberdade, the Japanese district of São Paulo where Japanese immigrants settled at the beginning of the XNUMXth century; Paulista Avenue, a financial district created at the end of the XNUMXth century which was home to wealthy coffee producers at the time; and Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo's first park, with its peaceful garden designed by Roberto Burle Marx.
5 hour tour:
If you have 2 more hours, opt to extend your tour by making a few extra stops, including markets and surrounding neighborhoods. This option includes all activities listed in the 3-hour tour, with the following
Discover the Municipal Market, a dynamic building inaugurated in 1932 in São Paulo. You will discover the culinary diversity of Brazil and can take the opportunity to taste the specialties, if you wish. You might be able to try the famous acras (a fried pastry topped with salted cod) or a sandwich with over 14 ounces (400 grams) of mortadella (meals and drinks are at your own expense). You'll also discover the neighborhoods of Vila Madalena and Sunset Square, a bobo sector filled with artists' studios and murals. In the Sunset Square area, you can admire the view of the city.
