São Paulo in 2 days

Trip at a glance

Your first day

Add your first day to see each day's date, weather, sunset and closing days.

Day 1: The old center, the Mercadão and Luz

The cathedral and the Farol Santander tower, lunch at the Mercadão, two museums at Luz, then dinner at a 1948 bar.

Check the weekday. Farol Santander is closed on Mondays. Pinacoteca de São Paulo is closed on Tuesdays. Museum of the Portuguese Language is closed on Mondays.

1
9:30 AMSão Paulo Cathedral (Catedral da Sé)Start at the marco zero on Praça da Sé; the cathedral runs guided visits on weekdays.About 30 min here
Guided visits on weekdays
Walk about 8 min
2
10:15 AMFarol SantanderClosed Mondays. Buy a ticket for the exhibitions in the Altino Arantes tower; entry ends at 7 PM.About 1 hour 15 min here
R$[fee]; closed Mondays
Walk about 12 min
3
11:45 AMMercado Municipal (Mercadão)Graze the market hall for lunch; it opens at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM, or 4 PM on Sundays.About 1 hour 30 min here
Pay as you go
Taxi to Luz, about 15 min
4
1:30 PMPinacoteca de São PauloClosed Tuesdays; last entry 5 PM. Allow about 90 min for the collection and the temporary shows.About 1 hour 45 min here
R$[fee]; closed Tuesdays
Walk about 5 min
5
3:15 PMMuseum of the Portuguese LanguageClosed Mondays. The last entry is at 4:30 PM, and you can stay inside until 6 PM.About 1 hour 45 min here
R$[fee]; closed Mondays
Taxi to Anhangabaú, about 15 min
6
5:15 PMOptionalVale do AnhangabaúWalk the redesigned park between Praça da Bandeira and Avenida São João as the offices empty.About 1 hour here
Free to visit
Walk about 8 min
7
6:30 PMBar BrahmaDinner and live music on the corner of Ipiranga and São João, where the bar has stood since 1948.
Pay as you go

Before you go

Book these aheadMASP (São Paulo Museum of Art) (day 2): timed tickets, or tickets that often sell out.
Plan around closing daysMASP, the Afro Brasil Museum, Farol Santander and the language museum close on Mondays, and the Pinacoteca on Tuesdays.
Book MASP onlineMASP requires an online time slot for every visit, including the free Tuesdays, so book a day or two ahead.
Use the metroThe metro links Avenida Paulista, Liberdade and the old center, so you can skip the road traffic.
Shop the Mercadão earlyThe market hall opens at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM, or 4 PM on Sundays and holidays.

Where to stay for this plan

Stay near Avenida Paulista: the metro reaches the old center and Liberdade quickly, and day 2 ends a short taxi ride away.

Hotels in São Paulo

Map and live prices from Stay22 and its booking partners. TravPa earns a commission if you book; your price stays the same.

Plan last checked Nov 7, 2026. Check individual fee sources before you go. TravPa earns a commission when you book through a partner; your price stays the same.