Sao Paulo surprisingly is a fairly expensive city to visit from the food venues, hotels and entertainment in all of the cities of Latin America. To make your tourist dollars last longer, there are many places and attractions that are free or very inexpensive to do around the city that won’t break the bank. Following are some suggestions on what to see in Sao Paulo for free or inexpensive without hitting your pocket-book too hard.
Free or cheap in your Sao Paulo tour
Free stuff to do in Sao Paulo’s historic district
The historic central district has so many treasures and beautiful architecture and landmarks that are easy to see on foot and many are free to visit, you just need to provide identification to enter some of those properties or museums. Check what to do in Sao Paulo’s downtown for free or cheap below.
Se Cathedral
An imposing gothic styled building located in an impressive palm lined square, Se Cathedral is beautiful both inside and out and one of Sao Paulo’s top tourist attractions. First thing to do is to check out the main square and activity around the cathedral before you head inside. A fun and cheap thing to also see inside is the burial crypt under the main altar, which is beautiful and elaborate just like the main hall.
Tip – you can get to Se Cathedral easily with the metro stop Se in the main square fronting the Cathedral.
Interior of Se Cathedral and main altar
Theatro Municipal
The stunning opera theater houses all the performing arts including: the opera, symphony, ballet and many other creative arts performances. The building is designed in an elegant classic style with baroque and rococo flourishes. Foreigners can sign up for a free daily tour of the inside of the opera (you must bring identification like a passport) to see the gorgeous interiors and beautiful details in this architectural treasure. Check out the website here for more details to the free visits.
Caixa Cultural center
Many of Sao Paulo’s banks have free cultural centers that offer revolving art shows, performances and talks. The impressive Caixa cultural (located off the in the main Se square) typically hosts many fantastic art shows for free as part of their outreach and goodwill to both visitors and locals in the area. To see what’s happening now at the downtown Caixa, check out their website here for more details.
Municipal market of Sao Paulo
The Mercado Municipal, or municipal market in Sao Paulo is impressive and located in a grand classical building with colorful stained glass panels, clean and colorful vendors booths are attractive and designed to woo you into purchasing some of the local fruits and vegetables, meats, seafood and other finished goods. You can also have a tasty and cheap meal here with many food venues to choose from. Tasting the fruits and other locally made products are free, but they are expensive to buy. You can find cheaper alternatives just outside the main building in the surround market areas.
Tip – there are markets outside the main building also selling inexpensive fruits and vegetables and other hand made goods for sale. This area also has many party supply and kitchen stores in the immediate area selling gadgets and other party related merchandise.
Beautifully displayed produce and finished goods for sale
Mercado Municipal downtown Sao Paulo
Republic Square
A popular square and park, Republic is at the heart of Sao Paulo and the downtown district. Easy to get to via metro stop Republic, the park is lively mostly during the weekend when a busy arts and crafts market, gem vendors, food vendors and other things are for sale at the park. Other sites worth visiting close by include the Copan building, the Italian building, the Municipal theater and popular shopping promenades leading to leading up to the opera house.
The weekend market at Republic Square
Banespa Building
Modeled after the Empire state building, this mini Empire State was the largest building built of its time in Latin America. Located in the commercial business center the building is impressive to walk through in the interior and the views from above are magnificent. There is a modest entry fee to go up to the top of the Banespa building, but a small splurge would be to take the deluxe tour with special exhibits, rotating art shows and get this a skate board park in one of that upper floors that you can also take part in if you want.
Views from above from the Banespa building
Tip – There are many cheap eateries around the main promenades and the best places to check out are the many buffet cafes offering many local dishes and priced per kilo which is a great way to sample a variety of local dishes and at cheap prices.
Patio do Colegio
The original site of the start of the city of Sao Paulo and a Jesuit mission that was established in 1554. Surrounding the square are impressive buildings representing various government agencies that showcase the wealth of the developing city of Sao Paulo.
Tip – just around the corner on one of the oldest streets of Sao Paulo are some historic homes ( Solar da Marquesa de Santos) that are open for the public to visit as living museums and free to visit.
Visit Sao Paulo’s popular parks
Paulistas as the local people are called love to use and hangout in their gorgeous parks which are always well maintained and typically clean. You’ll find many of the parks easy to get to and patrolled in many of the popular parks around the city. Check out these fun parks in the city worth exploring for free.
Ibirapuera Park
One of the most popular parks in the city with over 14.4 million visits a year, the park has many of the well visited museums in the city including the Modern Art Museum and African history museum as well as the planetarium and other historical gardens that were designed by famous landscape architect Roberto Burle Max. Also important are the impressive buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer who created the first modern and organic buildings in Sao Paulo to herald a new look and vision for the city. Check out the main attractions to visiting Ibirapuera park here for more details and inspiration of what to see.
Trianon Park
Also known as Parque Trianon is located on the busy Paulista district and is a fabulous park that feels like being in the rain forest in the heart of urban Sao Paulo. Located right off the main street, Paulista road, Trianon is atypical of the parks of Sao Paulo featuring all the native plants and other genera on a massive scale with giant trees of ironwood, cinnamon, different species of cedar and local woods like jequitibá, cabreúva, araribá-rosa and other local shrubs and perennials. This oasis is a fantastic getaway from the busy Paulista road and when you just want to admire some huge and amazing trees in this jungle.
Rain forest jungle at Trianon park
Park Jardim da Luz
Fronting the grand Pinacoteca museum, this beautiful garden with many smaller gardens inside is one of the prettiest gardens to enjoy in all of Sao Paulo. Containing many ornate buildings, fountains, a fake mountain with caves and stunning modern sculpture, the park is wonderful to walk around and explore. A funny spot to the right of the fake mountain is a well used outdoor gym with funny cement barbels and other odd work out equipment that is entertaining and a different type of work out to see.
Tip – across from the park is the Luz train station, an ornate and beautiful classic styled station that is worth visiting and you can also take the metro directly from here to explore the area.
Beautiful sculptures randomly placed at Park Luz
Independence park
One of the grandest parks where the emperor Dom Pedro proclaimed Brazil’s independence from Brazil in 1822. A grand building fronts the park that is the Museum of Ipiranga (still closed for renovation) but is cool to wander around including the formal gardens of Independence park. Walking down from the formal gardens through the main promenade brings you to the Sao Paulo Independence monument, a grand landmark which also houses the Brazilian imperial crypt of Emperor 1st and family. The site celebrates the first centenary of Brazil’s independence from Portugal.
Independence monument and royal tombs
Cool Sao Paulo neighborhood at Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul
Things to see in Sao Paulo’s cool neighborhoods
I love to visit the neighborhoods of Sao Paulo which gives you a better idea about how the locals live, entertain and eat in their area. There are so many fascinating and unique neighborhoods around Sao Paulo that are fun to explore in the city. The best thing is that you can take a cheap metro ride for 4 real ($1.25 USD) anywhere to check out these places and walk around each neighborhood.
Vila Madalena
What used to be a divey and cheap housing for university students has become the trendy spot with vibrant graffiti and street art plastered in the alleys, buildings and even nice establishments. Make sure to visit the famous Beco de batman – a really cool alleyway filled with colorful street art done by local and famous muralist from the area. Vila Madalena is full of cool bars, restaurants, galleries and other fun hang out spots in this hip area where Happy hour and the bar scene is celebrated daily.
Checking out the street art at Vila Madalena
Grafitti at Beco do Batman in Vila Madalena
Tip – there is a Metro stop at Vila Madalena and you can also sign up fr a free walking tour to check out the area and cool graffiti with this free walking tour here.
Pinheiros district
A very poor borough close to Vila Madalena that quickly has become the hip and cool spot to explore and hang out. You’ll find this an easy walking area to explore and the scene typically is more popular around the late afternoon to dinner crowd enjoying drinks or dinner in many of the trendy restaurants around Pinheiros.
Tip – It’s an easy metro stop to the Pinheiros station or the more popular areas around metro stop Fradique Coutino.
Jardin District
Uber trendy Jardin is where you can shop till you drop – or at least just window shop all the international and local brands of Sao Paulo. It’s fun to just see and be seen walking around the chic places on Oscar Friere and maybe pick up an inexpensive souvenir or try some of the many eateries especially gelato shops that are a small splurge for this area.
Jardin dining venues in Sao Paulo
Checking out the trendy shops at Jardin
Tip – you can easily explore Jardin with metro stop Oscar Friere on the Yellow line.
Liberdade
The large Japanese district downtown is called Liberdade but is also home to many Asian ethnic businesses. You’ll find a variety of specialty grocery stores, cafes, Asian gift shops, souvenir stores and other cheap general stores in the district to explore. An easy place to walk to and close to the historic district, you can also take a metro ride direct to Liberdade station.
Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul
Another popular spot to see the beautiful graffiti art that mostly adorns the pillars of the metro passing through the area. The neighborhood around Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul is more of a working class area with affordable shopping and dining venues in the area especially surrounding the metro stop at Santana which is also a regional bus station.
You’ll find street art on the Metro pillars worth exploring
Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul street art on the pillars
Sao Paulo points of interest and inexpensive activities
There are many free or inexpensive activities to keep you busy and entertained while visiting the city. Here are some suggestions on what to do or see activity wise for cheap.
Taking a free walking tour of downtown Sao Paulo
Free walking tours around Sao Paulo
You can sign up for a variety of free walking tours around the historic center and other cool areas of the city to discover. Check out the free walking tours here offered by Sao Paulo walking tours. Even though the tours are free, it’s nice to give a tip to the guides that lead you on a 2.5 to three-hour tour of each area.
Vila Madalena free walking tour
Visit the Sao Paulo cemetery
Located in the Pinheiros district, this old cemetery is a quiet spot in the busy urban metropolis and filled with beautiful architecture, sculpture and art in this packed cemetery. A good respite if you’re visiting the area and check out the old, creepy and artistic mausoleums and structures left by the rich and celebrities of the city.
Peace and quiet at Pinheiros Sao Paulo Cemetery
Explore Paulista Avenue
The heart or business district of Sao Paulo is Paulista which is a modern and busy thoroughfare with shopping centers, cultural centers and museums and other fun attractions to explore just of the boulevard including Trianon park, Masp, Japan House and the Instituto Moreira Salles of Paulista. Many of these attractions are free for the public to explore including the cultural centers located on Paulista Avenue.
Visit the Japan House
The Japan House is a collaboration with the Japanese government is a cultural center that showcases revolving new art shows and installations, design, thematic discussions and new technology showcases. These Japanese inspired events and shows are free for the public to visit and experience and there’s also a nice café and a beautiful restaurant to enjoy some delicious Japanese snacks or a full gastronomic experience.
Copan building & views from above
Check out the views of the city for free
You can see the city from above and for free at the Copan building daily at selected time frames. The views from above are quite spectacular and worth the effort to sign in the administration office and taking the elevator to the top observation deck. To visit the Copan building and sign up for the self tour, check out this website here for more details.
Getting around Sao Paulo inexpensively
Sao Paulo is a huge city and getting around is fairly inexpensive if you use public transportation or walk around to some of the popular places and attractions. Here’s how to get around the city on a dime when you are trying to do this cheap.
Taking the Metro system
The metro system is fast, efficient and cheap covering most of the areas that you will want to explore around the city. The current fare to travel in any direction is 4 real which is equal to $1.30 USD per ride.
Take an Uber
It’s easy to catch an uber around the city especially if you want to get to a destination right away. Uber rides tend to be cheaper outside of the typical busy periods around the morning and evening commutes and the late dinner crowds when rides are less prevalent and more expensive.
Walking around by foot
Get a free walking and metro map from the tourist center and it’s easy to explore Sao Paulo by foot or get to the many districts by public transport and you can easily check out the different spots by touring around on your own or even signing up for a free walking tour in that neighborhood.
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Sao Paolo seems so picturesque and there are plenty of things to be seen and explore there, Noel! I love learning about free things to do in a new place and I love your post! Sao Paolo here I come! 🙂
Lydia, You would enjoy Sao Paulo, there are so many amazing things to do here and free.
interesting post for me, now i am in sao paulo and want to visit more because still i am having 3 days to do something adventure and thrill. Thanks for sharing your trip experience.
Wow, that’s a great coincidence, hope you can do all these free things in Sao Paulo
These are really cool stuff to do for free in Sao Paulo. First of all the Se Cathedral is magnificent. Its interiors look exquisitely divine. The parks are another beautiful experience, love the look of the sculptures placed randomly in the parks. Another thing that immediately riveted my attention was the art of Vila Madalena.It is so vibrant and colourful and a silent testimony to the genius of unknown artists.
There’s so much creativity in Sao Paulo and seeing most of these are free in public spaces,museums and even bank cultural centers.
Se Cathedral is simply stunning and I won’t be surprised if it’s Sao Paolo’s top crowd-drawer. The city’s a haven for arts and culture and I reckon the cost of living here is something even a budget traveller can afford. The street arts are not bad and I noticed the parks’ lush greenery, hope my family could visit someday.
Yes the arts scene is spectacular here and fortunately most of it is free to see in Sao Paulo
I love public transpo but sometimes, when you just have so little time, uber is great help! I love that Sao Paulo is full of art and very progressive!
Yes Uber is very cheap in Sao Paulo, but public transport is great when there is surface traffic. There’s so much to see in Sao Paulo with these places to visit.
Sao Paulo with it’s imposing buildings and fantastic architecture looks like a must visit place. I loved the Se Cathedral. It is truly beautiful from both inside and outside. Would love to see this for sure.
Yes, there is a lot of free things to see and do in Sao Paulo, I know you would love it Archana
This is an awesome list. The first things we like to do is explore the easy places. According to me, those are the places where you can find the pulse of a place.
It’s an easy city to explore and do things here in Sao Paulo
There definitely seems so much to do on a budget here. I loved the variety of parks and gardens here. It must be so refreshing to walk through them. Se Cathedral was my favorite among the heritage and architecture. And Street Art – wow, there is a variety here. I hope that someday I get here.
Yes budget is key in Sao Paulo, so there are lots of options and free activities to do
What a comprehensive list Noel. You could be there a week and never spend a dime with all the terrific things you’ve listed to keep a visitor busy. I loved that first photo of the Se Cathedral and all the street art you’ve captured. Great read and visuals!
Yes,I was in Sao Paulo for over a month and did all these activities for free or on a dime which is good for an expensive city.
I have heard that Sao Paulo can be expensive, especially when it comes to entertainment venues or shopping so its nice to see such a long list of things to do and see which are for free. I especially love the Se Cathedral, such beautiful architecture. Also, a tasty and inexpensive meal at the municipality market sounds like a great idea. Such amazing parks are also a good way to spend some time away from busy city life and in the middle of nature.
Window shopping is free and there are a lot of free things to do on my Sao Paulo post, hope you can visit.
My wife loves getting a bird’s eye view of every city we travel to from the tallest building we can find, she will absolutely love this guide. My favorite activities are usually the free ones, the parks are absolutely beautiful. And even better than beautiful, there are concrete weights to lift! Gorgeous surroundings and a chance to pump iron…er…concrete? What a great way to see Sao Paulo. The colors in your photos are stunning, thank you for sharing!
Yes I love doing that to and when it’s free in Sao Paulo then that is a great bargain.
Fantastic list here Noel and a handy post for me to bookmark as I am hoping to be heading out to Brazil soon and Sao Paulo is on my list. I love the looks of the urban parks, I love strolling through any park in the city to get away from the crazyness of the streets :).
It’s a huge city so you’ll enjoy Sao Paulo and all the cool things to do here.
Thank you for this lovely introduction to Sao Paulo, Noel! I’ve never heard of this city before until I read this post and its beautiful! Good to know that you can enjoy it inexpensively with lots of options to choose from, I might add. 🙂 The free walking tours sounds like an amazing way to get acquainted with the city and its sights. Personally, I’d love to visit the Se Cathedral (it’s beautiful!), the parks (Sao Pauloo seems to have several beautiful parks to choose from) and the Republic Square the weekend market looks pretty interesting)!
For a population of 12 million people there are definitely a lot of activity and places to visit in Sao Paulo and fortunately free for a lot of these attractions.
Thx for the great post on visiting Sao Paulo, Brazil on the cheap, Noel. I know that I would especially enjoy the street art and the gardens.
I am impressed with everything there is to do in Sao Paulo and for free!! From the lovely cathedrals and parks to the free art walking tours!! Excellent post!!
Thanks Marilyn, I’m sure you would enjoy visiting Sao Paulo
Such a lot to see in São Paulo! Looks as if you could walk around for days and not run out of stuff to do.
Sao Paulo is a city of 12 million people so there’s definitely plenty of things to do and see here.
Se Cathedral would be on my list Noel. My wife and I love visiting religious buildings all around the globe. What a stable vibe inside these houses of worship. Usually when no festivities are taking place as I am no longer religious 😉
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
This is definitely a highlight visiting Sao Paulo, but there is so much to see and do here.
Very comprehensive post on free and inexpensive things to do in Sao Paulo. I especially liked the photos of the skyline, cathedral, street art and parks. It’s ironic that those sidewalk tiles in Independence Park reminded me of the ones in Portugal.
A lot of the tilework is influenced by the Portuguese settlement of Brazil as a colony so there were a lot of nobility that wanted to have all the trappings of Portuguese wealth and prestige.