São Paulo is one of the main capitals of leisure and culture. There are several parks, more than a hundred museums, various cultural centers and countless ways of having fun with your family. Get to know some of them and have fun with the kids.

Nature, animals and green areas

São Paulo Zoo. Photo: Daniel Guimarães/Portal of the Government of the State of São Paulo

São Paulo Zoo, in the Southern area, is the ideal place to learn about different species of animals. In addition to housing more than 3000 animals, the Zoo provides information about them, such as eating habits, habitat and curiosities. For an unusual experience, the place offers a night tour, that needs to be booked in advance.

Next to the Zoo, the ZooSafari allows a closer contact with more than 300 wild animals, such as giraffes, zebras and monkeys that are not in cages, and beasts as lions, bears and tigers that are isolated. The four-kilometer itinerary can be done in private vehicle or in vans of the park.

São Paulo Aquarium. Photo: publicity.

The visit to São Paulo Aquarium is always fun. It is the largest aquarium in Latin America and the only theme aquarium in Brazil, an immersion in the marine environment. There are more than 300 species and a night tour option that needs to be booked.

Butantan Institute, located in the Western area, exhibits live venomous animals. Several species, such as spiders, scorpions, lanceheads, rattlesnakes, serpents, lizards and amphibians arouse kids curiosity. Besides the animals, there is a green area with trails and space for educational activities.

Parque Ibirapuera (Ibirapuera Park). Photo: Caio Silveira/SPTuris.

One of the most important green areas of São Paulo is Ibirapuera Park. Located in the Southern area, the park offers lots of fun and culture for all ages. Visitors can rent bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, ride a kick scooter, have a picnic and for the children there are sports courts and playgrounds.

Água Branca Park, located in the Western area, has many activities for the children, such as storytelling, spaces for reading, toys room, a permanent amusement park, a sand arena that can be used to play ball, and also an aquarium (entrance R$2) and a train that goes around the park (R$3).

Cantareira State Park. Photo: Caio Silveira/SPTuris.

Parque Estadual da Cantareira (Cantareira State Park), in the Northern area, is one of the largest native tropical forest areas in the world located within an urban region. It is a unique opportunity to see endangered species and giant ferns. Among the natural attractions, there are trails passing by rivers, waterfalls and the areas Pedra Grande, Engordador, Águas Claras and Cabuçu.

Parque da Juventude, in the northern area, features sports courts, a space to play football and a skateboard park. In the park you find Biblioteca de São Paulo (Library of São Paulo), which has a section dedicated to children, with comic books, children’s books and a reading space; there is also a section with DVDs that can be watched there, and cultural and educational activities.

Culture and knowledge

Cidade do Livro (Book City). Photo: publicity.

To arouse the interest in reading and provide a journey into the world of imagination, São Paulo has spaces such as Cidade do Livro. Located in the northern area, the place can be visited by general public on the last Saturday of each month. It offers to children an unforgettable adventure at the scenographic city. The experience presents curious characters such as detective Xerox Holmes.

With several spaces dedicated to culture and entertainment, Centro Cultural de São Paulo (Cultural Center of São Paulo) hosts Gibiteca Henfil, a comic book library with more than 10 thousand titles, among comic albums, comic books, periodicals and books; and Sala Leitura infanto-juvenil (Children and Teenagers’ Reading Room), with specialized collection and activities that seek to arouse interest in reading, such as storytelling and reading mediation.

For those who enjoy cultural and historical programs, there are also several options of museums and cultural centers throughout the city, such as Masp, one of the most important museums of Latin America, which has a space dedicated to children, where the little ones can produce their own works and be artist for a day.

Museu do Futebol (Football Museum), based at Pacaembu Stadium, brings the history of football and its superstars, besides being located in one of the main stadiums of the city. The museum is interactive; there are pieces of great value to this sport and a penalty simulator.

Catavento Cultura. Foto: Jose Cordeiro/ SPTuris.

Espaço Catavento, in the central region, is a place that arouses curiosity and entertains the kids at the same time. The space is divided into four sections with topics related to Earth, Life, Inventiveness and Society. The Museum is interactive and there you can touch a real meteorite, learn about the human body and raise your hair with electromagnetism.

Centro Cultural da Juventude Ruth Cardoso (Ruth Cardoso Youth Cultural Center), situated in the Northern area, is one of the main points created especially for children and young people. It promotes cultural and educational activities, such as workshops on various topics: music, dance, reading, and circus performances.

Located in the Western area, better known as “Inventolândia”, Museu das Invenções (Museum of Inventions) has a collection of more than 500 inventions of various types, such as a folding piano, a comb for bald people and a pizza box that turns into a toy. For those who like to invent their own gadgets, Tempo & Espaço (Time & Space) in the southern area allows children (5-15 years old) to create their own toys.

There are programs especially for children in some museums of the city. “Família MAM” (Family MAM) is a project in Museu de Arte Moderna (Museum of Modern Art) with games, storytelling and workshops. The project “Uma tarde no Museu” (Afternoon at the Museum) in Museu da Casa Brasileira (Brazilian House Museum) has educational visits and activities such as board games, reading stories and workshops.

Pateo do Collegio. Foto: Jose Cordeiro/ SPTuris.

“Arte em família” (Art in the Family), in Museu Lasar Segall (Lasar Segall Museum), enables children and adults to live poetic experiences, participate in activities in the workshops and free areas. Pateo do Collegio also features the project “Vem pro Pateo no Domingo!” (Come to Pateo on Sundays!), which offers free cultural activities. Opening hours and prices can be consulted directly on the website of each museum.

Theater and cinema

Espaço Sobrevento is a room dedicated to the theatre of animations, with a programming for the whole family. It Is considered one of the greatest Brazilian puppet animation groups and offers several options of shows. You can check plays on display, prices and hours on the website.

Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil promotes the program “Dia da família” (Family Day), which takes place on one Sunday every month. It aims at bringing art to the families through activities related to cinema, theater and artistic workshops. The themes are always fun and there is a different presentation each month.

Cine Materna. Foto: Divulgação.

For mothers and babies up to 18 months, another option is CineMaterna. With sessions spread over several movie theaters of the city, it is a space dedicated to parents who want to go to the movies with their kids. The environment is prepared to receive babies and there is no problem if they cry.

More fun

Disco Baby is a party that takes place fortnightly on Saturday afternoons for parents with their children up to 10 years old. The music is not so loud, there are diaper-changing rooms, and foods and drinks the small ones can consume.

Casa 92, in the Western area, offers the party “Caricatinhos”. The event takes place on specific dates and there are activities, workshops, foods and drinks, DJ and shows for children. There is a space reserved for breastfeeding, changing and resting of children; and one of the environments has EVA floor for babies.

Services:

Cidade do Livro
Address: Alameda Afonso Schmidt, 877 / 879 – Santa Terezinha – Northern area – São Paulo.
Opening hours: open for general public on the last Saturday of the month, starting at 4 pm
Price: R$ 45 per person.
Phone: (11) 5627-6500

Espaço Sobrevento
Plays on display, hours and price: check website.
Address: Rua Coronel Albino Bairão, 42 – Belenzinho – Eastern area – São Paulo (near Mooca metro station).
Phone: (11) 3272-9684/ 3399-3589

Arte em família
Date: see schedule on website.
Location: Museu Lasar Segall.
Address: Rua Berta, 111 – Vila Mariana – Southern area – São Paulo (near Santa Cruz and Vila Mariana metro stations).
Opening hours of the museum: from Wednesday to Monday, from 11 am to 7 pm.
Free entrance
Phone: (11) 2159-0400

Uma Tarde no Museu
Date: booking in advance is needed.
Location: Museu da Casa Brasileira
Address: Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 2705 – Jardim Paulistano – Western area – São Paulo.
Opening hours of the museum: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm
Price: Entrance to the museum: R$ 6. Free on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and evening openings

Fazendinha Estação Natureza
Address: Av. Washington Luís, 4,221 – Brooklyn – Southern area – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Saturday, Sunday and holidays, from 10 am to 5 pm.
Price: R$ 42. Free for children under 2.
Phone: (11) 5034-2728/ (11) 5034-0937

Aquário de São Paulo
Address: Rua Huet Bacelar, 407 – Ipiranga – Southern area – São Paulo.
Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Price: R$ 60 (adult) and R$ 40 (children from 3 to 12 years old). Tickets for the elderly: R$ 30. Mondays, R$ 40 (promotional price). 7D Cinema: R$ 10
Phone: (11) 2273-5500

Instituto Butantan
Address: Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500 – Butantã – Western area – São Paulo (near Butantã metro station).
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Ticket office: from 8:45 am to 4:15 pm.
Price: R$ 6.
Phone: (11) 2627-9300

Parque Estadual da Cantareira
Address: Rua do Horto, 1,799 – Horto Florestal – Northern area – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 8 am to 5 pm.
Price: R$ 12. Students pay half-price; children under 12 and adults older than 60 do not pay.
Phone: (11) 2203-0115

Parque da Juventude
Address: Sports Park: Avenida Zaki Narchi, 1309. Green area: Avenida Ataliba Leonel, 500 or Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul, 2,500 – Santana – Northern area – São Paulo (next to Carandiru metro station).
Opening hours of the green area: daily from 6 am to 6 pm.; sports area: Monday to Saturday from 6 am to midnight; Sundays from 6 am to 10 pm.
Free entrance.
Phone: (11) 2251-2706

Biblioteca de São Paulo
Address: Av. Cruzeiro do Sul, 2,630 – Santana – Northern area – São Paulo (next to Carandiru metro station).
Opening hours: from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 10 pm. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, from 9 am to 7 pm.
Free entrance.
Phone: (11) 2089-0800

Família MAM
Date: check calendar on the website.
Location: MAM – Museu de Arte Moderna.
Address: AV. Pedro Alvares Cabral, s/n° – Gate 3 – Parque Ibirapuera – Southern area – São Paulo.
Price: check website.
Phone: (11) 5085-1300

Espaço Catavento
Address: Praça São Vito – Parque Dom Pedro II – Centro – São Paulo (near Pedro II metro station).
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm. Entrance until 4 pm. Holidays: Check the link “Notícias do Catavento” (Catavento News).
Price: R$ 6. Retired and elderly, children from 4 to 12, students with photo id and people with disabilities pay R$ 3. On Saturdays, free entrance for all.
Phone: (11) 3315-0051

Museu das Invenções
Address: Rua Dr. Homem de Mello, 1109 – Perdizes – Western area – São Paulo (near Avenida Sumaré).
Opening hours: from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 5 pm.
Price: R$ 15.
Phone: (11) 3670-3411

Centro Cultural de São Paulo
Address: Rua Vergueiro, 1000 – Paraíso – São Paulo (near Vergueiro metro station and Av. 23 de Maio).
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 10 pm (the events and some spaces have different opening hours that should be checked directly on the website).
Phone: (11) 3397-4002

Parque da Água Branca
Address: Av. Prof. Francisco Matarazzo, 455 – Western area – São Paulo (near Barra Funda subway station).
Opening hours: daily from 6 am to 10 pm Aquarium: on Mondays, from 1 pm to 5 pm From Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Free (Except the aquarium R$ 2).
Phone: (11) 3865-4131

Masp – Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand
Address: Avenida Paulista, 1578 – Bela Vista – São Paulo (near Trianon-Masp metro station).
Opening hours of the museum: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm (ticket office is open until 5:30 pm) Thursday, from 10 am to 8 pm (ticket office until 7:30 pm).
Price: R$ 25 (students, teachers and retirees pay half). Every Tuesday and Thursday after 5 pm the admission is free. Children under 10 and adults older than 60 do not pay.
Phone: (11) 3251-5644

Parque Ibirapuera

Address: Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/nº – Vila Mariana – Southern area – São Paulo.
Opening hours: daily from 5 am to midnight.
Free entrance.
Phone: (11) 5574-5505

“Vem pro Pateo no Domingo!”
Date: third Sunday of the month.
Location: Pateo do Collegio.
Address: Praça Pateo do Collegio, 2 – Downtown – São Paulo.
Phone: (11) 3105-6899

Museu do Futebol
Address: Praça Charles Miller, s/nº – Pacaembu – São Paulo. Pacaembu Stadium.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm (permission to stay until 6 pm). Different hours on game days at Pacaembu Stadium.
Price: R$ 6.
Phone: (11) 3663-3848

Caricatinhos
Date: check calendar on the website.
Location: Casa 92.
Address: Rua Cristovão Gonçalves, 92 – Pinheiros – Western area – São Paulo.
Price: check website.
Phone: 3032-0371

Dia da família
Date: one Sunday each month.
Location: Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil.
Address: Rua Álvares Penteado, 112 – Centro – São Paulo.
Price: depends on the schedule; check website.
Phone: (11) 3113-3651

Tempo & Espaço
Date: Classes need reservation.
Opening hours: from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 10 am; from 10 am to noon; from 2 pm to 4 pm; from 4 pm to 6 pm On Saturdays, from 8 am to 10 am and 10 am to noon.
Location: Ateliê Tempo & Espaço.
Address: Rua Aspicuelta, 109 – Vila Madalena – Southern area – São Paulo.
Price: check at the ticket office.
Phone: (11) 3032-6809

CineMaterna
Address, schedules and price: check website.

Disco Baby 
Date: on Saturdays, fortnightly.
Opening hours: from 2 pm to 6 pm
Location: Offset.
Address: Rua Ferreira de Araujo, 589 – Pinheiros – Western area – São Paulo.
Price: check on the website.
Phone: (11) 3097-9396

Centro Cultural da Juventude Ruth Cardoso
Address: Av. Deputado Emílio Carlos, 3,641 – Vila Nova Cachoeirinha – Northern area – São Paulo (next to Bus Terminal Cachoeirinha).
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm; Sundays and holidays from 10 am to 6 pm.
Phone: (11) 3984-2466

Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo
Address: Avenida Miguel Estéfano, 4241 – Água Funda – Southern area – São Paulo (shuttle to the Zoo from Jabaquara metro station).
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Price: R$ 25 for adults and children older than 12; R$ 10 for children from 6 to 12. Free for children under five and for people with disabilities. Students, elderly people and public school teachers pay half price.
Phone: (11) 5073-0811

Zoo Safari
Address: Avenida do Cursino, 6338, Vila Moraes – Southern area – São Paulo.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:30 am to 4 pm
Price: in own vehicle: adults or children over 12 – R$ 25. Elderly (older than 60) and students pay R$ 12. Children from 4 to 12 – R$ 12. Children up to 3 and people with disabilities – free. Zoo Safari vehicles: Adults or children older than 12 – R$ 25. Elderly (older than 60) and students – R$ 20. Children from 4 to 12 – R$ 20. Children up to 3 and people with disabilities – free.
Phone: (11) 2336-2131