13 free places you must visit in São Paulo

Those who think São Paulo is very expensive regarding fun and entertainment must know that several tourist and cultural attractions prove otherwise and have free entrance. Check out the list below and make plans to have leisure options all the week, without spending a dime.

Paulista Avenue area

Museu de Arte de São Paulo (Masp – São Paulo Museum of Art): traditional postcard located on Paulista Avenue, the museum has free entrance on Tuesdays, all day, and on Thursdays, after 5 pm.

Masp on Paulista Avenue. Photo: José Cordeiro/SPTuris.

Casa das Rosas: the museum combines exhibitions and activities involving visual arts, music, theater and dance, as well as courses of poetry and literature. The visit is free and is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 am to 10 pm, Sundays and holidays, from 10 am to 6 pm.

Itaú Cultural: located in the Paulista Avenue area, the Institute offers free and diverse programming to the public, such as exhibitions, plays, lectures, courses, and concerts. It is open from Tuesday to Friday, from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, from 11 am to 8 pm.

Centro Cultural São Paulo (CCSP) – (CCSP – São Paulo Cultural Center): also known as Centro Cultural Vergueiro, the space is filled with cultural programming of various types, such as plays, concerts, and movies with free entrance.

Trianon Park: the tour through the city’s most famous avenue can also include a walk by this green area with trees, remnant of the Atlantic forest. It is open every day, from 6 am to 6 pm.

Historic downtown

Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB) (CCBB – Bank of Brazil Cultural Center): in addition to lectures and debates, it has exhibitions, cinema sessions, musical, dance and theater performances with free entrance, or symbolic prices. It closes only on Tuesdays, being open from 9 am to 9 pm in the remaining days of the week.

Sé Cathedral: symbol of the neo-Gothic architecture, the cathedral is majestic in the downtown of the city, welcoming all kinds of people every day, whether they are believers or not.

Sé Cathedral. Photo: José Cordeiro/ SPTuris.

Pateo do Collegio: it is considered the birthplace of São Paulo, since it was there the first settlement started. As it is an open area, it can be visited on any day and at any time.

Museums

Pinacoteca do Estado: it is among the prominent tourist places, with a permanent collection that consists of works from national and international artists, in addition to temporary exhibitions that attract large audiences, such as the Ron Mueck’s. The entrance is free on Saturdays, from 10 am to 6 pm.

Museu do Futebol (Football Museum): one of the most visited places of the city shows a little of the history of the Brazilians’ favorite sport. The entrance is free on Saturdays, from 9 am to 5 pm.

Football Museum. Photo: José Cordeiro/SPTuris.

Parks

Ibirapuera Park: the most famous park of São Paulo has room for walking, running, cycling, multisports courts, football fields, and toys for children.

Ibirapuera Park. Photo: José Cordeiro/ SPTuris.

Horto Florestal (Botanical Garden): located on the North side, the place has several outdoor leisure options for families, such as picnic areas and exercise equipment.

Villa-Lobos Park: it has tennis courts, basketball hoops, track for BMX bikes, hiking, and other free attractions for visitors.

Service: 

Masp – Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand

Address: Avenida Paulista, 1578 – Bela Vista – São Paulo (near Trianon-Masp subway station).
Opening hours: 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 is open until 7:30 pm).
Phone: (11) 3251-5644.

Casa das Rosas

Address: Avenida Paulista, 37 – Jardim Paulista – São Paulo (next to Brigadeiro metro station).
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 am to 10 pm Sundays and holidays, from 10 am to 6 pm.
Phone: (11) 3285-6986.

Itaú Cultural

Address: Avenida Paulista, 149 – Centro – São Paulo.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Friday, from 9 am to 8 pm Saturday and Sunday, from 11 am to 8 pm
Phone: (11) 2168-1776/ (11) 2168- 1777

Centro Cultural São Paulo

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

Parque Tenente Siqueira Campos (Trianon)

Opening hours: daily, from 6 am to 6 pm
Address: R. Peixoto Gomide, 949 (near the number 1500 of Paulista Avenue) – Cerqueira Cesar – Centro – São Paulo.
Phone: (11) 3253-4973/ 3289-2160

Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil

Opening hours: from Wednesday to Monday, from 9 am to 9 pm.
Address: Rua Álvares Penteado, 112 – Sé – Centro – São Paulo.
Phone: (11) 3113-3651/ (11) 3113-3652

Catedral da Sé

Opening hours: from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 7 pm; Saturday, from 8 am to 5 pm; Sunday, from 8 am to 1 pm.
Mass schedule: Monday and Friday at 9 am, 12 pm, and 5 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12 pm and 5 pm; Saturday at 12 pm; Sunday at 9 am, 11 am, and 5 pm
Address: Praça da Sé – Centro – São Paulo (Sé subway station).
Phone: (11) 3107-6832

Pateo do Collegio

Address: Praça Pateo do Collegio, 2 – Centro – São Paulo (next to Sé subway station)
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm To monitored visit, you need to schedule from Monday to Friday, from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Price: Museu Anchieta – R$ 6 (full price), R$ 3 for students, R$ 2 for students of public school. Free for children up to seven years, people over 60 years, and people with disabilities.
Phone: (11) 3105-6898

Pinacoteca do Estado

Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm.
Address: Praça da Luz, 2 – Luz – Centro (Luz subway station).
Price: R$ 6 (full price) and R$ 3 for students, children, and older people. Free on Saturdays.
Phone: (11) 3324-1000

Museu do Futebol

Address: Praça Charles Miller – Pacaembu – West side – São Paulo. Pacaembu Stadium.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm (permission to stay until 6 pm).
Price: R$ 6.
Phone: (11) 3663-3848

Parque Ibirapuera

Address: Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral – Vila Mariana – South side – São Paulo.
Opening hours: daily, from 5 am to midnight.
Phone: (11) 5574-5505

Horto Florestal State Park

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday, from 8 am to 7 pm
Address: Rua do Horto, 931 – Horto Florestal – North side – São Paulo.
Phone: (11) 6231- 8555
Free entrance.

Parque Villa-Lobos

Address: Avenida Professor Fonseca Rodrigues, 2001 – Alto de Pinheiros – West side – São Paulo.
Opening hours: every day, from 5:30 am to 7 pm.
Phone: (11) 3021-6285