Top 10: best places in the North Zone

Considered as the main entrance to the city for being the place where Tietê Bus Terminal is located (the country’s largest bus terminal) and for being the nearest region to Guarulhos International Airport, the North zone has several leisure options and various attractions.

As it is a residential region, with many districts and sub-districts, the North area has a rich cultural diversity and, although a little bit far away from the city’s busiest places – Augusta Street and Vila Madalena, for instance –, it also has a bustling nightlife.

Nevertheless, the green areas are its strong point. Known for its initial farms and ranches, the region is the most forested area in the city, with 12 city parks and Serra da Cantareira area.

A view of the North zone from the Cantareira Park. Photo: Caio Pimenta/ SPTuris.

The North zone has great diversity and is full of attractions. To help tourists, or even paulistanos, to get to know this part of the city, we made a list of 10 places you must visit in the region!

1 – Anhembi

Aerial view of the Anhembi complex. Photo: José Cordeiro/ SPTuris.

Founded in 1970, Anhembi is one of the largest exhibition centers in the country. The visit is interesting, because, besides having a different and modern architecture, you will always find a fair, event or show taking place there. It is there that the São Paulo Samba Schools Parade takes place once a year, during the Brazilian Carnival. Near the complex, there is also the Holliday Inn, the largest hotel in Brazil.

2 – Campo de Marte airport

Campo de Marte airport Photo: José Cordeiro/ SPTuris.

The first city airport terminal and the fifth in terms of flights, Campo de Marte is near Tietê bus terminal. Currently, in addition to operating with air taxi and helicopters (the largest fleet in the country), the site has air pilotage schools, the São Paulo Aeronautics Hospital, and is the place of great venues and music festivals. There is also one branch of Brahma Bar, with decoration inspired by aviation and where you can see the airport runway while having some beer.

Brahma Aeroclube Bar. Photo: Brahma Bar/ publicity.

3 – Center Norte Shopping Mall and Lar Center

The North zone has also a lot of shopping options and is a place to have good moments with the family. Among them, we highlight Center Norte, the city’s busiest shopping mall. The first single-floor mall in the area, it has 331 shops and more than 50 restaurants, besides movie theater, bowling, arcades and a hypermarket in the external area. Nearby, Lar Center – with more than 100 shops – gathers everything related to furniture, appliances, decoration, among many other things.

4 – Sesc Santana

Since 2005, this Sesc unit attracts a very diverse audience, from different classes and tastes, for presenting a varied programming. With activities for children from 3 years old on, the sports area offers classes in corporal expression, rhythms, volleyball, basketball, yoga, hydrogymnastics, swimming, among many other things. In the cultural segment, the place houses several exhibitions, shows, workshops and concerts for all tastes.

5 – MAAU (Open Museum of Urban Art) 

First of its kind in the world, MAAU is placed along Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul, in the Santana neighborhood. It has more than 60 graffiti on the metro overpass pilasters (from Santana to Portuguesa-Tietê station). The open area, with works of great graffiti artists, can be seen by anyone who passes in this two-kilometer section of the avenue, whether on foot or by car.

6 – Parks

The main parks of the most forested region of the city deserve some words here! In total, they are 12, and the main ones are:

Parque da Juventude concrete skate ramp. Photo: Caio Pimenta/ SPTuris.

Parque da Juventude has been inaugurated in the place where was the former Carandiru prison and today is one of the most frequented places in the North zone, especially by skateboarders and athletes in general – the site has ten sports courts;

Parque do Trote, in Vila Guilherme, is perfect for family fun, with playgrounds and barbecue grills;

Horto Florestal. Photo: Caio Pimenta/ SPTuris.

Horto Florestal, besides having jogging tracks and gym equipment, offers the visitor a true experience in nature, with animals like monkeys, birds and capybaras;

Anhanguera Park. Photo: Secretaria Municipal do Verde/ publicty.

Anhanguera Park, the city’s largest park – only part of it is open to visitors, in order to preserve the wildlife –, has bike lanes, trails, orchid houses, barbecue grills, and houses more than 200 animal species;

Cantareira Park Aerial view. Photo: Municipal Secretariat of the Environment/ publicity.

And Cantareira State Park, which, with one of the largest areas of forest in an urban region, is ideal for ecotourism, with four nuclei that divide activities into several difficulties trails.

7 – Arquivo do Estado (Public Archives of the State of São Paulo)

One of the oldest institutions in the city, in the Public Archives of the State of São Paulo you can find documents from the military dictatorship period, private collections of prominent national politicians, as well as photographic materials, newspapers from the Brazilian imperial era, immigration documents and many other historical archives. Bringing together more than 10 kilometers in documentation, the place, which is a paradise for historians and enthusiasts, allows document consultation.

8 – Bars

Bar do Luiz’s codfish balls. Photo: Luiz Fernandes bar/ publicity.

The North zone, despite being a tranquil area of the town, also has its bustling points. The main bars and nightclubs in the region are in the Caetano Álvares and Luís Dumont Villares avenues (Avenida Nova [New Avenue], as the locals call it). On Fridays and Saturdays, the night never ends in these avenues. There you will find places such as Luiz Fernandes bar, a very traditional one in the region, and Adega Original, known for the picanha (a special Brazilian beef cut) and draft beer. You may also visit one of the Samba Schools blocks located in the region.

Mocotó’s White bean and sausage balls. Photo: Mocotó restaurant and Cachaçaria/ publicity.

Speaking of famous locations, Brazilian cuisine lovers must get to know one of the most popular places in the northern part: Mocotó restaurant and cachaçaria. Based on the Brazilian Northeastern cuisine and culture, the restaurant commanded by the chef Rodrigo Oliveira is considered one of the best in Brazil.

9 – Nossa Senhora do Ó Church

One of the oldest churches in the city, Nossa Senhora do Ó is one of the greatest milestones and prides of this part of the city. Located in the Largo da Matriz, which has several ancient mansions and historic sites, as well as bars and restaurants (FrangÓ, for example, a classic in the region), the Church has several religious relics and sacred images.

Once a year, the Festa do Divino Espírito Santo (The Divine Holy Spirit Feast), one of the city’s most important religious festivities, takes place there.

10 – Pico do Jaraguá

Pico do Jaraguá. Photo: José Cordeiro/ SPTuris.

Located in the Jaraguá State Park, preserved as a World Heritage Site, Pico do Jaraguá is the highest point in the city and offers visitors an amazing panorama of São Paulo. With a view that reaches about 60 kilometers, the visit is well worth not only for the historical aspect – many battles for gold have taken place there in the past – but for the adventure of getting to the top. The path can be done by car, by a paved road or through a two-kilometer trail.

Did you like the tips? So, take the opportunity to get to know these and other places in the North zone, and let this capital region surprise you!

Services:

Parque Anhembi

Address: Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1209 – Santana – São Paulo (nearby Tietê metro station and Marginal Tietê).
Phone: (11) 2226-0400

Holliday Inn

Address: Rua Professor Milton Rodrigues, 100 – Santana – São Paulo.
Phone: (11) 2107-8844

Aeroporto Campo de Marte

Address: Av. Santos Dumont, 1979 – Santana – São Paulo (next to Tietê metro station and Marginal Tietê).
Phone: (11) 2223-3700.

Bar Brahma
Address: Av. Olavo Fontoura, 650 – Santana – São Paulo (next to Tietê metro station and Marginal Tietê).
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 11:30 am to 2 pm. Sundays, from 11 am to 12 am.
Phone: (11) 3367-3601.

Shopping Center Norte

Address: Travessa Casalbuono, 120 – Vila Guilherme – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 10 pm. Sundays and holidays, from 2 pm to 8 pm.
Phone: (11) 2224-5900.

Lar Center

Address: Av. Otto Baumgart, 500 – Vila Guilherme – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 10 pm. Sundays and holidays, from 2 pm to 8 pm.
Phone: (11) 2224-5959.

Sesc Santana

Address: Av. Luiz Dumont Villares, 579 – Jardim São Paulo – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 9 am to 10 pm. Saturdays – 10 am to 9 pm. Sundays and holidays – 10 am to 7 pm.
Phone: (11) 2971-8700.

Museu Aberto de Arte Urbana

Address: Av. Cruzeiro do Sul – São Paulo (From Santana to Portuguesa-Tietê metro station).

Parque da Juventude

Address: Av. Zaki Narchi, 1309 – Carandiru – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, from 6 am to 6 pm (the sports courts open from Monday to Saturday, from 6 am to 12 am. Sundays, from 6 am to 10 pm).
Phone: (11) 2251-2706/ (11) 2089-8600.

Parque do Trote

Address: Rua Nadir Dias de Figueiredo (Gate 1) / Rua São Quirino, 905 (Gate 2) – Vila Guilherme – São Paulo.
Opening hours: from 5:30 am to 8 pm (Gate 1) / from 5:30 am to 6 pm and 5:30 at 8 pm (Gate 2 and daylight saving time).
Phone: (11) 2905-0165.

Parque Estadual Horto Florestal

Address: Rua do Horto, 931 – Horto Florestal – São Paulo.
Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday – 6 am to 6 pm.
Phone: (11) 6231-8555

Parque Anhanguera

Address: Av. Fortunata Tadiello Natucci, 1000 – Perus – São Paulo (Anhanguera Highway, km 26th).
Opening hours: daily, from 6 am to 6 pm.
Phone: (11) 3917-2406.

Parque Estadual da Cantareira

Address: Rua do Horto, 1799 – Horto Florestal – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 8 am to 5 pm.
Phone: (11) 2203-0115.

Arquivo Público do Estado de São Paulo

Address: Rua Voluntários da Pátria, 596 – Santana – São Paulo (next to Portuguesa-Tietê metro station).
Opening hours: Monday to Friday and on the first Saturday of the month (except holidays), from 9 am to 5 pm, being 4 pm the time-limit for requesting materials.
Free entrance.
Phone: (11) 2089-8100.

Bar do Luiz Fernandes

Address: Av. Engenheiro Caetano Álvares, 5470 – Casa Verde – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 4 pm to 12 pm. Saturdays – 11 am to 9 pm. Sundays, from 11 am to 6 pm.
Phone: (11) 98973-9147.

Adega Original

Address: Av. Luiz Dumont Villares, 794 – Jardim São Paulo – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 5 pm. Saturdays and Sundays, from 1 pm.
Phone: (11) 2978-7853

Mocotó Restaurante e Cachaçaria

Address: Av. Nossa Senhora do Loreto, 1100 – Vila Medeiros – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 12 am to 11 pm. Saturdays, from 11:30 am to 11 pm. Sundays, from 11:30 am to 5 pm.
Phone: (11) 2951-3056.

Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Ó

Address: Largo Matriz Nossa Senhora do Ó – Freguesia do Ó – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 7 am to 12 am and from 2 pm to 5 pm. Information on the masses on the site.
Phone: (11) 3932-1702.

FrangÓ

Address: Largo Matriz Nossa Senhora do Ó, 168 – Freguesia do Ó – São Paulo.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, from 11 am to 12 pm. Friday and Saturday – 11 am to 2 pm. Sundays, from 11 am to 7 pm.
Phone: (11) 3932-4818.

Pico do Jaraguá e Parque Estadual do Jaraguá

Address: Rua Antônio Cardoso Nogueira, 539 – Jaraguá –São Paulo.
Opening hours: everyday, from 7 am to 5 pm (the closing time is extended to 6 pm during Summer daylight saving time).
Phone: (11) 3945-4532.