São Paulo walking route: Botanical Garden to Ibirapuera Park
Explore São Paulo's cultural landmarks and green spaces on this 12-point route spanning key attractions from the Botanical Garden of Sao Paulo to Ibirapuera Park. Visit iconic sites including Avenida Paulista, Pátio do Colégio, the Sao Paulo Museum of Art, and historic venues like Júlio Prestes Train Station and Sala Sao Paulo.
- Distance
- 51.8 km
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Sao Paulo
- End
- Viaduto Santa Ifigenia
- Stops
- 11
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Sao Paulo
- Botanical Garden of Sao Paulo — Sprawling garden showcasing over 14,000 plant species, including rare orchids and native Atlantic Forest vegetation in peaceful natural surroundings.
- Pátio do Colégio — Historic founding site of São Paulo (1554), where Portuguese Jesuits established the city's original settlement and church.
- Avenida Paulista — Brazil's financial artery and main thoroughfare, built on coffee baron wealth, attracting 1.5 million daily pedestrians with museums and culture.
- Sao Paulo Museum of Art — Iconic modernist building housing extensive Latin American art collections spanning colonial paintings to contemporary works by renowned regional artists.
- Júlio Prestes Train Station — Historic 20th-century train station transformed into elegant cultural center, home to Sala São Paulo concert hall with world-class acoustics.
- The Sala Sao Paulo — Ornate concert hall and cultural institution housed in a restored 1930s palace, hosting classical performances and serving as the symphony orchestra's primary venue.
- Ibirapuera Auditorium
- Ibirapuera Park — Major public park in southern São Paulo featuring Oscar Niemeyer's Auditorium, museums, and locals' favorite recreation area.
- Parque do Estado — Botanical garden preserving Atlantic Rainforest ecosystem near São Paulo airport, showcasing native Brazilian flora and landscape heritage.
- Viaduto Santa Ifigenia — Art nouveau pedestrian viaduct linking Old Center to New Center, providing respite from heavy urban traffic and car congestion.
Useful for your trip
- Tip
- Start your visit at Pátio do Colégio in the old city center, where the city was founded by Portuguese Jesuits in 1554, to understand São Paulo's history from the beginning.
- Tip
- Visit the São Paulo Museum of Art on Avenida Paulista to see paintings by European masters like Van Gogh, Raphael and Picasso, as well as Brazil's leading artists.
- Tip
- Tour the Pinacoteca do Estado, the oldest art museum in São Paulo, which houses nearly 9,000 pieces including priceless Brazilian collections in a beautifully renovated building.
- Tip
- Attend a concert at Sala São Paulo in the Júlio Prestes Train Station; its wood-panelled concert hall with adjustable ceiling has acoustics rivaling famous concert halls of Vienna and Berlin.
- Tip
- Explore Ibirapuera Park in the south of the city to visit the Museum of Modern Art, Afro Brazil Museum, and the distinctive Ibirapuera Auditorium designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
- Food
- Experience Brazil's culinary culture at Mercado Municipal; find a table on the mezzanine level to observe the market's activity while sampling local fruits, cheeses, meats and specialties.
- Tip
- Visit the Football Museum in Pacaembu Stadium to see interactive exhibits featuring Brazilian soccer legends such as Pelé, Ronaldo, Romario and Ronaldinho.
- Tip
- Explore Vila Madalena, west of Pacaembu Stadium, for colorful shops, art galleries, street art, and local lunch spots.
- Tip
- Walk across the pedestrianized Viaduto Santa Ifigenia art nouveau viaduct, which links the Old Center to the New Center and offers a break from the city's heavy car traffic.
- Tip
- Tour the Municipal Theatre, a Beaux Arts building inspired by the Palais Garnier in Paris, dedicated to ballet, opera and other stage shows.
- Tip
- Visit the Botanical Gardens in Parque do Estado near the airport to see preserved Atlantic Rainforest that once covered much of the Brazilian coast.
- Tip
- Explore the Praça da Sé to see the neo-gothic Metropolitan Cathedral with its Renaissance dome, modeled on the Cathedral of Florence in Italy.
Video on this route
Sao Paulo Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia