Sao Paulo attractions

Just 30 minutes from downtown Sao Paulo, Wet 'n’ Wild is one of Brazil’s largest water parks. With more than 25 slides, pools, and activities, the park has plenty to appeal to kids and adults; attractions range from super-fast water slides to a lazy-river cruise.

There's rarely snow in Brazil, but you can still ski or snowboard the dry slopes at São Roque’s Ski Mountain Park, set in the hills overlooking the wild landscapes of the Atlantic Forest. With two dry slopes made of polyethylene mats, plus an ice skating rink, ropes course, and archery, it’s an ideal destination for a family day out.

Home to heated and freshwater pools fed by natural springs, Thermas Hot World is one of the most popular resorts along Brazil’s Circuito das Águasa, a series of towns renowned for their mineral-enriched waters. Half spa, half water park, the complex offers everything from super-fast water slides to relaxing hot tubs.

Home to some 3,000 marine creatures and 170 different species—including penguins, fur seals, sharks, and stingrays—the beachside Acqua Mundo Aquarium offers an introduction to Brazil’s underwater wonders. Visit to observe fish and marine life in a variety of habitats.

Set on 3 acres (1.2 hectares) of lush gardens in Campos do Jordão, Enchanted Forest Park is a fantasyland for young children, inspired by classic fairy-tales. Kids explore the gardens, step inside a giant doll-house, visit miniature houses belonging to well-known children's story characters, and let their imaginations run wild.

With more than 55 attractions—which include gravity-defying water slides, a water rollercoaster, and a 180° surf pool—it’s easy to see why Thermas dos Laranjais is Brazil’s most-visited water park. The family-friendly park has something to entertain all ages and draws huge crowds year-round.

Comprised of upscale commercial and residential high rises, Sao Paolo’s Itaim Bibi district boasts a mix of high-end restaurants and shops to satisfy the after-work cravings of the thousands of Paulistas that work in the area.

Zooparque Itatiba in São Paulo is the largest private zoo in Brazil. More than 1,200 animals of 180 different species live in spacious enclosures designed to recreate their natural habitats. Zooparque Itatiba introduces you to the world’s varied ecosystems and emphasizes the importance of preserving fauna and flora.

As the centrepiece of the Felicia Leirnar sculpture park, Claudio Santoro Auditorium serves as both an architectural landmark and a concert venue. Named after Manaus-born musician Claudio Franco de Sá Santoro, it’s the main stage of the Campos do Jordão International Festival, one of the largest classical music events in Latin America.

Set in a colonial farmhouse, Botucatu’s Coffee Museum showcases São Paulo state’s coffee trade from its 19th-century origins to its emergence as one of Brazil’s biggest exports. Exhibits include traditional machinery and original records, as well as various beans and brews, making this a must-see for any engineer or historian.

Bring your kids to Park do Gorilao to let off some steam at the complex that's part old-fashioned amusement park and part modern games complex. Located within the Novo Shopping Mall in Ribeirão Preto, the park has everything from roller coasters and arcade games to bowling lanes and a 7-D cinema.

Located in downtown São Paulo, the Estação Pinacoteca (Pina_Estação) is one of Latin America’s most important museums. It is in an early-20th century brick building, with large, arching windows, located in front of a lovely park. Today, the exposed brick structure has modern walkways that take visitors to different galleries. The permanent collection is mostly Brazilian artists, featuring different styles and mediums, from paintings, to statues, to graphic art. Rotating exhibitions range in theme, from Afro-Brazilian art, to modernism, sculpture and more. The space is also home to shows and concerts.The buildings hold a lot of history; it was once used by the military dictatorship as the offices of the Political and Social Order Department, which suppressed political and social movements. Many of Brazil’s political activists of the 60s, 70s, and 80s were detained there. There’s a permanent exhibition at the Pinacoteca called the Resistance Memorial, which uses personal testimonies, photographs, preserved jail cells of political prisoners, and other pieces of history to remember this difficult time in Brazilian history.