Paulista Avenue is São Paulo’s most lively street and features some of the city’s most popular attractions. The street is named after the city’s people and is centrally located between the old and new towns. The streetscape is made up of modern high-rises and historic façades.
The 2.7-kilometre (1.7-mile) cultural and business hub is most busy during the day. The avenue contains some of Latin America’s biggest financial institutions and the São Paulo Museum of Art. In the late afternoons, take a seat in a bar to join local business people enjoying a relaxing evening after work.
A subway station is located on the avenue’s northern end at the Paulista Centre. Take an afternoon to traverse the avenue southwards, sightseeing and taking in the atmosphere along the way. Pass by Old Paulista to see the oldest home on the street, the small house belonging to Coronel Joaquim Franco de Mello. Pass Casa das Rosas, the historic poetry centre.
Don’t miss the São Paulo Museum of Art, one of the city’s key art galleries featuring work by Renaissance masters and many contemporary artists. The building also has an intriguing architectural design with bright red columns entwining the outside of the structure. Further down the avenue, find the towering Edificio Gazeta. The landmark radio tower is known among locals as the Paulista Tower and is most distinctive when lit up against the night sky.
Once you’ve reached the southern end of the avenue, enjoy a well-deserved snack and a drink from the range of cafés and restaurants in this area. Find food courts serving international cuisine or explore further into the quiet side streets to find more authentic Brazilian restaurants. Chat with locals over a caipirinha, a popular Brazilian cocktail, or sample some couve-de-folhas, a regional snack made with cabbage leaves.
Find Paulista Avenue in São Paulo’s busy city centre. Parking may be difficult to find, so reach the street by subway or taxi. Three subway stations are located along Paulista Avenue. Visit the avenue in the afternoon. If you linger until nighttime, exercise appropriate caution.
