Museums in Sao Paulo: the best cultural attractions

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Traveling to Sao Paulo and not including a museum in your itinerary is practically a crime. This is because the city is geared towards cultural attractions, one of the most effervescent capitals in Brazil. You will see that Paulistanos place great value on and are proud of their museums, spread from north to south. Therefore, we have listed here the best museums in Sao Paulo, so you can visit the exhibitions during your stay.

Most of them even offer free admission on certain days of the week, which will save you money and, at the same time, learn new things. Check out the most renowned and unmissable museums in Sao Paulo below:

Also explore Hotel Sao Paulo Centro Luz

Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP)

MASP is located on Avenida Paulista and it is impossible to go unnoticed with its red columns. It is an integral and unmissable part of the capital. Without MASP, Sao Paulo would lose its energy and creative excitement. On Sundays, its span even hosts a craft fair, and the avenue is closed to cars, allowing pedestrians to circulate freely among the always lively street artists.

Regarding the museum's collection, you will see great Brazilian icons on display, such as the work "Mulata", by Di Cavalcanti, and other international artists, such as Renoir and Van Gogh. Everything is on display in a large modern architecture room surrounded by glass on all sides. The experience is even more enriching as the paintings are displayed on glass supports, which gives lightness when circulating through the works. In addition to the permanent collection, MASP offers temporary exhibitions on other floors, most of them dedicated to Brazilian artists. The free visitation day is Tuesday.

Museum of Modern Art (MAM)

Located within Ibirapuera Park, the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) is another point of immense cultural richness. It has around 5,000 works of modern and contemporary art, mostly national, being an excellent place to learn more about the Brazilian context. A curiosity is that the architecture of MAM was adapted by the same architect as MASP, the Italian-Brazilian Lina Bo Bardi.

The place holds temporary exhibitions, events, film screenings, and offers courses in the field of art history. It is truly a living entity, which aims to democratize modern art in a didactic way for the population. On Sundays, the visit is free! And of course, afterwards it's worth taking a walk in the park, taking pictures in front of the lake and having a fresh coconut water. If you like contemporary art, the tip is to also visit the buildings of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) at the University of Sao Paulo (USP).

Sao Paulo Cultural Center (CCSP)

In the downtown region is the CCSP, the Sao Paulo Cultural Center, a place that reflects the city's diverse and casual essence. This complex of cultural activities has a cinema, theater, a large library, comic book library, exhibition space, and an incredible terrace that provides a cool overview of SP.

In addition to providing a first-rate educational program, which changes every month, CCSP offers courses and workshops for visitors. Another positive point is its ease of access, as it is next to the Vergueiro subway, and also close to our B&B Hotel Sao Paulo Luz.

Pinacoteca

If you are looking for a true museum experience, the Pinacoteca should not be left off your radar! This, which is one of the most photogenic museums in Sao Paulo, is located in front of the Luz subway station. The Pinacoteca has an impressive extension, being one of the largest museums in the country, with more than 22 thousand square meters. It is divided between the Pinacoteca Luz room, Contemporânea (project under construction) and garden.

You can contemplate paintings, sculptures and installations, all in an excellent arrangement of spaces, which encourages movement. By the way, our B&B Hotel Sao Paulo is very close to the Luz subway, one more reason for you to visit the Pinacoteca and its beautiful space!

Other must-see museums in Sao Paulo

If you have time, it is worth visiting the Football Museum, in the old Pacaembu stadium, which manages to contextualize the art of football with the history of Brazil. In addition to this, when passing by Avenida Paulista, visit the Museum of Image and Sound, always with very rich exhibitions. The Museum of the Brazilian House and the Museum of Immigration can also be the icing on the cake for your cultural list in Sao Paulo.