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West Sao Paulo is booming, both economically and culturally. It’s the place to come to party until dawn, eat local cuisine, and spend your money. The population here is ethnically diverse and mostly young, drawn to the area by its vibrancy, green open spaces and reputation for the good life.

Things to do

Start your visit at the University of São Paulo, the West Side’s cultural hub. Here you’ll find seven excellent museums, in particular, the Instituto Butantan that is focused on natural history and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Brazilian artists give live performances at Fundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano and often in the square surrounding the Memorial da América Latina. If street art is your thing, check out the inspiring graffiti in Beco do Batman, better known as Batman Alley.

West São Paulo has some pretty dramatic architecture, well worth seeing from the street. You can tour the Palácio dos Bandeirantes, home of the governor and the state government, while both the Baroque-style Igreja Nossa Senhora do Brasil and the colonial-era Capela do Morumbi are open to the public.

For shopping opportunities and live performances, head to Praca Benedito Calixto which pops up every Saturday. You’ll find everything from genuine antiques to furniture, knick-knacks and clothes for sale here, and while the musicians keep the crowds entertained, you can sit back and enjoy a cold glass of beer. São Paulo’s best samba is on the stage at SESC Pompéia, but you’ll frequently see impromptu dancing erupting out of local restaurants and bars.

Sports lovers will find plenty to do in West Sao Paulo. The Estádio do Morumbi is the largest football stadium in São Paulo, while the Jockey Club has been the home of horse racing in São Paulo since 1875.

Getting there

West Sao Paulo is well connected to São Paulo’s rail network, and public buses link areas beyond the Pinheiros River with the rest of the city. For a quick and easy way to explore the area, use a private car or taxi to reach attractions on the west side of the Pinheiros river.