Visit the Parque do Carmo in Itaquera. This park is one of Sao Paulo's widest open spaces and has been in existence since 1976. It provides visitors with a large playground, several lakes, an amphitheater and street vendors. If you visit the park in July, you can witness the Festa de Cerejeira (Festival of Cherry Blossoms), which is a Japanese festival. The park is home to 10 different varieties of cherry trees and over 200 unique planet species.
Go to Nossa Senhora da Luz in the Parque da Luz. While walking along Avenida Tiradentes, visitors will come across the convert and church of Nossa Senhora da Luz. The styles of these buildings epitomize the traditional style of Sao Paulo architecture, even though they are on the newer side (established in the late eighteenth century). A unique feature of the convent and church is the fact that they are both built entirely out of clay.
Check out the Horto Florestal (Forest Park). This is a beautiful and relaxing way to bask in nature amidst the chaos of Sao Paulo's cityscape. This vast park (430 acres) has water springs, several lakes, and wooded areas. Be sure to check out the Octavio Vechi Forest Museum, which is located on the park grounds as well.
Spend the afternoon in Liberdade (Portuguese for "freedom"). Liberdade is Sao Paulo's Japan Town. Growing rapidly since the 1950s, Liberdade as a community has the largest Japanese population in the world outside of Japan, with upwards of half a million individuals of Japanese descent residing here. There are countless Japanese restaurants, supermarkets, shops, and anything else you could imagine. If you are in Liberdade on a Sunday, check out the Japanese crafts available at the weekly fair.
Stop by the Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu de Arte Contemporanea). This expansive museum has a large collection of over 5000 exhibits. Visitors to the museum will find a large range of artworks from internationally renowned artists like Picasso and Modigliani and also a large amount from famous Brazilian artists as well.
