What to do at Parque Ibirapuera in São Paulo
São Paulo is the world’s 9th largest city by population and also happens to be where my husband was born and raised. It’s a big, noisy, messy city, but it never ceases to surprise me, either with excellent food or with world-class cultural attractions. While I certainly indulged in plenty of plenty of Brazilian street food during this most recent visit, my favorite day in São Paulo was at Parque Ibirapuera. Here are tips for what to do at Park Ibirapuera.
Should you visit Parque Ibirapuera?
This urban park is one of the largest in all of Latin America. Its importance to São Paulo is similar to that of Central Park to New York or Golden Gate Park to San Francisco. It has a little of everything that makes a great city park: large green spaces, walking/biking paths, a lake with ducks, playgrounds for kids, restaurants and snack shops, museums, and sculpture. When you visit Ibirapuera Park, you get a taste of this big, bustling city — the people enjoying the outdoors in the vibrant way that Brazilians naturally do.
But what attracts me the most is the array of modern architecture by 20th century master Oscar Niemeyer.
What to do at Parque Ibirapuera
All of these attractions are within easy walking distance of each other and of the parking lots that you will see when you enter the park. Nearby the attractions, you can find extensive walking/biking lanes that connect to basketball courts, play areas, and a lake. There are also outdoor food stands where you can buy açaí bowls, ice cream, and other snacks.
Devote time to the following museums where you can explore some of the best 20th century architecture while seeing the exhibitions and browsing the gift shops. This is also a great way to escape the heat on a hot day.
Ibirapuera Auditorium
Niemeyer designed a group of buildings for Ibirapuera Park in the 1950s. One is the unusual Ibirapuera Auditorium (above), although it was not completed until 2005. The interior includes Niemeyer’s trademark curves. The auditorium hosts cultural events and is just one place in São Paulo to see world-class entertainment.
Oca
The architecture that captured my interest the most is Oca because its design is just so unusual. It looks like a spaceship that has landed on the grass of the park!
Oca is a 10,000-square-meter exhibition space. When we visited, there was an excellent and beautifully arranged exhibition of Mayan art as well as an exhibition about color in Brazil. Both were free!
Bienal
The other building that I was really excited to visit is the Bienal. São Paulo was actually the second city in the world to host a biannual art exhibition (starting in 1951), only after Venice. A major art exhibition is held every two years here. The outside is stark and geometric, a very long, rectangular building with a large concrete overhang for visitors to walk under, typical of Niemeyer’s other boxy designs.
The completely rectangular patterns of the outside create a sharp contrast to the flowing circular forms inside.
Modern Art Museum and Os Gemeos Mural
Also in Parque Ibirapuera, the Modern Art Museum and this mural by São Paulo’s famous street artists, Os Gemeos (“The Twins,” a great example of street art in São Paulo).
The Marquise
Another interesting place in Parque Ibirapuera, the Marquise is a 620-meter-long structure that connects the major museums or landmarks of the park. Also designed by Niemeyer, it’s a large, covered space that curves through the park behind the Niemeyer buildings and connects the Modern Art Museum to the playground, to an outdoor restaurant, and beyond. It’s used now as a place for people to relax, skate, and rollerblade.
Afro-Brazilian Museum
One of the nicest museums in the city is housed in another Niemeyer designed building. The exhibits of the history of African culture in Brazil, including costumes, photographs, and handicrafts, are fascinating.
Read more: the Museum of Art in São Paulo
If you’re interested in architecture or just enjoy grand city parks, this park will be one of your favorite spots in São Paulo, too.
Have you been to Parque Ibirapuera? What is your favorite city park?
Fantastic post and photos, Jenna! It brings back good memories. The park is one of my favorite spots in Sao Paulo too, it’s a good combination of culture and park-life, very well thought-through. I always like to go back there when I am in town.
Yes, it’s a good combination of culture and park, and since art and nature and two of my favorite things, I love being there.
Another intriguing, informative post, Jenna! Your photos and descriptions made me long to visit myself.
Thank you!
Great itinerary on Sao Paulo’s green space and local arts scene. You’ve really inspired me to go check it out for myself!
Glad you enjoyed it, Kae. There’s a lot more to this park than what I’ve shown here…I’m sure you’ll really enjoy it when you go.
Looking forward to seeing this park, but tell me near this park where is the best tasting coffee shop and pastries? We’re coming from the Hilton in the Brooklin area. Thank you for the guidance. Karl
99karl@gmail.com
Hi Karl, I am not sure, but the area around the park is nice, so there must be plenty of cafes around. Here’s a map I found of cafes near the park: http://www.parquedoibirapuera.com/quintal-do-parque/cafes/
I actually would try finding something inside the park because the park is huge. For example, the Modern Art Museum (MAM) inside the park has a restaurant/cafe. Perhaps the other museums there serve coffee and pastries as well. The benefit of that is that you can enjoy the beautiful architecture while having a snack.
Enjoy your stay!
beautiful photos.
Thanks Jenna for the very informative piece. I’ll be visiting SP in few weeks. Would love to visit the park and see what you described Can you advice on how safety it is to walk through the park on your own
I think it’s safe enough to walk around on your own, but practice common sense safety tips: don’t go when it’s getting dark, don’t keep an expensive camera or expensive brand name sunglasses/purses out, and stay in areas where there are plenty of other people.