There are so many museums in São Paulo that it is difficult to choose which one to visit. The city has about 110 museums with collections ranging from classical works to thoroughly modern spaces with technological exhibits. Therefore, in this article we list the 5 must-see museums in São Paulo that you must visit!
MASP
Masp is one of the best known museums in São Paulo. Not for nothing, after all, it is the largest museum in Latin America and also the first modern museum in the country, founded in 1947. Thus, because of its importance and majesty, Masp has become one of the highlights of Paulista Avenue and the postcard of the city of São Paulo.
Therefore, with a rich collection of more than 8 thousand pieces, including works by great names such as Portinari, Van Gogh, Renoir, Rodin, and Monet, Masp cannot be left out of the list of the best museums in São Paulo.
Address: Avenida Paulista, 1578 (Trianon-MASP Station).
Business hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5:30pm; Thursday from 10am to 7:30pm
Admission: R$ 30 (full), R$ 15 (half), free on Tuesdays (all day) and Thursdays (starting at 5pm).
Pinacoteca
A reference in São Paulo, the Pinacoteca is also one of the city’s most renowned museums. The fixed collection dialogues, for example, between visual arts and education, providing visitors with a unique experience.
Besides the exhibitions, the Pinacoteca creates educational and social inclusion projects, and provides educational materials for teachers to use art as a way to teach.
A bonus in visiting the museum is the surroundings. The Luz Station, where the Pinacoteca is located, is an attraction in itself, as well as the city’s central region, which concentrates countless options for free tours in São Paulo not to be missed.
Address:Praça da Luz, 2 – Luz
Business hours:Wednesday through Monday, from 10 am to 5:30 pm
Admission: R$10 (full) and free on Saturdays
Afro Brazil Museum
Ibirapuera Park, besides being an excellent an excellent park in São Paulo to enjoy the sunny days, it alsoIt also houses a gem: the Afro Brazil Museum, one of the museums in São Paulo that everyone should visit.
Dedicated to telling the African narratives present in the historical, cultural, and identity heritage of our country, the Afro Brazil Museum is a mandatory stop in the São Paulo capital. The impressive collection includes more than 7,000 pieces by Brazilian and foreign artists dating from the 18th century to the present day.
The collection gathers items such as paintings, engravings, sculptures, photographs, documents, and ethnological pieces, for example, that discuss the role of afro-descendants in the formation of the country’s identity, in subjects such as work, religious beliefs, and slavery, among others.
Address: Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/n – Ibirapuera Park, near Gate 10 (Paraíso station)
Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: R$6 (full), R$3 (half price), free on Saturdays
Portuguese Language Museum
As the name implies, the Portuguese Language Museum is a museum completely dedicated to Portuguese. As such, it is totally innovative, being one of the first and only museums dedicated to one language only. Today, the museum has interactive installations, exhibits that tell the story of the Portuguese language, and other must-see attractions.
The Museu da Língua Portuguesa was destroyed by a fire in 2015 and reopened for visitation in 2021 after a long hiatus. After the renovation, several new features were incorporated into the recovered collection. Among them is the inauguration of an observation deck on the third floor, overlooking the Jardim da Luz and the famous Clock Tower.
Address: Praça da Luz, s/n (Estação da Luz)
Business Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 4:30pm (stay until 6pm)
Admission: R$25 (full) and R$12.50 (half price), free admission on Saturdays
Sound and Image Museum – MIS
The diverse collection at MIS attracts so many visitors that some say the museum is the most popular in São Paulo today. With exhibitions that recall great names in music, such as David Bowie, Stanley Kubrick, Tim Burton and Renato Russo, and others that bring back childhood memories, such as the iconic Castelo Rá Tim Bum exhibition, the Museu da Imagem e Som is irresistible for all audiences.
Besides the large temporary exhibitions, MIS also has a permanent collection of more than 200 thousand pieces that tell the history of image and sound, such as collections of photographs, technological inventions, films, and graphic pieces, for example.
Each season, the museum renews itself by adjusting its structure to house immersive settings for exhibitions that break away from the traditional art standard.
Address: Avenida Europa, 158
Hours of Operation:Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm, Sundays and holidays from 10am to 7pm
Tickets: free (first floor exhibitions), prices to be checked (temporary exhibitions)
Which of these museums made it onto your list of places to visit? Tell us here in the comments which other museum you think is a must-see in São Paulo!
