Top Rated Attractions in São Paulo

Sala São Paulo is arguably the symphonic pulse of the city. Breathing new life into the historic Sorocaban Railway Station, the magnificent establishment is one of the leading entertainment venues in Brazil. Christiano Stockler das Neves is the architectural force behind the majestic 1925 structure that illustrates the Louis XVI neoclassical design style. It encompasses several rooms, namely Estação das Artes, Salao dos Arcos, Salao Nobre and Sala Camargo Guarnieri - each retaining its own character. With state-of-the-art acoustics, intimate lighting, an adjustable ceiling and a capacity of over 1500, the hall plays host to a myriad of concerts and cultural events. In addition, the opulent setting is the seat of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra.

An architectural masterpiece, the Theatro Municipal majestically stands at the heart of Sao Paulo strutting its captivating Rennaissance-style facade and art nouveau towers. A landmark structure since its completion in 1911, it was designed by renowned architect Ramos de Azevedo. A building filled with classical art forms, the Teatro Municipal is the venue for the São Paulo Municipal Symphonic Orchestra, the Coral Lírico and the City Ballet. As the city grew, plans for a city theater began to take shape, and this resulted in the building of the Teatro Municipal. The theater hosted the Week of Modern Art in 1922. The theater has recently undergone major renovations to restore its glory and keep it technologically up to date.

Formerly the Teatro Abril, this historic theater was built in 1929. Now called Teatro Renault, this Art Nouveau building is one of the city's esteemed entertainment venues, where the focal point is Broadway musicals. The likes of Chicago, Les Miserables and The Lion King have been staged here and have wowed audiences with its sheer beauty. Equipped with great acoustics and lighting, the seats here give a good view of the stage and are very comfortable. Though the shows are on the expensive side, this theater definitely gives a memorable experience to patrons.

This historic monastery is a well-known landmark in the city of Sao Paulo. Still a functioning monastery today, visitors can observe the monk's way of life. Make sure you pay a visit to the old library which is full of rare, old books.

Located in Ibirapuera Park, this futuristic edifice created by famed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemayer hosts all types of musical shows and concerts. The building is typical Niemayer, wide and exposed with idiosyncratic lines throughout; the entrance is marked with a large, red metal structure that exits violently through the slanted roof. Here in São Paulo it is called the Labareda, which means "flame" or "flare," and like many other works by Niemayer, they are usually either received fervently or detested. Inside the auditorium, the wide space for the stage on the first floor provides amazing acoustics and it has a capacity of about 800. In addition to the glorious stage, the auditorium provides a platform for the next best musicians between the ages nine and 18.

Itaú Cultural is a community and cultural center located in Bela Vista. Itaú is dedicated to promoting all different mediums of new and modern Brazilian art. All programs hosted at Itaú Cultural are free of charge, from performing arts presentations to their many art exhibitions in everything from painting to photography and installation. The center also hosts meetings, lectures and educational programming.