Sao Paulo full day from Santos: Private cruise excursion

See Sao Paulo's history, parks and street art without leaving your cruise schedule

A private full-day tour from Santos port to Sao Paulo with a local guide and air-conditioned transport, timed to return you to your ship. You walk the downtown core where the city was founded in 1554, visit the neo-gothic Cathedral of Sé and the Monastery of Sao Bento, then drive through Paulista Avenue and the Japanese district of Liberdade. The afternoon takes you through Ibirapuera Park and ends in Vila Madalena, where street murals cover the bohemian neighborhood.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Sé Cathedral30m
2. Monastery of Sao Bento20m
3. Ibirapuera Park20m
4. Paulista Avenuepassing by
5. Martinelli Buildingpassing by
6. Sao Paulo Municipal Theater1h

Full day Sao Paulo city tour

• Pick up from Santos port
• Drive to downtown São Paulo
• Brief historical walking tour
• Visit Pátio do Colégio
• See Catedral da Sé
• Drive past Monastery of Sao Bento
• Visit Ibirapuera Park
• Admire the Tea Bridge
• Drive through Liberdade district
• Pass Paulista Avenue
• See Martinelli building
• Visit Municipal market
• Drive through Vila Madalena and Sunset Square
• Return to cruise ship

The experience

Your guide picks you up directly from the Santos port and drives you inland to downtown Sao Paulo: about an hour by car. The walking tour starts at the Pátio do Colégio, the Jesuit mission church and school where the city was founded in 1554, then moves to the Cathedral of Sé, a 20th-century neo-gothic building that holds up to 8,000 people. From there you pass the Monastery of Sao Bento, where Benedictine monks have sung Gregorian chants at masses since the 16th century.

The route then shifts to the city's modern layers. You drive down Paulista Avenue, the financial district built at the end of the 19th century by wealthy coffee farmers, and past the Martinelli Building, Sao Paulo's first skyscraper at 30 stories. The Japanese district of Liberdade shows where Japanese immigrants settled in the early 20th century. A stop at the Municipal Market, a vibrant 1932 building, gives you a chance to sample local food: pastel de bacalhau or mortadela sandwiches are available for purchase. Ibirapuera Park, Sao Paulo's central park with gardens designed by Roberto Burle Marx, offers a quieter stretch before the tour ends in Vila Madalena, a bohemian neighborhood full of artist studios and street murals, with views of the city from Sunset Square.

The tour runs 6 to 8 hours depending on traffic and timing. Your guide speaks English or Portuguese and can share local knowledge and anecdotes throughout the day. Transport is by air-conditioned car or minivan with free wifi, and bottled water is provided. The schedule is built to get you back to your ship on time, so if the tour starts late or hits delays, stops are shortened to meet your departure.

What’s included

• Hop-on hop-off tour access.
• local guide in English or Portuguese.
• private air-conditioned car or minivan transport with free wifi.
• bottled water.
• port pickup and drop-off from Santos.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Bitan Daily Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you're docking in Santos without a rental car and want to see Sao Paulo's full range in one day. The port pickup means no taxi negotiation, and the fixed return time keeps you safe for your ship's departure.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Italian and Portuguese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How much time do I actually spend walking versus driving on this tour?

The downtown historical walking tour is brief, covering the Pátio do Colégio, Cathedral of Sé and the area around the Monastery of Sao Bento on foot. Most of the day is spent driving through different neighborhoods and parks (Paulista Avenue, Liberdade, Ibirapuera Park and Vila Madalena), so you see the city's layers without exhausting walks.

What is the Cathedral of Sé actually like inside?

The Cathedral of Sé is a 20th-century neo-gothic building with capacity for up to 8,000 people. It's one of the major stops on the downtown walking portion of the tour, and you'll see its architecture and scale as part of the historical core.

Will I have time to eat or buy anything at the Municipal Market?

Yes, the Municipal Market is a scheduled stop where you can try local food. Pastel de bacalhau (fried pastry with salt-cod filling) and mortadela sandwiches are popular options, though meals are not included in the tour price and you'll need cash to pay.

What happens if my ship leaves earlier than expected?

Let your guide know your ship's exact docking time, disembarkation time and departure time when you book. The tour is designed to return you to the Santos port by your scheduled departure, and if delays occur, stops are shortened to make sure you get back on time.

Is Ibirapuera Park a place to walk around, or do you just drive past it?

Ibirapuera Park is included as a stop on the tour, so you get time to walk through Sao Paulo's central park and see the peaceful garden landscape designed by Roberto Burle Marx, not just pass by it.