park · São Paulo, SP
Parque Ibirapuera
Opened in 1954 for the city's 400th anniversary celebrations, it brings together lakes, lawns and woods around buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Under the marquee and in the pavilions are museums such as MAM and the Museu Afro Brasil, as well as the Bienal.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Parque Ibirapuera
Parque Ibirapuera is São Paulo's best-known park. It is in the city's South Zone and covers about 158 hectares of lakes, lawns and woods. It is where locals go to run, ride bikes, have picnics or simply sit on the grass.
It opened on August 21, 1954, as a gift to the city for São Paulo's 400th anniversary. The area used to be a marshy floodplain. The set of buildings was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and his team and is now a listed heritage site.
Niemeyer's buildings are connected by the marquise, a long free-form concrete canopy that gives shade for walking, rollerblading and skateboarding. Around it are the Oca, a dome-shaped pavilion, the Bienal Pavilion, MAM (Museum of Modern Art) and the Museu Afro Brasil. The park also has the Auditório Ibirapuera, the Planetarium, the Japanese Pavilion and the Sculpture Garden.
The lakes, such as Lago das Garças, are surrounded by trees with the city's buildings in the background. The ground is flat and the paths are paved, which makes the visit easy for those with little stamina, for children and for wheelchair users. Entry to the park is free; museums and cultural spaces have their own admission rules.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours is enough to walk under the marquee, see the lakes and go into a museum; a full day lets you combine several cultural spaces.
Best time
Year-round; mornings have softer light and a quieter park, and weekdays are less crowded than weekends.
How to get there
It is in São Paulo's South Zone. By subway, the closest station is AACD-Servidor (Line 5-Lilac), about 1 km away: walk down Rua Pedro de Toledo, cross Avenida Ibirapuera and follow Avenida Sagres to gates 5, 6 and 7A, about 15 minutes on foot. By car, there is paid parking inside the park.
Tip
The museums and pavilions have their own hours and tickets: check each one's website before you go.
A look at the place
Parque Ibirapuera in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Parque Ibirapuera
Is there an entrance fee at Parque Ibirapuera?
No. Entry to the park is free. Parking is paid, and museums and cultural spaces have their own admission rules.
How do I get to Ibirapuera by subway?
Get off at AACD-Servidor station, on Line 5-Lilac. From there it is about 1 km, around 15 minutes on foot, to gates 5, 6 and 7A.
How long does it take to see Ibirapuera?
Two to three hours is enough for a good walk under the marquee and around the lakes. To visit museums at a relaxed pace, set aside the day.
What is inside Parque Ibirapuera?
Lakes, lawns and woods, the marquee and Oscar Niemeyer's buildings, such as the Oca and the Bienal Pavilion, plus MAM, the Museu Afro Brasil, the Auditório Ibirapuera, the Planetarium and the Japanese Pavilion.
When did Parque Ibirapuera open?
On August 21, 1954, during the celebrations of São Paulo's 400th anniversary.