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Things to do with kids in Sao Paulo, from dinosaurs to snakes
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Book a seatA big city that loves children: roaring dinosaurs at the zoo, polar bears at the aquarium, hands-on science rooms and live snakes at a research institute. Plan by age and budget.
Editorial team, saopaulocitytour.com · Updated November 11, 2026 · ~7 min read
The essentials
- Zoo47 hectares and more than 230 species; children up to 3 enter free.1,2
- AquariumAbout 3,500 animals, polar bears included; the route is covered.3,4
- ScienceCatavento: 250 hands-on installations, free up to age 7.5,6
- SnakesButantan's park is free; museum tickets for children over 7 cost BRL 5.7,8
- MetroChildren under 6 ride free with an adult.9
The zoo and its dinosaurs
The first of the things to do with kids in Sao Paulo is usually the zoo. Zoo Sao Paulo opened in 1958 and spreads over 47 hectares, with more than 230 species of native and exotic animals.1 Its opening day in March 1958 had 482 animals on show, after heavy rain pushed back the planned date.10 Today the big draw for small visitors is the dinosaur area, with replicas that move and roar, a dinosaur cinema and a pit where children dig for fossils.11
From Monday to Friday the zoo is open 9 AM to 5 PM, and the gates stop admitting at 4 PM; at weekends and on holidays it opens 8:30 AM to 6 PM.12,13 Children up to 3 years old enter free with an ID or birth certificate, and children aged 4 to 13 pay the half-price ticket.2,14 On the zoo's own page, tickets start from BRL 69.90, with half-price entries from BRL 19.90 and an annual pass from BRL 49.90.15 Prices change with the season and the day, so compare the options online before you go.
The paths are long and hilly, and even children who usually walk will tire: the zoo rents strollers, with or without a canopy, while they last.16 Drivers pay BRL 50 at the car park and must arrive between 8:30 AM and 4 PM.17 If you prefer to arrive with a ticket already in hand, a dated entry ticket sells from $20 and lets you go in at any time during opening hours. You can cancel for free up to 24 hours before, handy if storms are forecast.
Ages and savings
Where children go free or cheaper
| Attraction | Free for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Zoo Sao Paulo | Up to age 3 | Ages 4 to 13 |
| Aquarium | Not listed | BRL 120, ages 2 to 12 |
| Catavento | Up to age 7 | Best from age 7 |
| Butantan museums | Up to age 7 | BRL 5 over 7 |
| MASP | Age 10 or under | Under 14 with an adult |
| Metro | Under 6 | With an adult |
Age rules as each venue and the metro publish them; bring an ID or birth certificate for every child.2,14,25,6,8,30,31,32,9
The aquarium, polar bears included
The Aquario de Sao Paulo opened in 2006 in the Ipiranga district.21 It now holds about 3,500 animals from 250 species, in 15,000 m² of space with roughly 4 million litres of water.3,22 An expansion brought kangaroos, wombats and echidnas from Australia, along with seals, sea lions and polar bears.23 Polar bears are a rare sight this close to the tropics, so head to their enclosure first, before the midday crowd.
The aquarium is open daily, 9 AM to 5 PM.24 Online promotional tickets cost BRL 150 for adults and BRL 120 for children aged 2 to 12, who need a birth certificate or ID.25 On Mondays a single price of BRL 120 applies to everyone over 2, which lowers the adult price to the child rate.26 The standard ticket includes the polar bears, but some extra attractions are not part of it, so read the ticket description before you pay.25 Buying online in advance also saves time at the entrance on school holidays.
It is an easy place with small children. The whole route is under cover, there are baby-changing rooms and the building is wheelchair accessible.4 The nearest metro stop is Santos-Imigrantes on the green line, a walk of about 590 m.27 That covered route makes the aquarium a good plan for summer afternoons, when thunderstorms roll in: the INMET normals give January 288.2 mm of rain.28
Catavento, hands-on science
Catavento is the place for curious minds. This science museum has 250 installations across 12,000 m², arranged in 4 sections called Universe, Life, Ingenuity and Society.5 Children can press a boot into a copy of the Moon's surface where Neil Armstrong walked, travel back to Brazil in the age of the dinosaurs and watch static electricity lift their hair.36 Expect noise, buttons and a lot of running between rooms.
Catavento opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and the ticket office closes at 4 PM.37 Full price is BRL 20 and half price BRL 10, and children up to 7 go in free.6,29 Entry is free for everyone on Tuesdays and on certain Sundays of the month.38 The museum welcomes all ages but suggests the visit works best from age 7.32 Younger children still enjoy the animal and dinosaur rooms, but plan shorter stops and more breaks.
Some smaller sections have limited capacity and need a session pass, and children under 12 must go in with an adult who also holds one.39 The museum is a short walk from Pedro II station on the red line or Sao Bento on the blue line.40 Combine it with the nearby historic centre if your children still have energy, or with a pastel break at the Municipal Market a few streets away. Plan at least half a day if your children like to try every exhibit.
Pick by age
Which outing suits your children?
Start from age and energy, then check the day.
Book ahead
Family outings you can reserve
Overview
City tour by van
Ibirapuera, murals, market
- Length7 hours
- LunchBuffet stop
- AccessSome mobility needed
Outdoors
Rainforest walk
Pico do Jaragua
- Length5.5 hours
- GroupPrivate
- GuideEnglish
Snakes and science at Butantan
The Instituto Butantan is a working research centre, and its Science Park makes a leafy, low-cost outing that children remember. Entry to the park costs nothing, and the museum tickets are cheap: free for children up to 7, BRL 5 for older children and BRL 10 for adults.7,8 The park opens daily from 7 AM to 6 PM, while the museums open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM to 4:45 PM.43 On a Monday you can still walk the grounds, but the museums stay shut.
Snakes are the stars. The outdoor serpentarium was built in 1912 and opened in 1914, and it shows Brazilian snakes in a setting close to their natural habitat.33 Inside the Biological Museum, live snakes, lizards and amphibians live in enclosures that recreate their habitats, most of them native to Brazil.44 Every Thursday a free activity lets children meet snakes and other animals up close, with advance registration.45
Bring a picnic: food and drink are allowed and the park keeps an area set aside for picnics.41 The closest metro station is Butanta on the yellow line, about 20 minutes on foot from the entrance.46 With small children, a short taxi ride from the station saves their legs for the museums, and the shaded paths inside the park make a gentle walk between the buildings. Pack insect repellent and closed shoes for the paths under the trees.
Price a family outing
What a booked family day costs
Choose a family outing and count everyone in.
Review 3 options
What a booked family day costs
Choose a family outing and count everyone in.
- Zoo entry ticketAny hour · per person, from $20
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View - City tour by van7 hours · per person, from $80
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View - Atlantic Forest day8 hours · per person, from $127
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View
Starting prices on GetYourGuide, exchanged at the ECB reference rate. The booking page gives the exact price.
A family day
A day out that keeps everyone happy
Ibirapuera, the planetarium and football
Of all the things to do in Sao Paulo with kids, the simplest is Ibirapuera on a day when the children need space. Its playgrounds and sports courts open from 5 AM to 11 PM, and bikes can be hired from 8 AM to 8 PM at a handful of gates.18,47 There are 11 km of paths for walking and running, room enough for a toddler on a balance bike.48 Bring a ball or a kite: the big lawns near the lake are made for both, and there is shade under the trees when the sun gets strong. This site's 7-hour tour also stops here for the Obelisk and the Bandeiras Monument.
The park's planetarium opened in January 1957 and was the first in Brazil.49 After its reopening the minimum age for sessions was set at 5 years.20 A city service notice lists free sessions at the Ibirapuera and Carmo planetariums on weekends and holidays at 10 AM, 12 noon, 3 PM and 5 PM, with passes handed out from 1 hour before.19 Schedules change, so check the city's page on the day.
Football-mad children should see the Football Museum under the Pacaembu stadium. Children under 7 go in free, and the Body Game hall at the end turns passing and shooting into movement games.34,35 Lifts and escalators reach every floor, which helps with strollers.50 On Tuesdays entry is free for everyone, a good reason to make it your midweek outing.34 Art can work too: MASP lets children aged 10 or under in free, though under-14s must come with an adult.30,31
Video
Sao Paulo with kids: family things to do
Travel Tips Group on YouTube · The video waits until you tap play to load.
reproduce the floor of the moon with the footprint of the astronaut Neil Armstrong, travel through Brazil in the time of the dinosaurs
Getting around and the city tour with children
Planning what to do in Sao Paulo with kids is mostly a question of distance, and the metro is your friend. Children under 6 ride free with a responsible adult.9 With a stroller you validate your ticket at a turnstile and pass through the wide gate beside the line.42 Adults carrying small children have priority when buying tickets, at the gates, on seats and in lifts.51 Avoid rush hours: Canada's travel advice notes heavy crowding on trains and buses at peak hours.52
Can you take children on the 7-hour city tour? It runs in a van with stops for photos, snacks and shopping, and the lunch stop is a steakhouse with a self-service buffet that also has vegetarian dishes. The tour suits wheelchair users who have some mobility. A full day in a van is long for toddlers, but school-age children can enjoy Batman Alley's murals and the bustle of the Municipal Market.
Whatever you choose, mix a big outing with a quiet afternoon. A morning at the zoo or the aquarium, a long lunch and a few hours in Ibirapuera make a full day without tears. For older children who like the outdoors, a private rainforest walk on Pico do Jaragua lasts 5.5 hours, from $61. Pack sun cream, water and a light rain jacket all year.
FAQ
Common questions, answered fast.
Is the Sao Paulo Zoo free for young children?
Does the aquarium have polar bears?
Yes.
They arrived with an expansion that also brought kangaroos and seals.23
Which day is cheapest at the aquarium?
Monday.
One price of BRL 120 applies to everyone over 2.26
What age is Catavento best for?
Can children touch the snakes at Butantan?
On Thursdays, with registration.
A free weekly activity brings children close to snakes and other animals.45
Do children pay on the metro?
Not under 6.
They must travel with a responsible adult.9
Is the planetarium suitable for toddlers?
From age 5.
The Ibirapuera planetarium sets 5 as the minimum age.20
Is the 7-hour tour OK with kids?
For school-age children, yes.
It includes stops for snacks and a lunch stop at a buffet with vegetarian options.
Sources
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · Zoo São Paulo (home) ↩
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · Ingressos: regras de isenção ↩
- Aquário de São Paulo · Aquário de São Paulo (site) ↩
- Aquário de São Paulo · Aquário de São Paulo (site): Informações Adicionais ↩
- Museu Catavento · Quem somos ↩
- Museu Catavento · Horários e preços: Gratuidade ↩
- Parque da Ciência, Instituto Butantan · Bilheteria ↩
- Parque da Ciência, Instituto Butantan · Bilheteria: valores ↩
- Metrô de São Paulo · Guia do Passageiro ↩
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · A história do Zoo São Paulo ↩
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · Zoo São Paulo (home) ↩
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · Zoo São Paulo (home) ↩
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · Zoo São Paulo (home) ↩
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · Ingressos: regras meia entrada ↩
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · Ingressos ↩
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · Ingressos ↩
- Zoo São Paulo (Reserva Paulista) · Ingressos: estacionamento ↩
- Prefeitura de São Paulo, Secretaria Municipal do Verde e do Meio Ambiente · Ibirapuera (parques, região sul) ↩
- Prefeitura de São Paulo · SERVIÇO: Conheça a programação dos planetários municipais ↩
- Prefeitura de São Paulo, Secretaria Municipal do Verde e do Meio Ambiente · Planetário do Ibirapuera redefine distribuição de senhas e classificação etária ↩
- Aquário de São Paulo · Aquário de São Paulo (site) ↩
- Aquário de São Paulo · Quem Somos ↩
- Aquário de São Paulo · Quem Somos ↩
- Aquário de São Paulo · Aquário de São Paulo (site): Horário de Funcionamento ↩
- Aquário de São Paulo · Aquário de São Paulo (site): Ingressos ↩
- Aquário de São Paulo · Aquário de São Paulo (site): Ingressos ↩
- Aquário de São Paulo · Aquário de São Paulo (site): Como chegar ↩
- INMET (Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia) · Normal Climatologica do Brasil 1981-2010, Precipitacao Acumulada (30-Precipitacao-Acumulada-NCB_1981-2010.xls) ↩
- Museu Catavento · Horários e preços ↩
- MASP (Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand) · Ingressos ↩
- MASP (Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand) · Ingressos ↩
- Museu Catavento · Regras para visitação ↩
- Parque da Ciência, Instituto Butantan · Serpentário ↩
- Museu do Futebol · Opening hours and Tickets ↩
- Museu do Futebol · New Football Museum ↩
- Museu Catavento · Quem somos ↩
- Museu Catavento · Horários e preços ↩
- Museu Catavento · Horários e preços: Gratuidade ↩
- Museu Catavento · Regras para visitação ↩
- Museu Catavento · Como chegar ↩
- Parque da Ciência, Instituto Butantan · Perguntas frequentes ↩
- Metrô de São Paulo · Guia do Passageiro ↩
- Parque da Ciência, Instituto Butantan · Perguntas frequentes ↩
- Parque da Ciência, Instituto Butantan · Museu Biológico ↩
- Parque da Ciência, Instituto Butantan · Bilheteria ↩
- Parque da Ciência, Instituto Butantan · Como chegar ↩
- Prefeitura de São Paulo, Secretaria Municipal do Verde e do Meio Ambiente · Ibirapuera (parques, região sul) ↩
- Prefeitura de Sao Paulo · Parque Ibirapuera: lazer, cultura, esporte e muita area verde ↩
- Prefeitura de São Paulo, Secretaria Municipal do Verde e do Meio Ambiente · Planetário do Ibirapuera redefine distribuição de senhas e classificação etária ↩
- Museu do Futebol · Opening hours and Tickets: Accessibility ↩
- Metrô de São Paulo · Guia do Passageiro ↩
- Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca) · Travel advice and advisories for Brazil ↩
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