Paulista doesn't have an awful lot. There's MASP, the modern art museum. There's a small park opposite MASP. Further east along the avenue there's Shopping Paulista, a shopping centre, which is a small and not very good shopping centre. The only one there though. Scattered along Av. Paulista are various small booth type shopping centers, such as StandCenter (near MASP) which mostly specialises in electronics and pirate movies/games.

Perhaps some of the long time residents can give more detail.

Russell is right, there isn't much to see except Paulistas going for their stroll after their 2hr lunch. I live within arms reach of MASP.

I just wanted to add that when you head east towards Shopping Paulista remember to check out the Itau Cultural center which also located on Paulista Ave. Its the glassish building with white column frame.

Dont forget to head into Conjunto Nacional. The ground level usually has small art exhibitions. Conjunto Nacional is on the corner of Rua Augusta and Paulista so you'll see it on your way down Augusta to Jardins. 

At Itaú Cultural they have a numismatic museum where you can see a bit of Brazilian history... sometimes they have art expositions.

http://www.itaucultural.org.br - www.itaucultural.org.br

MASP

http://www.masp.art.br - www.masp.art.br

Casa das Rosas (now it's more a literary house, but you can visit the house for an architecture view)

http://www.casadasrosas.sp.gov.br/casadasrosas/ContentBuilder.do?pagina=index - http://www.casadasrosas.sp.gov.br/casadasrosas/ContentBuilde r.do?pagina=index

SESC - Av. Paulista (they have nice art exhibitions, and you can always ask for a guide)

http://www.sescsp.org.br/sesc/busca/index.cfm - http://www.sescsp.org.br/sesc/busca/index.cfm

If you like art, a good site is:

http://www.mapadasartes.com.br - www.mapadasartes.com.br

As if Paulista has loads!!

You have the museum and all the electronic shops!

Plus if you walk down Haddock Lobo you have Oscar Freire with all the good shops and chici people! Then you can walk around jardins and see all the nice apartments plus have a great meal!

Went to Fig Tree last night - It gets better each time.  I would love to go there just for the coverts but I am scared I would get kicked out!

PS. Oscar Freire is nice but EXPENSIVE.

Not sure what you're saying here, but a few not so brilliant electronic markets and a museum and gallery don't really make it a tourist hub. SP is not a tourist city, unlike London, Paris or Rome where there is genuinely plenty to do (as Zeca confirmed also).

Rio being the former capital of brasil offers far more touristy sights, especially the Centro area. The centro of SP is okay in that regard but wouldn't stand a chance against Rio.

All friends of friends or acquintances who even mention coming to SP quickly change their minds once they get talking to me!

I found Rio a big dissapointment (although I've mentioned this before on the forum). Perhaps I missed something as I was on an organised tour, but two principal attractions and artificial feeling beaches (aside from being backed onto by infinite buildings) aren't really enough for me. Also the general feel of the place, with all the issues in the slums, crime on the beaches etc. just wasn't good.

I'd much rather go to the places in the north-east I suspect, or those with more natural things on offer.

Have you been to porkies there!

Now that is paridise plus there is always fashion mall!!!

DOnt you find that there are loads of beggers up north and you cant swim in the sea!

SP's beaches are just as nice.

Porkies (or porceaons(or something) is the best bbq rodesio in the world!

Ahh PORCÃO! ..when you mentioned Porkies, a seedy bar with pole dancers sprung to mind!

yep!

Sadly no dancers but I'm usually too busy trying to fit another mouthfull of meat in!

I was quite manly the last time and even managed a dessert!!