Campinas grew on coffee and railways, then reinvented itself as one of Brazil’s innovation hubs thanks to Unicamp and countless tech labs. You’ll feel both stories in its parks, markets, and repurposed train stations, where Sundays still smell like pastel and sugarcane juice.

November is spring—mornings are warm, afternoons can bring brief showers, and jacarandás often splash purple along the avenues. Pack light clothes, a compact umbrella, and comfy shoes for park loops and downtown strolls.

Food is a highlight: hearty lanches (Brazilian sandwiches), Italian and Japanese standouts, and countryside kitchens tucked into the green hills of Sousas and Joaquim Egídio. Cambuí is your safest bet for a central stay with cafés, bars, and easy rides to everywhere.

Campinas

Why go now: Spring weather, leafy parks like Lagoa do Taquaral and Pedreira do Chapadão, and a restaurant scene that punches above its weight in Cambuí and the nearby hills.

Getting there: Fly into Viracopos (VCP), 25–40 minutes from Cambuí by taxi or rideshare. Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstops: Rio (1h10–1h25, ~US$60–150 one-way), Brasília (1h35, ~US$70–160), Belo Horizonte (1h15, ~US$60–140). From VCP, rideshare to Cambuí usually runs R$30–60 depending on time of day.

Where to stay: Base in Cambuí for walkable cafés and nightlife. Browse centrally located hotels and guesthouses on Hotels.com (Campinas), or check serviced apartments and homes on VRBO (Campinas). Look around Praça do Cambuí and Avenida Júlio de Mesquita for an easy first-time stay.

• Top sights: Lagoa do Taquaral (Parque Portugal) with a 5–6 km loop trail and a replica 16th‑century caravel; Torre do Castelo’s 360° lookout; the 1908 Mercado Municipal; Bosque dos Jequitibás, one of Brazil’s oldest urban forests; Pedreira do Chapadão’s dramatic quarry park; Estação Cultura, a photogenic former rail station.
• Food & drink: From classic sandwiches and draft beer at Giovanetti to refined Italian (Bellini) and standout sushi (Kindai), plus countryside dining in Joaquim Egídio (Vila Paraíso; Estação Marupiara). Craft beer fans should pencil in Cervejaria Landel (Barão Geraldo) or a local taproom.
• Insider notes: Cambuí is lively and good for solo evenings; use rideshare at night. Many attractions are outdoors—start early for cooler temps. Observatory nights near Joaquim Egídio usually run on weekends and depend on weather; check schedules day-of.

Day 1 — Arrival, Cambuí vibes, and a flavorful first night

Morning: Travel day. If you’re flying, compare fares to VCP on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Aim to land by early afternoon.

Afternoon: Check in around Cambuí via Hotels.com or VRBO, then shake off the trip with coffee and a pastry at Maria Antonieta Boulangerie (buttery croissants, ovos beneditinos, strong espresso) or a pão de queijo stop at the long-running Padaria Romana. Stroll tree-lined streets toward Praça do Cambuí to get your bearings.

Evening: For a polished welcome dinner, book Bellini Ristorante (Mediterranean-Italian; risotti and seafood pastas) or Kindai (sushi and hot dishes—try the sashimi combinados) inside the Vitória complex. After, sample Campinas nightlife at Seo Rosa (Cambuí), known for ambient lighting, DJs on weekends, and well-made caipirinhas. Prefer a pub feel? Grainne’s Irish Pub pours drafts and hosts live rock sessions.

Day 2 — Parks, markets, downtown heritage, and a starry countryside night

Morning: Lace up for Lagoa do Taquaral (Parque Portugal). Join locals on the 5–6 km loop, then detour to see the replica Caravela Anunciação in the water. If open, check the planetarium’s schedule for shows. Grab an açaí bowl or a fresh-squeezed orange juice at a kiosk, then ride up to the 1940s Torre do Castelo for a 360° city view and quick history of Campinas’ waterworks.

Afternoon: Head to the Mercado Municipal, a 1908 landmark with stalls stacked with spices, cheeses, bacalhau, and candy-colored goiabada. Lunch on a hot pastel (meat or palm heart), a mortadella-and-provolone sandwich, and a glass of sugarcane juice. Walk off lunch downtown: the jacarandá‑lined Praça Carlos Gomes, the jacarandá‑wood interior of the Catedral Metropolitana, and the photogenic Estação Cultura, a former rail station turned cultural hub. Coffee break back in Cambuí at Café Container (specialty beans and cold brew) or a gelato stop near Taquaral if it’s hot.

Evening: Aim the rideshare toward the green hills of Joaquim Egídio. Book Vila Paraíso (rustic garden setting; moqueca, bobó de camarão, and icy caipirinhas) or Estação Marupiara (romantic, brick-and-string-light ambience; contemporary Brazilian plates) for dinner. If it’s a clear weekend night, cap things at the Observatório Municipal Jean Nicolini for telescope viewing and constellation talks—sessions depend on weather and usually occur on Fridays/Saturdays; arrive a bit early to secure a spot.

Day 3 — Urban forest, craft beer, and departure

Morning: Start at Bosque dos Jequitibás, a century-old urban forest with towering trees, shady trails, a small zoo, and a natural history museum—an easy nature fix near the center. Alternate or add-on: the wide lawns and waterfall wall at Pedreira do Chapadão, a former quarry turned photogenic park, are great for a relaxed stroll and photos.

Afternoon: Early lunch back in Cambuí. For a true Campinas classic, go to Giovanetti (order a chopp and one of their iconic lanches—the “Psicodélico” and mignon-with-cheese are local legends). Beer lover? Detour to Cervejaria Landel in Barão Geraldo for a sampler flight (expect IPAs, pale ales, and seasonal brews) or a nearby tap house for one last pint. Aim to reach VCP about 2 hours before your flight; price-check rides and return flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: Departure day—if you have bonus time, fit in a last espresso at Maria Antonieta or grab pão de queijo to go from Romana for the ride.

Practical tips: Use rideshare at night, keep valuables out of sight downtown, and carry a light rain jacket for brief spring showers. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge; tipping beyond that is optional. ATMs are widely available; cards are accepted almost everywhere.

Three days in Campinas blends nature loops, market bites, and evenings that stretch from sushi counters to countryside verandas. You’ll leave with purple jacarandá snapshots, a new respect for Brazilian sandwiches, and a short list of bars you’ll want to revisit.