Brazil in January means summer—and you’ve asked for “cold.” The smartest play is altitude. This 6-day itinerary pairs São Paulo’s world-class culture with the breezy, pine-scented heights of Campos do Jordão, one of Brazil’s coolest microclimates, where evenings can dip to sweater weather even in midsummer.

São Paulo is Latin America’s culinary capital and a mosaic of neighborhoods—Liberdade’s Japanese heritage, Avenida Paulista’s museums, and the historic Centro. Campos do Jordão sits 1,600 meters up in the Mantiqueira Mountains, nicknamed Brazil’s “Swiss” town for its chalet architecture, chocolate shops, and fondue houses—plus serious nature at Parque Estadual (Horto Florestal) and the sculpture-dotted Felícia Leirner Museum.

Practical notes: January brings quick afternoon showers—pack a light rain jacket, comfy walking shoes, and a warm layer for mountain nights (10–16°C/50–61°F). Use contactless payments, keep valuables discreet, and rely on reputable taxis or ride-hailing at night. Book intercity buses and hotels early; it’s peak holiday season.

São Paulo

Brazil’s biggest city is a feast of art, architecture, and street eats. Avenida Paulista is the cultural spine with MASP’s red-framed icon, while Ibirapuera Park stretches modernist wings designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Markets brim with tropical produce and oversized mortadella sandwiches, and coffee culture hums from dawn at traditional padarias to third-wave roasteries.

• Top sights: MASP and Avenida Paulista; Ibirapuera Park’s museums; the Italianate Municipal Market; Historic Center (Pátio do Colégio, Martinelli viewpoints); Liberdade’s Japanese gateways.
• Cafés & bites: Bella Paulista (24/7 padaria classics); Coffee Lab (Pinheiros, experimental pours); Mercado Municipal stands like Bar do Mané for the legendary mortadella sandwich and pastel de bacalhau.
• Dinner ideas (budget to mid): A Casa do Porco (nose-to-tail Brazilian—reserve or join the waitlist), Pirajá (boteco fare and caipirinhas), Famiglia Mancini (hearty pastas on a twinkly pedestrian lane).
• Fun fact: São Paulo’s Liberdade is home to the largest Japanese community outside Japan, shaping the city’s ramen, sushi, and yakisoba scene.

Stay: Budget and midrange well-located picks with easy metro access.

• Ibis Budget São Paulo Paulista (great value steps from Paulista): Check Ibis Budget São Paulo Paulista
• Novotel São Paulo Morumbi (comfort + pool with skyline views): Check Novotel São Paulo Morumbi
• Browse more stays on Hotels.com: São Paulo hotels or on VRBO: São Paulo vacation rentals.

Arriving flights: Compare fares to GRU or CGH on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Featured experience (Viator):

Cover the city’s essentials in one smooth sweep with a guided day tour:

São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group)

Campos do Jordão

Welcome to Brazil’s mountain playground: half Alpine village, half nature retreat. Capivari’s timbered storefronts, chocolate boutiques, and music buskers set a festive tone, while trails at the state park (Horto Florestal) deliver araucaria pines, suspension bridges, and river air. Gardens, viewpoints, and sculpture parks add a cultured edge to all that fresh mountain air.

• Top sights: Parque Estadual Campos do Jordão (Horto Florestal); Amantikir Gardens (38 themed landscapes); Felícia Leirner Museum & Claudio Santoro Auditorium; Capivari district & cable car; Pico do Itapeva lookout; Ducha de Prata falls walkways.
• Eat & drink: Dona Chica (farm-to-table inside the park), Baden Baden (craft brewery and hearty plates), Libertango (Argentine grill), La Gália or Matterhorn (classic fondue/raclette), Pastelão do Maluf (oversized crispy pastéis).
• Why January works: Days are mild, nights are crisp—perfect for chocolate tastings and steamy cheese fondue after afternoon hikes. Expect peak-season buzz; book timed entries where offered.

Stay: Center yourself in Capivari for easy walking, or choose a pine-framed pousada for quiet evenings.

• Pousada Nacional Inn Campos do Jordão (value + breakfast): Check Pousada Nacional Inn
• Hotel Leão da Montanha (budget-friendly near Capivari): Check Hotel Leão da Montanha
• Hotel Vila Inglesa (upscale, serene, great for couples): Check Hotel Vila Inglesa
• Browse more stays: Campos do Jordão hotels or vacation rentals.

Getting there from São Paulo: Morning buses from Tietê or Barra Funda terminals (3–3.5 hours; ~$15–25 USD one way) or self-drive via Ayrton Senna/Carvalho Pinto + Rod. Floriano Rodrigues Pinheiro (SP-123) with scenic mountain curves—avoid night driving in fog.

Day 1: Arrive in São Paulo (afternoon) — Paulista pulse and market flavors

Afternoon: Land at GRU/CGH and check in near Avenida Paulista. Shake off the flight with a stroll along Paulista’s cultural mile; duck into MASP’s plaza for city views. Coffee stop at Bella Paulista for pão de queijo and a strong pingado.

Evening: Ride the metro to Sé and walk the Historic Center at golden hour—Theatro Municipal and Edifício Martinelli’s ground-level views. Dinner around República/Consolação: try A Casa do Porco’s set menu (excellent value, arrive early for waitlist) or grab a budget-friendly pizza by the slice along Rua Augusta. Nightcap at Mirante 9 de Julho overlooking Paulista’s lights.

Day 2: São Paulo deep dive — museums, markets, and neighborhoods (guided)

All day (recommended tour): Join São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours to efficiently cover Paulista, Ibirapuera Park, Liberdade, and the Historic Center while hearing context on immigration, architecture, and regional cuisines.

Lunch: At Mercado Municipal, split a towering mortadella sandwich at Bar do Mané or a codfish pastel from Hocca Bar; share fruit samples from the vibrant stalls.

Evening: Explore Liberdade’s lantern-lined streets. Dine on ramen or yakisoba at a casual spot, then grab a creamy soft-serve matcha cone from a kiosk. Early night—mountain trip tomorrow.

Day 3: Up to the mountains — São Paulo to Campos do Jordão, Capivari & cable car

Morning: Bus or self-drive to Campos do Jordão (3–3.5 hours). Drop bags and head to Capivari, the pedestrian heart with chalet façades and music buskers. Espresso and brigadeiro at a local chocolateria.

Afternoon: Ride the Capivari cable car for postcard views, then rent a pedal boat on Lago do Capivari. Walk Rua Djalma Forjaz for artisan knitwear—great value in January sales.

Evening: Warm up with classic Swiss-Brazilian fondue at La Gália or Matterhorn (cheese + chocolate sequence is a winter ritual here year-round). Budget pick: massive stuffed pastries at Pastelão do Maluf with a cold chopp (draft beer).

Day 4: Parque Estadual (Horto Florestal) — bridges, pines, and a slow lunch

Morning: Head to Parque Estadual Campos do Jordão (Horto Florestal). Walk the easy suspension-bridge circuits under araucaria pines; look for bromeliads and native birds. Bike rentals available by the entrance.

Afternoon: Long, local lunch at Dona Chica inside the park—trout with roasted pineapple or a hearty feijoada on weekends; portions are generous and great for sharing. Stroll the nursery and craft stalls for honey and jams.

Evening: Back in town, brewery time at Baden Baden—order a tasting flight and pair with grilled sausages and sauerkraut. For dessert, hot chocolate at a Capivari café; nights can be brisk, so bring a fleece.

Day 5: Gardens, art, and big views — Amantikir, Pico do Itapeva, Felícia Leirner

Morning: Explore Amantikir Gardens (plan 1.5–2 hours). Themed landscapes—from English hedges to Japanese bridges—make photogenic strolls and cool shade in midday sun.

Afternoon: Drive or taxi to Pico do Itapeva for long ridgeline views toward the Paraíba Valley; on clear days you can spot multiple cities. Continue to the Felícia Leirner Museum, where bronze and granite sculptures punctuate native forest trails; check if the Claudio Santoro Auditorium next door has an afternoon rehearsal you can peek into.

Evening: Steak lovers: Libertango grills excellent bife de chorizo with chimichurri and papas provenzal. Alternatively, Confraria do Sabor offers solid “executivo” plates at friendly prices.

Day 6: Waterfalls walk, chocolates, and return to São Paulo (afternoon departure)

Morning: Quick loop at Ducha de Prata’s wooden walkways for sparkling photo ops, then last-minute chocolate shopping (try nut-studded bars or cinnamon hot cocoa mixes). Brunch on warm waffles and fruit at a Capivari café.

Afternoon: Bus or drive back to São Paulo (aim for a late-afternoon flight). Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If time allows, squeeze in one last pão na chapa and espresso at a Paulista padaria before heading to the airport.

Budget tips for a 38/100 spend: Travel by intercity bus instead of private transfers; share “por kilo” buffet lunches or “pratos executivos;” book hotels with breakfast included; and prioritize one guided tour (São Paulo city tour) that maximizes time and transit.

This cool-weather Brazil itinerary pairs São Paulo’s energy with Campos do Jordão’s mountain calm—ideal for January travelers seeking mild days and sweater-worthy nights. You’ll eat memorably, breathe high-country air, and still catch big-city culture before flying out relaxed and refreshed.