São José do Rio Preto
Brazil · Americas
About São José do Rio Preto
São José do Rio Preto is a municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It is located in the north/northwest region of the state, approximately 445 km (277 mi) from the city of São Paulo and 700 km (430 mi) from Brasília. With a population of 504,166 inhabitants, by the 2025 estimative of the IBGE, it is the 10th largest city in São Paulo and the 48th largest in Brazil. It has an area of 431.30 km²; the urban area, with 124.79 km², is the 7th largest in the state and the 30th largest in the country. By the 2022 IBGE census, the city had a population of 480,383 inhabitants, with a population density of 1,112.7 people/km².
The Metropolitan Region of São José do Rio Preto, with 1,010,633 inhabitants in 2025, is the 30th largest metropolitan area in Brazil, according to the IBGE. In 2020, the Mesoregion of São José do Rio Preto had a population of 1,569,220; the Microregion of São José do Rio Preto had a population of 763,534.
The city was founded in 1852 and elevated to municipality in 1894 and has an economic history closely tied to the tertiary sector and the primary sector. São José do Rio Preto celebrates its anniversary on March 19, Saint Joseph's Day.
São José do Rio Preto travel guide
Getting there
By plane São Paulo is the closest city with a major international airport handling flights to Europe and North America. The city is served by domestic carriers at the city's airport, Eribelto Manoel Reino (SJP IATA). The airport is served by Gol and LATAM with service to and from Sao Paulo and by Azul with service to Recife, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte and other Brazilian cities.
See
Basílica de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Praça Dom Lafayette Libânio, no number - Boa Vista, ☏ +55 17 3231-2050.
Buy
Plaza Avenida Shopping, Av. José Munia, 4775 - Nova Redentora, ☏ +55 17 3355-0200. M-Sa 10:00-22:00, Su holidays 14:00-20:00. Praça Shopping, R. Bernardino de Campos, 2940 - Centro, ☏ +55 17 2139-2900. M-F 0:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-18:00. Rio Preto Shopping Center, Av. Brg. Faria Lima, 6363 - Jardim Morumbi, ☏ +55 17 3216-9844. M-Sa 10:00-22:00, Su 14:00-20:00.
Eat
Farroupilha, Av. Bady Bassitt, 5414 - Jardim Alto Rio Preto, ☏ +55 17 3232-9835. Churrascaria. Luna Di Napoli, R. Voluntários, 3393, ☏ +55 17 3234-2139. Pizza. Passatempo. Restaurante Bambina, R. Dr. Raul Silva, 281 - Redentora, ☏ +55 17 3231-0031. Sal e Brasa, Av. N.S. da Paz, 1363 - Jardim Bordon, ☏ +55 17 3225-5622. Churrascaria.
Sleep
Metrópolis, R. Bernardino de Campos, 3428, ☏ +55 17 3231-7444. Michelangelo, Rua Vilibaldo Urias Gomes, 400 - Estância, ☏ +55 17 4009-9900. Saint Paul Plaza, Av. José Munia, 5200 - Nova Redentora, ☏ +55 17 3216-9000. Thermas de Rio Preto, Rodovia BR 153, km 49 (16km from town), ☏ +55 17 3225-5031.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.