São José dos Campos is a large city in São Paulo state’s Paraíba Valley, better known for aircraft, research institutes, and industry than for easy sightseeing. That is part of its character: this is where Brazil's aerospace story is most visible, from Embraer to the military and space research campuses on the edge of town.
The centre and Vila Adyana have the best walking. The Banhado opens suddenly west of downtown, a broad protected lowland with sunset views from the streets above it. Nearby parks such as Vicentina Aranha and Santos Dumont give the city some green breathing space.
The stronger reason to linger is the contrast between the industrial city and the hills. The São Francisco Xavier district, north of the main urban area, is a mountain village and rainforest escape with waterfalls, trails, and views across the Serra da Mantiqueira. With a car, São José becomes a useful base for combining aerospace history in the morning with waterfalls or high ridges in the afternoon.