Destination: São Paulo

In spite of being the largest city of South America, in spite of, in my opinion, being the most Brazilian of all the cities in Brazil, São Paulo is largely unknown to the foreign tourist. There are more than enough reasons for this: São Paulo is a giant that scares and intimidates.

WE LIKE THE MOST: the very real sensation that no one is a stranger in the city; the cultural melting pot; the welcoming nature of most paulistanos; the intense cultural life; the strength of this economic powerhouse

WE LIKE THE LEAST: traffic from hell; terrible public transport sytem outside the limited area covered by the underground; violence; pollution; filth.

HOW TO GET THERE: São Paulo is the main entry point to Brazil. You can get there by plane or by road. From Rio, it’s a six-hour trip by bus or a 45-minute flight.

CAREFUL WITH: theft in the city centre, there are legions of pickpockets acting in the area

FAVOURITE PLACES: the Liberdade neighbourhood, the Central Market, the Ibirapuera Park, the Consolação cemetery, avenida Paulista, Sala São Paulo concert hall, the Burle Marx park, the Oscar Americano foundation

PIECE OF ADVICE:

• look for accommodation close to the underground system; although the underground network is minute, it is fast and safe and will take you to quite a few of the most important tourist spots in São Paulo
• using public buses in São Paulo is not simple; there are more than 1.300 lines and often the bus stops do not contain information on the buses stopping at them. Locals ask the driver before boarding to find out whether that line will take them to their intended destination
• do go to the top of the Banespa building, in the city centre. The visit is free, and from the top you can contemplate a breathtaking 360-degree-view of São Paulo
• avoid the Ibirapuera park during the weekends, unless you want to share it with hundreds of thousands of paulistanos
• see our São Paulo’s top ten

LINKS: Official Tourist Guide of São Paulo, Visite São Paulo

WEATHER FORECAST: The weather in São Paulo for the next 10 days

GOOGLE MAPS: São Paulo

PHOTOS: São Paulo

ACCOMMODATION IN SÃO PAULO: search for São Paulo hotels on our search engine (results open on a new window)

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