Sao Paulo is huge: there are 12 million people living in the largest city of the South Hemisphere and the third biggest city in the Americas. Sao Paulo gathers more than 100 museums, 120 theaters, around 300 cinemas, besides having several parks and green areas. It’s the Latin American capital of conventions and events, which has a super structure in the Anhembi Convention Center to host congresses and conventions.
Sampa, an affectionate nickname given to the city, is delightful, and is famous for offering one of the best nightlives around the planet. Known as the Latin American capital of good restaurants, it has high standard international restaurants with fine regional dishes signed by renowned Brazilian chefs. It is considered as well the Brazilian pizza capital, featuring more than six thousands pizza places around the city.
The Sao Paulo Art Museum (Masp), spot listed by the Brazilian Institute of History and Art Heritage (Iphan) in 2003, has a collection of 10 thousand pieces, including African, American, Asian, Brazilian and European Art, from the ancient times to the 21st Century; including paintings, sculptures, drawings, photography and dressings. The State Pinacoteca, a rich visual arts museum, houses relevant international exhibitions and displays valuable pieces from the last 200 years of the Brazilian Art.
On weekends, the traditional paulistano’s (as the ones born in Sampa are called) program is to go to street markets around the city. The Bixiga, Liberdade, and Praça Benedito Calixto street markets are some of the most visited ones.
Going to the Ibirapuera Park is a pleasant activity. Besides areas for exercises, bike paths and playgrounds, it features museums, auditoriums and a planetarium, always busy with an intense cultural program.
The Sao Paulo LGBT Pride Parade, which usually takes place in May or June, invades the Paulista Avenue at the sound of trio eletricos. As the party (one of the biggest around the world) goes on, there are debates, cultural fairs and award ceremonies. Learn more about the gay parade.
Plane/airport
The International Airport of Sao Paulo receives direct international flights from 54 cities.
If you’re already in Brazil, you can also arrive at Congonhas Airport.
Bus
If you’re coming from a country in the South America or another Brazilian city, you can take a bus to the Tiete Bus Station. 67 bus lines from 21 states and 5 countries (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay) operate to this destination.
Av. Cruzeiro do Sul, 1800 - São Paulo, Sao Paulo State
+55 (11) 3866-1100
Personal or rental vehicles
The city of Sao Paulo is accessed by some of the most important (national and state) highways in Brazil such as Dutra, Castelo Branco, Raposo Tavares, Fernao Dias, Anhanguera/Bandeirantes, and Regis Bittencourt highways.
Ómnibus (Bus)
São Paulo’s public transportation system is integrated and you can use the Bilhete Unico for buses, microbuses, subway and train. Check the city’s bus lines. Useful phone numbers
Subway/Train
The subway has 68 stations. Check the schedule to see when each one operates and check the lines map.
Phone number: 0800 770 7722 (every day, from 5:30 A.M. to 11:30 P.M.)
Taxi
Sao Paulo has a large taxi fleet, including around 33 thousand registered vehicles.
The following websites may help:
Association of the taxi companies
Fare calculator.
Call a taxi
Sao Paulo’s area code is 11.
Voltage: 110 V
Always take a coat with you, because the weather can change suddenly.
Most of the tourists have a safe experience when they visit Brazil; however, mainly in the big cities, you should take care so as not to become an easy target for muggers. Check these safety tips.