São Paulo
São Paulo offers visitors a fantastic mix of culture, passion & fun all set in a sprawling city that is one of Brazil's most famous and finest destinations.
What you need to know about São Paulo
Although Rio De Janeiro has some iconic sights that lure travellers to it every year, there is much to be said for São Paulo as a legitimately interesting destination also with its blend of culture spots, museums, galleries and super interesting things to do. Visiting São Paulo is likely to bring you a slightly different style of Brazilian holiday while still guaranteeing the sensational weather that you can expect elsewhere in the country.
Language: The locals speak Brazilian Portuguese which is very similar to the language of Portugal itself but has been localised over the years so there are some different turns of phrase and words used in Brazil.
Currency: The Brazilian Real (pronounced “Hey Ai”) is the local currency used throughout Brazil.
Banking: ATMs are to be found all around the city and all major cards are accepted. Get some local money to carry with you as it may well come in handy in some situations.
Weather: As with most of Brazil, the weather is super hot in the early part of the calendar year and slightly more temperate in around June-August but still nice and warm whenever you visit.
The famous municipal market is a must see (and eat) when in São Paulo
To be clear, this is no ordinary market. The Mercado Municipal building is a stunning arena for local food that looks pretty amazing at night when it is lit up as a standout landmark.
Inside you will find all sorts of fresh food on sale and a bustling atmosphere. Check it out even if you don't have the appetite to eat everything because it is a cool place to go and experience a bit of local life.
You can also try the baloney sandwich that São Paulo is renowned for (it is delicious!) to go with the fresh fruit you can grab while walking amongst the sellers.
Tasty local specialities await at Mercado Municipal
Paulista Avenue should be your next stop
This is the best area in São Paulo to chill and stroll around for sure and it is jam packed with culture to get stuck into wherever you look.
There are painters and street performers throughout the area and the brilliant Museum de arte de São Paulo (MASP) which is the big building that looks like it is suspended from the red columns of its exterior.
Other options are SESC where you can take in an exhibition or a performance and, although language might be a small issue for some displays or productions, there are aspects of what will find that are universally interesting regardless.
On Sundays Paulista Avenue is pedestrian only so you can relay savour the area without sharing it with any traffic. Some of the best hotels in São Paulo are in this area so get yourself a room booked nearby and enjoy!
São Paulo's Municipal Theatre is a big culture spot
This is the prettiest building in the city and is lovely to see and photograph on your travels. It is an important landmark for São Paulo and a key venue that embodies the new wave of Brazilian art that exploded in the 20th century.
Nowadays it is home to the São Paulo Municipal Symphonic Orchestra, the Coral Lírico (Lyric Choir) and the City Ballet of São Paulo. Be sure to check their performance schedule when you plan your travel and try to spare some time to see some of the finest classical performers in South America.
Go to Beco do Batman for a unique and trippy street art area
For some art with a more urban feel you 100% must go to the open air graffiti museum that is Beco do Batman. Street art is commonplace but this is a collection of graffiti art that is both beautiful and bold with its striking colours and at times satirical content.
There are plenty of instagrammable moments and spots to get an amazing holiday photo here.
The best spots to see this unique urban art gallery is near Rua Gonçalo Afonso and Rua Medeiros de Albuquerque the area of Vila Madalena.
Brilliant graffiti street art awaits in the Beco do Batman area of the city.
Catedral da Sé is the religious heart of the city
Situated in the old part of São Paulo since the 1950s this striking building with its tall spires is worth visiting to view its architecture and search its interiors for some lovely pieces of Brazilian history.
Its crypt in particular is a point of interest as it houses Father Diogo Feijó who was a central figure when the country was in its formative years under Emperor Pedro II.
The other most noteworthy inhabitant of the cathedral's crypt is know as Tibiriçá. He lived in the 1500s and was the chieftain (or "cacique) of the Guaianás tribe who welcomed the first Jesuits to the Piratininga Plateau and whose aid made the foundation of São Paulo possible.
Both have tombs of bronze and are seminal figures from the history of both the city and Brazil itself.
Above ground you can see an organ that is one of the biggest in the whole of Latin America and whose pipes are absolutely massive as befits this sensational building.
Party time in São Paulo means Rua Augusta
If you want to bar hop and see the city's nightlife then Rau Augusta is definitely for you. There are plenty of places to grab a drink, get friendly with the locals and have a great Paulistano time.
Baixo Augusta - the area that you will find between Rau Augusta and Paulista Avenue is the standout part of the area for the best bars, clubs and entertainment. Baixo Augusta is a chilled vibe so go there with no pretence and just go with the local flow. Grab a kebab for dinner before you go out for drinks in (choose from steak, chicken or beef on a bbq stick at Espetinho do Gaúcho for some seriously tasty food!) and then jump into Z Carniceria or Bar Exquisito! for a good time in São Paulo's best spots.
A post-party chill out in Ibirapuera Park can be seriously therapeutic
At over 300 acres in area this park is both huge and awesome. It is not only a great green space but also houses amazing exhibitions that have included varied subjects like Picasso, Latin American history and even dinosaur bones.
A brill place to run, walk, wander or bike through, the park has been open since the 1950s and over 10 million visitors enjoy it every year.
The nearest subway stations are Santa Cruz, Vila Mariana, Ana Rosa, Paraíso, and Brigadeiro and the park is within walking distance of all of them.
The massive Ibirapuera Park is a lovely contrast to the bustling city that houses it.