São Paulo

São Paulo, or Sampa as it is also often called, is the largest city in Brazil, with a municipality population of 12.1 million, and about 21.3 million in its metropolitan region - the most populous of the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. It is the capital of the Southeastern state of São Paulo, and also a beehive of activity that offers a jovial nightlife and an intense cultural experience.

São Paulo is South America's major economic center and possesses the 10th largest GDP in the world, though poverty, especially in the suburbs, is still widespread due to the blatant social inequality. Historically attractive to immigrants and to Brazilians from other states, it has a unique cultural identity formed by combining Portuguese and African roots (common to the entire country) with other influences, in particular Italian, Arab and Japanese.

São Paulo is probably one of the most underrated cities tourism-wise, often overshadowed by other places in the Brazilian sun & beach circuit such as Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. It is in fact a great city to explore, with an impressive (and almost intimidating) skyline, unpredictable neighbourhoods and architecture, a vibrant culture and arts (in particular street art) scene, not to mention the world-class restaurants and diverse regional and international cuisine available to all tastes. If there is a major attraction to this city, it is the excellent quality of its restaurants and the variety of cultural activities on display.

Just south of the city lies the Parque Estadual Serra do Mar (part of the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a mountain range covered by lush rainforest that faces the coast and provides various ecotourism options.

Understand
São Paulo is the most visited city of Brazil, but mostly because of business and event tourism, with many of the visitors not taking much effort to explore the city. Those who do so may, however, discover one of the most complex and fascinating cities of the world, where even nearby areas may look and feel like a different city, due to São Paulo's staggering social inequality and variety of cultural influences, and its hard to understand urban planning.

For instance, if you walk from one end to another of Rua Augusta (which later becomes Rua Colômbia and Avenida Europa), starting from Downtown, you will pass through:
 * One of the city's hottest nightlife areas in Baixa Augusta
 * A vibrant cultural and business area surrounding Avenida Paulista
 * A variety of shopping options in the area surrounding Rua Oscar Freire
 * The green, affluent low-rise neighbourhood of Jardim América
 * A stream of expensive car shops in Jardim Europa
 * The modern business district in Av. Faria Lima and the ultra-affluent neighbourhood of Itaim

Although the first impression might be that of a grey concrete jungle, soon it becomes apparent that the city has a great number of pockets of beauty, and fantastic places (and not always expensive) to dine, drink and hang out.

History


Native American Chief Tibiriçá and the Jesuit priests José de Anchieta and Manuel de Nóbrega founded the village of São Paulo de Piratininga on 25 January 1554—Feast of the Conversion of Paul the Apostle. Along with their entourage, the priests established a mission named Colégio de São Paulo de Piratininga aimed at converting the Tupi-Guarani native Brazilians to the Catholic religion. São Paulo's first church was constructed in 1616 at the site where the Páteo do Colégio stands now (metrô: Sé or São Bento station).

São Paulo was designated a city in 1711. In the 19th century, it experienced a flourishing economic prosperity, brought about chiefly through coffee exports, which were shipped abroad from the port of neighbouring city Santos. After 1881, waves of immigrants from Italy, Japan, and other European and Middle Eastern countries, such as Syria and Lebanon immigrated to São Paulo State due to the coffee production boom. Enslavement of Africans was coming to an end, due to British pressure, as the British Empire wished to introduce its machinery and industrialized products to Brazil. The government was also concerned with the fact that the population of black people was greater than that of whites, and, in an effort to "bleach the race," gave incentives to European nationals of countries such as Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Portugal, and Spain to immigrate. Thus, after Emancipation, with the influx of European labor and failure on the part of the racist system to include African-Brazilians, black people became increasing unemployed and discriminated against. By the beginning of the 20th century, the coffee cycle had already plummeted due to, among other factors, a sharp decline in international coffee prices and competition from other nations. The local entrepreneurs then started investing in the industrial development of São Paulo, attracting new contingents of overseas immigrants to the city. Many of those entrepreneurs had Italian, Portuguese, German, and Syro-Lebanese Christian descent such as the Matarazzo, Diniz, and Maluf.

However, due to competition with many other Brazilian cities, which sometimes offer tax advantages for companies to build manufacturing plants in situ, São Paulo's main economic activities have gradually left its industrial profile in favour of the services industry over the late 20th century. The city is nowadays home to a large number of local and international banking offices, law firms, multinational companies, advertising firms and consumer services.

Many major international and Brazilian companies have offices in São Paulo, and the Bovespa stock exchange index (Ibovespa) is considered one of the most important Latin American market indices abroad.

People


Don't be surprised at the diversity of Paulistanos. For example, São Paulo is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. It is not uncommon to see businesses and churches being conducted by Chinese and Korean-Brazilians in Liberdade, which began as an Italian district, became Japanese, and is now heavily populated by Koreans and Chinese. The city's Italian influence is also very strong, with about 6 million people in the metropolitan area having Italian background. The large Arab and Jewish communities are also well represented in all levels of society, from art to real estate businesses, and notably in politics.

The citizens of São Paulo have a reputation as hard-working and industrious or shallow money-grubbers. It is common to hear that the people in São Paulo work while the rest of Brazil relaxes; even though many say this, it is plainly wrong. It is a fact, nonetheless, that the city of São Paulo alone actually contributes 15 percent of the country's gross national product (45 percent if the entire São Paulo state is taken into account).

But when Paulistanos are not working, they are clubbing. The city nightlife is as intense as it gets, which makes going to a club a total must-do.

Orientation
São Paulo's basic spot for orientation should be Avenida Paulista. From there, it's pretty easy to reach every single spot in town, be it by bus or underground transport. It lies between the neighborhoods of Bela Vista and Jardim Paulista. Av. Paulista is also within walking distance to Centro and Ibirapuera Park, which makes it the perfect place to start a walking tour.

However, central São Paulo is a very large area, and travelling from one spot to another may require that you take a cab or public transport. To find out the general direction where you are, see the street signs, as it is colour-coded:


 * Sé/República (in Downtown): White street plate.

All other areas have blue street plates, and a bottom stripe on the following colours:


 * Expanded Center: Grey (Expanded Center means the area limited by the Tietê river on the North, the Pinheiros river on the West, Avenida dos Bandeirantes on the South and Avenida Salim Farah Maluf on the East)
 * Northwest: Light Green
 * North: Dark Blue
 * Northeast: Yellow
 * East: Red
 * Southeast: Dark Green
 * South: Light Blue
 * Southwest: Purple
 * West: Orange

To find the direction of Downtown (most precisely Praça da Sé), just follow the direction of decreasing street numbers. That doesn't work, however, in the Santo Amaro subprefecture (South Central), neither in the Far South region; in these areas, decreasing numbers lead to Largo 13 de Maio.

Climate
The city of São Paulo has a temperate and highly variable climate. Like in Melbourne, in Australia, the locals say that all the four seasons can be enjoyed in a day in São Paulo. Despite being on the Tropic of Capricorn, São Paulo is located at 760 meters (2493 ft) high, which makes the city cooler than normal. Ocean winds keep the air always humid during the year.

Rainfall is heavy in the summer, causing flooding in parts of the city and some rivers overflowing at that time. January is the wettest month, with an average of 237 mm (9.3 inches) of rainfall. The driest month is August, with an average of 40 mm (1.6 inches) of rainfall.

Due to the city's altitude, temperatures are not usually very hot. In February, the hottest month, temperatures are between average highs of 28º C (82º F) and average lows of 19º C (66º F). In winter, temperatures are average minimums of 12º C (53º F) and average highs of 22º C (71º F) in July. However, due to the high concentration of buildings, it may seem warmer in some regions of the city.

Get in

 * Check the official Brazil tourism website and the get in section of our article on Brazil for general information regarding visas and customs, and the Cidade de São Paulo homepage for updated events and art exhibitions around town.

By plane
São Paulo has three major airports: Guarulhos International  and Viracopos  for international and some domestic arrivals, and Congonhas  for most medium and short haul domestic flights.

If the flights to São Paulo are high-priced, you can check flying to the airports of Campinas, Rio, Curitiba, Ribeirão Preto or Belo Horizonte. From there you can take an intercity bus to São Paulo.

Guarulhos International Airport



 * [[Image:Catedral Metropolitana de Sao Paulo 3 Brasil.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Street numbers of São Paulo begin counting from the direction of Marco Zero, in front of the cathedral da Sé.]]

Non-airline shuttle buses are available from Guarulhos to Congonhas Airport, Praça da República (Downtown), Paulista/Jardins region, Barra Funda bus station and Tietê bus station (fastest access to the subway). All lines except Congonhas connect to the Metrô. R$42 one-way.

Line 257 is a regular urban bus, which goes every 15-20 min to and from Tatuapé Metro station (line 3, red). The ride takes about 35 min and costs R$6.15 (Feb 2018), paid as you board. The bus driver provides change. Exit on the arrivals level at any terminal and follow the signs for the bus. The bus starts at Terminal 2 before heading to Terminal 3 and then 1, and it's recommended to board at Terminal 2 during peak times. Less comfy than the shuttles, but can prove faster way to Paulista (and elsewhere) on days with dense traffic, as it goes for the closest Metro station. While the bus has baggage racks, you might be denied access with luggage that won't fit on your lap.

LATAM, Gol and Azul, the three main Brazilian airlines, offer free shuttle buses for their passengers with flights to/from Guarulhos International Airport and Congonhas Domestic Airport. Check the schedules for LATAM and Gol. If you're on a budget trip and have enough time, you can ride those buses to Congonhas airport (you must show your boarding pass or printed reservation to the bus driver) and then get a taxi to your destination. It will be much cheaper than getting a taxi directly from Guarulhos airport. The trip between those airports takes between 1 and 1½ hours. No reservation is required.

A taxi co-operative, Guarucoop (tel: +55 11 2440-7070), has a monopoly on cabs leaving Guarulhos. They are plentiful and the queue is outside the arrival terminal. Credit-card users can pay for their journey in advance at the booth, although it's useful to have local currency as not all international credit or debit cards will work at all businesses in Brazil. Passengers can ask to see the tabela, which shows the fares for each neighbourhood. A taxi ride into the city can take up to two hours during peak times, or around 45 minutes late at night or early in the morning.

Also, you can use the "Airport Express" direct service to/from Luz station. Railway station is not right near the terminals of the airport. Take a  free shuttle bus.

Congonhas Airport


The easiest (and cheapest) way to get to Congonhas is by taking any of the "Aeroporto" regular line buses that run along Avenida Paulista. After some 40-60 min in modest traffic you'll be dropped right in front of the airport and the fare is the regular R$4 (Bilhete Único accepted). It is mostly faster to take the metro to the São Judas subway station, and then the bus from there (10 min). Take bus number 609J/10 just outside of São Judas station to the airport and when getting off at the airport you walk just outside and look for the 607J bus stop.

Cab drives from downtown or Paulista should be used after checking how is the out of control São Paulo traffic. Check the CET website (only in Portuguese), which is the traffic administration department of the city.

Viracopos International
Viracopos International (CPQ or VCP) is in Campinas, from downtown São Paulo. It is sometimes used when weather conditions prevent landing in Cumbica. Brazilian airline Azul has its hub here and they offer free bus transport to São Paulo for their passengers, it might be convenient depending on your exact location. TAP flies from Lisbon three times a week to São Paulo.

Air taxi Rotorfly is an air taxi company located at the Carapicuíba Helipark in São Paulo. Transport by air by helicopter throughout São Pauo. Could be a great option for quick commutesR. Fortunato Grilenzone, 417 - Sala 8 - Helipark, Carapicuíba - SP, 06333-230 - Telefone: 0800 591 9056

By bus
There are three main bus terminals in São Paulo, all of them served by the Metrô (Subway) network.



An inexpensive alternative (R$130) for bus travel between Foz do Iguaçu and São Paulo are freight bus companies that handle freight of merchants buying in Paraguay and bus travel at the same time. See the Foz do Iguaçu article for more details. From São Paulo, call ahead to find out from where they start. The companies are the following:

By train
Besides the extensive commuter rail system, there are no passenger trains of any kind into São Paulo. A proposal to relieve the extremely busy São Paulo - Río de Janeiro air route through a high-speed rail link is being planned. It is also expected that Brazil's first intercity passenger train will link São Paulo to Campinas by 2031.

Get around
Transport in São Paulo can be anything from joyful to complicated. Usually, the fastest and less stressful way to get around is by bicycle and public transportation, while the experience with cars can be hellish. Peak hours are normally roughly 06:00-09:00 and 16:00-19:00, but since city roads are constantly at maximum capacity, any little incident can cause major queues and delays. The cheapest way for tourists to get around is to use the subway/metro, trains and buses/trolleybuses as much as possible, and then take a taxi for shorter distances. Even these means of transport can be uncomfortably crowded during peaks, and only a very limited carry-on is recommended. You can check the SPTrans website, which is the city's transport administration department. There you can get itineraries using all the city's public transportation options. São Paulo has an extensive network of cycleways and a strong bicycle culture, and riding bikes can be quite enjoyable. Walking can also be very enjoyable depending on the routes.

Bilhete Único
The Bilhete Único is a transport smartcard that is used for paying fares on buses, subways, and trains. In essence, a single billing of the card grants a person up to four trips in São Paulo's public transportation system with free transfers between the subway system and buses within 3 hours. Since September of 2021, only personalized Bilhete Único cards are accepted in the entire transport system. Online emission of cards is only available for Cadastro de Pessoa Física (CPF) holders, which means foreign tourists can only obtain a Bilhete Único by going to a SPTrans store with a passport in hand. The stores are listed here. To check if a store can emit a card click on "Ver serviços disponíveis neste posto" (Check available services) and look for "Emissão da 1ª e 2ª via". But be wary that your card might not be available immediately, so plan accordingly.

Fare charging rules are as follows:


 * On buses: upon boarding a bus, you'll be charged R$4.40 and can board up to three other buses in a three-hour period without being charged a second time.
 * On the Metro or CPTM trains: for a single trip in the underground train system, you'll be charged R$5.00.
 * First Metro/CPTM train then bus: you'll be charged R$5.00 when passing by a Metro or CPTM station's turnstile. Once you board a bus, you'll be charged an extra R$3.20 and will be able to board two other buses in a two-hour period - starting from the first validation at the train station - without any further payment.
 * First bus then Metro/CPTM train: once you board a bus, R$4.40 is charged from your card. Upon entering the Metro or CPTM systems, you'll be charged a further R$3.80. It's possible, after leaving the Metro or CPTM system, to board up to two other buses without any further payment in the two-hour period that starts from the first validation, depending on whether you boarded one or two buses before entering a train.

The discounts do not typically apply to intermunicipal buses (usually in blue and operated by the EMTU company), although there are some exceptions.

By metrô and train


The rail network, composed of metrô (subway) and surface trains, is the method of transportation a tourist is likely to use the most while visiting São Paulo. The metrô is modern, safe, clean and efficient; the quality of surface trains varies, but those in more tourist areas area as good as the metrô. An up-to-date map of the rail network can be found in this link.

Lines 1-5 and 9 are probably most useful for tourists.

The metro lines are operated by ViaQuatro (Line 4), ViaMobilidade (Line 5), or Metrô (all other lines):


 * Line 1 (Blue): Runs north-south through the Historical Center. Also serves Tietê and Jabaquara bus terminals.
 * Line 2 (Green): Runs west-east through Avenida Paulista. An extension is under construction.
 * Line 3 (Red): Runs west-east (north of Line 2) through the Historical Center. The Barra Funda bus terminal is on the west end of this line.
 * Line 4 (Yellow): Connects the Historical Center to the West (mostly south of Line 2), passing through the western portion of Avenida Paulista.
 * Line 5 (Lilac): Connects the southwest regions (including Capão Redondo and Santo Amaro) to Lines 1, 2, and 9.
 * Line 15 (Silver): A rapid transit monorail line, runs in the eastern suburbs.

In addition to the metro, there are a number of suburban trains operated by ViaMobilidade (Lines 8 and 9) and CPTM (all other lines):
 * Line 7 (Ruby): Serves the northwest suburbs, ending at Luz station downtown.
 * Line 8 (Diamond): Serves the west suburbs, ending at Júlio Prestes station downtown.
 * Line 9 (Emerald): Runs north-south (west of Line 1), crossing the entire West. Does not enter the city center.
 * Line 10 (Turquoise): Serves the southeast suburbs, ending at Bras station downtown.
 * Line 11 (Coral): Serves the eastern suburbs (parallel to Line 3). Ends at Luz station downtown.
 * Line 12 (Sapphire): Serves the eastern suburbs, ending at Bras station downtown.
 * Line 13 (Jade): Connects Guarulhos Airport to Line 12, which you can then take to downtown. Also offers an express service directly to Luz station from the airport and back, with one train departing every full hour from each termini.

Surface trains can also be used to reach a number of other cities in the metropolitan area of São Paulo and even beyond. The fee is the same, making some of these trips incredibly cheap depending on where you want to go.

Fare and hours of operation
If you don't have a Bilhete Único smart card (see above), trains use a simple flat-price ticketing scheme - you can get only one-trip tickets, which cost R$4.40, and allow you to go as far as you wish. Free train transfers appear as white links on the map; paid transfers as black links; grey links are free transfers during off-peak hours only.

The single tickets can be bought at the counters or automatic machines, which can be found in every station. Buying multiple tickets will not save you money but will save time locating a vending machine or waiting time in line, which can both be bothersome. Single tickets are available in paper format or as a QR code. The former is only sold at the counters inside the stations, while the latter can be bought from the automatic machines inside the stations, which are labeled TOP, or from the app with the same name. The app, however, only accepts registrations for Cadastro de Pessoa Física (CPF) holders, meaning foreign tourists cannot but them through the app. If you plan to take buses together with trains, using a Bilhete Único card is highly recommended.

There are plans to add contactless payment with credit and debit cards on every station, but as of March 2024 only a few turnstiles are enabled for contactless payments in a minority of stations. These can be identified by the global contactless symbol and a list of accepted networks.

Typical operating hours for trains are Sunday to Friday, from 04:40-00:00 (or Sa to 01:00) or, depending on the station, up to 00:40. Connections on the network operated by Metrô are guaranteed only for boardings before midnight (Sa 01:00), regardless of the station. Check the operating companies' website for more updated information.

Peak hours
Daily use of public transport may be quite stressful to Paulistanos; many take more than 2 hours to get to work or school! As a consequence, manners are often left aside on train and metro, and on peak hours, pushes are common. When boarding, walk as far as possible into the train after the door opens, and if you wish to wait for the next train, step outside of the boarding area immediately. Otherwise, you may end up being forcefully pushed into the train.

Inside of the train, it is not uncommon to have a lot of people blocking the way to the door, even if they are not leaving the train in the next station. Unless it is a hub station, politely ask Vai descer aqui? ("are you going to step out here?") to make people move on for you to get out.

Paulistanos do not typically wait for people to get out of the train before getting in. If you are confronted with a mass of people outside when stepping out, walk vigorously, otherwise they may end up pushing you back.

Do remember to keep on the right side of a metrô escalator in order to give way to other people in a hurry - you may be pushed aside if just standing on the left side of it, especially on the busiest hours. Also, should you sit in the assento reservado (reserved seats), be kind enough to give them up for the elderly, pregnant women, parents with babies and disabled people.

By bus
Buses are the most popular way to get around the city. Even though drivers really step on it through the bumpy streets of São Paulo, buses are not the fastest way to get around. In addition, they can get really crowded. However, unlike the metro/train, they do reach every neighbourhood.

Some lines around the city are serviced by trolleybuses, which, despite using overhead wires for power instead of diesel, work just like regular buses. Trolleybus line 2002-10 runs in and around the city's historic center, and, for that reason, probably is the most useful for tourists. (If you are going to visit Ipiranga Museum, line 4113-10 is also a trolleybus line, and may be useful for you).

The bus lines that serve the city of São Paulo are divided into 9 areas, all with different bus lines and boarding and disembarking platforms, passengers can plan the urban bus trip on the SPTRANS official website, however it is not very functional when this offline, so the best alternative is the Bus Route website.

ÁREA 1 - NOROESTE Bus Terminal Jardim Britânia Bus Terminal Pirituba ÁREA 2 - NORTE Bus Terminal Casa Verde Bus Terminal Vila Nova Cachoeirinha ÁREA 3 - NORDESTE Bus Terminal A. E. Carvalho Bus Terminal Aricanduva Bus Terminal Penha Bus Terminal São Miguel ÁREA 4 - LESTE Bus Terminal Cidade Tiradentes Bus Terminal Itaquera II Bus Terminal Vila Carrão ÁREA 5 - SUDESTE Bus Terminal Metropolitano São Mateus Bus Terminal Sacomã Bus Terminal Sapopemba/Teotônio Vilela ÁREA 6 - SUL Bus Terminal Grajaú Bus Terminal Parelheiros Bus Terminal Varginha ÁREA 7 - SUDOESTE Bus Terminal Água Espraiada Bus Terminal Capelinha Bus Terminal Guarapiranga Bus Terminal Jardim Ângela Bus Terminal João Dias Bus Terminal Santo Amaro ÁREA 8 - OESTE Bus Terminal Campo Limpo ÁREA CENTRAL Bus Terminal Amaral Gurgel Bus Terminal Bandeira Bus Terminal Lapa Bus Terminal Mercado Bus Terminal Parque Dom Pedro II Bus Terminal Pinheiros Bus Terminal Princesa Isabel Bus Terminal Vila Prudente

The lines that serve the metropolitan regions of the State of São Paulo can be consulted on the official government EMTU website, which does not help much when it is offline, for that there is an alternative that is the Bus Schedule website that constantly updates bus schedules from each of the lines available to passengers.

Tickets are R$4.40 one way. You can pay for the ride inside the bus, or use a Bilhete Único card topped up with credits before boarding. If paying for the ticket on the bus, simply hand over the money to the teller sitting by the turnstile or directly to the bus driver - some lines no longer have tellers -, and he or she will let you pass through. Children under 5 years old are allowed by law to slip under the turnstile for free! If you have the Bilhete Único card, then a single fare payment allows you to take other buses for free for the next 3 hours after touching in the card. Scan the card in front of the card reader, and the turnstile will be released. The fare can also be paid with contactless credit or debit cards in select buses. To see if the fare can be paid this way look for a yellow sticker with the global contactless symbol in the front door of the bus.

If you are carrying large suitcases, try to avoid rush-hour traffic as buses can become incredibly packed. It is not always wise to take the bus late at night, especially if you find yourself all alone waiting at the bus stop - consider calling a cab instead, or asking someone you know for a lift. If you really need to use the public transport system at night, especially after midnight, there's a special nocturnal service, called "Noturno" SPTrans' Noturno service, with bus lines running close to the rail system, which closes for maintenance at this moment, and other high-capacity lanes, providing service between well-lit bus terminals spread across town.

By bicycle


Cycleways in São Paulo have been vastly expanded, and the city has about of bicycle-only paths. A full map of the city's permanent cycling infrastructure can be found in the CET official cycleway map.

One of the most popular cycling routes is the Ciclovia Rio Pinheiros, surrounding the Pinheiros river. It has on the East side of the river (it is considerably shorter on the West side). The cycleway is a bit tricky to access - check the cycleway's official website for a listing of access points. The cycleway offers great views of the city, including the city's main business district in Brooklin and Vila Olímpia (see São Paulo/West) but the terrible smell of the Pinheiros river can be hard to cope with.

Despite the growing bicycle infrastructure, São Paulo is hardly one of the easiest places in the world to get around by bike. Many drivers have little respect for cyclists and accidents aren't rare, such that helmets are a must, and extra attention must be taken when making turns or riding outside cycleways. Use bike boxes and dedicated cycling lanes whenever possible. Many cycleways are heavily under-utilised, such that pedestrians rarely pay attention on them when walking, so a cyclist must also watch out for them. Finally, long distance cycleways can lead to dangerous areas of the city; as a rule of thumb, if you won't go to a certain part of the city on foot, don't go with a bicycle! Don't take expensive bicycles to poorer areas of the city or to desolated, sparsely habited areas (like for example the Tietê river cycleway in the east of the city), as you might be assaulted.

For those without much adventure spirit, a leisure-oriented and safe option is the Ciclofaixa de Lazer on Sundays (see section), where several of the city's main roads are open for cycling.

Cyclists with bicycles are allowed in the metro/train network at the following times:
 * In the metro (Metrô/Via Quatro/Via Mobilidade): Monday-Friday starting from 20:30, Saturday starting from 14:00, Sundays and holidays the whole day
 * In surface trains (CPTM/Via Mobilidade): Saturday starting from 14:00, Sundays and holidays the whole day

There are public bicycle parking lots in many metro stations (06:00-22:00 daily), and in some it is also possible to borrow a bike using a credit card. Check the Metrô website for an up-to-date list of stations with infrastructure for bicycles. Parking lots (mainly the ones designed for cars) may not accept your bicycle, so if you are to chain yours to a pole, use a good chain with a strong lock. In metro/train stations, cyclists are allowed to put their bicycles on escalators to go up, but not to go down.

Since May 2012, a scheme called Bike Itaú, a partnership between the city hall and Itaú Bank, inspired by a similar initiative in Rio de Janeiro, allows for renting bikes from one of the standing rails for a fee, please check the official website for up-to-date prices. The rental price can be quite expensive, especially if you take one of the service's new electric bikes. Users must first download Bike Itaú's mobile app to use the system.

On foot
Walking is certainly the best way of exploring and feeling the urban life of São Paulo. The Historic Center area and Avenida Paulista are definitely places to be explored on foot, but there are many others such as Jardins and Vila Madalena. Check the individual district listings for other nice walks.

Compared to other metropolises in emerging countries, São Paulo is actually not the hardest place to walk. Pedestrian paths are plenty (although sometimes poorly maintained) as are zebra crossings with semaphores. Zebra crossings without semaphores are completely ignored by drivers. Despite the reasonably good pedestrian infrastructure, care is advised whenever crossing the streets; watch out for cars that may come unexpectedly, even if the pedestrian lights are green. Do not try to cross large roads with a high volumes of car traffic: usually there will be a pedestrian viaduct or bridge at some point in the sidewalk. Some parts of town, especially the Historic Center, can be dangerous to visit on foot, due to a recent rise in street violence (notably 2022). Check with a tour guide to make sure which places are best for you.

By taxi
Taxi ranks in São Paulo are white, with a distinctive luminous green "TAXI" sign on the roof top. Check out for the white color of the taxi rank (unless it's a radio taxi), the official license sticker with the driver's name and photo on the passenger side of the control panel, and the red license plate.

There are two kinds of cabs: cheaper street-hail and radio taxi. White taxis are often found at stands near city squares and big venues. Radio taxis can be ordered by telephone; ask reception at your hotel for help to call a radio cab, or just call a company. Some companies, such as the radio taxi company São Paulo Airport Transfers, now provide an online, fixed price, quote and book service. Taxis in São Paulo are relatively expensive compared to other large cities worldwide and, depending on the neighborhood, there is a risk of being overcharged if you're a foreigner.

By e-hailing
São Paulo is covered by some e-hailing services, Uber being the largest of them. Notable e-hailing services in the city, are:


 * Uber (covers neighbor cities, like Guarulhos and Osasco as well)
 * Cabify
 * T81 (Brazilian service)
 * Easy (Brazilian service)
 * 99 Taxi (Brazilian service)

By car
Renting a car in São Paulo is typically neither practical nor cost-effective. The daily rent plus fuel and parking fees typically far exceeds what you would spend with taxis or e-hailing. Even when you can borrow a car for free from a friend or your company, getting around by car is borderline crazy if you're not used to São Paulo. Traffic can be chaotic and parking is a nightmare. It is also not so straightforward to find your way in certain neighbourhoods where streets can get windy. Usually, taxi or e-hailing, or a combination of taxi/e-hailing and public transportation, provides you all the commodity of cars with much less stress, so much that many car owners in São Paulo prefer to leave their cars at home during weekdays. However, if you plan to visit places outside the São Paulo city proper (in the Grande São Paulo or beyond), renting a car might be worthwhile.

If you're comfortable enough to adventure yourself and feel more like a paulistano, feel free to explore the city from behind a steering-wheel. There is some information about driving in town that you should know beforehand:

Rotating transit policy (Rodízio): In order to reduce the congestion and the air pollution in São Paulo, the city council has adopted a mandatory rotating transit policy: cars whose license plate number ends in 1 and 2 cannot circulate on Mondays; if it ends on 3 or 4, Tuesday is off; 5 or 6, stay home or take a cab on Wednesdays; 7 or 8, Thursday is the unlucky day; 9 or 0, on Fridays you can walk. The prohibition is valid only on the so-called Expanded Center (blue street plates with grey bottom stripe), and for peak hours: 07:00-10:00 and 17:00-20:00. During the remaining hours, cars are allowed to circulate freely.



Parking fees (Zona Azul or "Blue Zone"): The city council charges a parking fee of R$5 for up to two hours parking in several points of the city, the so-called "Zona Azul" areas, so be careful not to be fined for not paying the charge. Parking tickets for Zona Azul can only be obtained digitally, by purchasing credits via the DigiPare, Vaga Inteligente and SP Cartão Azul Digital Android/iOS apps, and filling the car plate number. Credits can also be purchased via several authorised shops, newspaper stands, and snack bars typically located near the Zona Azul parking spots.

Driving at night: Buses stop at 01:00 (except for the Noturno service) and the metro around midnight, so it can be tricky to get to many of the famous bars and night clubs unless you take a taxi, or... drive. If you go out at night by car, expect to pay a small fee to unofficial "car keepers" in order to park your car along the streets. This is a common use in many busy outing hubs around town, which may seem unfair given that parking your car in the streets is free of charge after 19:00, but they occasionally may check your car against stereo robbers (and may damage your car if you refuse to pay). If the neighbourhood seems a bit dodgy or deserted, try to find a parking lot rather than parking on the streets.

Valet services: Most bars and restaurants offer non-compulsory parking and valet services to customers, for which you will be charged a fee. These services are often covered by insurance, nevertheless, whenever using valet services, do not leave valuables such as handbags, wallets, electronics and sunglasses in the car, as these items are usually not covered by the insurance policies in parking spaces.

See Driving in Brazil for other useful information.

Talk
As in the rest of Brazil, most Paulistanos are effectively monolingual Portuguese speakers, although a number of well-educated people will have some command of English, especially in main business areas like Avenida Paulista, Faria Lima and Berrini. English is generally spoken at main hotels, youth hostels, upmarket bars and restaurants and tourism-related businesses, although a menu in English is a rare find. Spanish is generally nonexistent.

Most Italians, Japanese and Arab descendants are not able to fluently speak the language of the country where their ancestors came from, with the exception being generally the older generation. Many younger Japanese-Brazilians can speak or understand some Japanese but are unable to read or write it. Later immigrants like Koreans and Chinese are more likely to speak their language of origin.

Avenida Paulista
Avenida Paulista (Paulista Avenue) is one of São Paulo's most popular postcards, as it is the pride of Paulistanos. It is one of the largest business centers, and probably the largest cultural region in the city. Its architectural contrast reflects the fact that the avenue is located between the "old" and "new" parts of the city.

The avenue and its surroundings, such as Rua Augusta, Alameda Santos and Rua Oscar Freire, contain numerous shop galleries, art galleries, theatres, movie theaters, pubs, hotel, coffee shops, bookstores, and gourmet restaurants. Gay nightlife is intense on Consolacao and Haddock Lobo Streets.

Historic center


São Paulo's Historic Center met a period of degradation, but it is gradually recovering with recent projects and investments. Even through it still has some problems, it is an area to not be missed due to its historical and cultural value for the city. Here you can find many constructions and landmarks from glorious moments of São Paulo's history, ridiculously crowded commercial areas, and a multitude of theatres and cultural activities.

Rio Pinheiros river area
The Pinheiros river crosses the West of São Paulo in North-South direction, and although heavily polluted, the neighbourhoods surrounding the river are among the most beautiful and interesting areas of the city. The East shore is filled with skyscrapers that compose the business centers of Faria Lima, Brooklin Novo and Vila Olímpia, and contains the longest cycleway of the city, as well as one of the most vibrant nightlife areas. The West shore is home to University of São Paulo and exhibits a stereotypical portrait of São Paulo's social inequality, contrasting luxurious apartments and mansions with low class suburbs and favelas. In the middle of the river, stands the magnificent Ponte Octavio Frias, more known as Ponte Estaiada. The Line 9-Emerald train line runs alongside the river, making all spots quite easy to reach.

Parks
Although São Paulo is commonly associated with gray, concrete, and lack of green space, the Atlantic rainforest still covers large portions of the city and even of the municipality. These green areas are constantly under threat by irregular occupation, so the government has turned many of them into public parks in order to better protect them.

Parks in the city can be divided into three types:


 * Leisure parks are those with plenty of recreational, sport and cultural facilities, but do not contain considerable amounts of original vegetation. Parque Ibirapuera (see São Paulo/South Central) is certainly the most famous park of this type in the city, hosting various museums, monuments, and cultural activities. There are also plenty of activities for tourist with guided tours for birdwatch, tree's identification and a general and popular one Discovering the Ibirapuera Park, all managed by Parque Ibirpauera Conservação;
 * Ecotourism parks are those which are mostly covered by the Atlantic rainforest and other natural ecosystems, and contain limited recreational facilities. They are suited for those seeking an adventure. These include Parque Estadual da Cantareira (see São Paulo/Northeast and Guarulhos), APA Capivari-Monos (see São Paulo/Far South) and Parque Estadual do Jaraguá (see São Paulo/Northwest).
 * Mixed parks are a mix between the two above types: they have both leisure facilities and preserved nature areas. They are a nice option if you think that nature is best enjoyed with the company of other people, or if you want to do something more relaxing and less adventurous. These include Parque do Carmo, Parque Ecológico do Tietê (see São Paulo/Far East) and Horto Florestal (see São Paulo/Northeast).

Check the individual district listings for a more comprehensive list of parks and more detailed information.

Museums and cultural centers
As the art center of the country, São Paulo offers many museums and cultural centers.

Two museums to not be missed, due to their size, architecture, and historical importance, are Museu do Ipiranga (Southeast) (closed as of May 2019) and Memorial da América Latina (West).

Appreciators of art should also check Museu de Arte de São Paulo (Paulista), Pinacoteca do Estado (Downtown), Instituto Tomio Ohtake, Museu de Arte Contemporânea (West) and Museu de Arte Moderna (South Central).

Check each district section of this guide for a comprehensive list of museums.



Panoramic views
São Paulo is a beautiful city seen from above, so spare some time to go to one of the few points where you'll be able to see how far this city extends to, specially at sunset.



Theaters and concert halls
The two most important concert and opera houses of the city are Theatro Municipal and Sala São Paulo (see São Paulo/Historic Center). São Paulo has a great number of theaters, most of which feature plays in Portuguese. The British Cultural Centre, Goethe Institute, Instituto Cervantes and Alliance Française occasionally have plays in English, German, Spanish and French, respectively; check individual District listings.

Ciclofaixa de Lazer
The Ciclofaixa de Lazer (Leisure Cycling Lane) comprises dozens of kilometers of interconnected cycling lanes, in the central, south and west areas of the city, that are available on Sundays and some holidays, between 07:00-16:00. It interconnects most places of interest of the city - Downtown, Avenida Paulista, Parque do Ibirapuera, University of São Paulo, the Pinheiros river business centers and the Guarapiranga reservoir, although certainly not using the shortest paths. Bicycle borrowing and renting is available at Parque das Bicicletas (in Parque do Ibirapuera) and at Praça do Ciclista (at Avenida Paulista), but try to get a bicycle in advance if possible.

Since the cycling route is family-oriented, signaling and safety standards are high. The route is stricly intended for recreational, not sportive cycling, so set your speed accordingly in the presence of other cyclists. A full map of the route, as well as other useful information, are available here.

Fun for the family
Both adults and kids are ensured to have fun by seeing the animals in the São Paulo Zoo and in the São Paulo Aquarium (see São Paulo/Southeast). São Paulo also has educative spaces aimed both at adults and children, including Catavento Cultural (see São Paulo/Downtown) and Espaço Ciência (see São Paulo/West). Finally, Mundo da Xuxa (see São Paulo/South Central) is a theme park only for the small ones.

Watch football


Football (soccer) is an inherent part of Brazilian culture, and São Paulo is no exception, being home of four football teams that generally run in the 1st division: Corinthians, São Paulo, Palmeiras and Portuguesa. The five large football stadiums in the city are Morumbi, Allianz Parque (see São Paulo/West), Pacaembu (see São Paulo/Historic Center), Arena Corinthians (also popularly known as "Itaquerão") and Canindé (see São Paulo/Southeast). A word of warning, however: although most matches are safe and fun events, games between the biggest local rivals (Corinthians, São Paulo, Palmeiras and, to a smaller extent, Santos) have had episodes of violence flaring up (in the majority of cases, such incidents happen outside of the stadium), due to a number of violent fans (ultras). The Derby Paulista in particular being Palmeiras and Corinthians is ranked among the most intense in the world. Going to such games can be a risky proposition. Portuguesa games are safe, have few supporters, and are very peaceful and curious (meets the Portuguese community in the city).

City tours

 * São Paulo Historical City Tour is a panoramic tour for those keen to have an introduction to the history, culture, and the lifestyle of the biggest city in the Southern Hemisphere. The city tour takes about 3 hours, during which the visitor will pass by places in São Paulo's Old Centre and get familiar with attractions such as the Cathedral of Sé, Pátio do Colégio (short stop at the square, the site where the city was founded), Monastery of São Bento, the Banespa Building (São Paulo’s answer to the Empire State Building), the Martinelli Building (the first skyscraper in South America), Viaduto do Chá (Tea Viaduct), the Municipal Theater, Sala São Paulo concert hall, Estaçao da Luz train station and the Municipal Market.

Events
According to the São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau, São Paulo hosts 90,000 events a year, from meetings and conferences to sports and cultural events. Events tied to a particular region are listed in the individual district sections. The following events are considered important to the city as a whole:


 * Brazilian Grand Prix is a Formula One motor race held at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in the Interlagos district to the south. It's held in November.
 * Brazilian Grand Prix is a Formula One motor race held at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in the Interlagos district to the south. It's held in November.
 * Brazilian Grand Prix is a Formula One motor race held at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in the Interlagos district to the south. It's held in November.
 * Brazilian Grand Prix is a Formula One motor race held at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in the Interlagos district to the south. It's held in November.

Learn
University of São Paulo (USP) is Brazil's most important university in terms of academic research and international reputation, with its main campus located in the West. It was considered the top university of Latin America according to the QS Ranking. Other important public universities present in the city are Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) (see São Paulo/South Central) and Federal University of ABC (UFABC) (see Santo André).

The city also contains many traditional private high education institutions. Check the individual district sections for a comprehensive list of them.

Information for students
Brazil has exchange programmes with many internationally-recognized universities. In order to register at a Brazilian university as an exchange student, you must obtain a student visa at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. After you have arrived in Brazil with a valid student visa, then you must register in the Departamento da Polícia Federal (Federal Police Department) within 30 days of your arrival and obtain the RNE (Registro Nacional do Estrangeiro), which is the national ID card for overseas citizens. This is also where you can renew your visa with the Brazilian authorities. It is located at Rua Hugo Dantola, 95, Alto da Lapa, near Ponte do Piqueri (Piqueri Bridge). It is open M-F 08:00-14:00.

By bus:From Avenida Paulista to the Policia Federal department, you can take the bus line "669-A/10 Terminal Princesa Isabel" in front of Trianon-Masp Metro station (on the same side of MASP museum), get off at the final stop, then take bus "978-J Voith" and get off at Rua Hermano Marchete, 1030. Walk up the street until you see the Policia Federal. To return, take the same bus "978-J" to Terminal Princesa Isabel. Then, take bus "669-A/10 Terminal Sto. Amaro" to return to Avenida Paulista.

By train: From Metro station Barra Funda (Linha 3 - Red), take the CPTM metropolitan train (Linha 7 - Ruby) to Lapa station.

Learn Portuguese
There are a number of language schools where you can learn Portuguese, for as short as two weeks or for a longer period of time. These include both private lessons and classes with more students.
 * Fast Forward.

Buy
You can find practically anything in São Paulo. Imported goods can be expensive, but look out for Brazilian-made bargains in all categories. Spend some time in one of the many "shoppings" (as Brazilians call the shopping malls) and also look out for areas with shops catering for specific interests.

Remember that street shops usually operate 10AM-6PM, including Saturdays (when they close earlier), but are closed on Sundays. The countless shopping malls operate M-Sa 10AM-10PM and Su 10AM-8PM.

Central shopping areas


The area between Avenida Ipiranga and Parque Dom Pedro II (Downtown) is the closest to what São Paulo has from a "central shopping area", with various pedestrianized and non-pedestrianized shopping streets. The exceptionally crowded Rua 25 de Março, with its diverse range of bargains, is perhaps the most famous commercial street of the area.

Avenida Paulista and Rua Augusta (Paulista) form a smooth transition between the popular commerce of Downtown and the affluent commerce of Rua Oscar Freire (West).

São Paulo has also many specialized shopping areas, such as Rua Teodoro Sampaio (West) for furniture and musical instruments, Rua José Paulino (Downtown) and Brás neighborhood (Southeast) for bargain and wholesale clothing, Liberdade neighbourhood (Downtown) for cosmetics and Asian products, and Rua Santa Ifigênia (Downtown) for electronic equipment.

Shopping malls


Paulistanos, especially those with higher income, have an indoor shopping culture. The fear of criminality, traffic and São Paulo's unpredictable weather are strong factors to this. Shopping malls in São Paulo are not only centers of "shopping" but also leisure areas, typically offering spaces for kids, cinemas, food courts, and sometimes even theatres, expositions, and sport areas. Many shopping malls in São Paulo also offer miscellaneous services such as banks, laundry, repairs, and sometimes even police stations and doctors.

The selection of shops of a mall depends on the type of public predominant in the surroundings: at shopping malls located at working-class neighborhoods, it is easier to find bargain department stores, while shopping malls in wealthy areas may be the only way to have access to exclusive designer stores. Check the individual district listings for a comprehensive list of shopping malls in the city.

Some shopping malls that deserve special mention are Morumbi/Market Place (South Central - with more than 600 shops and dozens of restaurants), Eldorado (West - with an immense food court), Iguatemi (West - the oldest shopping mall of São Paulo, with very upscale profile), JK Iguatemi (West - the newest shopping mall for the wealthy Paulistanos), Cidade Jardim (West - famous for its internal gardens), Aricanduva (Far East - the city's largest and most famous working class shopping mall), and Frei Caneca (Downtown - the favorite of the LGBT public).

Suburban shopping areas
Far from Downtown, there are many suburban shopping areas. The busiest of them is probably the area around Largo 13 de Maio (South Central), the "central shopping area" of the former city of Santo Amaro, now part of São Paulo.

There are also the open markets (feiras livres) and municipal markets (where you can buy fresh and cheaper fruit, vegetables and meat), supermarkets and atacados (a type of supermarket where you pay less if buy at least a certain quantity, very convenient for families).

Most of these local commerce centers are not listed in this guide, but they are of extreme importance in the daily life of Paulistanos.

Costs
São Paulo has the highest living cost in the Americas, and it's the 10th most expensive city in the world, according to the Mercer Worldwide Cost of Living 2011 Survey. However, it should be remarked that such rankings are based on averages, which hardly describe a city as huge and with so many contrasts as São Paulo.

It is absolutely possible to enjoy the city's attractions while spending a moderate amount of cash in both accommodations and food. Ask locals for tips how to make the best out of your money if you're on a tight budget.

Eat
São Paulo is home to a superb diversity of restaurants and cuisines, where you can enjoy typical dishes from literally all over the world. The price range is as wide as the diversity of the restaurants in the city, from cheap snacks and meals in simple and cozy restaurants and food tents in popular markets, to the hugely expensive high end cuisine and internationally recognized restaurants, such as D.O.M, which was (in 2012) named the 4th best restaurant in the world and the best in South America by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.

The city is also home to a vast array of Brazilian and international fast-food chains, offering varying options ranging from burgers, to sushi and kebab. The fast-food chain Habib's, which originated in São Paulo, is the favorite of lower class Paulistanos due to its cheap "Arab-Brazilian" snacks.

In São Paulo, the ever-present beans-and-rice accompaniment typically involves brown beans instead of black beans, as in Rio. Another local specialty in São Paulo is the Virado à Paulista, which consists of rice, tutu de feijão (a paste of beans and manioc flour; sometimes made of corn flour, in order to be drier than the manioc flour one), kale sautéed with garlic (couve) and pork chops, typically bisteca. It is usually accompanied by pork rinds, bits of sausage, a fried egg and a fried banana.

One dish that claims its local character is the bauru sandwich, allegedly created by a druken student from the University of São Paulo's law school at the Ponto Chic restaurant after a long night out. It consists of four types of melted cheese and sliced roastbeef, and it still endures as one ubiquitous snack in padarias (Brazilian-style eateries).

Japanese restaurants of the rodizio style are found pretty much everywhere, but mainly in the past decade, São Paulo became world famous for its excellent Japan-like and fusion restaurants, including ramen and udon shops and exquisite sushi and sashimi sets, which sometimes even come at a reasonable price. Many of these types of restaurants can be found down rua Tomaz Gonzaga in Liberdade, where connaisseurs of good food have already found their way in. On weekends, these restaurants can be packed, so arrive early to avoid queues.

Another typical type of restaurant in São Paulo are the world-famous churrascarias, where an enormous range of meats and cuts comes to your table by the stick; they also offer a range of sides and salads. In those places, you can eat as much as you want. This system is called rodízio, and it has been very successful in the city, spreading to other types of cuisine like Italian, where you can find the rodízio de pizza and Japanese, with the rodízio de sushi.

The cuisine of São Paulo shows the influence of European, Middle Eastern and Asian immigrants. The majority of immigrants in São Paulo arrived from Italy, and other European countries like Portugal, Spain and Germany. There are also large numbers of Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants from Japan, Lebanon and many other countries. Therefore, it is possible to find a wide array of cuisines in the city of São Paulo. Pizza is a particularly popular dish, which can be found with an endless range of toppings, and paulistas will swear their city has the best pizza in the country, if not in the world.

When eating out, a tip of 10 percent on the value of the bill is usually included. Some restaurants don't include this service charge (when you may come across the message "Serviço não incluso" at the end of the bill), but unless the staff are upsettingly rude, do pay the standard 10 percent tip as it is usually part of their wages.

Drink
You will have no trouble finding bars in São Paulo, where you can enjoy an ice cold beer, a shot of cachaça or a caipirinha - or anything else for that matter. Vila Madalena and Itaim have a very high concentration of bars, and are great spots for an all-nighter. For specific suggestions of bars, check the district section.

Clubs
This city has an unbelievably rich and diverse night life, and is able to provide entertainment for all tastes, from traditional samba-rock live music to electro-pop night clubs, raves and even some fetish clubs. It is worth planning at least one night out while you're in town. On the other hand, São Paulo's nightlife can be quite expensive; most clubs charge an entrance fee.

The main areas for nightlife in the city are Vila Olímpia, Vila Madalena, and Barra Funda (West), Moema (South Central), Tatuapé and Mooca (Southeast), and Santana (Northeast). The Downtown has also experimented an impressive revival of nightlife. Be sure to check the individual District listings.

Visit this website or buy one of the paper editions to have the latest clubbing updates.

Sleep
If you plan to explore the city and cannot rely on car/taxi, staying near a Metro or train station is a very wise choice. Just be sure to avoid degraded areas. For lists of recommended hotels in the city, see the individual District listings. If you wish to stay close to the airport, please see the article on Guarulhos.

By phone

 * Public telephone booths can be found on almost every corner of town. They work with phonecards only, which can be bought at any newspaper stand. Regular phonecards allow you to make local and national calls, but the credits fall at an incredible rate if the call is directed to another city or to mobile phones. There is a special phonecard for international calls, so make sure you ask the clerk for the correct one if that's the case.
 * The city code (also known locally as the DDD code) for São Paulo is 11), hence local telephone numbers have the following format: +55 11 0000-0000. If you are making local calls, the +55 11 prefix should be dropped.
 * When making national calls from SP, you have the option to choose your telephone provider: dial 0 followed by (15) Telefónica, (23) Intelig or (21) Embratel, plus the two-digit DDD code and telephone number.
 * When making international calls from São Paulo to abroad, you also have the option to choose your telephone provider: dial 00 followed by (15) Telefónica, (23) Intelig or (21) Embratel, plus the country code and telephone number.
 * To make reverse charge calls within the same city code area, dial 90 90 + the telephone number (do not use the city code (11)).
 * To make reverse charge calls to other cities, dial 90 followed by (15) Telefónica, (23) Intelig or (21) Embratel, plus the 2-digit DDD code and the telephone number.

Internet
Internet cafés (also called cyber cafés or lan houses) can be easily found in every neighborhood.

Also, São Paulo has many open WiFi spots&mdash;often you just need to login with Facebook.

Respect
People from São Paulo kiss on the right cheek once when they say hello, goodbye and nice to meet you. Some will kiss twice, once on each cheek, a kiss in the air. Men kiss women on the cheek and women kiss women as well, but two men won't give the kiss out unless they're gay or with intimate long-time friends or family. If you feel the occasion is a bit formal, especially on business occasions or if you don't know the person too well, a handshake will do the job. However, if a Paulistano takes the initiative to kiss, make sure you turn your face to the left side to avoid embarrassment.

Business etiquette

 * Paulistanos do appreciate if you are on time. However, given the infamous traffic congestion that prevails in town, a 15-30 min delay in a meeting is usually tolerated, and you shouldn't worry too much if you or someone else turns up a bit late. In general, do not plan more than two meetings per day, with a possible lunch meeting in between, due to the traffic delay in getting from place to place.
 * Office hours are usually from 9AM-6PM, and banks are open M-F 10AM-4PM. However, don't be surprised if a meeting is scheduled after 6PM, as the business culture in São Paulo is a bit workaholic.
 * Small gifts are usually gladly accepted, but exchanging presents is not the general rule.
 * It is always safer to first adopt a business attire to a meeting—suit and tie for men, business suit for women—even if you turn out to be a bit overdressed in a more informal business environment.
 * Before a meeting starts, it is not unusual to have some 5-10 min of informal chat, not related to the business to be discussed (traffic, weather forecasts, and football matches are accepted example topics). To cut short this informal chit chat might appear slightly rude and potentially embarrassing.

Gay and lesbian travelers
São Paulo is the host of one of the biggest Gay Pride parades in the world, attracting every year about 4 million people. Although paulistanos are relatively tolerant to homosexuality, openly public displays of affection between people, especially of same sex are uncommon and likely to attract attention, with the exception of places such as Frei Caneca and Rua Augusta, and at some bars, coffee shops and night clubs. Such displays of affection should be completely avoided in poorer neighborhoods and on public transport, where prejudice is more likely to be openly manifested.

Traffic
While most people will drive carefully and respecting the rules, you are sure to see some paulistanos cutting you off, crossing where there's no zebra crossings, using bus-exclusive lanes and taking lefts or rights without signalizing their intentions. Bear in mind that if you do this to someone, they might just not care, but some could sound the horn, show you the finger, or even get out the car to physically confront you. That said, it's always best to avoid arguments.

Crime
São Paulo, once one of the most violent cities of Brazil, has managed to drastically reduce crime during the 2000s. According to the Sangari Institute, São Paulo was the safest capital city of Brazil in 2011, in terms of homicide rate.

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that a visitor can really relax about safety, because São Paulo is simply too large and diverse to be described by average statistics. In fact, two of the most visited areas, Downtown and the Pinheiros subprefecture (in the West), have respectively 150% and 50% more violent crime than the city average. Check the individual district listings for safety advice in each area of the city. The general advice is as follows:


 * Visitors should avoid walking in deserted areas at night, or at least avoid walking alone. Buses are reasonably safe, but waiting alone at a bus stop at night is not. The metro is always safe, but commuter trains that go to peripheral areas can be dangerous late at night. Be extremely careful when using ATMs at night (or better, do not use them if they are in deserted and dark places. If you really need one, try searching in places like shopping malls, theaters and cinemas and gas stations).
 * Driving can sometimes also be risky, especially when you are alone and/or in an upscale bars/clubbing area, like Vila Madalena or Vila Olímpia. If you are driving at night, when stopping for whatever reason (even at a traffic light), check your surroundings. Keep your doors locked and windows closed during the night. If possible, when going back late to the hotel, take a cab or ride with a group of friends. During the day, keep valuable objects away from the window (even if you are using a taxi).
 * Some areas can be dangerous even during the day. These include run-down areas, like favelas and areas populated by drug addicts. The last can be easily recognized by the presence of poorly maintained buildings, bad odor, and dirty streets - there are many of those in the Historic Center. Most drug addicts are harmless, but a few may resort to violence to get money to buy their drugs. Contrary to popular belief, nowadays poor neighbourhoods in São Paulo aren't usually dangerous, at least not more dangerous than an ordinary neighborhood. Still, some of them can be dangerous, so if you are in doubt, don't go or have the company of a local.

And naturally, every safety recommendation that applies to big cities in general also applies to São Paulo:


 * Don't trust strangers, especially those who seem excessively helpful;
 * Always prefer the help of an identified officer or employee to that of a stranger;
 * Watch your belongings all the time in crowded streets or public transportation;
 * Be careful with your phone on streets, young people on bicycles can snatch the phone from your hands, when you're inside your phone and aren't paying attention to what’s happening around;
 * Avoid withdrawing and carrying large amounts of money;
 * Avoid using expensive clothes and jewelry that make you stand out.

Natural disasters
In the summer, severe storms affect São Paulo and the potential for torrential rain, dangerous lightning, overflowing rivers and the possibility of flooding must be acknowledged.

Football (soccer)
São Paulo is home to three major football teams in Brazil: Corinthians, Palmeiras and São Paulo FC. There is also a considerable number of Santos supporters. Minor teams include Portuguesa and Juventus.

Wearing one's favorite club's jersey as casual clothing is usual in São Paulo, even when it's not a match day. While walking by someone wearing a rival's jersey means nothing, being in the "wrong" place at the "wrong" time and with the "wrong" jersey during a match day may be extremely dangerous. For example, if you wear a São Paulo jersey and walk by a group of Corinthians supporters when the two clubs are about to face each other, they may provoke you. Some supporters go as far as to schedule street fights on the internet, so it's always best to avoid being near large agglomerations of supporters.

Tourist police stations
Familiarize yourself with the location of the police stations specializing in tourist service and protection. These stations offer information on public safety and are staffed with qualified professionals to meet your needs.
 * Headquarters of the Specialized Tourist Police – Deatur Delegacia Especializada em Atendimento ao Turista. R. Cantareira, 390. +55 11 3120-4417.

Stay healthy

 * No vaccination is required for São Paulo, unless you are planning to travel to central-western (Mato Grosso) or northern (Amazon) regions of Brazil afterwards, for which you should take a shot against yellow fever, and carry anti-malaria medication (quinine).
 * If you're arriving from Peru, Colombia or Bolivia, the vaccination of yellow fever is required only if you need a visa (i.e., if you are going to stay for longer than 90 days). Check the requirements of any country you will travel to from Brazil.
 * Tap water in São Paulo is generally safe, at least when straight from the water supply system. However, several buildings can be lacking in the periodic cleaning of their cisterns and water tanks (the locals themselves tend to avoid tap water and drink bottled or filtered water instead).

Electricity
In the city of São Paulo the voltage is usually 127V, unlike many other parts of Brazil and even of the São Paulo state. Most electronic products sold in São Paulo are now bi-volt, but always check carefully.

Consulates

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇦🇷 Argentina
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba
 * the Czech Republic
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇱🇧 Lebanon
 * 🇳🇿 New Zealand
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * the United Kingdom
 * the United States

Go next
The city of São Paulo is only one hour driving from the Paulista Coast, which is a typical Brazilian region full of splendid beaches and great seafood. The young and the old of São Paulo alike head there on the weekends to enjoy the sand, sun and fun. The rich agricultural state offers winter destinations, upscale retreats and large Rodeos.

In parenthesis the typical duration of the journey by car (using the fastest route in good traffic conditions) is listed. During long holidays (like Carnival and New Year), expect to be much more.

Coast
You find hostels and private rooms in:
 * Santos (1 hr) - Estuary city near São Paulo, home to Pelé's famous football team Santos F.C. and Brazil's most important seaport.
 * Guaruja (1 hr) - Many Paulistanos have their beach houses in this town, which becomes packed with tourists during the summer months of December, January and February.
 * Bertioga (2 hr) - Just NE of Santos and Guaruja, this beach town hosts a variety of annual festivals, including a Japanese, an Italian and a Native Brazilian. Don't miss the waterfall on the way down the mountain (via Mogi das Cruzes), as there's no access on the return trip.
 * São Sebastião (2½ hr) - Second in preference for summer houses, the beaches of São Sebastião are a mixture of rustic paradisiac nature with first class night life. Contains one of the most famous beaches of the São Paulo coast, Maresias.
 * Ubatuba (3 hr) - Beautiful beaches are the main attraction of this place, as well as its well-preserved nature. Hotels sometimes provide leisure activities such as scuba diving, mountain biking and trekking. The city is known for providing a good surfing environment.
 * Ilhabela (3½ hr) - Accessible only from São Sebastião by ferry, it is an archipelago with various savage beaches and ecotourism options.

Private rooms are available in:
 * Peruíbe (1½ hr) - Last south coast city nearby São Paulo, home of the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station, the biggest Atlantic jungle in the state.

Countryside
Hostels and private rooms have:
 * Bragança Paulista (1hr 45 min) - Famous for its traditional sausages, with several establishments claiming to sell the "real Bragança sausage". One of the town's main attractions is Taboão Lake.
 * Boituva (1 hr 45 min) - The "National Skydive Capital". It is also known for ballooning.
 * Botucatu (3½ hr) - It is known as the Land of Adventure. There are more than 70 waterfalls in its region, some with easy access, others with extreme difficulty. For those who enjoy extreme sports, this is the right place to venture out.

You find private rooms in:
 * São Roque (1 hr) - A small city mainly regarded as a wine tourism destination, but also containing interesting historical constructions and beautiful nature.
 * Itu (1 hr 15 min) - Historical city that was the birthplace of Brazilian Republic, and with a theme of "oversized things".
 * Campos do Jordão (2 hr) - Charming little town in the mountains, at 1,600 m high. Well-off Paulistanos buy their winter house in Campos do Jordao, due in part to the famous winter classic music festival in July, when the high season takes place in town. Many upscale club and bar owners go up the mountain and promote events and parties at this time of the year.
 * São Luiz do Paraitinga (2 hr) - City in the Serra do Mar, offering ecoutourism options and an impressive historic center, a national heritage site.
 * Aparecida (2 hr) - A major Christian pilgrimage destination, containing the second largest Catholic temple in the World.

Theme parks

 * Hopi Hari (1 hr) - A big theme park located in the city of Vinhedo, one hour from São Paulo. It offers many rides, from those for children to the radical ones. Various food, from snacks to à la carte. You can get there by car or shuttle buses from many places.
 * Wet'n Wild São Paulo (1 hr), Itupeva (see the Vinhedo article). A water park of the American Wet'n Wild chain, just beside Hopi Hari, with 12 rides and many food shops.

Metro area (Grande São Paulo)
For the cities below, driving times vary widely according to where the journey begins in São Paulo. Private rooms are available in:
 * Mogi das Cruzes - A popular destination for rural and ecotourism, with hiking trails, a peak, rocks, parks, and small waterfalls.
 * Guararema - Small town with the old railway station as its symbol, you can take the tourist train, go to the park, walk through the preserved areas, hike and see the waterfall, appreciate the local unique cuisine, or just relax in the laid-back atmosphere.
 * Embu das Artes - Town just Southwest of São Paulo, known for its talented local artists. If you are looking for authentic Brazilian art, handicrafts, furniture, or just want to browse around some really cool shops, this is the place to go.
 * Pirapora do Bom Jesus - Destination of a Catholic pilgrimage that is one of the oldest state's traditions.
 * Santana de Parnaíba - City with a valuable Colonial historical center and strong religious traditions.
 * Santo André - Containing the English-built village of Paranapiacaba and ecotourism options in the area.