São Paulo

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 in 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 Brazilian 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.

Getting there

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 (SAO IATA) has three major airports: Guarulhos International (GRU IATA) and Viracopos (VCP IATA) for international and some domestic arrivals, and Congonhas (CGH IATA) for most medium and short haul domestic flights. If the flights to São Paulo are too expensive, 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

1 São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU IATA) (Located 40 km (25 mi) from the city centre in Guarulhos), ☏ +55 11 2445-2945. If flying into São Paulo from abroad, you'll most likely land at Guarulhos International Airport, also known as Cumbica. The airport has three terminals that are served by Brazilian airlines LATAM, Gol and by international airlines United, Delta, American, Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, Avianca, TAP, Iberia, ITA Airways, KLM, Swiss, and many others. Non-airline shuttle buses are available from Guarulhos to Congonhas Airport (CGH IATA), 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.

Getting 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$5.20. First Metro/CPTM train then bus: you'll be charged R$5.20 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.

See

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 though 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.

Do

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. A list of performances being carried in the city can be found in various websites, including: [1], [2], [3].

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 strictly 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.

Shopping

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 10:00-18:00, including Saturdays (when they close earlier), but are closed on Sundays. The countless shopping malls operate M-Sa 10:00-22:00 and Su 10:00-20:00.

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).

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. 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 drunken 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 roast beef, and it still endures as one ubiquitous snack in padarias (Brazilian-style eateries). Another typical type of restaurant in São Paulo is the world-famous churrascaria, 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.

Foreign food

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. Japanese restaurants of the rodízio 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 around the Liberdade neighborhood, where connoisseurs of good food have already found their way in. On weekends, these restaurants can be packed, so arrive early to avoid queues.

Fine dining

São Paulo is a center of Brazil fine dining. Traditional Brazilian cuisine and European influence often mash in creative and innovative dishes, with prices to match. That said, it's also possible to find gems at surprisingly affordable prices. As of 2026, the Michelin Guide has over 100 restaurants in the city listed, ranging from delicate sushi to hearty feijoada. This includes two elusive three-starred establishments, Evvai and Tuju, ensuring food tourists are well served. The listing also contains over 30 Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurants, providing critic-approved food at more affordable prices (but by no means cheap!). Travelers can also check the local-oriented VejaSP Comer & Beber guide (in Portuguese only). The guide covers not just multi-course meal restaurants but also cafes and bars, with the Bom e Barato listings for price-conscious customers. Their award plaques are easy to spot in the walls of any restaurant that gets awarded by them, and it became the more well-known "seal of quality" among locals compared to Michelin.

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.

Local customs

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- to 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 09:00-18:00, and banks are open M-F 10:00-16:00. However, don't be surprised if a meeting is scheduled after 18:00, 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.

Stay safe

Crime

São Paulo, once one of the most violent cities in Brazil, has managed to drastically reduce crime during the 2000s. 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.

Go next

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) or even on any Friday, expect to be much more.

Metro area (Grande São Paulo)

Many of São Paulo's immediate neighbors are connected by the EMTU bus service and the commuter rail, making for a range of good day trip options. Driving times vary widely according to where the journey begins in São Paulo.

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.

More pictures of São Paulo

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.