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Jan
10
Sao Paulo Travel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Brazil
A trip to Sao Paulo
Brazil’s Sao Paulo is made up of 18 million people, representing a myriad mix of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. This metropolis is Brazil’s second largest, and it comes along with the thrumming nightlife and countless accommodation options you would expect from a city of this size. Home to its fair share of old architecture, museums and picturesque parks, Sao Paulo is an ideal destination for a Brazilian getaway.
Flights to Sao Paulo
Two airports service Sao Paolo. Congonhas Airport (CGH) sticks to domestic service and can become uncomfortably congested; it’s located about eight miles to the south of the city centre. Meanwhile, Sao Paulo International Airport sits roughly 18 miles northeast of Sao Paulo and receives flights from all over the world. These two facilities are linked by a long-haul airport shuttle that operates on a bi-hourly basis. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Sao Paulo try Thomas Cook.
Public transportation around Sao Paulo can be a bit of a headache. If you’re lucky enough to find your destination along one of the underground lines, then the metro is far and above your best bet for getting there. Otherwise, you’re limited to street transportation—primarily buses—which are jam-packed, slow moving and more than a little frustrating. Driving is not for the faint of heart, and restrictions on when you can drive and where you can park all but rule out this option.
Sao Paulo
Sightseeing in Sao Paulo
There are couple of museums in Sao Paulo that often get overlooked by visitors: the Museu de Arte Sacra and the Pinacoteca do Estado. Both of these have excellent fine art exhibits and are well worth the visit. The abundant green spaces and attractive pedestrian avenues make Sao Paulo a great city to tour on foot, with some of the finest walking located downtown in the Centro neighbourhood.
The Pátio de Colégio is one of the city’s hallmark sites. Said to be Sao Paulo’s original founding site, this area once housed a Jesuit school and today houses a church and a museum. For some respite, take a 45-minute taxi ride out to the Parque Estadual da Cantareira, where you’ll find pristine rainforest, outstanding hiking trails and numerous species of wildlife.
Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
A strong immigrant population in Sao Paulo means you’ll have no problem finding international cuisine from all over the world. Beyond Brazilian and Portuguese standards, you’ll also find Japanese, Thai, Italian and Spanish cuisine. Local dishes focus on sausages, beans and fresh fruit.
As the sun sets, Sao Paulo’s music and dance districts are brought to life. Bella Vista, Itaim-Bibi, Vila Madalena and Jardins all offer a range of samba, pop and jazz bands in various live venues. The only downside to partying in Sao Paulo is the constant congestion on the city streets. Bar-hopping is best kept to joints that are within walking distance of each other, just so you can avoid getting into another taxi and inching your way through one intersection after another.
Fun by day - shopping and activities
The dense metropolitan sector of Sao Paulo is loaded with shopping venues that range from elite designer outlets to gift shops and boutiques. Many of the hospitality and entertainment districts like Jardin are prime places to gear up for a few hours of shopping. The many parks and public squares are great places to unwind in between sightseeing jaunts; many of them feature musical performances and seasonal festivals that make it all the more worthwhile to stop by.
Daytrips
Less than 30 minutes by car from downtown Sao Paulo, the lush forests of Serra da Cantareira rest at the edge of the city limits. A popular weekend destination for outdoorsmen and families with children, this forested area offers horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and beautiful natural scenery.
Lovers of the sun and sand will enjoy a day or more in São Sebastião. Located on the north coast, roughly 130 miles from the city, 62 miles of soft beach stretches out beneath the South American sun.
Ecotourists and outdoor adventurers will discover an oasis in the town of Brotas, 150 miles from Sao Paulo centre. Of the many operators offering customisable tours outside of the city, Eco Açao is one of the more well known for organising wilderness trekking, river rafting, canyoning, horseback riding and rock climbing excursions.
Must-see attractions
As the largest and most affluent city in Brazil, with a population close to 20 million, Sao Paulo is a cultural, historical and commercial centre well known for many reasons, from ethnically diverse residents and cuisine to Formula 1 racing and an energetic nightlife. With such a range of influences appealing to such a variety of tastes, Sao Paulo’s short list of must-see attractions is hardly sufficient.
Home to several museums, art galleries, theatres, shopping complexes and famous landmarks, the city can be toured by starting at Avenida Paulisto. One of the busiest and most important streets in the city, it boasts a number of cultural centres, the Sao Paulo Museum of Art and Centro Cultural Itaú, as well as several opportunities for shoppers.
Twin to America’s Empire State Building, the Banespa Building of Sao Paulo is a skyscraper with its own museum and an observation deck. Catedral da Sé, in addition to being a symbol of the city, is the main cathedral and place of worship. Historically significant sites like Pátio do Colégio, once a Jesuit mission-school and also the location of the city’s founding, and Estação da Luz, an ancient railway station over a century old and still in operation, are other must-sees.
Best time to go
Classified as a region with a humid subtropical climate, Sao Paulo is, by British standards, hot all year round. The most comfortable time to visit for travellers from cold-weather countries is during July and August when temperatures are lowest and rainfall is minimal. August is also the month in which the annual Achiropita Festival is held; a traditional Italian street event organised in Bixiga.
Rainy day suggestions
If bad weather upsets plans for a day of outdoor activities, Sao Paulo has numerous alternative options to fall back upon in the case of rain. The Ipiranga Museum, an enormous structure of classical architecture, landscaped grounds, fountains and surrounding woodlands, is located near where, in 1822, Pedro I declared independence from Portugal.
Above Estação da Luz, the Museum of the Portuguese Language offers an interactive experience for visitors who come to witness a living representation of the origins of the national language of Brazil.
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