Jan

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Sao Paulo Travel & Sightseeing Guide

January 10, 2008 |

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.

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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.


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