Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a magical cultural cauldron. The most populated city in the southern hemisphere, the atmosphere of which is created by such different Brazilians, Japanese, numerous Africans, Europeans desperately whitening in the crowd. For me it is an exciting city, impossible, crazy, dirty, cruel, beloved.

The capital of business, industry, design, universities, advertising agencies, money and frustrations of the entire magical South American continent.

This whole atmosphere of money, hopes, desperate beautiful wealth and merry poverty ... it is in Sao Paulo that the whole huge, talented, diverse Brazil flocks in search of a better life. Here the wildest dreams come true, destinies crumble and every passerby has his own incredible life story.

There is nothing for tourists to do here, but an amazing adventure can happen to real travelers.

How to get there

The most logical and easiest way to get to Sao Paulo is by plane.

If you really want, you can also get on the cruise ship to the port of Santos, which is located 2 hours from the city.

Buses run from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, although the journey will take a very long time.

By plane

There are two main routes from Russia:

With a change in Europe most profitable to use Klm, Airrance or Tap. If the transfer does not turn out to be very long, this is the fastest flight.
Second option to fly through the Middle East from Emirates or Etihad; the price is most often the most for a couple of thousand, but the level of comfort is much higher. You can search for the best offer, for example, here.

Airports

Guarulhos International Airport / Aeroporto Internacional de São Paulo / Guarulho

The main airport of the city. It is also a transportation hub in Latin America. All transatlantic flights fly here. Located 25 km from Sao Paulo, in the city of Guarulhos.

How to get there:

City bus
Every 15 minutes, the usual city bus number 257 leaves for Tatuapé Station. The trip may not be the most comfortable in your life, especially with luggage. Ticket Price: 1.6 USD or 5.5 Real (BRL). Travel time: at least 30 minutes, highly dependent on traffic.

Shuttle
Large comfortable buses will take you to any large station and to the center. The timetable can be found on the website of the Airport Bus Service company that provides these services. Ticket price: from 14 USD (45 BRL).

Free shuttle to Cogonyas National Airport
This is a small life-cycle for fans of saving. Take the free shuttle between the airports, and from Cogonyas it is already easy to get to the metro.

Congonhas Airport / Aeroporto de Congonhas

National airport of the city. Mostly accepts domestic flights. This is where you will most likely get from Rio de Janeiro. Also from here it makes the majority of flights of LATAM, GOL and Azul airlines, for example, to Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia.

The airport is located in the city of Kampu Belu. A very impressive sight is an airplane landing in the very center of the city, directly above the roofs of a huge metropolis.

How to get there

By bus
City buses run to São Judas metro station, and the journey takes about 10 minutes.

Taxi / Uber
Due to the location of the airport only 7 km from the city center, a taxi can be quite inexpensive.

hint: Sao Paulo - time is now16: 5213 OctoberDifference in hours: Moscow & plus; 6 Kazan & plus; 6 Samara & plus; 7 Yekaterinburg & plus; 8 Novosibirsk & plus; 10 Vladivostok & plus; 13

When is the season. When is the best time to go?

Paulistas (this is the name of the inhabitants of Sao Paulo) has a joke: when going out, take an umbrella, bikini and sweater with you. The weather here is unpredictable all year round and changes every hour! I stopped believing in applications a long time ago and learned to dress in layers (or endure).

High season: November - March.

Sao paulo in summer

The super-heat season is from November to March. This is an opportunity to feel and understand the real Brazil. The temperature rarely drops below + 28-30 ° C, the sun burns mercilessly, and at night it can sometimes be very stuffy. Frequent severe thunderstorms help to survive.

In such a huge city this season is not for the faint of heart: hot asphalt, it’s hard to breathe in transport (or vice versa, air conditioning mercilessly works), only desperate people walk during the day. But starry warm nights are the time of the best parties and carnival!

Brazilians love this weather and feel great. It will be comfortable for you, it depends on health and love for the sun, but the time for acclimatization should definitely be laid and do not forget the protective cream!

Sao paulo in the fall

Autumn in this city is a time of unpredictable weather. Today it’s +28 ° C, tomorrow it’s +15 ° C, rain at night, strong wind during the day and suddenly the heat again.

Sao paulo in spring

Spring officially begins on October 1. Trees blooming throughout the city are of stunning beauty: bright purple, pale pink, yellow and red.

But the weather is still moody. The temperature in the spring slowly but surely rises every day from winter +15 ° C to the more familiar +26 ° C.

Sao paulo in winter

In winter, gray clouds pull in São Paulo and it rains with a strong wind. The city focuses, immersed in work and study. And in summer houses without heating it becomes cold and uncomfortable.

Average temperature in winter: + 12-18 ° С.

Sao Paulo - monthly weather

hint: Sao Paulo - the weather for the months of January January + 21.6 February ± 22.0 March ± 21.2 April ± 19.5 May ± 16.8 June ± 15.6 July ± 15.1 August ± 16.4 September ± 17.4 October ± 18.7 November & plus; 19.8 December & plus; 20.8

Areas. Where is better to live

I am still surprised to discover a new area: you find yourself in a different city. The spirit of Sao Paulo in contrast. Ancient villas, boring skyscrapers, favelas, high-rise buildings or charming houses on the slopes of steep hills. Choosing a district in Sampa, as if you are choosing a mood, an impression that the city will give you.

Vila madalena
Creative heart of the city. Walls in amazing graffiti, designer shops, festivals, cafes, bars and galleries. I love this area! Do you want artists and beautiful hipsters in your neighbors? Prices for apartments here start from 100 USD (320 BRL) per night, but there are also many beautiful, clean and comfortable hostels. See options for apartments and hostels here.

Pompeia
The Pompeia, Sumare and Perdizes districts are located north of the Vila Madalena metro station. Calm, colorful areas on fantastically steep hills, from where you can see amazing orange-pink sunsets. This is a very quiet, safe area with charming tree houses and street bends. Here you can really feel in Brazil, in the heart of residential, cozy areas. House prices start at $ 80 per night. You can search for offers here.

Jardins
An elite area with well-groomed skyscrapers next to the main street of the city, Avenida Paulista. Expensive cars, a rooftop pool, gorgeous views of the crazy, bustling city. Expensive, beautiful and safe. You can rent an apartment in the Jardins area for about 75 USD (250 BRL).

Liberdade
The area of Japanese immigrants is a unique place. Pagodas, Japanese kindergarten, sushi, origami, karaoke bars - all this under the scorching sun of Brazil. Liberdagi - the area is quite comfortable, colorful and safe. The average price for an apartment here is about 55 USD (200 BRL).

Centro
The central district of old skyscrapers, homeless people, heaps of houses, signboards, restaurants, teeming with people and shops ... and all that may come to your mind. The place is dirty and ambiguous, I do not recommend living or judging by the city. But definitely worth the impression. Housing prices are very different, highly dependent on the novelty and safety of the house. On average, an apartment can be found for 50 USD (170 BRL). You can book at Bucking, but here you can check if prices are cheaper somewhere.

What are the prices for vacation

Sampa is an unpleasantly expensive city. To relax here properly, you have to fork out:

the average apartment price is about 30 USD / night (100 BRL);
hostels from 12 USD (40 BRL);
dinner for two in a good restaurant - 45 USD (150 BRL);
woff in padaria - 1.3 USD (4 BRL);
a snack on the street - 6 USD (20 BRL);
taxi - 1.5 USD / km (5 BRL).

How to save?

Choose a restaurant in advance via the Internet, if you go just from the street, you will most likely find yourself in a very expensive place.
Buy fruits and vegetables on the market and cook at home (or at least snack on this yummy). Very cheap and tasty.
Always check the account, here they like to accidentally add a couple of points.

In general, this is not Rio for you - it’s not customary to save here, it is customary to work more here.

hint: Cost of food, accommodation, transport and other currency: Euro, € US dollar, $ Russian ruble, rub Brazilian real, R $ Prices in restaurants and cafes

Eating (lunch / dinner) in a reasonably priced restaurant	399 rub
Lunch / dinner for two, 3 course, middle class restaurant	1 917 rub
McMill at McDonald's or similar combo lunch	399 rub

More details

The main attractions. What to watch

Sao Paulo is not rich in classic tourist attractions. Having moved here from Europe, at first I was notably upset - the usual and understandable entertainments in the form of ancient castles, monuments, legendary places and paved squares are not here at all. My inner tourist was perplexed, looking at these endless gray high-rise buildings, traffic jams, fussy white-collar workers, homeless tents in the very center and prohibitive accounts in restaurants. But one day changed everything. On Friday morning I went on a tour of the best graffiti of Sao Paulo, and in the evening at bars and clubs. Suddenly, everything exploded with colors and impressions!

It was then that the true, crazy beauty of this city began to open: with the best museums in the world of Brazilian art unlike anything, with office workers dancing samba on Saturdays, the best graffiti artists, dark-skinned beauties sunbathing topless on weekends right on the asphalt of Paulista , unique designer showrooms and breathtaking architecture of the amazing Oscar Niemeyer.

Top 5

But of course Sampa is not as hopeless for tourism as it seems at first glance. I will share with you my favorite attractions.

Museum of Brazilian Art Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo Getting there: Praça da Luz, 2 - Luz, São Paulo - SP, 01120-010.

Graffiti street Beco do batman Getting there: R. Gonçalo Afonso - Vila Madalena, São Paulo - SP, 03178-200.

Lecture hall Auditorio Ibirapuera architect Oscar Niemeyer (inside is even cooler than outside!) Getting there: Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral, s / nº - Parque do Ibirapuera, São Paulo - SP, 04094-050.

Skyscraper Altilu Arantis (Altino arantes) or Banespa Getting there: Rua João Brícola, 24 - Centro, São Paulo - SP, 01014-900.

Openwork railway station Luz (Estação da Luz) Her top galleries are just made for steampunk selfies. Getting there: Praça da Luz, 1, Luz, São Paulo - SP.

Classics lovers should also visit smart City Theater (Teatro Municipal de São Paulo)and architecture fans will definitely appreciate Latin american memorial and skyscraper italy architect Franz Heap.

Beaches. Which are better

Sao Paulo is a 2.5-hour ride on a comfortable bus from the ocean. I often go swimming for the weekend on the coast.

The nearest beach is in the city - Santos (At the same time you can look into the excellent Coffee Museum). My personal favorite is in the spa town of Guarujá, this is an amazing beach Tombo, holder of the Blue Flag. And if you want a real Brazilian beach atmosphere and adventure, ask friends of local surfers to take you to Itamambuca.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

First of all, pay attention to:

Catedral da Sé Cathedral
It is located on one of the main squares of the city, Xie. The Catholic Cathedral in the neo-Gothic style is most interesting for its very unusual decoration of the internal capitals made of marble in the form of coffee beans, pineapples and animal figures. The cathedral is operational and you can visit it completely free from 9:00 to 17:00. If you accidentally get to the Mass, then do not be shy, just go quietly and join the worshipers, you might even be lucky to hear the largest organ in Latin America!
Igreja Nossa Senhora Do Brasil Church A charming, very elegant church is famous not only for its bright eclectic decor, but also for the most magnificent weddings in the city. You can find out when masses, exhibitions and church fairs are held on the temple website.
St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral (Igreja Ortodoxa de São Nicolau) A very unexpected, grandiose Orthodox church inspired by Hagia Sophia. An amazing example of Byzantine architecture. The rules for visiting are the same as in all Orthodox churches, admission is certainly free.

Museums Which are worth a visit

The culture of Brazil is vibrant, amazing and so unlike other cities in the country. You should go to the museum at least to be surprised. There are many of them in the city, for every taste. You can choose one you like by reading our material here.

Parks

Parque do ibirapuera

The beautiful flowering Ibirapuera park is located by the lake, they like to run and have picnics. This is the most important and most famous city park.

The Museum of Modern Art, the amazing building of the famous architect Oscar Niemeira + a roofed skate park + dancing fountains + craft beer = guaranteed a good day in the park.

Praça do por sol

A wonderful place on the top of the hill, where it is customary to meet sunsets and sunrises. Praça do por sol is translated into Russian: "sunset area".

A very party and romantic place where the city extends under your feet. I like to come here in the evening with friends, a guitar, a basket of fruits and wine. By the way, in Sao Paulo, sunsets of incredible beauty and colors! You often wait for the evening as a new episode of the series, which will surprise me today.

Tourist streets

Beco do batman

Graffit-Rua Gonçalo Afonso on Vila Madalena, better known as Beco do Batman (Batman Street), a surrealistic place, completely changed my idea of the gray, boring, business Sao Paulo. Yes, this is the brightest and coolest place on the planet! A long winding street, completely clogged with professional graffiti of amazing beauty. The great power of street art charges no less than the famous museums.

Usually there are a lot of people, even a queue for selfies is formed at the most famous drawings. And on weekends, musicians play here all the time, dance or arrange flash mobs.

How to get there: R. Gonçalo Afonso - Vila Madalena, São Paulo - SP. Metro Vila Madalena.

Avenida paulista

The street is not very touristy, but certainly the most famous in Sampa. Long, stubbornly straight, with rows of high-rise business centers, shops, museums. Here life is in full swing, everyone is running somewhere, in a hurry, sitting on the steps, street musicians are playing, souvenirs are being sold. Dedicated to all fans of the rhythm of big cities. This is the heart of Sao Paulo.

But sometimes I like to come here on the weekend when the avenue is blocked for motorists: children, bicycles, street food and complete relaxation.

How to get there: Av. Paulista, São Paulo - SP. Metro Brigadeiro, Trianon-MASP or Consolação.

What to see in 1 day

One day in such a huge city is, of course, not serious. But if you only have a day to get to know Sao Paulo, then wake up early. Any day here begins with breakfast in the nearest Padaria: coffee, fresh orange, a hearty sandwich and a couple of carolinas cakes.

Then we take the metro to Sé Station, do not get scared of the homeless, but concentrate on the huge Cathedral of Sao Paulo. A short walk around the very center, and climb to the grandiose old skyscraper Atilu Arantis to appreciate the city from a height.

Art lovers can drive one stop from São Bento to Luz, quickly explore the famous train station and spend many hours in the magnificent Pinacoteca Museum.

If you prefer walking, we go through Praça das Artes to explore the Municipal Theater. Immediately not far from the strange architectural work of Edifício Itália. The main thing here is to concentrate and not to dine in the central area, since it is expensive and hardly tasty.

Although my favorite route is to spit on all the sights and take the metro to Liberdade Station, around which the famous area of Japanese immigrants is located. Here we gorge ourselves on sushi, buy up a bunch of funny Japanese bullshit, just walk around and marvel at the Brazilian Japanese.

The second part of the day is definitely worth spending on Avenida Paulista, the symbol of Sao Paulo. We get again by metro to the Trianon-MASP station.After visiting the flying building of the Art Museum (MASP itself), you can relax in the shade of the Tenente Siqueira Campos park or go around the museum and go down the stairs to have coffee in an excellent place with a chic urban view.

You can also shop on Avenida Paulista. I strongly advise you to look into the fantastic Livraria Cultura bookstore, which amazes with the size, quality and variety of books, the cozy atmosphere and, of course, the famous dragon.

But in the evening, all roads lead to the bohemian region of Vila Madalena. We reach the end along the green branch and along the swirling steep streets we go up to Rua Harmonia (my favorite road is through rua Madalena past charming private houses). Immediately look for a street with Beco do Batman graffiti, you should definitely come here before sunset to take a picture of yourself!

Here you can have a good dinner nearby, and then go for a walk around the area in search of galleries, graffiti and excellent designer clothes for sane money. And after dark your bar will find you.

Food. What to try

What is the difference between Sao Paulo’s cuisine? You will be surprised now. Here you can taste the breathtakingly delicious Japanese and Italian cuisine! This is the city of immigrants, a magical gastronomic cauldron.

When I first tried in Sampa sushi, I suddenly realized that this dish had never really been eaten before. Amazingly delicious! Fish of such quality and freshness! And the real Japanese cook here.

Another culinary adventure is, of course, the famous Pitza paulistano, which the city is rightly proud of. And be sure to try pizza with palmitomarinated palm core.

And in Sao Paulo you can find any of the most incredible food from all over fertile Brazil. The fruit market just blows away with its variety and colors!

Prices for food and checks in restaurants are very dependent on the area. Here they are not shy to take significantly more from the inhabitants of rich areas. The morning market of organic vegetables in the bohemian Vila Madalena will ruin you for at least 12 USD (40 BRM), the same set of products in an ordinary supermarket will cost you 5 USD.

Recommended Places

All the places I talk in detail in the sections below.

Budgetary

There are several ways to eat in Sao Paulo on a budget:

Street food Paulistas love to snack on the run. On each street there are dozens of trays with a wide variety of food: kebabs, corn, hot dogs, falafel (by the way, very worthy), dumplings, delicious fried cheese, and anything else. Personally, I love tapioca pancakes with a filling of your choice: hearty, cheap and, what you can’t expect from street food, good for your health.

Bakery / Padarias Padaria is a special, very important place where the life of the area is concentrated. There are a lot of them in the city. It sells bread, cheese, sweets, cigarettes and other nonsense. Here, at the counter, you can drink coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice or eat an excellent hearty sandwich for 15 BRM (it will be called lunch on the menu), delicious Pão de Queijo (balls of cheese bread) or coxinhas (chicken or breaded cheese).

Canteens / Ristorante self service The smartest way to eat in Sao Paulo is with the canteens. They offer a wide variety of good quality food by weight. You can search for any restaurant indicating self service, or look into the padaria at lunch time.

Mid level

If you still want to eat, be sure to check out one of these wonderful restaurants. Never leave me disappointed! Prices are at Moscow level.

Tanuki
Real Japanese sushi made from fantastically fresh Brazilian fish. Tasty to tears.

Lá da venda A charming restaurant with the best pao de queijo, the best classic sweets and delicious food, with an elegant, balanced taste.

Banana verde
One of the city’s best vegetarian restaurants.

Casa da Pizza
Here you just have to try pizza while in Sao Paulo! Very tasty.

Expensive

All the places listed below are from the list of Michelin-starred restaurants, so the prices are appropriate.

Figueira rubaiyat The restaurant was built around a tree that is 130 years old! The food matches the interior.

D.O.M. by Alex AtalaAn opportunity to try high Brazilian cuisine from the famous chef Alex Atal. What about amazon ants sauce?

Fogo de ChãoSteak House, where the meat is turned into a real show.

Vinheria Percussi Just the best Italian restaurant in Sao Paulo.

Skye Bar & RestauranteBar and restaurant on the roof of a skyscraper.

Holidays

Carnival

I used to think that carnival is only Rio. And no! This madness is happening all over the country, and each state has its own special traditions.

In São Paulo, there is the second sambodrome in Brazil - a stadium for competitions between samba schools. This is a week of parties, endless family shurasko (kebabs), heat, dance ... as well as an incredible amount of drunken people, garbage on the street and so-so smell everywhere. Carnival is real madness, but also the most grandiose party in my life!

New Year's and Christmas

I am still embarrassed by the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in a 30-degree heat, but Brazilians love all the holidays.

On New Year's Eve, Paulista Avenida is blocked and a grandiose salute is launched there. In Sao Paulo, of course you cannot make a wish by jumping over seven waves, but parties on the roofs of old skyscrapers exceed any expectations.

Pride parade

The world's largest Pride Parade is held in Sao Paulo. It is even better than a carnival. No limits!

Thousands of incredible, beautiful, crazy, free people. 2.5 million people are worth seeing.

Virada cultural

The annual music festival in Sao Paulo.

The time of open museums, hundreds of concerts throughout the city, events, theater performances and exhibitions. The whole weekend, usually in May, when Sampa plunges into a rich cultural life.

Security. What to watch out for

Sao Paulo is not exactly Brazil, so it is much safer here. But still do not lose vigilance. For all the time that I live in this city, nothing bad has happened to me. Here are some simple tips to get away with:

Do not shine frankly with telephones and cameras on the street, keep bags with you. Theft is Brazil's favorite pastime.
Do not carry all the money with you.
If you still decided to rob, most importantly, do not resist.
Girls are better off not walking alone in deserted places.
If you are harassed by a suspicious homeless person, give him some money and he will leave or apologize and ignore him. Maybe they look very scary, especially in the center, but in fact they do not pose any threat.
Do not run into a fight with the Brazilians. These funny and smiling guys are extremely unpredictable and aggressive, defending their interests.

Things to do

Sing karaoke in Liberdade Have you heard about crazy Japanese karaoke? Add Brazilian temperament and the sexiest Portuguese ever. An evening in the area of Japanese immigrants began with incredible sushi, the first sake of my life, and ended with a really crazy party at Chopperia Liberdade, full of real fun in this old-school karaoke.

Dance samba on Vila Madalena The whole country is saturated with the rhythms of samba, and it is simply impossible to stay away. Even if you don’t dance, going to a samba party on Saturday is an impression for life! An atmosphere of happiness, delight, live music, sweaty beautiful dancers and a celebration of life. All the fun usually starts closer to midnight. You can look, for example, in Bar Samba, and then in Ó do Borogodó.

View the city from the roof of the Banespa skyscraper The famous Banespa skyscraper (Altino Arantes building) was built in 1949 in the heart of the city. The view from the roof is amazing! From there, looking at the endless streets, roofs, traffic jams and hills, you can really appreciate the scale and mood of this incredible city. By the way, it is completely free!

Go on a safari in the city Not everyone who comes to Brazil has the opportunity to go to the Amazon jungle or trekking to get acquainted with a lively, amazing nature. And if it was, I really hope that they did not meet white tigers and alligators. In Sao Paulo, right in the city, you can go on a unique Zoo safári. This pleasure is worth 7 USD (25 BRM). Personally, I squealed with delight when I fed the zebra from my hands.

Having coffee with students at Centro Cultural São Paulo My favorite place in Sampa! A huge building full of light, where students study and hang out. Here is a library, cafe, young artists are exhibited, dance battles, concerts are held. A flat roof is planted with a lawn, on which everyone lies in the sun, read, often someone plays the guitar. And in the middle of this amazing building grows an old spreading tree, under which, by the way, you can play ping pong.

Wander around the fantastic SESC Pompéia Well, who guesses what it is? No chance. This is a regional social center. Here it is! There are such wonderful places in every area, but this one is also famous for its architecture by Lina Bo Bardi. Here, various workshops, interesting exhibitions, and concerts take place all the time. Inside there are affordable restaurants, a theater, a children's center, and sports grounds. Why is there just no! Very bright and saturated place.

Shopping and shops

You should look at:

District Vila Madalena Designer showrooms at Vila Madalena won my heart. Wandering around a hilly area filled with graffiti, and everywhere there are small beautiful shops with clothes, decorations, furniture, books, little things. Believe me, the Brazilian design will surprise you!

25 de Março I advise fans of extreme shopping to visit 25 de Março Street - a crazy focus of shops with everything you can imagine! The whole country comes here to buy and resell. Clothing, appliances, jewelry for nothing, fine fakes, Christmas lights, fabrics, sweets, books, shovels, beads, etc.

Feira benedito calixto Every Saturday, a flea market opens on the square of the same name. Feira, as I call all markets, is a real immersion in Brazilian culture: street musicians, food, cafes, a hipster market and tents with unusual junk.

Galeria do rock Underground shopping center, believe me, this you have not seen! Everything for piercings, tattooists, rockers, skaters and informals. Rock and roll shopping and a great adventure!

Rua Oscar Freire Welcome to one of the most expensive streets in the world! All boutiques of luxury brands are concentrated here. Everything is so chic and expensive that it reduces cheekbones. But it’s beautiful: Brazilian designers decorate the windows in a unique style, which is a real pleasure to see. By the way, the Brazilians themselves prefer to fly to New York for luxury shopping, because there are very high taxes on goods imported from abroad.

Bars Where to go

Bar veloso The atmosphere here is always fun, because Veloso is located in the heart of the university district of Vila Mariana. At Veloso, I like to come on warm evenings. Be sure to order capirin with another exotic fruit, for example, delicious jabotababa, the best coxinhas in the city and sit somewhere on the street to chat with friends for long hours. The bar opens around 17:00 and is open until 00:30.

PiticoThe Pichiku bar is love. It is located on a charming street with lanterns in the area under the name Batata, which translates as ... "potato". It is made from old containers, includes a bar, a small kitchen and an organic grocery store. Every self-respecting city hipster spends here long, funny hours with friends, unless, of course, he can break into the evening. By the way, Pitico also has a breathtakingly delicious falafel. In a word, be sure to come! The bar is open from 12:00 to 00:00, the average check is about 7-10 USD (25 BRL).

Caos During the day there is an antique store, and at night from Wednesday to Saturday, great DJs play funky and pour good craft beer (2.7 USD / 9 BRL). The place is incredibly bohemian and charming, falls in love instantly. Chaos opens its doors for parties around 9 p.m., and the fun does not stop until 3 p.m.

Drosophyla Very cozy, colorful, even elegant bar. Everything here is saturated with the spirit of the owner of this place, even on the walls they weigh only trophies from his travels. Live music is played here, and a charming cat is living. And still quite pleasant prices: 2 USD (7 BRL) for beer and 4 USD (13 BRL) for capirin.

Subastor The most famous cocktail bar in the city. Stylish interiors, a lot of beautiful people and an always enveloping Friday atmosphere, thanks to red velvet and twilight. Such a special place to seduce someone. Despite the miracles that local bartenders sometimes do, the prices here are very average for a nightly Sao Paulo.

Cachaçaria Água doce A special place for all alcoholic gourmets. Cachaçarias specialize in kashas. And in Água Doce there is even a museum of kashas. Trying reed vodka is a must, otherwise there is no chance to imbue the Brazilian spirit.

Clubs and nightlife

Oh, this city knows how to have fun! Parties are the main attraction of Sao Paulo. The most amazing thing is that they hang out here every day, without stopping. Although, of course, the brightest nights are Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Like in Europe, alcohol in clubs is critically expensive, so we usually get together with friends in advance at home with beer or in some nice craft bar, and we’re going to dance closer to midnight. Wow, how are they dancing here!

The easiest way to have fun is Rua Augusta - dozens of bars and clubs on the same street.

From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. clubs are open for teenagers, look do not accidentally get to a party without alcohol (although this may turn out to be a great adventure, these lascivious people dance in their 16th best of many). The main parties begin at midnight. By the way, admission to clubs is paid, and do not forget your passport, with age verification here strictly.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Of course, most of all from Brazil I want to bring the sun, a container of fresh fruit and a couple of cheerful smiling Brazilians to dilute the serious mines of the inhabitants of the north. But the customs officers have absolutely no sense of humor, so you have to please relatives and friends with something simpler. It’s good that the shopping list is long.

Coffee

Sao Paulo - the main coffee state of the most coffee country in the world! The coffee here is amazing and very cheap.

In the supermarket I usually buy a pound of brand 3 Corações for 4.5 USD (15 BRL), this is for every day. But you should also look for coffee boutiques. You can bring, for example, the famous Brazilian plantation coffee or the elite Brazil Santos - a blend of 8 varieties from the state of Sao Paulo.

Spanking Havaianas

"Hawaii", as they are called by local, national shoes of Brazil. They go everything, always and everywhere. And in winter you can just wear socks. Yes, they even run in them!

My Havaianas is already 3 years old and at least something - excellent quality and the most amazing colors in the world. You can buy at any shopping center.

Bikini

Perhaps the best in the world. I have never seen such a variety of swimwear! Importantly, bikinis can be found in any size, even very large.

They sit perfectly, and the colors blow their heads: what could be a better gift for a woman than the famous Brazilian bikinis?

Kashasa

Сachaça - sugarcane vodka. The perfect base for a true capirinha.

Of course, the best kashas are made in Minas Gerais, but in Sao Paulo you can find excellent Mato Dentro and Sapucaia Velha. True, such a yummy will cost somewhere in 12 USD (40 BRL). But you can always buy the most popular - Cachaça 51, for only 3 USD (10 BRL).

Tapioca

A wonderful gift for fans to cook. Unique, unknown food that is easy to carry on an airplane.

Tapioca is a flour from Manjoki root, from which weird white pancakes are made. The taste is nothing like! The recipe is very simple and easy to find on the Internet.

Brazil nuts

Brazil nuts here are called castanha do Pará (nuts from the state of Para), and if we have wild money, then 100 grams of goodies cost only 1.4 USD (5 BRL).

Goji berries

Well-known to all lovers of healthy eating superfood, dried goji berries can be bought here for only 2.5 USD (7-10 BRL) per 100 grams.

How to get around the city

You need to move around the city full of patience, this is the only thing that will save you from hatred of traffic jams and crowds of people. Unfortunately, the city is gigantic and congested.

For my taste, the most convenient options are Uber and the metro. And, of course, the legs that you knowably pump, climbing up endless hills.

Taxi. What features exist

I constantly use Uber, in Sampa a very convenient and affordable way to move around the city, extremely popular with locals. The main thing is not to get stuck in the famous traffic jams!

City taxi will cost more, but in rare cases you can use it: they are safe, and you pay on the counter (only in cash). I just advise you to get directions on Google maps in advance and keep track of how honestly the taxi driver is carrying you, just in case.

The easiest way to find a city taxi in special parking lots, believe me, you will recognize a taxi driver who is bored in the shade right away. You can also vote right on the street: free cars are those that have light under the checkers. The best option is to download a mobile taxi search application.

Underground

The metro here is my indispensable friend and assistant, the city is huge! Although going down there at rush hour - suicide - heat plus a crowd of people is guaranteed to ruin your mood. If possible, avoid the metro in the early morning, and also from 17:00 to 19:00!

Subway hours: 4: 15-00: 15.

It is very easy to buy a ticket at the box office for 1 USD (3.80 BRL). For 6 USD (20 BRL) you can buy a Bilhete unico card, which also operates on buses and allows you to save a little.

Buses

Sao Paulo Buses Created by the Devil! They are more like a very scary attraction than a means of transportation. Unfortunately, this is the main transport of the city. They rush at an incredible speed, fitting sharply into narrow streets, and you flounder inside like potatoes, beating off your knees and your head on a handrail. Fasten seat belts!

To understand which bus you need, get directions on the ubiquitous Google maps (because at the bus stop you won’t understand anything). Be sure to vote for the driver, otherwise the bus will just pass by.

A ticket can be bought from a conductor in the middle of the bus, but do not forget to exchange money - they never change. The price is the same as for the metro.

Vehicle rental

Car rental in Sao Paulo may not be the best idea. Traffic jams in the city exceed all expectations. But if you still want to rent a car, you can look for a suitable option, for example, here.

The minimum rental price is 30 USD per day.

Sao Paulo - Holidays with children

The business capital of Brazil is hardly the best place to relax with children. The rhythm of the city is crazy, the transport is stressful and overloaded.

But it is worth noting that it is customary to take children with you everywhere, and not only to restaurants, parks or festivals, but even to concerts and parties. Changing tables can be found almost everywhere, and those around you and the staff will always be happy to help you. Children are loved here.

With a child in Sao Paulo, you can go to the Botanical Garden, which will certainly surprise with prickly palm trees, orchids and other incredible exotic plants! You can also visit the zoo.