Destination Information from SAA

Visit São Paulo

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About São Paulo

Visit the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere and you’ll find world-class restaurants, over 150 museums, 15,000 bars, art-house cinemas, endless cutting-edge theatres and round the clock clubbing.

The city was founded by Jesuit missionaries way back in 1554, and later served as a base for slave-trading groups known as Bandeirantes. The coffee culture in the 19th century was responsible for its initial prosperity, then a boom in the industrial sector attracted a huge number of migrants. That’s left it with a heady mix of all-comers from everywhere, giving it a multicultural atmosphere that’s hard to match.

Travel Tips

You’ll need to master the metro underground trains to avoid endless traffic jams. It’s a vast system, but pretty simple. Get a Bilhete Único transport smartcard at an underground station to pay for all your bus and metro rides.

For the best weather visit in Spring, from September to November, or in Autumn, from March to May. Summer from December to February can be rainy in the afternoons.

Time

Brazil runs on BRT Brazilian Time, which is GMT -3. Summer sees the clocks go forward an hour in mid-October and back an hour for Winter in mid-February.

Currency

The currency is the Brazilian Real. ATMs are everywhere and the Bradesco, Banco Itaú and Banco do Brasil versions are foreign-friendly and feeless. Use ATMs inside the bank to avoid the risk of cloning. Access to most ATMs is closed from 10pm to 6am for security reasons.

Weather

São Paulo can get very hot and sticky in the Summer months from December to February, when sudden rains can cause flooding because of poor drainage. Even so, Christmas and New Year are the high season when everything gets more crowded. Autumn (from March to May) and Spring (from September to November) also have pleasanter weather. For winter, pack sweaters and a light coat.

Electricity

Brazil has a unique plug with three round pins in a slight arc, which was introduced in 2009. You can fit European plugs with two round pins into those sockets. The voltage varies between 127/220 V.

Communications

São Paulo’s communication systems improved in time for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with free wifi installed in hundreds of locations across the city.

Public Transport

São Paulo is enormous and congested so getting round can take time, but it’s do-able because the public transport system works well. Bus routes cover the entire city and the bus stops are marked with route maps. Clean and efficient metro trains run on five lines covering this mega-city. There are surface trains in the touristy too. Bilhete Único, a contactless card system, covers bus and train travel on one ticket.
Peak traffic is 6-9am and 4-8pm, but since the roads are so close to full capacity, any little incident can cause major delays. The best way to get around is by metro, but these also crowded during peaks and lugging luggage with you is tricky and risky. For taxis, you can hail a white cab in the street or book a radio taxi by phone or online. Taxi fares are quite pricey though. Alternatively an Uber can be requested at their app with your mobile. Uber is usually cheaper and safer.

Airport to City Center

SAA flights land at Guarulhos International Airport, 30km from São Paulo. The taxi co-operative Guarucoop has a monopoly on cabs at the airport. Credit card users can pay in advance at the booth outside the arrival terminal. The ride should take around 45 minutes, but note that it can take up to two hours during peak times. The Uber taxi can also be requested with the mobile app and you must meet them at their exclusive stop at each terminal. They are localized at the boarding floor.

Cheaper options are buses which run to numerous places around the city. The airport bus service called EMTU/SP provides nicer executive buses as well as ordinary buses and serves areas including: Praça da República (downtown), the Paulista/Jardins region, Barra Funda bus station and Tietê bus station.Since November 2018 the airport has a new train service with final destination to “Luz” Station which connects to São Paulo subway system. To access the train, you may take the free bus that departs every 15 minutes from the 3 terminals. The train departs at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 9pm from the airport straight to Luz Station but there are alternatives up to shorter destinations in the route. You can see more information here.

For South African Airways flight offers, visit our flights to Sao Paulo page.

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Museu de Arte de São Paolo

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This museum, colloquially known as MASP, houses an important collection of impressionist European painters including Degas, Renoir and Modigliani. Visit it on Sundays for an open fair of antiquities which include old stamps, masks, clothes and a large variety of crafts.
Different Districts

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With settlers from around the world calling São Paulo home, there are numerous districts with an ethnic slant. Bela Vista is brimming with pizzerias and Italian cafes. The Jewish neighbourhood has numerous synagogues, while the Turkish and Arabic communities have endless speciality restaurants. Little Japan is a highlight and its Japanese-Brazilian Museum explores the history of Japanese immigrants in the area. Liberdade is the local Chinatown.
Endless Eating

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There are restaurants offering cuisine representing – at the last count – 52 countries. Amid all this choice, pizza is probably the favourite fare. Walk through the Mercado Municipal to check out a dazzling array of brightly coloured fruits and veggies you’ve never seen before.
Shopping

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Shopping is almost as popular as football, so São Paulo has about 45 shopping malls. One of the most popular are Oscar Freire and 25 de Marco. Expect big crowds, so try to go during off-peak periods. For the poshest shops, head for Avenida Paulista. This 2.8km road sits atop a ridge in a commercial centre well known for its skyscrapers, restaurants, bookstores, fine hotels and designer boutiques.

Get high

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The Edifício Banespa has a fabulous observation deck on its 33rd ?oor, and if São Paulo hadn’t already astonished you by its size, it will now. The 161m building was modelled on New York’s Empire State Building and opened in 1947. Its official name now is the Edifício Altino Arantes, but it was once owned by Banespa and old habits die hard. The views are free, but the building is only open during office hours. If you want to eat while you admire the view, or see the stunning spectacle by night, try Edi?cio Italia instead. That’s a 168m tower with the Terraco Italia bar and restaurant. The restaurant reputedly has one of the most impressive wine lists in town, as well as a stunning 360-degree views.
Ibirapuera Park

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Peaceful fountains and lakes aren’t synonymous with this city, but you’ll find them in Ibirapuera Park. It’s refreshing to walk along the winding paths and admire the sculptures and monuments, or restore your Zen in the Japanese Garden. Three important contemporary art museums are in the park, plus a convention centre where free concerts are often held on weekends. There’s a planetarium too.
Vive le Futebol

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Football is a national obsession in Brazil and the Museo de Futebol can be found at Pacaembu Stadium. It’s full of photos, memorabilia, interactive exhibits and historical documentaries. Better still, catch a match. There are four football teams: São Paulo, Corinthians, Palmeiras and Portuguesa, each with their own stadium. Are you beginning to feel how big this city is now? While most matches are safe and fun, games between the biggest local rivals Corinthians and Sao Paulo have been marred by violence.
See a Show

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São Paulo is a culturally progressive place, particularly in the performing arts. With more than 150 theatres to choose from you should find something to suit your taste, although, like everything else here, the choice is overwhelming.
The Coffee

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Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world, with endless varieties to choose from. A hole in the all café or upmarket barista will all serve an unsurpassable cup.