The Greatest Issues to Do in São Paulo (and The place to Keep)

As a few of chances are you’ll know, my daughter Bella just lately spent six months finding out and residing in São Paulo. Whereas Brazil is taken into account a worldwide south nation, it is without doubt one of the most stunning and numerous locations when it comes to tradition and ethnicity. There are gorgeous neighborhoods that may make you imagine you might be in a western European nation, in addition to seashores that may fairly actually take your breath away.

With São Paulo being such a big metropolis, Bella and I’ve put collectively a 3 day itinerary displaying you our favourite locations to remain, good neighborhoods for buying, and the perfect eating places within the space. We’re additionally sharing some necessary security ideas to bear in mind when touring there. Contemplate this your go-to São Paulo journey information, whether or not you’ve been earlier than or are planning your first journey.

The place to Keep in São Paulo

I travelled with Bella again in July of 2023 to assist her settle into town and I stayed in probably the most superb Airbnb. I beloved it a lot that I truly stayed there once more with the fam once we visited for Christmas (discover particular condominium right here). That is within the neighborhood referred to as Higienopolis, which is quieter and older, and is positioned in a extra conventional space the place there are extra timber and vegetation on the sidewalks—at all times a perk!

One other nice neighborhood to remain in is Jardins, particularly if you’re a shopaholic. The streets listed here are additionally a bit of extra quiet however tremendous luxurious with a very good quantity of nature as properly. I’ve picked out a few residences within the space with a increased value level (in the meanwhile), and a lower cost level.

Pinheiros is one other nice and central location to remain in. There are a ton of cool cafes and eating places within the space in addition to bars and golf equipment in the event you’re an evening owl! Bella had just a few pals that lived in Pinheiros and all of them felt tremendous protected. The world is also tremendous accessible for public transportation, which is an additional benefit. I discovered a bit of loft in Pinheiros that matches the vibe of the neighborhood completely!

Greatest Eating places in São Paulo

The primary place I’ll advocate is for breakfast in São Paulo and it’s referred to as Fabrique. This place is at all times packed as a result of the whole lot is selfmade and tastes very contemporary. In addition they have a fantastic number of juices and if in case you have ever visited Brazil you understand that Brazilian juices are the perfect round!

A cool cafe to go to for brunch in Pinheiros known as Levena SP, which we visited with considered one of our Brazilian pals. This place has the best format with tables on totally different ranges—all the cafe isn’t one one stage however three! Undoubtedly a fantastic place for pics and it’s only a ten minute stroll from Rua Oscar Freire!

Lunch in Jardins ought to happen at Gero. This place is delish and has the cutest outside seating with views of the road (whereas nonetheless providing some privateness.)

For an unimaginable dinner with a good higher view, you completely should put Vista Restaurante in your listing! This can be a restaurant positioned on the rooftop of the Museum of Up to date Artwork, which is free to enter.

Should you’re a pizza lover, you’ll love Leggera pizza napoletana. This restaurant was elected as the perfect Pizzaria of South America by the famend information Gambero Rosso! This pizza positively lives as much as its title.

Rascal is one other glorious place to move for dinner. It’s mainly an all you’ll be able to eat gourmand buffet and I ate right here with my household for my birthday after I visited in July. We ate on the Higienopolis mall location however there are just a few different places you’ll be able to select from.

Final however not least, Braz Pizzaria is a sequence restaurant of kinds however consider it as fancy and delish! Braz is at all times a fantastic place to go as a result of the eating places are throughout São Paulo, and the pizza is assured to make your mouth water.

What to do in São Paulo

For buying, we’d advocate heading to Patio Higienopolis, which is in a fantastic neighborhood. It’s a few ten minute stroll from the primary airbnb listed (the one I stayed in with the fam), and it has a ton of nice eating places!

Rua Oscar Freire can also be a brilliant cute avenue to stroll down. There are many little boutiques and the road itself is full of numerous timber and nature.

Take a look at Avenida Paulista on Sundays in the event you’re into flea market buying—the entire avenue closes from 7am till 4pm. There are often a ton of distributors out and it’s filled with locals having fun with their weekend. There are additionally loads of museums on this avenue, and some of them are free to the general public!

So far as particular sightseeing areas in São Paulo go, Mercado Municipal is usually one the primary locations that may pop up if you begin researching. It’s positively a brilliant cool place to see with a great deal of fruit distributors promoting probably the most unique produce you’ve gotten ever seen—all beneath one roof.

The difficulty with Mercado Municipal is that it’s extraordinarily busy with totally different distributors calling you to attempt their fruits (you should definitely ask whether it is free to attempt!) and all of it takes place in a good house. Should you’re a bit of claustrophobic and you don’t do properly in crowded locations, Mercado Municipal might be not the place for you. However in the event you don’t thoughts this stuff, it might probably make for a really enjoyable and memorable expertise.

Beco do Batman is one other pleasant place to go to as properly. The alley is full of a ton of distributors on Sundays nevertheless it’s nonetheless a pleasant place to go to throughout the week.

São Paulo is an city jungle, with so many locations to see and issues to do, however typically a bit of escape is required. Ibirapuera parque is a park within the coronary heart of town. It’s thought of the Central Park of São Paulo and it’s at all times filled with locals on the weekends. Right here you’ll be able to lay out your canga (a Brazilian seaside towel) with a coconut in hand, and watch the Brazilians play footvolley (a type of volleying a ball with solely their ft, chests, and head)! Ibirapuera Parque is a beautiful place to go to if you wish to play native for just a few hours.

Transportation in São Paulo

Uber is superb in São Paulo, and actually, it’s very inexpensive. I most popular to make use of Uber Black for my on a regular basis journeys as a result of the home windows are sometimes extra tinted and it’s thought of safer, however Bella used common Uber X for a stricter price range and felt simply as protected on each experience.

The necessary factor to notice (additionally said beneath security ideas) is that you just shouldn’t be utilizing your cellphone within the automotive. Sadly, a giant crime is stealing telephones and wallets from individuals at a stoplight. If the automotive is in movement it’s not as harmful, however I’d not danger pulling it out at a stoplight.

One other mode of transportation that Bella used daily in São Paulo was the metro. She took it many instances fully alone and by no means felt unsafe. So long as you keep in mind to maintain your cellphone in your purse and also you solely pull it out to verify for instructions, the metro is an effective way to get to your vacation spot a lot faster and it’s very inexpensive (solely 80 cents per ticket.) Additionally, on Sundays, public transportation is now free!

Security in São Paulo

Sadly, in a metropolis with over 20 million inhabitants, São Paulo is usually a little harmful. However as somebody who has travelled to some totally different cities in Europe in addition to cities like Miami and New York, São Paulo is simply one other massive metropolis the place you’ll want to hold your eyes open.

By no means put your cellphone in your again pocket the place anybody can snatch it, however relatively hold it in a handbag or a backpack. As I mentioned above, there is a matter with individuals breaking home windows to get telephones from Ubers. Attempt to hold your cellphone and purse on the ground and you ought to be tremendous.

That is really useful anytime you’re in another country and also you aren’t feeling protected, however don’t converse English! If you’re within the neighborhoods really useful above, like Jardins and Pinheiros, you can find that there are quite a lot of English audio system round. Nevertheless, in the event you begin to really feel uneasy about an space you’re in, step right into a pharmacy or fuel station and discover instructions to depart. Simply attempt to keep away from calling consideration by talking loudly in your international language.

Whether or not you’re visiting São Paulo for the primary time otherwise you’re in want of some new actions whereas touring, we hope this journey information has helped.