São Paulo downtown, Anhangabau Valley. Picture taken by Gabriel Fernandes. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaf/)

For other places with the same name, see São Paulo (disambiguation).

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and one of the largest in the world, with a city population of about 10.4 million and almost 19 million in its metropolitan region. It is the capital of the Southeastern state of São Paulo, and also a beehive of activity that offers a jovial nightlife and an intense cultural experience. São Paulo is the richest city in the southern hemisphere, though the typical inequality between the classes typically observed in Brazil is blatant. Being home to millions of immigrants, it's one of the most diverse cities in the world and the most cosmopolitan city existent in any developing country.

Districts

São Paulo Muncipal Cathedral, Praça da Sé, Downtown.

Following São Paulo's extraordinary growth during the 20th century, most of the old city buildings have given way to contemporary architecture. This means that most tourists sights are concentrated around the center, where 17th-century cathedrals stand in the shadows of skyscrapers. The traditional ethnic neighborhoods are also fairly close to the center. Shopping and dining, though, are spread throughout the city.

• Downtown

The most cosmopolitan city in Brazil could only have a Downtown area that is equally cosmopolitan. The world moves through the center of São Paulo; there are businesspeople rushing to get to the stock market or groups of punks in search of the latest music. Tourists from the four corners of the world mix with locals of all backgrounds. Put on comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, and discover secrets that many Paulistanos don’t even know…

• Bixiga

Besides being one of the biggest meccas of italian culture outside of Italy itself, Bixiga became home to the city's most important theater venues and also has a vibrant nightlife, dotted with bars where bands, be them new or veteran, show off all their skills when it comes to rocking the place.

• Liberdade

Being São Paulo's own Chinatown-like district, a tourist is bound to find there everything oriental-related. Originally the settling place of japanese immigrants, chinese and koreans joined in the past decades to make the place one of the most vibrant, typical and colourful neighborhoods in town.

• Paulista and Jardins

The backbone of the city is 2.8 kilometers long and was named in honor of the city through which it runs: Paulista Avenue. Located on the top of a ridge, Paulista Avenue is flat, wide and full of life. It connects the neighborhoods of Paraíso and Consolação, while separating the upscale Jardins neighborhood from the more relaxed Bela Vista. Its city blocks bring together the wealth of FIESP (the São Paulo Industries Federation), the art of MASP, orthodox religious faith and the hustle and bustle of those who are late for the movies. Everything happens on or around the Paulista.

• Vila Madalena and Pinheiros

These neighborhoods have become a traditional gathering place for artists, writers, journalists, movie directors, intellectuals in general and, of course, wannabes in all these categories. It's not uncommon to run into someone famous – or nearly so – going into a bar, leaving the supermarket or having an espresso. Keep your eyes peeled.

• Itaim Bibi

One of São Paulo's most proeminent chic neighbourhoods, great for a walk, eating, partying, shopping and visiting upscale art galleries. Some of the city's best restaurants are located in this neighbourhood, so a visit to São Paulo isn't complete without a nice dinner in this region.

• Vila Mariana and Ibirapuera

Calm and laid-back, this spot is a mainly residential area that's beginning to sprout a strong bar and nightlife scene. Ibirapuera park, one of the city's main features and the perfect place to spend a sunny sunday in São Paulo, is also located here.

• Lapa, Pompéia and Barra Funda

A formerly industrial zone, these two districts have some perfect places for the culture-hungry, like Sesc Pompéia. The Memorial da América Latina and the Latin American Parliament, who carry exhibitions and the occasional political/cultural debate and exposits are two of the main attractions.

• South Side

The south side of the city is so full of delicious yet simple attractions you might forget you’re in one of the largest metropolises in the world. Here, you can ride a bicycle in the park, go shopping at the mall, or at several, eat whatever you want—and still enjoy a wide range of the highest quality services.

• North Side

In the northern region of São Paulo you can find neighbourhoods with a small-town feel, untypical for São Paulo, like Freguesia do Ó. Places of importance are Expo Center Norte, one of South America's biggest venues for fairs and exhibitions, Serra da Cantareira State Park and Anhembi Park. This region also hosts the Sambodromo and concentrates the bulk of samba schools of the city, as Unidos do Peruche, Rosas de Ouro and Imperio da Casa Verde.

• East Side

The east side was home to thousands of immigrants who settled in São Paulo during the early XX century. Some neighbourhoods of interest are Vila Zelina, with its strong lithuanian influence, and Mooca, the place that many italians chose as home. Tatuapé/Jardim Anália Franco is also worth noting for its "new rich" vibe.

• West Side

Understand

Liberdade district, downtown São Paulo. One of the areas of the city where the immigrant's influence is noted the most.

A large sprawling city can present numerous challenges to sensibilities. São Paulo is no exception. Although the first impression might be that of a grey concrete jungle, soon it becomes apparent that the city has a great number of pockets of beauty. The population and environment of São Paulo is diverse, and districts within it range from extremely luxurious areas to hovels housing the poor and destitute, located usually in suburbia far from the so-called "expanded center".

São Paulo, together with Rio de Janeiro, is the spot where most visitors from abroad land in Brazil. While a complete experience of the city would take a few weeks (since the lifestyle of paulistanos and every-day routine in the city are huge attractions in themselves), it's possible to visit all major sites within three days. Spending a weekend in town is highly recommended, since that enables one to enjoy both the day attractions and São Paulo's amazing nightlife, unsurpassed anywhere in this world.

Orientation

São Paulo's basic spot for orientation should be Paulista Avenue. From there, it's pretty easy to reach every single spot in town, be it by bus or subway. Paulista is also within walking distance to downtown and Ibirapuera park, which makes it the perfect place to start a walking tour.

Most of the main attractions are located in the city's "expanded center", the area limited by the Tietê river on the north, the Pinheiros river on the west, Avenida dos Bandeirantes on the south and Avenida Salim Farah Maluf on the east.

People

Don't be surprised at the diversity of paulistanos and paulistanas. For example, São Paulo is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. The city's Italian influence is also very strong, and there's a large Arab population as well. During the 20th century, coming from every country where there has been a war, immigrants found a new home in São Paulo and in other parts of Brazil. It's also very common to have locals speaking at you in Portuguese thinking that you're also a local, since foreigners mingle very easily among the city's inhabitants.

The citizens of São Paulo have a reputation as hard-working and industrious, or alternately, shallow money-grubbers. Common word is that the people in São Paulo work while the rest of Brazil can relax; even though many say this is plainly wrong, it's a fact that the Sao Paulo state actually contributes to 50% of all taxes collected in Brazil, and produces one-third of the country's gross national product (GNP).

Talk

São Paulo is probably the easiest place in Brazil to find someone who speaks good English. A large number of youngsters in town will be able and willing to start a basic conversation with travellers in English. Besides that, since Portuguese speakers also are quite able to understand Spanish, getting around town is not difficult at all to those who can speak that language.

It's also not unusual to hear people speaking Arabic, Chinese and Korean around town.

Tourism

São Paulo receives about 1,5 million of foreign tourists every year, that expend an average of US$150 per day, most for business purposes

Media

The biggest daily newspapers are O Estado De São Paulo, Folha de São Paulo, Agora São Paulo and Diario de São Paulo. The newspapers' websites - in Portuguese only - are good sources of information about the city's current events.

Get in

By plane

São Paulo has three major airports you can fly into: Guarulhos International, Congonhas and Viracopos. Campo de Marte, the town's fourth airport in importance, is used solely for executive jets, helicopter, air taxis and such, not carrying any commercial lines.

Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)

If flying into São Paulo from another country, you'll mostly likely land in Guarulhos International Airport, also known as Cumbica. Located 40 km away from downtown, the airport has two terminals that are served by Brazilian airlines Varig, TAM, Gol and BRA and by international United, Delta, American, Continental, Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Iberia, Alitalia, KLM, JAL, South African and many others.

Some domestic flights that depart from GRU may have a lower fare than ones that depart from Congonhas, since the airport is located farther away from downtown São Paulo. Thus speaking, it's worth checking prices with the airlines for both airports; it won't matter much if you have time, since most airlines have transfer buses from one aiport to the other - just show your plane ticket to the drivers and you'll get the ride at no cost.

Non-airline shuttle buses are available from Guarulhos to Congonhas Airport, Praça da República (Downtown), Paulista/Jardins region, Barra Funda bus station (west side) and Tietê bus station (north side). All these lines except the Congonhas one connect to the Metrô. Fares are around R$ 25 (US$ 12) one-way.

Congonhas Airport (CGH)

The Congonhas Airport is located in a very central region, 15km (9 miles) from downtown. This airport handles most of the domestic flights and the popular São Paulo - Rio (Santos Dumont) shuttle and its architecture is worth seeing.

The easiest (and cheapest) way to get to Congonhas is by taking any of the "Aeroporto" regular line buses that run in Paulista Avenue. You'll be dropped right in front of the airport and the fare is the regular R$ 2,00 (Bilhete Único accepted).

Viracopos International (VCP)

Located in the city of Campinas, around 99 kilometers from downtown São Paulo, Viracopos International is the second biggest airport in Brazil but is mainly used for air cargo transport; however, domestic and international flights also arrive there. Airlines that operate in VCP are BRA, Gol, Varig, TAM, Total and Trip.

By bus

There are three main bus terminals in São Paulo, all of them served by the Metrô network.

Terminal Rodoviário do Tietê

• Address: Av. Cruzeiro do Sul 1.800, Santana district, North Side.
• Phone: +55 11 3235-0322, reachable from 6h to 23h30

The huge and busy Tietê Terminal is the main long-distance departure point. Interstate and international lines leave from here. Located about twenty minutes from Paulista Avenue by Metrô (station Tietê, Blue line); a taxi ride from Paulista/Jardins costs around R$ 40 (US$ 18,50).

Terminal Rodoviário da Barra Funda

• Address: R. Maria de Andrade 664, Barra Funda district, West Side.
• Phone: +55 11 3392-1878

Barra Funda Terminal, located in São Paulo's West Side, carries departures and arrivals to and from western cities in the São Paulo state, to Mato Grosso, Foz do Iguaçu and west Paraná cities. About thirty minutes from Paulista Avenue by Metrô (station Barra Funda, Red line). You can also reach it by boarding the Orca shuttle service from Vila Madalena station (Green line) or by boarding the "Barra Funda" (875P) bus in Paulista Avenue.

Guarulhos International Airport shuttles also depart and arrive from this terminal.

Terminal Rodoviário do Jabaquara

• Address: R. dos Jequitibás s/n, Jabaquara district, South Side.
• Phone: +55 11 3235-0322

The Jabaquara Terminal serves cities in São Paulo state's south coast such as Guarujá, Santos and Bertioga. Located thirty minutes away by Metrô (Jabaquara station, Blue line) from downtown.

Get around

Bilhete Único

The Bilhete Único is a contactless smart card that can be used for paying the fares in buses and in Metro and CPTM trains. In essence, a single billing of the card grants a person up to four trips in São Paulo's public transportation system (but not four trips on trains; see below for details). You can get the card at no cost; charge them with the minimum amount required in newspaper stands, state-owned betting shops (known as "loterias"), supermarkets and other establishments - look for the red round "Bilhete Único" logo. You can use the card to pay for your trips in the public transportation system as follows:

• On buses: upon boarding a bus, you'll be charged R$ 2,00 and can board up to three other buses in a two-hour period without being charged a second time.

• On the Metro or CPTM trains: for a single trip in the underground train system, you'll be charged R$ 2,10.

• First Metro/CPTM train then bus: you'll be charged R$ 2,10 when passing by a Metro or CPTM station's turnstile. Once you board a bus, you'll be charged an extra R$ 0,90 and will be able to board two other buses in a two-hour period - starting from the first validation at the train station - without any further payment.

• First bus then Metro/CPTM train: once you board a bus, R$ 2,00 is charged from your card. Upon entering the Metro or CPTM systems, you'll be charged a further R$ 1,00. It's possible, after leaving the Metro or CPTM system, to board up to two other buses without any further payment in the two-hour period that starts from the first validation, depending on whether you boarded one or two buses before entering a train.

By Subway and Train

Metrô (Subway)

Map of the Metrô and CPTM networks.

São Paulo's underground train system, known as the Metrô, is the form of transportation a tourist is likely to use the most while visiting São Paulo. It is modern, safe, clean and efficient, considered one of the best subway systems in the whole world. It has four lines (the newest one, the Yellow line, is still in construction thus being unavailable at the moment) and links to the metropolitan train network, the CPTM. (Downloadable map (PDF)).

• Line 1 (Blue): The first Metrô line built connects the North and the South Side of São Paulo. Connections are available for the Green, Red and Yellow lines and also for CPTM trains. Tietê and Jabaquara bus terminals are also reachable through the use of this line.

• Line 2 (Green): The Green line transverses the Avenida Paulista ridge, connecting Vila Mariana to Vila Madalena, also connecting to the Blue and Yellow lines.

The Consolação Metrô station in the Paulista/Jardins district, Green line.

• Line 3 (Red): One of São Paulo's busiest lines, it connects the East Side to the West Side. Connections to the Blue and Yellow lines are possible, as are with CPTM trains. The Barra Funda bus terminal is located on this line.

• Line 4 (Yellow, under construction): Scheduled to be open in a near future, the Yellow line will connect the central Luz station to the South side in a route constructed immediately below the Consoloção and Rebouças avenues. Connections will be available to the Blue, Green and Red lines and to CPTM trains.

• Line 5 (Purple): Built for users who need to reach specific places in São Paulo's South Side. Only a short sector of the line is already available, connecting to CPTM trains at Santo Amaro station; the scheduled expansion will make connections to the Blue and Green lines also available until 2010.

Pricing and working hours

For those who aren't in possession of a Bilhete Único smart card (see above), the Metrô uses a simple fixed-price ticketing scheme; you can get a one-trip tickets for R$ 2,10 or a ten-trip ticket for R$ 20. Buy those at the counters, present in every station.

Metrô tickets are valid for inter-line changes on the Metrô system. Special tickets are also available if you need a connection with buses and cost R$ 3,60 (US$ 1,75); you will be able to board only a single bus after using the Metrô/CPTM network with such a ticket.

The Metrô's working hours are from 4:30 am 'til around 12:00 am.

CPTM Train Network

There are 6 commuter train lines to suburban areas, with free transfer to Metro at Brás, Luz, Barra Funda and Santo Amaro stations. The single ticket coasts R$ 2,10. "Bilhete Único" accepted. Info toll free 0800-055-0121.

By bus

Buses are the most popular way to get around the city. Even though the drivers really step on it through the bumpy streets of São Paulo, buses are not the fastest way to get around. And they can get really crowdy. But they do reach every neighborhood, and unless you´re going to a place that is covered by the metro, or unless you´re driving or taking a taxi...what can you do besides getting on a bus? Tickets are R$2.00 a piece. You can buy tickets inside the bus, or use a bus card with credits bought before boarding. If buying on the bus you simply hand over money to the conductor sitting one thirds into the bus, and he or she will let you through the gate. Note that children can pass for free if they can slip under the gate! If you are getting on several buses in a 2 hour period, you should get a bus card to use with the first ticket you buy. This will give you free rides on all buses in this time-period. Simply pass the card in front of the card reader, and the gate will be open. It may not be a wise idea for a foreigner to take buses late evenings, although buses are generally not as unsafe as in Rio.

If you are carrying suitcases try to avoid rush-hour traffic as the busses become standing room only.

By taxi

Two kinds of cabs: cheaper street-hail and radio taxi. White taxis often found at stands near city squares, big venues. Use your hotel or ask reception at the museum etc. for help to call a radiocab. Cash fare.

Regular taxis will cost about US$10 (BRL 24) for a 20 min (10 km) ride, which will get you pretty much anywhere you´ll want to go. Meter is always on and drivers are fairly reliable and know their way around well. Note that you can negotiate rides where the drivers will shut off the meter, or accept a fixed price. For example to the airport or a couple of hours tour of the city.

Fares go up after 9PM and on Sundays and holidays (all metered).

You will always be able to get a nice and safe cab outside of clubs, bars and restaurants, no matter how late; and they won´t charge you extra for that.

By car

As is the case with most cities of this size, getting around by car is borderline crazy. Traffic is hell, parking is a nightmare, but they drive according to the laws. If you don´t mind these minor objections, feel free to explore the city from behind a steering-wheel... unless it is the wrong day of the week: cars whose license plate end in 1 and 2 cannot circulate on Mondays; if it ends on 3 or 4, Tuesday is off; 5 or 6, stay home or take a cab on Wednesdays; 7 or 8, Thursday is the unlucky day; 9 or 0, on Fridays you can walk as a penance. The prohibition is valid only for peak hours: 7 to 10 AM and 5 to 8 PM.

Nevertheless, being able to drive around the city still is a great advantage for the visitor staying for a longer time. Buses stop at 1 a.m and the metro around midnight, so it can be tricky to get to many of the famous bars and night clubs unless you take a taxi, or... drive.

See

Museums

The city has a number of great museums, the MASP being one of the most famous.

• The São Paulo Art Museum (MASP) [1], Av. Paulista 1578, +55 (11) 251-5644. Displays a collection of works ranging from the Renaissance to Contemporary Modern. Visitors walk through rows of paintings that are hung from the ceiling. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., admission is R$15. The Museum offer discounts for students.
• OCA Museum in Ibirapuera Park is by Oscar Neimeyer, and has good exhibitions and several international seasonal exhibitions.
• Crime Museum (Museu do Crime), Pça Reinaldo Porchat, 219, Cidade Universitária (São Paulo University). Contains a collection of artifacts used to perform crimes and a number of conserved cadavers and body parts.
• Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, R. Álvares Penteado, 112, Centro 3113 3651. Movies, theater, exhibitions.
• Modern Art Museum (MAM) at Ibirapuera park, located near the OCA Museum.
• Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) [2] at USP (São Paulo University)
• Lasar Segall Art Museum [3]
• Sacred Art Museum (Museu de Arte Sacra) [4], Av.Tiradentes, 676.
• Pinacoteca, Av. Tiradentes. Located very near of the Mercado Central, the Pinacoteca has a great art collection, with more than 4.000 works.
• Centro Cultural do Liceu de Artes e Ofícios, R. da Cantareira, 1351.
• Immigration Museum (Museu da Imigrante) [5], Rua Visconde de Parnaíba, 1316 – Moóca
• Portuguese Language Museum [6]

Buildings with observation decks

• Banespa Building
• Edifício Itália

Churches and public buildings

• Mario de Andrade Library [7], Pça. Dom José Gaspar
• São Bento Monastery [8] (Mosteiro de São Bento), Largo de São Bento. Gregorian chants on Sundays at 11AM.
• Municipal Cathedral, Praça da Sé - Centro
• Orthodox Church´[9], at Paraíso Subway station
• Zen Temple, R. São Joaquim, 273 - Liberdade. (11)278 4515
• Edifício Copan - building by Oscar Niemeyer
• Páteo do Collegio[10], Where the city was founded
• Latter Day Saint (Mormon) church and temple - Av. Professor Francisco Morato, 2390 Caxingui - Sundays 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM.

Public Art

• Subway stations
  • República – paintings by Antônio Peticov
  • Sumaré - paintings by Alex Fleming

Do

• Go to the parks. Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo's Central Park, usually has a lot going on. Watch joggers, dog-walkers and all kinds of street vendors, and sit down on a patch of grass and listen to the birds singing. One of the few places in São Paulo where you can do just that. If you feel like it you can even enjoy a Caipirinha from one of the cardbord-box bars you will find close to the entrances. Also buy the sweet and tasty coconut/nougat-sweets that are sold by many vendors in the park. Nearest Metro is "Vila Mariana" and then a short taxi ride, a bus or a 20 minutes walk down the 'Sena Madureira' Avenue. Horto Florestal is a nice park in zona norte. Parque da Luz, Av. Tiradentes [11] is small, but a nice little green spot if you happen to be in the neighborhood. Be aware that many prostitutes hang out here, though.

• Watch the city. For example by taking a tour in a taxi, walking in specific neighborhoods or by catching a great view of the city by taking the elevator to the top of Edifício Itália, once the tallest building in São Paulo, for a nice view of the city. It's located at Avenida Ipiranga, 344 (on the corner with Avenida São Luiz), close to Metrô República. There's a restaurant on the top floor. For sightseeing tips: stroll along Vila Nova Conceiçao (home of the rich), or the Vila Madalena neighborhood which concentrates several Bars and Night Clubs, famous for its wide selection of bars and forms of entertainment. The region practically never sleeps with most clubs being open till 5 a.m. You can get there by car, or by taking the metro to the station Vila Madalena. A taxi ride from Av. Paulista is only around R$ 15. If you go by car, expect to pay for parking along the streets. Also check out Vila Mariana neighborhood considered mostly residential but in the last year has attracted most of the new bars being opened in the city. It is mostly cheaper than Vila Madelena and abridges two big Art and Marketing universities (Belas Artes and ESPM). The crowd varies from university students to 30-35 years old visitants. Travelling by Subway to Paraiso Station and then a short walk down the bars is advisable.
• São Paulo Jockey Club, Av. Linneu de Paula Machado, 1263, www.hcj.com.br
• Drive along Pinheiros neighborhood which contains most of the famous and popular night clubs in the city. The crossing from Av. Faria Lima and Av. Juscelino Kubschek is a good place to start. Driving along the Faria Lima and surrounds, visitors will be rejoiced by a wide selection of bars and night club. Travelling by car only.

Carnival

If you´re in São Paulo during the annual carneval, you should definately get tickets to parade in the Sambodromo, near Armenia and Tiete Metro stations. If you can afford it get tickets closest to the pista. This will give you a premium view to the parade, and give you the possibility of sitting down relatively comfortably. Waiters pass to and fro selling chocolate, crisps, beer, soft-drinks and spirits. The next best place is the Arquibancada B, where you are in the middle of the pista run, and have the possibilty of standing in the front gallery. This is the best spot for taking photos, as there are high fences in the more expensive spots below.

After the parade there will be huge lines of taxis looking for customers outside the stadium.

Note that there is a very comfortable and relatively reasonable Holiday Inn very close to the Sambodromo.

Theaters

São Paulo has a great number of theaters, most of which carry plays in Portuguese. Specific places, such as the British Cultural Center, Goethe Institute and Alliance Française, occasionally carry plays in English, German and French, respectively.

The main theaters are concentrated in Bixiga, a district located in the downtown area of the city famous for being the area where Italian immigrants originally settled. Rates vary from R$ 15 (US$ 6,50) to R$ 40 (US$ 18). Most venues also accept international student cards.

Broadway imports, like The Phantom of the Opera and The Beauty and the Beast, and other famous international acts are often being played in town in their Portuguese versions. Expect to pay a tad more than the usual Bixiga play for those; sometimes, tickets are sold out for the whole weekend, so buy in advance.

Some of the main theaters (both Bexiga and off-Bexiga) are:

• Teatro Alfa, Rua Bento Branco de Andrade Filho 722, tel. +55 11 5693-4000
• Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia (TBC), Rua Major Diogo 315, tel. +55 11 3104-5523
• Teatro Bibi Ferreira, Av. Brigadeiro Luís Antônio 931, tel. +55 11 3105-3129
• Teatro Cacilda Becker, Rua Tito 295, tel. +55 11 864-4513. São Paulo, SP.
• Theatro Municipal, tel. +55 11 3334-0001
• Teatro Procópio Ferreira, Rua Augusta 2823 tel. +55 11 3883-4475/282-2409/3061-9260.

Others (please help improve this article by distributing these among the city's districts):

• Ágora Centro de Desenvolvimento Teatral, Rua Rui Barbosa, 672, +55 11 284-0290, (90 people)
• Centro Cultural São Paulo [12], Salas Adoniran Barbosa, Jardel Filho e Paulo Emílio Salles Gomes, Espaço Cênico Ademar Guerra. Programação. Av. Vergueiro,1000, close to subway station Vergueiro, +55 11 3277-3611
• Cine Teatro de Arte Recriarte Bijou, Praça Roosevelt, 172, +55 11 257-2264
• Galpão do Folias, Rua Ana Cintra, 213, close to subway station Santa Cecília, Santa Cecília, +55 11 3361-2223
• N.Ex.T. - Núcleo Experimental de Teatro, Rua Rego Freitas, 454, +55 11 259-2485
• Sala Cinemateca [13], R. Sen.Raul Cardoso, 207, 5084-2177. Movie theater
• Sesc Pompéia [14], R. Clélia, 93
• Sala São Paulo [15], 3337-5414. Concerts - acoustically, one of the best in Latin America.
• Teatro Alfa[16], Rua Bento Branco de Andrade Filho, 722, +55 11 5693-4000
• Teatro Alfredo Mesquita, Av. Santos Dummont, 1770, +55 11 6221-3657
• Teatro Aliança Francesa, Rua General Jardim, 182, +55 11 259-0086
• Teatro Alfredo Mesquita, Av. Santos Dummont, 1770, +55 11 6221-3657
• Teatro de Arena Eugênio Kusnet, Rua Teodoro Baima, 94, +55 11 256-9463
• Teatro Arthur Azevedo, Av. Pais de Barros, 955 - Móoca, +55 11292-8007
• Teatro Augusta, Rua Augusta, 943, +55 11 3151-2464
• Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia - TBC[17], Rua Major Diogo,315, +55 11 3104-5523
• Teatro Bibi Ferreira, Av. Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, 931, +55 11 3105-3129
• Teatro Cacilda Becker, Rua Tito, 295 - Lapa, +55 11 864-4513. São Paulo, SP.
• Teatro Célia Helena, Rua Barão de Iguape, 113 - Liberdade, +55 11 279-0470
• Teatro Crowne Plaza, Rua Frei Caneca, 1360, +55 11 289-0985
• Teatro Cultura Artística, Rua Nestor Pestana, 196, +55 11 258-3615
• Teatro Cultura Inglesa, Rua Deputado Lacerda Franco, +55 11 814-0100
• Teatro FAAP - Rua Alagoas, 903, +55 11 3662-1992. São Paulo, SP.
• Teatro Fernando Azevedo, Praça da República, 53 - Centro, +55 11 255-1384
• Teatro Flávio Império, Rua Professor Alves Pedroso, 600, +55 11 6621-2719
• Teatro Hilton, Av. Ipiranga, 165, +55 11 259-6508
• Teatro Imprensa, Rua Jaceguai, 400, +55 11 239-4203
• Teatro Itália, Av Ipiranga, 344, +55 11 257-9092
• Teatro Jardel Filho, Av. Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, 884, +55 11 3107-3364
• Teatro Jofre Soares, Rua Major Diogo, 547, +55 11 3105-9463
• Teatro Lucas Pardo Filho, Rua Gravataí, 47, +55 11 3862-9403
• Teatro Maria Della Costa, Rua Paim, 72, +55 11 256-9115
• Teatro Martins Penna, Largo do Rosário, 20, +55 11 293-6630
• Teatro Municipal [18], +55 11 3334-0001
• Teatro das Nações, Av. São João, 1737, +55 11 220-8012
• Teatro Nelson Rodrigues, Rua 13 de Maio, 830, +55 11 288-3887
• Teatro Oficina, Rua Jaceguai, 520, +55 11 3106-2818, Political resistance epicenter in the 60's
• Teatro Ópera, Rua Rui Barbosa, 266, +55 11 3171-1277
• Teatro Paiol, Rua Amaral Gurgel, 164, +55 11 221-2462
• Teatro Paulo Eiró, Av. Adolfo Pinheiro, 765, +55 11 546-0449
• Teatro Pirandello, Rua Major Diogo, 578, +55 11 232-3393
• Teatro Plínio Marcos, no Shopping Pompéia Nobre - ao lado do SESC Pompéia - Rua Clélia, 33, +55 11 864-3129 - capacidade: 90 lugares
• Teatro Popular do SESI, Av. Paulista, 1313, +55 11 284-3639.
• Teatro Procópio Ferreira[19], Programação, ingressos e informações. Rua Augusta, 2823 - bairro de Cerqueira César, +55 11 883-4475/282-2409/3061-9260
• Teatro Renaissance, Alameda Santos, 2233, +55 11 3069-2233
• Teatro Ruth Escobar, Rua dos Ingleses, 209, +55 11 289-2358
• Theatro São Pedro, Rua Barra Funda, 171 - Barra Funda, +55 11 3823 9660
• Teatro Sérgio Cardoso, Rua Rui Barbosa, 153 - Bexiga, +55 11 288-0136
• Teatro Sesc-Anchieta, Rua Dr. Vila Nova, 245, +55 11 256-2281
• Teatro Sesc-Vila Mariana, Rua Pelotas, 141, +55 11 5080-3147
• Teatro Studio 184, Praça Roosevelt, 184, +55 11 255-6153
• Teatro Taib, Rua Três Rios, 246, +55 11 227-9719
• Teatro da Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Maria Antônia, 294, +55 11 255-5538/255-7182 ramais 41 e 42
• Tom Brasil, Casa de espetáculos -
• TUCA, Rua Monte Alegre 1024, +55 11 3670-8453

Learn

• The University of São Paulo (Universidade de São Paulo) is the largest in the country, and third largest in Latin America.

Buy

• Shop.You´ll find practically anything there. Imported goods are very expensive, but look out for Brazilian made bargains in all categories. Spend some time in one of the many "shoppings" (as Brazilians call the shopping malls) and also look out for areas with shops catering for specific interests. Electronic equipment is expensive. European wines, likewise. But look for Brazilian clothing chains and gift stores.

There´s not a single main Shopping Area in São Paulo, as the city is very large. Every region of the city (Central, Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western) has one or more shopping areas. A great thing about São Paulo is that there are many streets devoted to one area of interest.

The majority of shopping malls can be found on the Southern Region (Zona Sul), like the Shopping Ibirapuera (famous for its high-class stores and variety of places to eat), Shopping SP Market Place, Shopping Interlagos, Shopping Jardim Sul, Shopping Plaza Sul and Shopping Metro Santa Cruz (above the station with the same name and offers a good variety of Cinemas, but goes not much further than that.).

The Western Region (Zona Oeste) has most of high-class shopping malls, like Iguatemi and the beautiful Pátio Higienópolis - both are the most expensive in the city. Other shopping in the Western Region are the West Plaza, Eldorado, Villa-Lobos, and Morumbi Shopping.

The Central Region (Centro) and the Eastern Region (Zona Leste) has nice shopping options too. Oscar Freire street, neighbour to Avenida Paulista, has luxury clothing stores like Armani, Versace, Louis Vouitton and Gucci. In the Eastern Region is placed the Shopping Aricanduva, the largest in Latin America. Other large shopping malls are the Metrô Tatuapé, at the side of the subway station with the same name (like Metrô Santa Cruz), and the high-class Jardim Anália Franco, also in the district of Tatuapé.

The Northern Region (Zona Norte) has only two shopping malls: Center Norte, one of the oldest and largest in the city and Shopping D.

Markets

• Central Market, (nearest metro stop São Bento) is a bustling food market, that offers everything from expensive spanish Pata Negra cured ham to cheaper brazilian varieties. Fruits, vegetables, fish and meat; if you don't find it here, you won't find it. Look out for great selections of the brazilian national booze cachaca, and a decent selection of wines from all parts of the world. Upstairs are several simple but alright restaurants, which makes the market, all in all, a great destination while in town. Off Av. Cantarira is a covered cast-iron market square which is nice to see but hard to find.
• Praça Republica has a crafts and arts market on Sunday, until 2pm with good cheap food from stalls, stamps, geological stalls, T-shirts and the like.
• The Feira Oriental (Oriental Market) is held on Sunday afternoons in front of the Liberdade metro station.

Costs

São Paulo has arguably the highest living costs in Latin America. Even then, those standards are quite lower than western european or north american ones, so one can manage perfectly good to enjoy the city's marvels while spending low cash in both accomodation and food. For example, a set-meal, drinks included, in a not-so-bad place is around R$ 12 (US$ 5,50). Ask locals for tips how to make the best out of your money if you're in a tight budget.

On the other hand, São Paulo's nightlife can be quite expensive; most clubs charge an entrance fee. Usually, entrance hovers around R$ 25 (US$ 13), but they can be over R$ 100 (US$ 45) in some upscale places.

Eat

São Paulo has a superb diversity of restaurants, and the prices are low for European and American standards.

Budget

There are so many budget eating oportunities in São Paulo, and you will have no problem eating a perfectly good dinner for less than R$ 10. The best places to look for when on a budget is the very popular all-you-can-eat establishments called self-service. You will find one literally on every street corner. You pay by weight or a fixed sum to eat as much as you want. Another option is to buy nice street-food such as pastel, corn on the cob, hot dogs. You will find equally many pizza-restaurants throughout the city, where a pizza will cost between R$ 10 - 15. There are also plenty of cheap chain restaurants. One restaurant found throughout the city is Habib's. It is easily recognizable with a genie as its mascot on the sign. It is a fast-food restaurant with Arab food. The esfiha is very cheap and is somewhat like a very small pizza. It comes with a variety of toppings. A handful of these can be a quick and cheap way to fill up.

• Jamil Middle Eastern (Lebanese) fast-food. Esfiha, Kafta, Kibe, etc. Rua Quisisana, 12 - Jardim da Saúde (at the corner of Avenida Cursino at the 1700 block). 5058-2223. Just a little corner place with nice portions and very reasonable prices. Two (2) nice sized (5" diameter - 12cm) esfihas, orange juice and halvah desert for less than R$10,00. No coffee though.

Mid-range

Perhaps the most famous type of Brazilian restaurant is the Churrascaria. These types of restaurants are found all over the city and inside of some shopping malls. They include all-you-can-eat meat of many different varieties and usually include a salad bar as well. A marker on the table has a green end and a red end. When you want the meat servers to come, turn the green end up. When you would like some peace and a chance to eat without interruption, turn the red end up. Come hungry. Apart from this, there are restaurants for all tastes - all over the city.

• Braz Pizza restaurant with great ambience, located in the lovely neighborhood of Higienopolis and with yet another locale in the equally pleasing neighborhood of Moema. Many believe that Braz serves São Paulo's best pizza, partly because of a great wood-fired oven and the use of high quality cheeses. Braz also serves a very nice draft beer, both in dark and light varieties. Address: Rua Grauna, 125, Moema. Tel: 5561-1736 and Rua Sergipe, 406, Higienopolis. Tel 3231-1554. Open 1830/0h30. Fridays and Saturdays open till 0130.

• Pasquale A small and quiet little restaurant serving simple italian pasta dishes, cooked with great flavour. You are also offered a selection of brazilian made (but italian-style) prosciutto and salume. Wines by the the glass, and Pasquale also offers a selection of italian wines in bottles. The restaurant is open from noon till midnight every day except Sunday, making it a great place for late lunches! Address: Rua Amalia de Noronha, 167, Pinheiros. Tel: 3081-0333. Near Metro Sumare. Open 12/0h every day but Sunday.

• 1900 Pizza restaurant. The location in Vila Mariana is very nicely appointed. They use a brick oven that provides the most nticing scents of cooking pizza when you walk in. See the web page for locations. You can order on-line and they provide delivery to the areas around the individula restaurants.

• Restaurante Dueto - Rua Corinto, 374 - Vila Indiana - 3726-7162. A small place popular with the student crowd in nearby USP. The owner is Dutch and the foods are quite tasty. Nice selection of beers too.

Splurge

• D.O.M. One of the most highly regarded restaurants in Sao Paulo. Voted Best Restaurant 2005 by the São Paulo weekly magazine "Veja". It is run by young ex-rocker (now celebrity chef with own TV-show) Alex Atala, who was voted chef of the year 2005 in the same magazine. The restaurant offers two degustation menus, one at R$ 160.00 and the other at R$ 230.00. Address: Rua Barao de Capanema, 549, Jardim Paulista. Tel: 3088-0761. Open 12/15h and 19/0h. Fridays open till 0100. Saturday: Lunch only. Closed Sundays.

• A Figueira Rubaiyat One of the most beautiful restaurants in the city, Figueira ("fig tree") Rubaiyat is built around a magnificent fig tree, 150 years old. Seating can either be "outside" in the gazebo around and under the tree or inside in the ultra chic and modernistic restaurant. Inside in the restaurant there is an excellent buffet of seafood and salads which also serves the national dish - Feijoada: a stew of baby pork and beans. There are views of the kitchen and of the magnificent wine cellar. The specatcular bar just has to be seen to be believed!
  
  The menu specializes in a la carte meats; most of the beef, chicken and other meats served at the Rubaiyat are home-grown at the owner's fazenda (cattle ranch), ensuring that the quality is always top notch. The seafood is magnificent and fresh - the oysters in particular are worth sampling - you can see the various types laid out for sampling at the oyster bar.
  
  The wine list is huge and varied but stick to those from Chile or Argentina you'll find a huge variety of wonderful vintages that rarely make it to Europe and the U.S.A. The reaturant received an award from the Wine Spectator in 2005 for the excellence of its cellars.
  
  A three course meal for 5 including French champagne (Veuve Clicquot), white wine, red wine and liquers with coffee, came to around GBP 85 per head. That's startlingly good value for the best a metropolitan city can offer compared with London, Paris or New York. The service is excellent and the location just stunningly beautiful.
  
  Opening times: Mon-Thurs noon-3:30pm and 7pm-midnight; Fri noon-3:30pm and 7pm-1am; Sat noon-1am; Sun noon-midnight. Although these are the advertised times my party started dinner at 10 pm and we finally left the restaurant at 3.30am without anyone hurrying us out!
  Location: Rua Haddock Lobo 1738, Jd. Paulista - São Paulo Tel:011/3063-3888

Drink

You will have no trouble finding bars in São Paulo, where you can enjoy an ice cold beer, a shot of cachaca or a caipirinha - or anything else for that matter. A chope (a glass of draft beer) will set you back between R$ 2 and R$ 10 (in extreme cases), depending on the bar. Some parts of town are better for drinking than others. Vila Madalena and Vila Mariana have a very high concentration of bars, and are great spots for an all-nighter. Vila Madalena is a great place to go for a few drinks, and you will find bars open practically all day and all night, likewise in Vila Olympia and Vila Mariana. Some suggestions:

Vila Madalena

• Piratininga, Rua Wisard, 149. Live music and a cool barman, interior somewhat like a parisian cafe. Open from 1600 until last customer.

• Listen to music. There are a great number of music bars with live shows. Check the Friday newspapers.

Sleep

Budget

• Albergue de Juventude Praça da Árvore, Rua Pague 266, 0xx11-50715148. This HI-Hostel is set way out of the center, but in a safe neighbourhood and close to metrostation Praça da Avore. Has a pleasant and quiet atmosphere.
• The Pousada Dona Ziláh [20] is located on Alameda Franca.

Mid-range

• Estanplaza Nações Unidas, Rua Guararapes, 1889 Brooklin Novo, 55 11 3055-0000 ,fax 55 11 3055-0009. Has a WISP hotspot and cheapish rooms. It's close to a train line, and the IT office district. Nearest Metro is Sao Judas, 10 minutes by taxi.

• London Othon Flat, Alameda Jaú, 135, Jardins - São Paulo - SP. Located within a couple of blocks of Avenida Paulista, yet provides great rates for suites. Short walks to the museum, metro stations, and bus stops.

Splurge

• Maksoud Plaza, Alameda Campinas 150, +55 (11) 3145 8000. Five star hotel conveniently located in the heart of the business and commercial sector.
• Crowne Plaza - São Paulo, Rua Frei Caneca 1360, Cerqueira César. (Near Paulista Ave.) Tel: +55 9110 3253 2244
• Fasano Live in style. Fasano is one of the more elegant hotels in town, and also offers a superb restaurant. 3894-4077

Stay safe

São Paulo, like any big city in South America, has its crime problems, kidnappings being the most common form of crime to residents but tourists are usually affected by pick-pockets and muggings. Though São Paulo is by all accounts more dangerous than large European and American cities, the likelihood of encountering violence is still very small for the average tourist. Being sensible and following basic precautions will make your stay safer and event free.

Visitors need to apply caution when wandering about areas outside of the main shopping and hotel districts. Leave your jewelry and excess cash in the hotel's safe. Brazilians tend to dress more conservatively than North Americans and Europeans, so try to blend in. Wearing extravagant or expensive-looking clothing will make you stand out.

A moderate amount of cash should always be carried and be handed over immediately in case of a mugging. If you value your own life, don't even think about resisting muggers, running away, or even worse, carrying weapons as a "deterrent", as muggers will almost certainly outnumber you. Always comply with their demands, then get out quickly. If you obey that rule, you're likely to escape unscathed.

DEATUR, the Specialized Tourist Police, put together some suggestions to make your stay in the City of São Paulo as pleasant and safe as possible. These tips are based on research carried out all over the world regarding tourist safety.

At the airport

Pay close attention during check-in and when claiming baggage as these are the most critical times for travelers, who are often tired. Airport crowds can also be distracting, making travelers more vulnerable to theft. Always remain alert at airport terminals and observe the following tips:

Upon claming your baggage, make sure that it is closed in the exact same manner as when you checked it. To ask for information or assistance, always look for a duly identified police officer or an employee of the company with which you are traveling. Never talk to strangers. There is a DEATUR police station at all São Paulo airports, staffed by professionals specially trained to provide assistance to travelers. Always keep a close eye on your belongings. Be careful with men or women who approach you to ask questions. Their objective could be simply to distract you. Respond normally while not letting your baggage out of your sight. Do not open suitcases or other bags in public, especially if they contain electronic equipment or money. Never handle large quantities of cash in public. If you must use an ATM, make sure no one is watching when you type your security code. If the machine malfunctions, only request assistance from duly identified employees. Never agree to carry packages for people who you don’t know. If another person is not feeling well and asks you to go get help, do so but do not leave your belongings with this person, even if he or she insists that you can move more quickly without your belongings. When using taxis or renting cars, choose only registered professionals and companies. When entering the vehicle, ask that all of your belongings be placed in the trunk. If the driver refuses, look for another taxi. It is important to keep your luggage in the trunk, especially if you are carrying a laptop computer. When using your mobile phone inside the taxi, keep it away from the window. In slow traffic, do not handle large quantities of cash inside the vehicle.

At hotels

It is important to pay special attention at hotels, as they are the places where visitors spend the majority of their time. Despite having security guards and a close relationship with the police, hotels are not immune to crime. Follow these suggestions to have a more pleasant stay:

While checking in or out, leave your bags with a hotel employee or keep them in front of you, preferably between your body and the reception counter. During meals, it is preferable to leave your belongings inside the room. You can also ask an employee to keep them for you while you enjoy your meal. Don’t leave your wallet, purse, cell phone or handheld computer on the table if you need to get up momentarily. While in hotel common areas, always keep your belongings in sight. Never put them next to you or behind your seat and always keep them close by. Don’t bring people you don’t know to the hotel. If you do receive visitors in the room where you are staying, it is of utmost importance that they fill out the visitor’s form. When you want to go out, ask the hotel employees for information. They can help you with good suggestions for activities and restaurants that are conveniently located and safe. If you are organizing an event at the hotel, all participants should be properly identified with badges. When leaving meeting rooms, make sure the doors are closed. Both before and during the event, keep hotel security duly informed. Use the safe in your hotel room. Try not to discuss important matters, especially those involving money, near people you don’t know. Never accept help from strangers. All hotel employees in the city wear uniforms with proper identification during work hours, and are trained to help visitors.

At restaurants

During meals your attention is focused on the table, which could compromise your safety. Put into practice the following advice to avoid problems:

Choose places recommended by friends or the hotel staff where you are staying. Find out the best way to get there, the best time to go and what type of service the restaurant offers, etc. When you get to the restaurant, ask that your bag or baggage be checked. Use baggage locks if you are carrying valuable objects or money. When your objects are returned to you, make sure everything is in order. If the restaurant does not have an appropriate place to keep your belongings, keep a close eye on your belongings. Avoid leaving valuable objects on the table such as wallets or mobile phones, especially if you leave the table, even momentarily. In public areas or at large-scale events

Events and public places where there are a lot of people with bags and other belongings are attractive targets for thieves. Take the following precautions to avoid any unpleasant occurrences:

Avoid talking to strangers, especially those who are insistent. Always keep an eye on your belongings. Never give out personal information. Do not handle large amounts of cash. Carry camcorders and cameras discreetly. Use only officially registered forms of transportation. If you need assistance, look for a properly identified employee. Anhembi Exhibit Park has a Specialized Tourist Police station, whose staff is trained to provide assistance to park visitors. Locations of Specialized Tourist Police Stations

Familiarize yourself with the location of the police stations specializing in tourist service and protection. These stations offer information on public safety and are staffed with qualified professionals to meet your needs.

• Port and Airport Police Division, special services for tourists and protection for dignitaries

Rua São Bento, 380 – 5º - Downtown Tel. (11) 3107-5642 and 3107-8332

• Headquarters of the Specialized Tourist Police – DEATUR

Av. São Luiz, 91 – Downtown Tel. (11) 3214-0209 and 3120-3984

• São Paulo Police Station at Congonhas Airport

Avenida Washington Luis, s/nº Tel. (11) 5090-9032, 5090-9043 and 5090 9041

• São Paulo Police Station at Cumbica/Guarulhos International Airport

Rua Dr. João Jamil Zarif, s/nº - Cumbica /Guarulhos Tel. (11) 6445 3064, 6445-2686, 6445-2162, 6445-3464, 6445-2221;

• International Police Station at Viracopos/Campinas

Tel. (19) 225-5426.

• Porto of Santos Police Station

Cope

Haircuts

Ney Cabeleireiro Unissex - Avenida do Cursino, 1206 - Jd. da Saude - São Paulo - SP - (11) 5062-4664. Shave and a haircut nicely done for less than R$30,00. Helps if you speak a little Portuguese to explain what you want or use the magazine pictures.

Get out

• Just to the south is the city Embu das Artes a city full of talented artists. If you are looking for authentic Brazilian art, crafts, furniture, or other handiwork, or just want to see some really cool shops, this is the place.