Sao Paulo By plane

São Paulo has three major airports: Guarulhos International and Viracopos for international and some domestic arrivals, and Congonhas for most medium and short haul domestic flights

Sao Paulo By bus

There are three main bus terminals in São Paulo, all of them served by the Metrô (Subway) network. Departing from São Paulo you can reach any city in Brazil and some cities in South America

Campos do Jordão

Leave the hustle and bustle of urban São Paulo behind as you head up into the hills and mountains around Campos do Jordão, whose European flair and craggy peaks make it feel like a Brazilian version of Switzerland. Consider a variety of activities when you arrive, from cable car rides to butterfly gardens.
Your tour of the historic centre of Embu das Artes includes a chance to see the Museum of Sacred Art in the Jesuit priests’ building, the oldest building in the city. Visit the best artisanal shops offering a large variety of souvenirs, and stop at the best-stocked cachaça (Brazilian rum) shop in the city.

Campos do Jordão

Leave the hustle and bustle of urban São Paulo behind as you head up into the hills and mountains around Campos do Jordão, whose European flair and craggy peaks make it feel like a Brazilian version of Switzerland. Consider a variety of activities when you arrive, from cable car rides to butterfly gardens.
When you arrive, notice the European influences on this mountain hamlet's architecture. Ride past chalet-style inns and Bavarian restaurants and cafes and you make your way into the town's charming centre. Take the morning to check out the area's attractions at your leisure, whether you want to ride a cable car to the breath-taking views at Morro do Elefante, admire the ornate interiors of the governor's summer home at Boa Vista Palace, or pick out your favourite fluttering species at the Borboletário da Cidade butterfly garden.

Atlantic Forest

Get out of São Paulo and become immersed in the UNESCO-listed Atlantic Forest of Cantareira State Park, a dense jungle just outside the city limits. Explore the rich environment, discovering its immense bio-diversity on a scenic trail with a knowledgeable guide.

Depart São Paulo and travel to the largest "urban forest" in the world—Cantareira State Park, occupying more than 160 acres (65 acres). Choose from several hiking trails, each offering a unique wilderness experience at a variety of difficulty levels.

Pedra Grande Trail
A 6-mile (9.5-km) trail passing over steep terrain. It takes approximately 3 hours to complete, but rewards you with a cliff-side view of the entire city of São Paulo.

Waterfall Trail
Walk along a 1.8-mile (3-km) trail travelling through dense forests. In about 2 hours of hiking, encounter 3 separate waterfalls where you can refresh yourself from the hike.

Bica Trail
Enjoy a leisurely trail that covers some of the diversity of the Atlantic Forest in a 0.9-mile (1.5-km) route that takes just 1 hour.

North Coast Tour

Explore São Paulo's beautiful and unspoiled northern coast on a private tour created just for you. Customise your own itinerary as you venture to pristine beaches, hike through the Atlantic Forest, or check out the best spots for surfing

Shopping in Sao Paulo

You can find practically anything in São Paulo. Imported goods can be 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.

Remember that street shops usually operate 8AM-6PM, including Saturdays (when they close earlier), but most of that are closed on Sundays. The countless shopping malls operate M-Sa 10AM-10PM and Su 10AM-8PM.

Central shopping areas

The area between Avenida Ipiranga and Parque Dom Pedro II (Downtown) is the closest to what São Paulo has from a "central shopping area", with various pedestrianized and non-pedestrianized shopping streets. The exceptionally crowded Rua 25 de Março, with its diverse range of bargains, is perhaps the most famous commercial street of the area.

Avenida Paulista and Rua Augusta (Paulista) form a smooth transition between the popular commerce of Downtown and the affluent commerce of Rua Oscar Freire (West).

São Paulo has also many specialized shopping areas, such as Rua Teodoro Sampaio (West) for furniture and musical instruments, Rua José Paulino (Downtown) and Brás neighborhood (Southeast) for bargain and wholesale clothing, Liberdade neigborhood (Downtown) for cosmetics and Asian products, and Rua Santa Ifigênia (Downtown) for electronic equipment.

Shopping malls

Paulistanos, especially those with higher income, have an indoor shopping culture. The fear of criminality, traffic and São Paulo's unpredictable weather are strong factors to this. Shopping malls in São Paulo are not only centers of "shopping" but also leisure areas, typically offering spaces for kids, cinemas, food courts, and sometimes even theatres, expositions, and sport areas. Many shopping malls in São Paulo also offer miscellaneous services such as banks, laundry, repairs, and sometimes even police stations and doctors.

The selection of shops of a mall depends on the type of public predominant in the surroundings: at shopping malls located at working class neighborhoods, it is easier to find bargain department stores, while shopping malls in wealthy areas may be the only way to have access to exclusive designer stores. Check the individual district listings for a comprehensive list of shopping malls in the city.

Some shopping malls that deserve special mention are Morumbi/Market Place (South Central - with more than 600 shops and dozens of restaurants), Eldorado (West - with an immense food court), Iguatemi (West - the oldest shopping mall of São Paulo, with very upscale profile), Cidade Jardim (West - the "rich-only" shopping mall), Aricanduva (Far East - the city's largest and most famous working class shopping mall), and Frei Caneca (Downtown - the favorite of the LGBT public).

Suburban shopping areas

Far from Downtown, there are many suburban shopping areas. The busiest of them is probably the area around Largo 13 de Maio (South Central), the "central shopping area" of the former city of Santo Amaro, now part of São Paulo.

There are also the outdoor markets (feiras livres) and municipal markets (where you can buy fresh and cheaper fruit, vegetables and meat), supermarkets and atacados (a type of supermarket where you pay less if buy at least a certain quantity, very convenient for families).

Most of these local commerce centers are not listed in this guide, but they are of extreme importance in the daily life of Paulistanos.

Restaurante Indiano Bawarchi

A calm spot for Indian dishes like gosht sheekb kabab or naan bread from a tandoor oven.

Samosa & Company, Indian Food

The smells & flavors of India, including pastels, goat & lentils served in a cozy, friendly setting.

Gopala Hari Restaurante

Large, modern Indian eatery with a store & famous lacto-vegetarian food, also available for events.

Reet Namaste

A family-friendly Indian tandoori restaurant serving à-la-carte fare for lunch or dinner.