The Travel Don’ts of Sao Paulo
Greetings from Sao Paulo, Brazil! Most travel blogs tell you what to do when you travel, but we like to tell you what not to do. With these Sao Paulo tips, you will be better prepared to visit this mega-city of Brazil.
Don’t Expect to Get Anywhere Quickly
Sao Paulo has anywhere from 14 to 25 million people who live in and around Sao Paulo, and there are over seven million cars in the city. Traffic in Sao Paulo is insane; do not rely on Google maps or any traffic app to reliably tell you how long it will take to get around. Allow yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go, especially if you have a plane to catch. This also applies to the security line at the airport; when they say to get there three hours before your flight, you should get there three hours before your flight!
Don’t Miss the Mercado Municipal
The municipal market of Sao Paulo is one of the top things to see in Sao Paulo. The building itself is really cool and then inside, there are stalls selling everything you can imagine. It’s a great place to try new meats, fruits, vegetables and spices. For a foreigner visiting Brazil, it’s a fascinating peek into local culture, and they are more than happy to cut up fruits to let you try them. There are fruits that you’ve likely never even seen or heard of in the States, which is a really cool experience. My favorite thing to eat at the Mercado Municipal is the Mortadella Sandwich. It’s like a fancy bologna sandwich, but so much better!
Read: Five Things You Have to Eat in Brazil
Don’t Be Afraid to Eat Non-Brazilian Food
Sao Paulo is a melting pot, so there are tons of great cuisines to choose from, in addition to traditional Brazilian dishes. From Italian to Lebanese to Japanese, there’s an amazing mixture of flavors and cultures in Sao Paulo. There are over one million Japanese people in Sao Paulo, so of course, the Japanese food is good! Brazilian food varies by region, too, and Sao Paulo is a great place to try food from all areas of Brazil.
Don’t Forget to Keep Your Wits About You
Being in such a big city, it’s important to pay attention and keep an eye on your watch, your wallet and any other valuables. As far as driving, we don’t recommend it. There’s too much traffic and parking can be stressful, with strangers trying to extort money to watch your car. The Metro is a good way to get around, but it can be crowded, and pickpockets are common.
This includes getting cash from the ATM. Make sure you use the ATM inside the bank, not one that is out in the open on the street. You may have to plan ahead for bank hours, but it’s a much safer option.
Watch: Safety Advice for Traveling in Brazil
Don’t Expect a Beach
Brazil is famous for amazing beaches, but Sao Paulo is not on the beach. The culture of Sao Paulo is very different from the natural beauty and beach culture of other areas of Brazil. Visiting Sao Paulo is all about culture, shopping, eating, museums, gardens and other urban adventures.
Don’t Forget to Download Uber and WhatsApp
Taxis can be a bit crazy, so Uber is the best way to get around. Even the locals will tell you to use it when you need to get around Sao Paulo. WhatsApp is also widely used for communicating, and many Uber drivers will use it to reach you.
Don’t let these “don’ts” scare you off. Sao Paulo is a fantastic vacation destination. The people, the culture and the food are all great. If you’ve been to Sao Paulo, feel free to add more “don’ts” in the comments below!
Don’t Miss Out on Cultural Attractions in Sao Paolo
Sao Paolo is the museum capital of Brazil. There are some great museums you should check out.
- MASP is the Museum of Art of Sao Paolo has a fantastic collection of art in a modern building
- The Contemporary Art Museum at the University of Sao Paolo is also wonderful to visit.
- The Museu do Futebol is an entire museum dedicated to football (or soccer, if you prefer)
- You can also tour some of the football stadiums
- One of my favorite museums is the Immigration Museum, which was recently renovated. It’s a great place to see how Brazil, and Sao Paolo especially, are a melting pot of immigrants.
- Theatro Municipal de São Paulo is beautiful inside and out.
Don’t Pack for the Beach
Even though you already know it’s not a beach vacation, you still might be tempted to pack Bermuda shorts and flip-flops. That’s fine for some activities, but you should know that they like to dress up in Sao Paolo. So, if you plan to go out to a nice restaurant, you might want to elevate your outfit a bit. And some of the nightclubs here might actually turn you away if you’re too casual.
Don’t Miss Out on Shopping in Sao Paolo
All those sharp dressers have to shop somewhere! Sao Paolo has the best shopping in Brazil, and if you can’t find it here, it probably doesn’t exist. There are fantastic shopping malls, from high-end luxury goods to bargain shopping.
Don’t Forget There are Two Airports
Sao Paolo has two airports, so make sure you travel to the correct airport!
- GRU is Guarulhos International Airport, where international flights arrive and depart.
- CGH is Congonhas Airport, which has most of the domestic flights within Brazil.
Don’t Forget to Pay the Parking Guys
Our first advice is “Don’t drive in Sao Paolo” but if you choose to drive, there are some things to keep in mind. Parking can be a hassle and you will need to pay the “parking guys.” These are valet staff that will park your car; they are guys on the street who request payment to “watch your car.” If you don’t throw them some money, there’s a good chance your car will not be safe.
Don’t Stay Outside of the City Center
When deciding where to stay in Sao Paolo, you want to be close to all of the attractions. With the gridlock and congestion, you’ll spend too much time in a car otherwise.
Don’t Flush Toilet Paper
Like many South American countries, the plumbing in Sao Paolo is not built to handle anything but human waste. In tourist areas, there will usually be signs to remind you, as well as a bin next to the toilet where you can put your used paper.
Don’t Lose Your Consumption Card
Many bars or cafes will give you a consumption card at the beginning of your meal and you will charge everything you order to that card. At the end of the night, you will “cash out” your consumption card and pay for everything at once. If you lose the card, it can cost you a lot of money.