São Paulo

With over 10 million people, São Paulo is not only the largest city in Brazil, but is the financial and industrial centre of the county. This bustling city is very multicultural with a large Portuguese, German, Arab, Japanese, and Arab influences. The multiculturalism of this city brings great cuisine.

Landmarks in the city include the São Paulo Art Museum, Pinacoteca do Estado, and a Formula One Grand Prix racing circuit. Nightlife in the city is vibrant with many discos, but tourists must use care, especially at night.

Unfortunately, crime has become a problem in São Paulo as it has in other large metro areas such as Mexico City. It is a good idea to carry a small amount of money on you in a place you can easily access and hand over if someone attempts to mug you. If you are in doubt about a certain part of the city, ask the staff at your hotel or a taxi driver.

Getting around São Paulo can be challenging with its heavy traffic. The city has a large public transportation system including the Metro (subway) and many taxis. It is easy to find taxis in São Paulo and the fare is shown on a red panel. There are three classes of taxis: common, special and radio taxi, accessible by telephone.

As a result of heavy traffic, many locals get around either on motorbike or by helicopter. In fact, São Paulo highest per capita helicopter ownership in the developing world. Helicopter use is limited to the upper class among residents of the city but with approximately one hundred helipads and heliports it allows for fast transport and avoids the heavy traffic

Getting to São Paulo

São Paulo's International Airport, also known as Guarulhos (GRU), is 30 km (19 mi) and a 45-minute drive from downtown. Sao Paulo’s second airport, Congonhas Airport (CGH) serves the domestic and regional carriers. Conganhas Airport is approximately 14 km (9 mi) from the city centre.