The sheer
scale of São Paulo can be
daunting for the first time visitor. Home to
11 million people, the
urban sprawl is criss-crossed by
six-lane highways and
concrete flyovers, with few natural landmarks to guide the visitor.
The city’s countless
skyscrapers are home to the banks, insurance firms, industrial giants and media empires that make this
Brazil’s most prosperous city.
São Paulo has an
energy all of its own, very different from laid-back Rio with its beach culture.
Paulistanos are known as
hard workers, but they make
up for it at the end of the day.
Cuisine from around the world is given a distinctive Brazilian twist in restaurants to suit every budget and taste. The
vibrant cultural scene is bolstered by ever-changing
exhibitions and a host of
annual festivals; while the city’s
bars and
clubs can rival any that Rio has to offer.
There are more
helicopters here than in Manhattan and the
wealthy elite fly back and forth from their mansions to city center helipads, avoiding the traffic and poverty below.
Inequality is a
big problem, and in recent decades
violence and
petty crime has spread inwards from the slums that surround the city.
Avoid wearing fine jewelry on the street and keep expensive cameras out of sight. With sensible precautions like these, São Paulo is a city that can be enjoyed day and night. And with a climate that is
mild throughout the year, there is never a bad time to visit.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Sao Paulo Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related Brazil Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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