Passing Through Sao Paulo Brazil

Sao Paulo Brazil… not the city that comes to most people’s minds when they think of this vast South American country. Paulistas, the citizens of the city, may take offense at this, but their carioca neighbors in Rio de Janeiro would point to Rio’s beaches, natural beauty, and samba, and argue that Sao Paulo pales in comparison. It’s true that Sao Paulo lacks beaches (the nearest is two hour’s drive away), scenic nature, and the laid back lifestyle to be found in other parts of Brazil. It also has high crime rates (which have been dropping recently) and horrendous traffic. However, people who live there will tell you about the friendliness of the people, the great food, and probably let you know that they are the biggest and richest city in South America. It is culturally diverse with a large number of European, Japanese, and Middle-eastern immigrants. Being a large city, it also offers a wealth of cultural offerings such as museums, exhibitions, events, as well as night life.

Whether or not Sao Paulo sounds like your idea of a nice time, most trips to Brazil begin with a flight to the city. This guide is for people on their way to Rio or other parts of Brazil who find themselves with some time to spend in the city. Who knows, you might find yourself wanting to stay longer in Sao Paulo Brazil

If you are into art, head to Paulista Ave and check out the Museo de Arte de Sao Paulo (MASP), or the Art Museum of Sao Paulo.  Regarded as one of the most important art museums in Latin America, its collections include works by European master from the 13^th century on up to the present.  Artists featured include Dali, Picasso, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh, among others.  The building itself, made of glass and concrete and lifted above the ground, is considered a landmark in Brazil.

Afterwards, you can go shopping on the avenue.  The museum is located at one end so just walk along and you will see most of the shops.  The night view is pretty good, too, so you can take that in if you’re so inclined.  It all depends on what kind of mood you’re in as you pass through…

If you are feeling a bit more active, check out the Parque Ibirapuera, which is sort of the Central Park of Sao Paulo.  The park contains more museums (no beaches in the city, remember), but the best part may be the hammock hooks for people who bring their own hammocks. 

If you are newly arrived in Brazil, it will be fun to check out the Mercado Municipal (Municipal Market), where you can browse the huge produce selection.  An alternative would be the outdoor food market on Av. Lavandisca, moema.  Here too you will find a huge selection of many fruits and vegetables you have probably never seen before (depending on where you’re coming from, of course).  Be sure to go in the morning as the market closes around noon. 

The feirinhas (flea markets) can be great fun.  These are held on the weekends, and like flea markets everywhere, offer a wide variety of interesting goods.  They are great also if you are stopping off in Sao Paulo before you head back to your home country- you can get interesting, Brazilian souvenirs for a good price .  The feirinha at Praça Benedito Calixto is held on Saturdays, with smaller crowds during the early afternoon and more people showing up as the day goes on.  So go early for the shopping, but go later if you want to people watch. 

One really interesting part of Sao Paulo, as mentioned before, is the ethnic diversity.  The Praca da Liberdade is Sao Paulo’s Japanese quarter.  As the home of the largest Japanese population outside of Japan in the world, here you will be able to find Japanese goods, people watch, and eat delicious Japanese food. You can also find great Chinese and Korean food here as Liberdade is home to a significant number of Chinese and Korean immigranst.  If you like crafts, go on a Sunday when the weekly fair is held and thousands of paulistas come to shop and partake of the many tasty treats on offer. 

Finally, if you spend even just a little time in Sao Paulo, you are going to eat. An awesome way to experience the local culture, as well as get real Brazilian food, is to go to a “kilo” restaurant. This is a place that serves street food, and you get charged by the weight of the food on your plate. These are common in business areas such as the aforementioned Av. Paulista and typically serve lunch only. There will be meats and a salad, as well as feijão, a Brazilian brown bean stew. On Wednesdays, you can get feijoada, the quintessential Brazilian stew consisting of black beans and dry meats (typically seasoned with bay leaf and both white and black pepper).

As for restaurants in Sao Paulo Brazil, you can basically take your pick!  There are many delicious dishes from virtually all cuisines to be had, and it is up to the traveller to decide and find the places he/she likes.  For the most basic, you will probably want to try the famous churrasco, or Brazilian BBQ.  It's basically a meat buffet (which also typically includes a bountiful salad bar) where the waiters come to your table to proffer freshly grilled meats of all kinds. 

You will probably want to access most of these places by subway, which is the easiest and most efficient mode of transport in the city.  A big added benefit is that it is relatively safe compared to taking the bus.  There are three main lines; the two main lines run from 5am to midnight and you may want to purchase a 10 ride ticket depending on how much you will be using the subway.