São Paulo

São Paulo has no shortage of amazing cultural sites, city vistas and green outdoor spaces. Art lovers may find themselves pulled in many different directions (there are multiple art museums throughout the city); culture hounds should definitely plan to stop in the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, Pinacoteca do Estado and Museu Afro Brasil to get a true feel for Brazil's art scene.

Immigrants from all over the world have always been a part of São Paulo, and you'll still see the influence of Portuguese, Spanish, German, African, Jewish, Arab, and Japanese residents on its life and culture. There is an entire museum devoted to Japanese immigration, for example, and another to the contributions of Africans in Brazil. Perhaps the most difficult thing to grasp about the city is its sheer size. A good way to get an idea of how far it spreads is from the observation deck of the 46-story Itália Building on Avenida Ipiranga. Many of São Paulo's tourist attractions are widespread, so you'll find the Metro a good way to travel between them.

Naturally having a local guide is best but if you haven't that luxury I hope the following information - along with tips and advice - serves you just as well. There are loads of things to do in this great city but I recommend you avoid areas you're not sure about and always ask if you get stuck.

From my experiences, most people in Sao Paulo don't have that much English but there are increasing numbers of younger Paulistanos who know English quite well and will help you out as best they can. Having a Portuguese phrase book handy is also a good idea!

One of the world's biggest urban forests lies to the north of Sao Paulo city and is well worth a visit. Not only do you get to see local populations of monkeys and birds as well as native species of flora but you'll have a fantastic view of the city if you climb high enough up the slopes of the Serra Cantareira.

Walking and hiking are popular as there are many trails to follow, plus you're guaranteed peace and quiet away from the busy streets. Take some food with you for a picnic. If you're into biking there are some good tarmac tracks to venture down.

Local markets spring up all over Sao Paulo's suburbs but one you should definitely visit is the big one, the municipal market close to Luz station. Nicknamed the Mercadao it's the place for fruits, foods, meats, spices, herbs, the list goes on.

Exotic fruits from all over Brazil end up here and you'll be enthusiastically served up samples as you pass the well-stocked stalls. One word of advice - be absolutely certain of what you're buying and at what price.

Caipirinha is a traditional Brazilian alcoholic drink, so where else you should taste it than in Sao Paulo, the country's party capital.

The national cocktail is made from cachaca (sugarcane hard liquor), sugar, lime and, of course, ice.

In Brazil, you can find several distilleries throughout the country where you can see the full process of making cachaca - one of the most famous regions is the area around colonial town of Paraty.

Avenida Paulista is the artery of Sao Paulo.

The wide and long boulevard is a center of the city's economic power lined with many skyscrapers where headquarters of numerous national important companies sit.

During the week, the traffic on Avenida Paulista is pretty heavy, but on weekends the car and public transport reduce, and it feels pleasant to walk around.

It is not necessary to walk the full length of Avenida Paulista, as the views become repetitive after a while, so we think that the one kilometer long stretch in any direction from the Museum of Art is good enough to get the taste of this place.

Oscar Niemeyer is Brazil's most famous architect of the 20th century, so it is impossible to think that he wouldn't have left any footprints of his ingenious work in the country's biggest city, Sao Paulo.

His work is quite easily recognizable as he wasn't attracted by straight lines and strict angles but by curves and curvy lines.

Three buildings he designed changed the skyline of Sao Paulo in particular - Montreal Building, Copan and Galeria California.

If you'll have time, his work is definitely worth checking out.

And in case you are interested in architecture, we recommend you to visit the capital city of Brazil, Brasilia, which is one of the well-planned cities in the world and where you can see a number of beautiful buildings, Oscar Niemeyer designed.

became a norm that every bigger South American city has a laidback area where graffiti takes over. Our favorite city with outstanding graffiti culture was so far Bogota, the capital of Colombia, but Sao Paulo doesn't stay behind.

You can find better or worse attempts of graffiti all around the city.

But the most famous place where you can see many colorful pictures in one place is so called Batman Alley, a long street in Vila Magdalena is lined with high walls sprayed with impressive murals.

The street art is literally alive here.

And in the heart of the Bixiga neighbourhood the Café Piu Piu offers rock for all tastes from Thursday through Saturday. With its stained glass décor and routinely excellent line-up, it’s a hit with concertgoers of all ages who often congregate on the mezzanine which offers panoramic views of the entire space. The club serves longnecks and beer on tap, and for snacks try the latkes (typical Jewish potato cakes) or the fried parmesan balls. 

While one of the most traditional samba bars in Vila Madalena, Grazie a Dio! has an agenda that goes from samba to soul, peppered with MPB (Brazilian Popular Music). The bar at Grazie a Dio! is an unusual space, with a sparse décor that includes many candles, saints, and plants. The concept of the venue arose from jam sessions at the Museu de Imagem e Som which brought together various artists from São Paulo, hosting concerts by Seu Jorge, Tulipa Ruiz, Céu, Paula Lima and the Buena Vista Social Club stars. From Tuesday to Sunday, Grazie a Dio! hosts live music with either guest artists or one of their fixture bands: the Quinteto in White and Black, Sambasonics or Clube do Balanço.

When it comes to food you cannot come to São Paulo, and not eat Coxinha (pronounced co-sheen-ya), for it is in this city where the delicious Brazilian delicacy initially became popular. This dough-based snack is filled with shredded chicken, then breaded and shaped to resemble a drumstick, before being deep fried into a crispy and golden treat.

Imagine a sandwich piled up high with nearly half a pound of mortadella sausage, Provolone cheese, sourdough bread, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. It’s quite literally a feast for the meat lover!

Where to try:

Bar do Mané in the Mercado Municipal Market serves Mortadella sandwich of epic dimensions. In between bites, do remember to take in the sounds and colours of the bustling market, and the stained-glass arches and ornate columns of the historical building.

Mercadão is without a doubt one of the most important commercial centers of food inside the city. With a stunning architecture by itself, you may get some special attention to the stained glass that portrays the country life in the 30's. Spreaded around the 12.000 squared meters, you can find almost 300 boxes of stores that sells fruits, meet, gastronomy, spices, seeds and much more. Have a walk around and ask to try different types of things, the attendants use to be nice and might show you the best Brazil's have to offer. Also, do not leave without try the most famous sandwich in town: the Mortadela's one.

Historically a beacon to those seeking a better life, São Paulo welcomed migrants who brought along their tastes for music, food and fashion. Unlike some of its beachfront and Amazonian counterparts, this energetic place shines brightest when the sun goes down. Sampa, as locals call the city, features a robust lineup of high-end hotels for business types and nightlife options for those who prefer play over work. São Paulo also has incredible architecture, museums and street art begging to be explored. Hope this helped !!!