Introduction & Vibe
Let's talk about São Paulo, or "Sampa," as residents often call it. Forget notions of Brazil's beaches and samba – this is the country's thumping economic and cultural heart. The vibe is a mix of relentless energy and surprising warmth; it's a concrete jungle where incredible street art, world-class restaurants, and lush parks burst through the cracks. It's chaotic, sure, but it's a chaos that feels alive and full of possibilities.
Why Visit?
This city is anything but a tourist trap. Travelers come here to live it, not just see it. The food scene is phenomenal; one can eat a traditional Brazilian feijoada for lunch, have some of the best Japanese food outside of Japan for dinner in Liberdade, and grab a life-changing pão na chapa (buttered toast) at a corner padaria (bakery). The cultural offerings are immense, from the world-renowned São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) to the ever-changing graffiti at Beco do Batman (Batman Alley). The people-watching is a top-tier activity in itself, especially on a Sunday when Avenida Paulista closes to traffic and becomes a massive urban park for everyone to enjoy.
Guide Content Truncated
You are viewing a preview of the Sao Paulo guide. The comprehensive detailed sections are exclusive to premium members.
Best Neighborhoods To Stay In
People
Top Highlights
Food Scene Highlights
Infrastructure
Accommodations
Getting There
Getting Around
Safety
Dealbreakers
When to Visit
Sample Itinerary
Packing List
FAQs
How-To Guides
Trusted Travel Tools
Planning your trip to Sao Paulo? Using the links below helps support this site at no extra cost to you. I've only placed products here that I actually use and trust myself. Thank you for your support 🫶!
Trusted Swiss VPN I use every single day as a nomad. It lets me appear in other countries to access region‑locked services (often financial), works in censored regions, and hides your IP from websites, advertisers, and governments — because what you do online is your business.
One of the only 3rd party booking tools that I actually trust. Great for booking flights, hotels, and car rentals. Often times I use this specifically to get the extra info it has about accommodations like square feet/meters.
My go-to e-sim when I am traveling. It's always got a competitive price and it has some nice extra features like a built-in VPN, ad-blocker, and web protection.
Travel medical insurance designed for digital nomads and long-term travelers. Simple and flexible. I myself haven't had to file and claims through them yet though I know others who have and the process has been straight forward for them and they got properly covered.
Resources & Further Reading
Provide Feedback
I've made this guide with every attempt to be as accurate as possible; however, the world is a dynamic place, so there is a chance that something here needs updating. If you've spotted something in this guide that could use an update, please let me know! Your feedback helps tremendously. Alternatively, if you found something super helpful or you have a great tip to add, I'd love to hear that too!