City Overview

Sao Paulo has 386 miles of coastline. The north coast is best for surfers and sailors, whereas the south is where some of the most important preserved natural areas of the planet,e.g.the Ecostation Jureia-Italins, etc. are to be found. To get an idea of the various immigrants, who settled here, you should not fail to visit to Bela Vista (Italian), Liberdade (Japanese), the streets of 25 de Mardo (Arabian) and Jose Paulino (Israeli). The churches of the city are interesting historical monuments, especially the Convento Nossa Senhora da Luz, built in 1579.

City Statistics

Location: Central Brazil
Country dialling code: 55
City Code: (0) 11
Population: City: 10.4 m; Greater Sao Paulo: 17.9 m
Religion: approx. 70% Roman Catholic
Time Zone: GMT -3 (GMT -2 from October to March)
Electricity: 127 volts AC or 219 volts in larger hotels.

Language

Portugese is the official language. Different states are characterized by different regional accents. In tourist areas Spanish, English, Italian, French and German are spoken.

 

Getting There By Air
Guarulhos Airport
Airline Name Weekly Flights Book Here Contact Number
Air Canada 14 +55-21-532-7200 (toll-free +1-800-127-590)
Lufthansa 30 +55-11-3048-5800
South African Airways 14 (0800-11-8383)
SWISS 20
TAP 22 +55-11-2131-1200/10 (0800-707-7787)
United 42 (0800-16-2323)
VARIG 122 4003-7000
Total Weekly Flights 264

Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is located 25 km (18 miles) northeast of Sao Paulo and is linked by the Ayrton Senna and Presidente Dutra highways.The following Star Alliance network member airlines serve Sao Paulo: VARIG (RG) (Brazil's national airline), Air Canada (AC) , Lufthansa (LH), TAP (TP) , South African Airways (SA), SWISS (LX) and United (UA). There is an airport bus , which connects between Congonhas domestic airport and the city centre. It departs every 30 minutes. Journey time to the city centre is 30- 50 minutes for all methods of transport.
There is a shuttle service between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and a regular service from Sao Paulo to Brasilia.
The domestic airport, Sao Paulo (Viracopos - VCP) is located 14 km (8) miles from the city.
A departure tax of R$ 15 is charged.

Getting Around

Traffic in Sao Paulo is always chaotic and often slow, particularly during rainstorms when water floods the streets. Parking is expensive and difficult to find. There is a large fleet of civilian helicopters that ferry commuting executives in from their suburban homes.
Sao Paulo has a plentiful and frequent supply of buses. The large sign on the top of the bus indicates the final stop or neighbourhood, whereas a smaller sign in the window and on the side of the bus mentions a few key stops along the route. Buses cost US 70 cents, to be paid as you board from the front of the bus.
The metro is quicker even if the distance is longer.

 

Business

The general opening time for businesses, shops, government institutions and services is from Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm. Many shops are also open on Saturday from 9am - 1pm. Larger malls often stay open until 10pm and on Sundays. Banks open on Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm. Some money exchanges and airport branches of the banks are open later and at weekends.

Hotels

Here is a selection of hotels near Avenida Paulista (in the "Jardins" Jardim Paulista district) and Avenida Faria Lima ("Itaim" Itaim-Bibi district). These hotels are suitably located for business and leisure.
Under $100:
Maksoud Plaza, Alameda Campinas 150
Mercure, Almeda Itu 1151
Melia Jardim Europa, Rua Joao Cachoeira 108
Blue Tree Towers, Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima 3999 at Avenida Juscelino
Faria Lima, Kubitschek
$100 - $300:
L'Hotel, Alamedia Campinas 266
Inter-Continental, Alameda Santos 1123
George V Residence, Rua Pedroso Alvarenga 610 at Rua Bandeira Paulista.

Restaurants

Although some staff speak a little English, you are well advised to carry a Portugese dictionary. Breakfast is best taken at an upmarket hotel. Any of the ubiquitous lanchonetes (coffee bars) or Padarias (bakeries) are fine for a quick snack.
Brazilian Food:
Bargaco, Rua Oscar Freire 1189
Capim Santo, Rua Arapiraca 152
Fogo de Chao, Avenida Moreira Guimaraes 964
Pira Grill, Rua Wisard 161
Business Lunch:
Rascal, Alameda Joaquim Eugenio Lima 585
Baby Beef Rubaiyat, Alameda Santos 86
Emporio Ravioli, Rua Ramos Batista 390

Key Attractions

The best feature of Sao Paulo's sightseeing facilities is its art galleries. Here are just a few:
Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo,Avenida Paulista 1578
Museu de Arte Contemporanea, Rua da Reitoria 160
Musea da Arte Sacra, Avenida Tiradentes 676
Pinacoteca and Luz Park, Praca da Luz 2 (off Avenida Tiradentes).

Excursions

Ilhalbela is 128 miles from Sao Paulo (209 km). Take the freeways Pres. Dutra, Ayrton Senna and Carvalho Pinto, following signs saying "Rio de Janeiro". At Sao Jose dos Campos follow the signs to "Sao Sebastiao" or "Litoral" (coast). There is a ferry to Ilhabela leaving from Sao Sebastiao. These run 24 hours at 20 to 30 minute intervals. Cars cost US $ 6 and pedestrians are free of charge.

 

Shopping

Shops, with the exception of the large, air-conditioned shopping malls, are usually closed on Saturday afternoon. The malls, however, stay open until late and throughout the weekend. Amerindian art and trinkets, together with gems and polished stones are the most typical Brazilian souvenirs. Jardins is the location of many smart designer boutiques.
Shopping Malls:
Shopping Frei Caneca, Rua Frei Caneca 99, corner of Rua General Calwell
Shopping Iguatemi, Avenida Faria Lima 2222, Jardim Paulistano
Shopping Paulista, has a large name-plate which cannot be missed. It is more or less opposite the Casa das Rosas.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Sao Paulo's coffee bars, restaurants and music venues does not really get going until around midnight.
For popular musicals visit Teatro Abril, Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio 411, Bela Vista.
Classical concerts can be heard at the Theatro Municipal, Praca Ramos de Azevedo, Centro. This is also the home of the Sao Paulo City Ballet.
An impressive new concert hall is located in the Julio Prestes railway staiton, Salo Sao Paulo, and is the home of the Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra.
Rock and pop concerts can be seen and heard at Credicard Hall and DirecTV Music Hall.
Vila Madalena, west of Avenida Paulista, is the centre of Sao Paulo's busy nightlife.
Brancaleone Rua Luis Murat 298, is one of Vila Madalena's most popular haunts. Young crowds are drawn to this disco, bar and restaurant.
Grazie a Dio, Rua Girassol 67, has good food and a band, which often plays Brazilian pop music. On Sunday nights there is an excellent samba-rock band.

Special Events

New Year's Day, January 1
Founding of Sao Paulo, January 25
Carnival, February 28 - March 4
Good Friday, April 18
Tiradentes Day (revolutionary martyr), April 21
Labour Day, May 1
Corpus Christi, June 19
Day of the Constitutionalist Soldier, July 9
Independence Day, September 7
Our Lady of Aparecida, October 12
All Souls' Day (Dia dos Finados), November 2
Proclamation of the Republic Day, November 15
Christmas Day, December 25
New Year's Eve (half-day), December 31

Sport

Football and motor racing are the most popular sports. The Brazilian Grand Prix is hosted by Sao Paulo.

History

1532, January 21 Martim Afonso de Souza founded the settlement which would become the Sao Vicente Village.
1554, January 25 the Jesuit School was founded, surrounded by mud huts , which would become the settlements of Sao Paulo de Paritininga.
1560 These settlements became a Village.
1711 The Village was raised to the category of City.
1808 Arrival of the Portugese Royal Family to Brazil.
1822, September 7 Prince D. Pedro declared the Independence of Brazil and was acclaimed Emperor with the title of Dom Pedro I.
1860-61 Construction of Santos-Jundiai Railway - called Sao Paulo Railway - began.
1888 Abolition of slavery.
1889 Fall of Dom Pedro II. He was dethroned by Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca.
1891 The first motor car arrived on Brazilian land.
1900-1960 The Light Company responsible for electricity in the city.
1919 Henry Ford decided to open an automobile factory in Brazil. The first assembly lines were located in downtown Sao Paulo.
1930 Revolution under the leadership of Getulio Vargas' Rio Grande do Sul State, which brought the smaller states of the Federation to the foreground.
1934 University of Sao Paulo founded.
1939 World War II.
1954 Joao Goulart overthrown.
1967 Wide-spread industrial strikes.
1974 First major meeting for presidential elections held, organized by Sao Paulo's governor, Franco Montoro.
1975 Collapse of military government.
1984 Ayrton Senna died in the Italian Grand Prix. A quarter of a million mourners in Sao Paulo followed Senna's funeral cortege.
1993 Lula da Silva became President.