Sao Paulo Hotels & Holidays
Brazil, South America
Larger than Rio with over 19 million people, native of Sao Paulo refer to themselves as Paulistanos. Supposedly more industrious than people from other parts of Brazil, are known as workaholics compared to other Brazilians. The city itself is more industrial than Rio, but during the evening and weekend that same work ethic gets turned on its ear and much of the population gets serious about clubbing and the nightlife of this city, Moema being one of the more notable districts.
Sao Paulo Holidays Planner
Sao Paulo is home to the largest population of Japanese people outside Japan. In Liberdad, you can have the unique experience of visiting a Japanese neighbourhood in Brazil. You can even have the unique culinary experience of visiting a restaurant that serves Japanese cuisine with Brazilian flair.
In the Centro Historico's Republica neighbourhood you may want to visit the food and crafts fair that is held every weekend. In this district you will also find the home of the city's orchestra, reputedly one of the most advanced concert halls in the world. In the expanded centre of the city, you can visit the Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo where the largest collection of European paintings in Latin America is housed. Here you can also find the Our Lady of Brasil Church, as well as some local beer houses, restaurants, and language schools.
On the south side, you can find two large lakes which serve as the water supply for the city: Represa Guarapiranga and Represa Billings. Billings Lake is a manmade lake that is popular for water skiing and parasailing. You can also find various restaurants and sports clubs here. For a chic neighbourhood with great restaurants and department stores, you may want to visit Itaim Bibi and Vila Olimpia.
There are some great day trips that you can take out of Sao Paulo that reveal great idylls in the surrounding countryside. You may want to go to Bertioga which is two hours drive out of the city. This town is known for its annual festivals; there is a Japanese festival in October, an Italian Festival in November, and an Indigenous Brazilian Indian festival during the weekend closest to April 19. The town is located at the mouth of a river, and you can visit local waterfalls such as the Mirante de Cachoeira.
Another day trip that might pique your interest is Campos do Jordao. This mountain town with European-type architecture at 1600 m is a popular locale for Paulistanos to winter at because of a local winter music festival in July. Finally, another place you may want to visit is just southwest of Sao Paulo called Embu das Artes and is known for its local artists. Here you can find great Brazilian handicrafts and furniture.