Travel Guide Budget and Itinerary for Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a huge and bustling city. It's the biggest city in Brazil and is home to many multinational and domestic companies. The city has an extensive bus and metro network that makes it convenient to reach various neighborhoods.

Travel Guide Budget and Itinerary for Sao Paulo

Jesuit missionaries founded the city on January 25, 1554. Visitors often overlook Sao Paulo for the much more electric city of Rio de Janeiro. However, Sao Paulo is more a place you live in despite having fewer attractions than Rio (many locals I met would prefer living in SP). The city is one of the biggest in South America. The city underwent massive development, modernization, and internal and external immigration over the last century. It's now an economic, financial, and industrial hub. Modern buildings do its urban cityscape mixed with green spaces in between.

Do You Need a Visa for Brazil?

Filipino passport holders don't need a visa to enter Brazil. Several other countries have the same privilege. You can check online to determine if your country is on the list.

How to Get to Sao Paulo

By Air

From International Destinations:

São Paulo is served by São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU), which is the main international gateway.
You can book flights through major airlines like LATAM Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Air France, KLM, or Emirates, among others, depending on your departure location.
If you’re flying from North America or Europe, direct flights are common. For example, if you're flying from major cities, you can typically find direct flights to São Paulo.

From Domestic Locations (within Brazil):

São Paulo has two major airports: Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Congonhas Airport (CGH).
If you're already in Brazil, domestic flights from cities like Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, or Salvador to São Paulo are frequent.

By Land

Brazil has an extensive and efficient intercity bus system, and São Paulo is a major hub with several long-distance terminals.

Main Bus Terminals in São Paulo:

Terminal Rodoviário do Tietê: This is the largest bus terminal in São Paulo and one of the busiest in Latin America. It serves buses traveling to and from cities all over Brazil.
Terminal Rodoviário da Barra Funda: Another important terminal in São Paulo, located in the western part of the city, with services to various destinations.

Major Bus Routes:

From Rio de Janeiro: You can take buses from Rio’s main terminal to São Paulo. The trip usually takes around 6-7 hours.
From Curitiba or Porto Alegre: These routes will take around 6-8 hours.
From Brasília: The bus ride from Brazil’s capital typically takes about 14-16 hours.
From Belo Horizonte: The distance is around 600 km, and the bus ride takes about 7-9 hours.

Things to Do in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is much like many of the other big cities I've been to around the world. It's a sprawling concrete jungle with shops, local and chain restaurants, local and international brands, big companies, and towering skyscrapers lining the streets of various neighborhoods. Here are some of the things to to and places to visit wen you plan your budget and itinerary for Sao Paulo.

Avenida Paulista

Towering buildings, shops, cafes, and restaurants line Avenida Paulista. It's also bustling with locals and visitors going about their routines or itineraries. I was here during an event where the street was closed to cars. There were street performers, joggers, casual passersby, and all sorts of people walking about.

MASP

MASP or the Sao Paulo Museum of Art is a popular museum that opened in the 1960s. It's home to a comprehensive collection of Western art in South America. Brazilian-Italian architect Lina Bo Bardi designed this museum. Its collection includes works from Van Gogh, Manet, Picasso, Renoit and others. It also has works from mid-20th century artists (both local and international).

This cathedral isn't as old as others I've been to and seen; however, it's lovely in its own right. It has a Neo-Gothic inspired design. It took a few decades to finish because of the two World Wars that took place during its construction.

Beco do Batman

This area gives off an artsy vibe with its colorful murals, cafes, shops, bars, and restaurants. Despite its name, the area isn't just about the characters from Batman. You'll find all sorts of artwork during your visit. This interesting spot is a nice addition to your budget and itinerary for Sao Paulo.

Parque do Ibirapuera

Roberto Burle Marx designed the landscape of this beautiful park in the middle of Sao Paulo's urban jungle. This massive park is a popular local and visitor destination with millions visiting every year. It has trails, lakes, and gardens where people can relax and unwind, escaping the hustle and bustle of the big metropolis. You can take leisurely walks or go jogging along the many trails. You can find a couple of museums and a music hall here during your visit. Victor Brecheret created the Bandeiras Monument. Add this park to your budget and itinerary for Sao Paulo if you want a place to chill after sightseeing.

Liberdade (Japantown)

Sao Paulo is home to one of the biggest Japantowns in the world. Japanese immigrants created their own culture right in this big city. You'll see torii gates, restaurants and kiosks selling Japanese food and toys, and this is the place to experience anime culture in Sao Paulo. The first wave of Japanese immigrants came in the early 20th century. The Japanese community grew in size and prosperity over the decades. It's a nice place to check out during your stay in Sao Paulo.

Mosteiro de Sao Bento

This monastery dates to the 16th century, but the current building you see now is from the early 20th century. Like in any other church, you'll find stained glass windows, religious art, and statues of saints inside.

Teatro Municipal

The architect of Teatro Municipal Ramos de Azevedo drew inspiration from the Paris Opera when he designed this beautiful piece of architecture. The final product was a mix of Art Nouveau and Italian Renaissance influences. It's a performing arts center that hosted various artists from around the world. It's home of Sao Paulo's City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra.

Mercado Municipal Paulistano

This mercado is a popular spot for both locals and visitors. There are plenty of restaurants where you can sample local food and drinks. When I visited, there were a few live performances of some bands and singers. This is where I tried the famous mortadella sandwich as seen in the picture above. The area around the mercado reminded me so much of Binondo and Quiapo in the Philippines. It was a bit chaotic with plenty of stalls and shops and so many people.

Center Cultural Banco do Brasil

You can visit this cultural center while in Sao Paulo. You'll find exhibits from various artists using different mediums to express their art.

Patio do Colegio

Manuel de Nóbrega and José de Anchieta (Jesuit missionaries) established the College of the Society of Jesus in this area in the mid-16th century. Here you'll find the Capela de Anchieta and the Historical Museum.

Paroquia Nossa Senhora do Brasil

This might not be an old church but it caught my eye as I was passing by. It has Neo-Baroque features that will grab your attention (if you like architecture). The interiors are decorated with stained glass windows and religious art.

Some other attractions you might want to include in your itinerary:

Football Museum
Pinacoteca do Estado
Sao Paulo Botanical Garden
Parque Villa_lobos

Sao Paulo is a massive city with plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes, galleries, and smaller museums that can fill your itinerary. If you don't want to sightsee so much, you have plenty of chill and hang out options during your visit.

Getting around Sao Paulo

São Paulo has an extensive and efficient public transport system, and it's often the fastest way to get around, especially during peak hours.

Metro

São Paulo's Metro system is one of the most efficient in Latin America. It's fast, reliable, and has extensive coverage, connecting many neighborhoods and major attractions. There are 6 metro lines (with more in development), and they cover many key areas in the city. The Red Line (Line 1) and Green Line (Line 2) are the busiest.

Tickets: You can buy a single fare ticket (around R$4.40, as of this writing).

Bus

São Paulo has an extensive bus network, with routes covering almost all parts of the city. Buses are a good option if you're traveling to areas not covered by the metro.

Bus Terminals: Main bus terminals include Rodoviária do Tietê and Barra Funda, which have connections to metro stations.

CPTM Trains

The CPTM (Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos) system operates suburban trains that connect São Paulo to nearby cities. The trains are less crowded than the metro but can still get busy during rush hour.

Where to Stay in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a big, bustling city with plenty of accommodation options. You can travel on a budget and stay in affordable guesthouses or stay in a hostel dorm. On the other end of the budget spectrum, you can splurge on a nice hotel. I often browse www.booking.com whenever I look for a place to stay in a new city.

Budget for Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo reminded me of a much bigger Metro Manila. You can see armed police officers patrolling around the city or around businesses. Brazilian friends (and what I read online) told me to mind my things because of pickpockets or armed robbers. It's not much different from city life in Metro Manila actually. The city is an affordable place to visit. There are more interesting things to see in Rio while Sao Paulo looks like a place you live in rather than visit.

A budget of roughly Brazilian Real (BRL) 300 a day covered my accommodation in a private room and hostel dorm, food and drinks, transportation, mobile data, and a few entrance fees to some attractions. You can spend more or even less depending on your travel style, where you eat, what you do, and where you stay.

You might want to read my other posts about Brazil: